Church ain't the building, why go?

I keep hearing people say "Church ain't the building, we can have church anywhere because we are The Church.

That is true.  The Church is the body of believers and you don't need a building to worship.

BUT... 

• Are you?  Are you really having worship consistently away from the church building?
• Are you called to preach? 
• Are you called to prophesy?
•  Are you studied up?  
• Do you feel qualified to lead the service? (I don't mean education, I mean spiritually)
• Speaking of education, how much Bible do you know? 
• How's your focus on faith been without going to church? 
• Would you rather listen to music live or via device? 

AND...

• Ever been to a sporting event, concert, or other outings and felt the energy of the crowd?
• Ever needed a hug? 
• Ever left an event feeling motivated and focused? 
• Ever needed a close connection to others? 

We want to hear music live! We want to go to sporting events live! There is energy and power when you get people together.  

It is not likely you are as consistent with worship away from the church.  We aren't all called to preach, prophesy, or lead services.   Our church leaders have dedicated their lives to knowing God's word.  The entirety of their focus is to encourage us in Christ.   Do you really think you don't need a pastor? 

Do you remember the Bible stories about the Shepherds?  Yes, of course, Jesus is the Good Shepherd but God set forth pastors and leaders to watch over the congregation.  We are fighting spiritual warfare. The spirit of fear is an excellent example.  That spirit is not of God and it is running rampant. 

PLUS...

You can think of it as coaching.  All would agree that athletes need coaches. Pastors are to the congregation what coaches are to athletes.  I saw an illustration yesterday where a coach handed an athlete a piece of tape and asked him to place it as high above his head as he could.  The athlete did so.  Then the coach asked the athlete to place it a little higher.  The athlete did by at least three inches!   The coach said, "You will do what you think is your best, my job is to encourage you to more."

BE REAL...

We need interaction with the body of believers.  We need to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.  We need our church family and the world needs THE CHURCH.   Congregations are a great way to pool resources and achieve things for the Kingdom. How much traction would a gang or the mafia have if they separated?   They stick together because they are out to achieve a mission.   We can go further together! 

PLEASE...

Be careful is saying we don't need a church.  We do need it and so do our communities!  What would our nation look like if the churches closed?  

Photo Credit: https://www.wrvo.org/post/closing-church-auctions-not-only-items-memories

After While Crocodile~

Hey Cousin -

You aren't going to get to read this, because you have moved on to Heaven.  You went on and I didn't get to say goodbye.  I've got some things to tell you...

I remember you as a teenager.  You LOVED to lay in sun...  You with your baby oil, iodine, and aluminum foil.  I never did understand that, but you sure loved it.  My Mama did too.

You told me one day, "I'll never be so blame strict on on my kids! I'm going to let them do whatever they want!"  If your kids are reading this, they are probably laughing.

I remember when you got married. You were crazy about that Chuck Woods.   I heard Bernice say, "They'll never make it, they's just kids"   You didn't care about that - You married him anyway.

You used to say things like, "Now Teresa, let me tell you..."  I'd just shake my head because I wasn't exactly "coachable" in my younger days.

I remember how you loved your coffee... I love it now too.

 I was there when your Mama got sick, and even when she passed away.   I guess after that is when we lost touch a bit.   Mamaw Trula and Marylou were the glue that held life together. It hasn't been the same without them.

I remember how it was when your Mama was sick.  Everyone was always around, feeling sorry for her.  I remember that last cookout at her place.  It was a lot to process.   I guess that's why you didn't tell us when you got sick.  You didn't want nobody feeling sorry for you.  That took a lot of strength. You were right, we would've made a big fuss.  I'm certain it was more important to you to have that precious time with your kids and Chuck.

Bernice sure called it wrong about you and Chuck,  you did make it.  You made it all the way 'til death do you part.   You were right about Chuck but you were wrong about one thing. You were "that blame strict" on your kids.   It surely worked, they all four grew into fine adults.  I'm impressed with the great job you did with them.  I know you and Chuck are so proud.   I still can't get over how much your Tyler looks like Quint.  I still miss Quint. You tell him I said, "Hello".

