Dec

Spiritually Bloated?

Posted by: Sonny in Application, Body of Christ

There are some questions I have been asking myself lately that are very troublesome? They come unbidden and seem to be designed to move me or coax me into something new or at least out of the comfortable space I currently exist in. These questions upset me to my core and I don’t really know what or how to answer.

The thoughts behind my question from Tuesday, for example, are troublesome also. I am not going to change churches, to my knowledge anytime soon, yet I want to see my church change to some degree. I want to see us on the frontlines, carrying out the mission, or commission, of our King. I want to see real fellowship and community in the people that attend. I want to see an attitude of love that just has to reach out to the community because the confines of our building cannot contain it.

Now if you think I am knocking my church or the members, you are wrong. I see love, I feel the worship, I join the praise, and I grow from the food that is presented. There are some good people, some loving people in my church. There are some ministries that are reaching out and representing the Kingdom in some wonderful ways.

But these are some of the questions that bother me. They are personal in nature and do not really apply to my church. The main one is; what am I really accomplishing for the Kingdom? And following that is; how can I apply what I am teaching and learning every time I go to church? And finally; how can I really get out there and do something real and life changing in the real world of the lost and unchurched?

It seems that I am not the only one wondering about what we are doing. Shannon’s latest blog post touches on this in another way and is worth reading. And listen to the video he has on the page. It is worth those five minutes of your life. And yes, this is just a shameless plug.

Is this all there is? Read and write, listen and learn, discuss and debate, attend and receive. All of these things are satisfying and filling. But they are not so fulfilling at times. I am anxious to “do” something. Maybe I am getting too fat.

Obesity. Can the body of Christ be overweight? We do have some great churches and some outstanding preaching and teaching. I have heard a lot of people say they come or go to church to be fed. But if all we do is sit and eat and never exercise, we get fat. The work, the act of actually getting up and doing something for somebody else that Christ loves, is what keeps us lean and strong. Instead it seems, we may just be getting fat.

I know that for me personally, it is past time to get some exercise. That must be what I am feeling. Almost bloated from lack of movement and too much to eat. So I think I need to come up with a program, a method to get up and do something. This whole post is for me and is just something I wanted to say.

But if you have a few extra spiritual pounds you need to get rid of, why don’t you join me and let’s shed them for the advancement of the Kingdom. What do you think?

Love you all

Tags: Body of Christ, Church, Fellowship, Kingdom, Knowledge, Love, mission, Obesity, Praise, real world, Self, shameless plug

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 at 12:50 am and is filed under Application, Body of Christ. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

12 comments so far

Sabrina Walker

I sometimes feel that way. I feel frustrated, like I am not doing enough for God and His Kingdom. I wonder what else I could do to farther the kingdom and myself. I feel constricted sometimes by certain things in my life that I feel hold me back in doing what I need to do to get rid of that frustration I feel. I am working on those areas but some of them do not go away nor can you get rid of them. So I try to the best I can to please God and let everyone I know or talk to know how I feel about God and my beliefs.

Do you know what church planting is? Well, at my church we have been praying about it for a while. We want our church to grow and reach out to those in need. It has not happened yet but looks like it might start happening soon. It is a scary process for most of us because it means so many different things on many different levels. I feel that by helping with this some of my frustration would go away and I would feel more fulfilled. Please pray for our church. We need all the prayer we can get.

I have also been feeling the need for change. I feel as though I am in a rut that I can not get out of and I don’t know how to fix it. Part of it is we do not like where we are stationed and we have been here for over 8 years. All of our neighbors that lived around us when we moved in our current house on base 4 years ago have moved. I do not like the school systems. My daughter is a semester behind most schools in AL. My allergies here are horrible. We have been back to LA for 3 months and I have already had walking pneumonia and a sinus infection. My son has asthma, in this state only, and has to have a breathing treatment everyday. I am tired of living on base where almost everyone has no morals what so ever. I feel like I am in high school again with all the gossip. Maybe if we moved off base it would be better. Or to a base closer to home. All I know is that I need a change. I pray everyday for God to take care of me and put me where He wants me because He knows best. I don’t know if moving off base or moving to a new base would help. I want to stay in LA only because of my church, where it is headed, and the help I could give getting it there. But, that is only place I seem happy right now. And, like I said before, I am still frustrated by the feeling of not doing enough for God, right this very minute. So, I am going to take a breathe (maybe several), pray, and ask God for patience and guidance to get me to that place I need to be.

