The "Wins" are hard to come by some times. ( true ? )
Sometimes life and ministry is very confusing.
just when you think you are about to move forwards, bang..... you are dragged backwards.
life is fickle... some people have some strange ways.
a very prolific pastor who leads an amazing ministry with one of the largest Christian chuches in the world today, is criticized and slammed by those who should know better, kicking him while he is down.
it bugs me no end that we Christians are our own worst enemy to ourselves at times.
Gosh, Satan doesnt have to do anything, we can implode and destroy ourselves.
The church has the ability to change the world, but at times we cant seem to get past our self.
We play stupid games, we get political, and argue and criticize one another, we pick fault one with another, play the blame game, and then get oursleves involved in settling for something less than God's best.
I know that we will never be perfect this side of heaven, however ...surely, we must endeavour to live in peace,celebrate (and not criticize) each others differences across the denominations, and look for the wins for the Kingdom. Coz, for goodness sake the wins are hard to come by some times.
When another church wins, and people are saved, surely that is a darn sight better than when we see people lost going to Hell ? Lost in alcoholism, drug dependency, abuse and hurt, loneliness and despair ? and then a church rises up and challenges it and see's people changed and connected to Jesus, and what ? we find fault with that ?
seriously..... how stupid is that ???????????
and here's what I think is even worse... when we are not doing anywhere as near as good as that church and that pastor, and we think we have some kind of right to criticise and condemn them ?
we will never change, and we will never impact anything, if we first wont allow God the Holy Spirit to soften our heart, and move us to compassion one for another.
we are going to spend eternity with these people, and they are giants in the eyes of heaven.
so if that is you.... you have been criticizing other churches ?
STOP IT..
they are not the enemy.
**********************************************************************************
(sorry, just a bit angry about what I read on facebook tonight)
90,000 people went to the footy today in Melbourne to see Collingwood and Carlton have a crack at each other.
They screamed, and cheered, and yelled and wore their uniforms (footy colours), they sang their song, well half of them did anyway... and they paid top dollars to do so.
And yet we struggle to get people to church, to worship..... ( not every church has this issue, but we in TSA do) ............ some may even complain and criticize this blog for me even saying so...... but you cant deny the facts, the stat's dont tell lies.
we are not winning and we should be. We can.We once did, and we can again.
Our job, our mission, our purpose is to get people yelling and screaming, and cheering for Jesus in His church, and specifically in our Salvo churches. and I still choose to believe that it is possible for us to grow once again into a mighty strong fighting force for Jesus' cause on the earth.
here's some ways that I think we could start to win again...
1. stop critizing everything we dont understand or that is different to what we think should be.
2. start coming to church, every week and bring someone with you.
3. pray.
4. fight the enemy and help the team ( other churches btw, are on the same team)
5. pray
6. when things dont go "our " way.....exactly like I think it should be, then pray....
7. Put Jesus first, open your mind to the things God wants to do, and pray for TSA.
and then be involved. Be active. Turn up, Worship and pray and stop critizing anything that is different to your own personal theological view.
God has designed us all for a purpose and when one area (church) seems to drop off, others rise up, and we must look for the ways in which we can rise up.
God hasnt finished with us yet.
the secret recipe for success in TSA is simple....
and friends, instead of persecuting the persecuted...pray for them instead, and see what God does in us.
Oh Lord please revive us in TSA today.
just when you think you are about to move forwards, bang..... you are dragged backwards.
life is fickle... some people have some strange ways.
a very prolific pastor who leads an amazing ministry with one of the largest Christian chuches in the world today, is criticized and slammed by those who should know better, kicking him while he is down.
it bugs me no end that we Christians are our own worst enemy to ourselves at times.
Gosh, Satan doesnt have to do anything, we can implode and destroy ourselves.
The church has the ability to change the world, but at times we cant seem to get past our self.
We play stupid games, we get political, and argue and criticize one another, we pick fault one with another, play the blame game, and then get oursleves involved in settling for something less than God's best.
I know that we will never be perfect this side of heaven, however ...surely, we must endeavour to live in peace,celebrate (and not criticize) each others differences across the denominations, and look for the wins for the Kingdom. Coz, for goodness sake the wins are hard to come by some times.
When another church wins, and people are saved, surely that is a darn sight better than when we see people lost going to Hell ? Lost in alcoholism, drug dependency, abuse and hurt, loneliness and despair ? and then a church rises up and challenges it and see's people changed and connected to Jesus, and what ? we find fault with that ?
seriously..... how stupid is that ???????????
and here's what I think is even worse... when we are not doing anywhere as near as good as that church and that pastor, and we think we have some kind of right to criticise and condemn them ?
we will never change, and we will never impact anything, if we first wont allow God the Holy Spirit to soften our heart, and move us to compassion one for another.
we are going to spend eternity with these people, and they are giants in the eyes of heaven.
so if that is you.... you have been criticizing other churches ?
STOP IT..
they are not the enemy.
**********************************************************************************
(sorry, just a bit angry about what I read on facebook tonight)
and just so you know, we have some serious work to do in This Salvation Army. in Australia.
90,000 people went to the footy today in Melbourne to see Collingwood and Carlton have a crack at each other.
They screamed, and cheered, and yelled and wore their uniforms (footy colours), they sang their song, well half of them did anyway... and they paid top dollars to do so.
And yet we struggle to get people to church, to worship..... ( not every church has this issue, but we in TSA do) ............ some may even complain and criticize this blog for me even saying so...... but you cant deny the facts, the stat's dont tell lies.
we are not winning and we should be. We can.We once did, and we can again.
Our job, our mission, our purpose is to get people yelling and screaming, and cheering for Jesus in His church, and specifically in our Salvo churches. and I still choose to believe that it is possible for us to grow once again into a mighty strong fighting force for Jesus' cause on the earth.
here's some ways that I think we could start to win again...
1. stop critizing everything we dont understand or that is different to what we think should be.
2. start coming to church, every week and bring someone with you.
3. pray.
4. fight the enemy and help the team ( other churches btw, are on the same team)
5. pray
6. when things dont go "our " way.....exactly like I think it should be, then pray....
7. Put Jesus first, open your mind to the things God wants to do, and pray for TSA.
and then be involved. Be active. Turn up, Worship and pray and stop critizing anything that is different to your own personal theological view.
God has designed us all for a purpose and when one area (church) seems to drop off, others rise up, and we must look for the ways in which we can rise up.
God hasnt finished with us yet.
the secret recipe for success in TSA is simple....
* Listen and look for Jesus' instructions ----
* Obey His commands and instructions -----
* See Jesus results.
Oh Lord please revive us in TSA today.
If you were to read: "Losing My Religion: Unbelief in Australia". Tom Frame, you will gain some insight into why people prefer the football to going to church. As Frame notes "Australia has never been a particularly religious nation and that few Australians have deliberately rejected belief—- most simply can't see why they need to be bothered with religion at all". Paladin.
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