Remember Preacher Earl Johnson?  I'm sure you do. You're probably drinking coffee with him, Mamaw, Marylou, and Quint right now.   Papaw is probably sitting there quietly while y'all catch up.  I'm sure they were standing beside Jesus when you got there.    I bet Jesus had some angels fry up some taters and make a big pan of biscuits.   I can only imagine what a time you are having. Say, "Hi" to all of them for me too.  You tell them I said, when Jesus comes for me - they better be waiting on me!

Anyway, about Preacher Earl... He used to say, "Give folks flowers while they are alive, they won't know it when they are gone."  That's why I sent them flowers a couple weeks ago.  I didn't want you to die, but it was almost like I could see his face and hear him saying, "Send Retha flowers while she is alive."   That ain't nothing compared to all the years we lost, but I can't change that now.

I did visit at Christmas.  If I remember correctly, I promised to come for Sunday dinner one day.  I don't know how long I'll be but I intend to keep that promise. When I get there, we will have us a Sunday dinner.   It'll be great, even better than when we were kids.

This is not goodbye.  I'm saying, "Later gator" and I know you are saying, "after while crocodile"

Love you -
In Loving Memory
Retha Woods who moved to Heaven 05/11/20

Hmmm... It's like the Bible predicted what's happening now...

Do you know what the Bible says about current events?  Here is a chart with a few of those things.

BIBLE SAYS	WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY
They shall not drink strong wine with a song	Bars closed
Harps ceaseth	No concert venues open
Cities confused,	Same
Every house shut up so that no man may come  in	People quarantined not allowing visitors
Crying for wine	Liquor stores have been closed in many states
City streets empty	NYC is a good example
Joy is gone	Many are scared and/or depressed

Read Isaiah 24:8-11

Hmmm...  Do you see how fitting that is with what we are living through today? 

If you keep reading in verse 13 the Bible says, "...there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done."

The olive tree in this instance is symbolic of the anointing (which is the Holy Spirit) that God's people have. 

In Bible gleaning is when you would "shake out" everything that was left at harvest so that nothing was wasted.  (The book of Ruth provides a beautiful illustration of this. In the book of Ruth Boaz left plenty for Ruth to pick up easily) 

If you are a Christian God is telling you to "shake" or let your anointing flow in a way that makes it easy for others to pick up.  That might mean sharing your faith on social media, supporting your church in whatever they are doing to offer services, or it might mean showing the love of Christ to all those you meet. 

If you are curious about Jesus or the Christian faith, God is leaving plenty for you to pick up.  The fruit of the spirit will be around you in heaping piles and all you have to do is pick it up. 

Verse 14, I especially love.  As you may have heard, it was suggested that churches not sing.  Isaiah 24:14 says, "They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord..."

There is so much more in this!  There is so much more in the Bible!!!  I'll stop for today and get to work.

Think about this...  The Bible is more than a book.  The more you read it, the more you will be uplifted and find hope. 

Photo Credit: 

The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/22/nyregion/Coronavirus-new-York-epicenter.html)

Will You Love?

               I was asked, “If your son … would you still love him?”  Without hesitation, I uttered “Yes, of course, I will love him.  I will love him and pray for him as long as he has breath. God gave him to me, and it is my job to love him unconditionally.”   It was a tough conversation. The truth is if my son did the thing in question, I would be disappointed in him and immensely brokenhearted.  There is no question my love would remain, but he wouldn’t have my favor and gifts the way he does now.

   

                A short time later another conversation prompted a similar question about a close friend. “If she says… what will you do?”  I wasn’t sure. I’m still not sure.  I uttered, “I would never be mean to her.” I would hate it if she did the thing in question, but I love her.  My love wouldn’t end.

               

               Someone should probably ask me the same question about my church.  “If they do something you hate, will you still love them? If leadership messes up will you still go?”  I’ve been bothered by decisions in my church. I haven’t wanted to go. I haven’t been consistently in months.  I asked God to send me somewhere else, but He hasn’t. This morning, I pulled myself up and went to my church because I needed to go.  I can’t explain how I need the church, but I do. The sermon today was about commitment and attending church.  God always has a sense of humor with me. 

