The greatest calling on the life of any Christian is to become more and more like Christ.  This necessitates something called growth.  Spiritual growth.  We toss around words and concepts such as discipleship, maturity, and Christ likeness so easily yet I find that when I discuss or read about most Christians I find very little of any of these.

Pastors on forums constantly berating and deriding other pastors, leaders showing a lack of discernment that astonishes me when it comes to the delivery and interpretation of the Word of God, and the sheep sitting in the pews just bleating out “feed me, feed me,” are just a few of the observations that have led me to this conclusion.

Let’s discuss spiritual growth.

Is there a way to measure spiritual growth?

If so, what specific things can we look for in a Christian to determine if they are growing?

Do you think this is being judgmental?

Love you all

Tags: Christ, Christians, Discernment, Discipleship, Interpretation, Judgment, maturity, pastors, spirit, town hall, Tuesday, word of god

“Today’s Christian college students are nauseated by any kind of religious hype: blow-dried evangelists, insincere appeals for offerings, faked healings, goofy buzzwords or schmaltzy Christian pop music. What they crave is reality-honest relationships, healthy mentoring, passionate worship and daring faith that is reflected through brave actions, not just words.”

“What they crave is reality.”

These words I have quoted are from an opinion piece written by J. Lee Grady, the editor of Charisma magazine.  He defines reality, in a Pentecostal sense, in the last part of the quote.  The questions for today’s discussion concern this reality.

Would you say that he is right or wrong from your own observations?

Do you believe that your own local assembly would be attractive to these Christian college students?

If not, do you see any ways that things could change to make it more attractive?

If you want to read the whole piece, you can find it here.

Love you all

Tags: charisma magazine, Discussion, honest relationships, j lee grady, passionate worship, Pentecost, Pentecostal, relationship, Relationships, town hall, Tuesday

I believe the bible is pretty clear in stating the fact that God does not change.  I am not sure that this implies what most seem to believe though.  If God does not already foreknow the future as a settled fact, whether He predetermined it or not, then it would seem that He would have to change to a certain degree to respond to the free choices made by His created beings.

This also answers my own question from a couple of weeks ago for me but probably not for all.

How do you define the biblical statement’s and concepts about God never changing?

In our understanding of the word change, do you believe He does change in any way?

I really want to read your comments.

Love you all

Tags: Believe, change, foreknow, free choices, future, God, town hall, Tuesday, understanding

Yesterday was Memorial Day, a holiday that is supposed to be in honor of fallen soldiers of the armed services of the USA.  The wars that this country has been in have been devastating in many ways to young soldiers and families of all kinds.

I thank those that have gone before and fought to keep this country free and my family safe, even if I admit I have reservations about war in general now that I follow Jesus.  This post is not to discuss war or meant to be controversial in the least.  I just want to ask a couple of questions for general knowledge.

Do you have a family member that has given their life in war for this nation?

Did you reflect on what the holiday was actually for at all?

Did your church do anything Sunday to honor these fallen warriors?

Love you all

Tags: Church, Service, town hall, Tuesday, USA, War