Sorry, if I ranted and raved. Sometimes, I just feel like screaming. I have been sick for over two weeks. I feel worn down and angry. :Angry: But, I can not let anything get me down and this will help. I got to let it some of it out. LOL.

Sonny, and anyone else who needs it, I will be praying for you. Please be praying for me.

Lots of Love and Prayers,
Sabrina

December 4th, 2008 at 2:18 am

Connie

I think I know what you are saying here. I wish there would be some changes in our church also. I too feel the love there and feel like I have a family there, but we need to reach beyond that family. Get out of the comfort zone for a change. Me included.

I have really been praying about starting a ministry that entails ministering to women who suffer from addiction. I have been there myself and I know that this is my calling from God. It’s just scary and I’m having a hard time “stepping out of the boat”. But I have a few people that are encouraging me and I think if I keep my eyes on Jesus, I can step on out.

I hear people of different age groups complaining that nothing much is happening at church. Well…. let’s get up and do something. Get some exercise like you said.

This is a good post and just gave me one more little push to do what I know I am supposed to be doing. Thanks.

Peace, Love and Blessings

December 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am

Sonny

Sabrina,

I have been reading a little about church planting. Use the forum to keep us updated about that. And feel free to rant in the forum also. It is new and I want it to work so you all can have a place to say what is on your mind. the TOTUS TUUS page is just not going to work for this.

Connie,

Go for it. I wish I felt some clear direction about something other than this blog and my class. Maybe that is all I am supposed to be doing at the moment, but I just don’t feel like I am out there on the front lines.

But I know that the front lines do need support systems also.

Love you both

December 4th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

Wayne

I agree with Connie

I think ACOG is what we make it. It is time to get some things going. We aren’t going to be like Kingwood but there is no reason we can’t have a strong young adult, youth and children’s department all at the same time.

You have a 6A school right over the hill.

December 4th, 2008 at 2:11 pm

Sonny

Wayne,

Thanks for the visit and you are right also. But how do we get rid of the complacency?

And could you check this out and add it to the links on the church site? Been missing you in person.

http://alabasterchurchofgodblog.com/

Love you

December 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

Wayne

Sonny,

In my opinion you have to reach a point where you say “why can’t we”. Why can’t we update/improve/change. If more see what we can do and have to offer the more we grow. All of our groups (children’s, youth, young adult and senior adult’s) should be going strong. If nobody is doing anything then try to get something going.

And I will add that link to the church site.

December 4th, 2008 at 4:13 pm

Dee Mimbs

I, too, think the need for more outreach in the church is great. I sometimes grow weary of going to church and seeing the same thing I have seen for weeks. I truly believe that we should be seeing more people saved, more people delivered from addictions, more relationships restored, more bodies physically healed, etc.

However, I do not see new people coming in swarms like in the early church. I think this is because we do not reach out to the surrounding community in an effective way–a way that speaks their “language.”

Just one more thought — we cannot wait for those in “leadership” to do this. I, as a Christian, should be reaching out to those with whom I come in contact. This drawing people in will not happen if only those formally in “leadership” reach out. We all must be willing to step out of our comfort zone.

Blessings,

Dee

December 4th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

Leigh

Hello to everyone.

Really quick, you mentioned a few weeks ago that there was a church in Cullman(?) that opened a Starbucks in their church. Sonny, you mentioned that you are getting too “fat” so why not exercise. Really. You have great land next to the church so open a center for people to come in and exercise both physically and spiritually at the same time? Try something like the Starbucks idea.

Personally, when I don’t go to church is when I feel the fattest. I feel terrible and run-down when I don’t receive communion.

Have a great week to all of you!

December 4th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

Leigh

Also, on a side note, this is from the girls:

hello da love alyssa

love u da love sara

December 4th, 2008 at 6:46 pm

Tammy

Whew!

I almost felt like the breath was sucked out of me as I read this blog.

