Genesis

1 - The first thing that came to my mind as an answer to the question, "How do we not get lost in the sea of everything else and keep ourselves focused?" is to keep in touch with people who are outside of the church as well as those inside the church.
I think that by having discussions about faith with people who haven't "heard it 1,000 times," we will notice the things that we have taken for granted.

There is a program that a number of churches host called Alpha. I went through Alpha and found that by talking to people who are curious about God and have a lot of questions, I was challenged to think about a number of issues that I just took for granted.
I found that by overcoming the challenges, I became more sure of my faith and more outgoing with it overall -- and I felt great! But like all things, if you don't use it, you lose it and so after a time of not actively sharing my faith, I have to admit that I've regressed. I'm currently looking for ways to get back into it, so talk to Ben if you have a proposition, I'll hear it from him.

What does everyone else think about the things we take for granted? (Comment this)

2 - I agree wholeheartedly with the "use it or lose it" statement, Adam, and how great it was that you walked away with that challenge and feeling.

In the past it was easy for me to just come to church on Sunday and go through the motions without it going much deeper. Then Monday rolled around and life creeped in and before I knew it - it was Sunday again...time to go to church because that's what I always do.

"We are saved, by Grace, because of what Jesus did "period" - that's such a absolute statement. Why do I believe these statements are true? Do I just go through the motions, nod my head at what Ben's saying just because it's what I've always known to be true? Who is at the heart of my worship...and life?

I think keeping focus is a "life choice" with God as the ultimate director. Perhaps we need to tackle more challenges so that we are more connected and sure in our faith? Do we all really know what or on whom our focus should be? Do I even know the answer to that? And, just because we've heard it 1,000's of times maybe it wouldn't hurt to reaffirm it in our own words and with each other too...we are all at different stages in our growth - perhaps it wouldn't hurt to learn from each other too?

As for "heart", something curious has been happening the past months--by allowing the words to seep deeper than the surface they tend to extend into the rest of my week so that it's becoming apparent that the words I'm studying aren't just a "church"-thing...they are a life-thing. (Comment this)

3 - I wasn't a part of your worship gathering on Sunday. However, I think the series that our Pastor is going through stricks a chord with what you guys are talking about.

He is speaking on Orthodoxy (correct thinking) and more importantly orthopraxy (correct practice, how we live things out).

I think those of use who have grown up in the church are so use to having the correct thinking that we don't go any farther to live that thinking out.

This past Sunday we talked about the Resurrection....what difference does the resurrection make to us today? If we have the basics of Christology (incarnation, Good Friday Easter) without Easter we have a great historic dead guy. The resurrection is what validates our faith. Jesus paying that ultimate price - has the power to touch our past, our present and our future. So, how can we live that truth out in our lives for others to see?

Not sure now if that is a true comment on the original blog....oh well.



 (Comment this)

4 - Being saved is putting God first in all areas of our lives every day, every minute. It is denying ourselves and taking up the cross everyday. Thank God for His Word and Ben's clear dentist analogy. Michele (Comment this)

5 - I listened to the message online today, I wasn't at Genesis. I have a quote at my computer from a wise friend and mentor. As I listened, I read the quote...
"Only God defines me."

I've been "claimed", "saved", "washed in His blood", "rescued", "born again", "made whole", however you say it, I am God's because of what Jesus did. All that separated me from Him is gone as gone can be. And now only God defines me. That means whether I feel trapped in shame from the past or rejected and left alone, only God defines me. Not sin, not pain, not a title, not success, not failure, none of that is who I am. I am his, a beloved one. No label or "circumision" no ability or disabilty can claim me. I can experience those things but I am God's and God defines me. To live like that takes memory. I just have to look to Him, to remember who I am, how can I not be changed by that knowledge? I just have to remember. But even my memory doesn't define me, God does... (Comment this)

6 - It may seem sort of silly but in the couple of physical areas where I tend to stray or need reminders of God's presence in my life I've put up little one word notes to myself. An example at work on my bulletin board directly over my computer I've placed a card with the word "strength" for he is my strength -a shelter from the turbulent stress that sometimes invades my work-zone. These couple of words have really helped trigger moments where I used to perhaps blow up or do things for which I would later need to ask forgiveness. Now I see the word, take a few breaths or say a quick prayer. Maybe eventually I won't need the cards so much but they seem to do the trick for now. (Comment this)

7 - I think its pretty easy to just take this great life for granted and all it takes is a discussion with someone who doesn't believe to start reminding a person of why they started believing in the first place. If you were born and raised in the church and never left sometimes its difficult to have a perspective on the reality of being a christian. One of the things I did in college with our study group was study what some of the other religions/religious groups/pseudo-religious groups believe by interacting with them one on one (we'd go on site visits and set up discussion round tables and it was all quite interesting) The compare and contrast vs. what I've always been taught in the lutheran church helped build on the foundation of why I am deciding to live my life as a christian with these sets of beliefs. It has also opened my eyes and built a respect for the idea that there are so many people in the world with vastly different beliefs than my own. (Comment this)

8 - Ah - two messages stuck inside my head yesterday start sharing and we shouldn't have to pay someone to do the work we were called to do ourselves. I'm hoping someone has either a better memory or knows their christian music better than me...what was the name of the song we sang right after yesterday (july 31) sermon? I'd like to share that with someone :) (Comment this)

9 - What is one thing we won"t be able to do in Heaven ???

Whitness So ... we better like Paul look around and see families and others that Christ might be putting around us ??? (Comment this)

10 - I had a thought after the sermon last week... actually it was during the sermon. It was regarding that we don't tell people what awaits the unrighteous because we have become complacent. I felt that though that may be true it was not the whole or only reason. For me it's that I feel that by my telling someone that I feel they are going to hell (on the wrong road, headed in the wrong direction)I am judging them. How do I know if they are or not who am I to point a finger. Sometimes though I believe I am a saved Christian I wonder about my own destiny. (Comment this)