                When faced with the question of would I still love my son, Absolutely!  To the question of would, I still love my friend, for sure!  Would I still love my church?  I should, do I?  How loyal am I expected to be? Let’s be real, I live in East Tennessee - I have options.  There are a plethora of churches on every corner.

                I heard a speaker talk about embracing hate. As a Christian, that raised my temper, as my indignation said, “Now wait a minute…”  I don’t agree with everything she said, but she made some valid points.  One is that you hate because you love.   I would hate it if my son made the choice in question because I love him and want what’s best for him.  

                Hate that is fueled from a place of love isn’t bad as long as it is directed at action(s) and not a person. 

                You can hate sin and love the sinner.  You can hate abortion and love the abortionist. (That one is hard for me.)  You can hate homosexuality and love the homosexual.  You can hate the mistakes a loved one will make or has made but still love them.  

                It doesn’t matter what you have done, are doing, or are considering doing.   God still loves you.  I raised my son expecting him to choose Christianity. Anything less will break my heart.  God created us with the expectation that we would worship Him.  Anything less than His will breaks His heart but it doesn't change God's love for us. God would say, "Absolutely!  I love my church, my people, and all of my creation unconditionally.”  

              God hates sin because He wants the best for us. God’s ways are best.  God doesn’t force us to love him back.  He is there with His arms wide open waiting on us to accept Him.  He is waiting for us to give ourselves to a relationship with Him through Jesus.   

             The question today is, “Will you still love?”.    We all have options.  It is much easier to say, “kick rocks” than it is to love someone when they choose something we hate.  That doesn’t mean God wants us to be endangered, abused, or suffering. The vital thing is trusting God first and allowing Him to show you when to love people up close and when to love them from a distance.   The same is true for the church.  Should we go or stay?  That needs to be led by the Holy Spirit.  God is love. It is His love that should lead and not our emotions.

             Love is not an emotion.  Love is more. “4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Cor 13:4-7, NIV

Love is so powerful that it stimulates the part of the brain that triggers physical movement. Love is healing. That is why newborns need to be cuddled, sick folks need visits, and nobody needs to walk through life alone.

             There’s a song by 10^th Avenue North that says, “You are more than the choices that you've made, You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, You are more than the problems you create, You've been remade.”  When it comes to loving, you also must remember to love yourself.   

Will you love?

               

Sunshine in the rain.

I’m happy. I accept that where I am is where I am supposed to be.  The road was treacherous. I didn’t think I’d ever get here.  Finally, I am here, the place I call happy.  

                If you’ve read previous blogs, you know the last few years have been anything but ideal.  It seemed like every area of my life crashed down around me. I call it my season of “Job”.

Job, the most miserable book of the Bible, is what lead me to happy.  Job’s life took a downward spiral at the hands of Satan.   Satan believed the only reason people love God is because of God’s gifts.  God told Satan to consider Job.  God didn’t cause Job’s problems, but He removed His favor from Job. God told Satan he could do whatever (except for taking Job’s life) he wanted but Job would still love him.  Poor Job.  He lost his family, his wealth, his health, and even his friends.  Job didn’t curse God. Still, he didn’t embrace his tragedies.  Who could?  He was broken by his heartaches.   Who wouldn’t be? Aren’t we all broken in some way?   In the end, Job realizes,  God is greater, and God is faithful.   His ways are not our ways and whatever happens, God is still God.  In the face of pain beyond comprehension, God is still God.

God restores.  God restored Job to better than ever.  Jesus came so that we could have life and have it more abundantly.  In our good days and our bad, God is God.   In our seasons of prosperity, God is God.  In our seasons of joy, God is God.  In our seasons of Job, God is God.  He is our Father and he will restore perfect peace to our soul.

Job, the book in the Bible, is spelled exactly like J-O-B, meaning work.   Think about that.  Job had to fully rely on God because he lost all control, his good behavior didn’t matter and, he lost all that his hands worked for.  Once Job accepted that he was fully reliant on God, things began to change.  In the worst season of Job’s life, the worst season of any human’s life, Job had to put others first.  God told Job to pray for his friends.  Job did, and then God blessed the work of Job's hands.