We do not seem to have much time to discuss things lately, but this has definitely been on my heart for a long time. I believe there are a few areas that need to be cultivated in order for these ministries to come to fruition.

It seems that our age group (you know us young folk) seems to do a majority of the work in the church, while also being the ones with the busiest lives outside of church. No wonder so many young couples do not grow to their full potential in Christ, they are worn down. We need to have a place to come together with a common goal, to strengthen one another, etc. It seems so relaxing to sit with our Christian friends discussing our perception of life, church and the bible, however, I am amazed at how many prefer to discuss anything but. I believe that if we could strengthen these relationships, equip the ones willing to go out, reaching others would come more naturally.

As it is, we are so driven to succeed in the world that we do not take time to enjoy the Kingdom promises, which would lead to an improved desire to “exercise” our faith and share it with others.

ex·er·cise (ksr-sz)
n.
1. An act of employing or putting into play; use: the free exercise of intellect; the exercise of an option.
2. The discharge of a duty, function, or office.
3. Activity that requires physical or mental exertion, especially when performed to develop or maintain fitness: took an hour of vigorous daily exercise at a gym.
4. A task, problem, or other effort performed to develop or maintain fitness or increase skill: a piano exercise; a memory exercise.
5. An activity having a specified aspect: an undertaking that was an exercise in futility.

We definitely could use some personal trainers in this war to increase, protect and develop the Kingdom. We all know what is needed, can we get any volunteers????

December 4th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

Wayne

Sonny,

The COGblog is now linked from the home page.

December 8th, 2008 at 10:14 am

Dee Prince

I work at the school over the hill. I witness to students and teachers and I have even been told on occasion, I would get in trouble if I continued to pray for the students. I have invited students to come to church, some have. Most of these kids have never been to church, so their first visit in a Pentecostal atmosphere is a little much for some of them.

I am happy to say the students and teachers are meeting (separately)once a week to pray, have devotion and discuss the needs of our community. The coaches are having prayer meetings at the stadium as well.

Let me also say that our church does offer everything a Christian would need…JESUS. Most people today don’t want him. They want their “programs” to bring the people in. As long as there are those who are burdened and are willing to do their part, God will equip us all.

I pray for God to move in such a way in this community that when people drive past our church, they are compelled to come in. I too want to see more people saved, healed ETC. I want to see our altars filled with people whose hearts are crying out to God.

Sonny you have been “CALLED” to teach, that’s why you do it so well.
Connie, I know God will take the drug abuse and everything else you went through and use you to minister to hurting hearts but only because you are willing to do it.
Sabrina, I am very proud of you and the influence you have with your church and the relationship you have with Christ. You have a huge mission field in front of you….your family, my grandangels. I pray God will move on your behalf and station Kirk where he needs to be. Apparently, that’s Louisiana because like you said, you’ve been there for 8 years. I do pray for your sinuses and pray for a healing virtue to be released in your body and the spirit of infirmity to release you in Jesus name!

Sorry, Sonny didn’t mean to take over but she is my “daughter-in-love”.

If fellowship, preaching, music, teaching, and a loving, accepting church will not bring the community in, I don’t think a coffee shop will either. It will just be cause for some of us to get “fatter”.

Prayer is our greatest defense and weapon for the time at hand. Prayer moves God and gives us the encouragement we need….to live our best life now. Prayer and a relationship with Christ should be “OUR PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE” It is for me. I could not make it through the day without my prayer time!!

I think too many of us have been riding the wave of success and now that times are getting hard and money tighter, we want to complain. When I know that all is well between God and myself, I can take on more of the world. If we are doing our part (being the support team) praying.. we won’t have time to get “fat”. God will fill us up and we will be able to give to those we come in contact with. I can tell when God has placed a burden on my heart and my responsibility is to pray and ask God for direction and allow him to guide and show me. I have gone up to people in the grocery store and prayed with them because I felt that tug at my heart.

When you are praying for the needs of others and our community you are furthering the cause of Christ.

Each of us has a part to play in furthering the Kingdom. We have to stay focused and not become weary in well doing. :?

Hugs, I used the arrow to keep moving and touch more people…..LOL