My life still has struggles, I’m not where I thought I would be, but God is restoring. My battles aren’t over, there are obstacles and heartache ahead. This isn’t a fairy tale and happily-ever-after doesn’t happen until Heaven.   Regardless, my soul has peace and my heart is happy.  I am where I am supposed to be.  I am praying for my friends. (No matter how hard it is or has been: bitterness, jealousy, hate, envy, and other hard feelings destroy joy.  We have to let that mess go.)  God will bless my work and my increase will come from above.  

                I know what I said may seem to contradict itself. You might ask, “How can you be in the restoration process, face obstacles, know more heartache will come and still have perfect peace in your soul and be happy?     

Peace & happiness during chaos is hard to explain.  Imagine a warm day.  It ’s the perfect temperature for you.  It is lightly raining and there is a slight wind blowing.  You look up in one corner of the sky and the sun sparkles.  I love to stand in the rain on days like that.  Sunshine in the rain is what peace and happiness during chaos are.   God speaks through chaos.

There’s a song I’ve been listening to, it’s called Even If. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqOkZiOb9u0

It might bless you the way it has me. 

Are you there yet?  Are you at the place where I call happy?  Are you in a place of peace for your soul and the acceptance that you are where you need to be?  Remember, you can have sunshine and rain.   "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil, 4:7 NKJV

I blew it...

I overheard a conversation between my son and his friend.   My immediate reaction, “Son!”  He laughs out loud and replies, “Pfffff, don’t son me, I know you….” He goes on to explain.

The moment was like a scene from Inside Out!  I’m watching myself on a screen and the scene changes to inside my brain.  There are hundreds of busy little ants that make-up my brain.  The chaos of my thoughts is divided into zones.  The ants in the Mom zone are activated. They examine the endless supply of words I spew out daily and still find none that apply.   Then a red alert goes off!  It is super loud, and finally, in true cartoon style, a ton of bricks falls and bashes the Mom zone ants.

He is right.  I’ll explain at the end but first...

Our back-story:

I’ve always taught (with words) my son Biblical principles, I’ve always told him what I believe is right according to the Bible.  I’ve always taken him to church.  My standards for him are based on these things.

He is doing great lately.  He is the best he’s been since his preschool days.  If you know anything about my journey with this boy, you know that is a big deal.  I’m thankful for it.  He didn’t create the problem in this story, I did.  It was me who blew it.

In my defense. I did some things right. 

Positive Actions = Positive Results:   He loves theme parks, the fair, skating, basketball, football,  friends, and he’s even developing a love of forestry/wildlife.   Plus, church. He loves to go to church! This makes me happy!  I invested a lot of time doing these activities with him.  In his early life, these were written into his brain as “happy places”.  

Now, here’s the hard part, His dad and I got divorced when he was seven.  It was necessary, and it was the best thing for him.   My attitude about men, “I’m busy, don’t need you, don’t have time for you”. I never said anything derogatory about men, but I wasn’t interested in an emotional attachment.  There were maybe a couple of people I almost got close to. I like to think of what happened as an implosion.  (You know how when a building needs to be gone, builders don’t want to cause an explosion, so they make it implode.  It removes the building without creating a big ole’ mess.  Same result – less drama)   

I told my son that I wasn’t interested in a relationship because I was protecting him.  I told him that I hated when women brought man after man around their children.   I told him that I wasn’t going to have him attached to anyone unless I planned to marry them.  (See, that’s a good Mama…  I had words!)

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Negative Actions = Negative Results

The Conversation:

Son: “Girls all the time want a title, man”.  
His friend, “They be doing that, ‘What are we?...’”. 
Son, “You know what I tell ‘em?!”  
His friend, “What?”  
Son, “FWB! (friends with benefits)  Who needs a relationship?!  I ain’t got time for that.”   
This is where I chime in, “SON!”

And he says, ““Pfffff, don’t son me, I know you!  How many dudes have you friend-zoned? You do it every single time.  Who you kidding?”   
 Me, “Whatever, smh”

That is when the bricks fell on my head!  He’s right.  I never said relationships aren’t worth your time. I modeled it.   I never said people are best loved at a distance. I lived it. 

With words, I taught him, “Family is God’s design.  God created life a certain way and God’s way is right.  You will be a good Godly man. You will be a good father. You will love your wife and children.”   He heard my words, but he also observed my life.

I don’t know how to fix it.   I want to say: “Son, What I meant was…. That doesn’t apply to you…. I didn’t mean….”  I know he's young and this isn't uncommon for teens.  He's not any teen. He's my teen and that's not an attitude I want him to have. 

Remember the worker ants that make up my brain?  The ones in the Mom Zone and the I Love Jesus Zone are pretty ticked off at the other zones.  I can envision them shouting at each other about how we should be a team and our actions should match our words.  

The ants in the Fear/Doubt Zone are afraid that I have implied that men aren’t needed or important.  I sure hope that’s not what he has heard from my life.

I really blew it…..  

I’ll pray through it and trust God to shape him into the man He created him to be.  I’ll also be praying to God to help me use the lessons being his mom is teaching me. 

There’s so much I would change if I could.  Parenting is tough. You only get one shot. 

I know this much; every time I follow the Bible it produces a positive result.

NO, Seriously - I do not want to pet your furbaby!

Dog lovers, don't hate on me yet.  That goes for my dog loving friends too.  Let me explain.......

I've had a busy week.  It's the first evening I've had a moment of free time.  I go for a walk. It's beautiful outside.  I want to enjoy my moment alone and decompress. 

As usual, the park is full of animal lovers and their dogs (aka furbabies).  I would never be mean to an animal but, that doesn't mean I want to come to the park to play with yours.  I really really don't! In fact, it's a little unfair I get the look of shame when you slow down, pull your dog in my direction, and I don't start making a fuss over your precious creature.  Love 'em all you want but still -  NO, I don't want to pet your furbaby! 

It isn't only dog people that annoy me.  It's the lady who is way too eager to make a new b.f.f.

It's the dude with the broken heart who sits in his swing with tears in his eyes.  What?! Am i supposed ask?   

It's the kid who wonders over to where I sit down, says hi, smiles, and stares at me. Baby girl, where is your Mommy?  That's what I'm thinking .  What if I was weirdo?  Someone could hurt her.  Why aren't her parents noticing she's gone and sitting by a stranger? Why? 

It's  the guy who won't look up from his phone and is a bit creepy.  Dude, stop. 

It's anything, everything, and everyone. 

That's right.  I said it.  It was my "me" time so why are you in my space. I'm in a good mood; why can't you stay out of my space?

THEN..... I am reminded, Jesus always made time for the people in front of Him.  

My whole perspective flips.

What if I had acknowledged the guy & his precious furbabies? 

What if I had genuinely smiled at the lady who looked like she was in need of a friend? 

What if I had spoken to the sad dude or even smiled at him? 

Why couldn't I have been thankful it was me the kid found and not a weirdo. Why didn't I refrain from judging her parents for their lack of attentiveness?

What if I had smiled at the dude who was all in his phone? Maybe he's shy, maybe he lacks confidence and getting outside was big deal for him.  

-----

What if I had done the thing that I tell people to do, "Treat People like People"? 

It cost nothing to be kind but then I guess there are times we all feel a little spent.  

Most days, I am friendly.  Extra is the word my son uses to describe my friendly.  "MOM, you are so extra...(insert sarcastic face)"   

Other days, other days are like today and today I don't want to pet your furbaby! 

I believe the world would be better if we were all genuine, nice, and decent to everyone every single day.  

I will be more considerate of those around me.  Kindness is important.  I'm sorry, I wasn't tonight. 

If you are thinking about the chick at the park who looked utterly annoyed at your presence,  don't judge her too harshly.  Maybe she simply loves quiet walks alone.   :) 

And a side note to Michele, Laurie, Shelia, & Jaime, and all my other animal loving peeps -  Sorry, cut me some slack on this post.  For what's it's worth, Michele's boy dog is a giant mess of chaotic hyperness but he gets me.   I understand your puppy love even if I don't want to pet your furbaby.  (And no, I don't want my own)