(no subject)
goldfish crackers in a ziplock bag
in a gas station garbage can
and I'm serving time til I've earned the right to go back to the place where we started from.
today i went to church. i woke up and did not want to go... but i got some persuasion.
when i got there, there were children running rampant... running into people, rolling on the ground... moving chairs around to build baricades.
there were hardly any people there.
the man who greeted us was wearing a worn football jersey.
i didn't know the songs.
the young pastor awkwardly told bad jokes.
in short... i did not like this church. there were many things that made me turn up my nose and decide that it wasn't worth my attendance. but, you must understand, i am not judgmental!! no no not in the least.
i realized in the midst of my scrutinizing of the small temple of God that despite the fact that i was distracted and scornful about the people around me, that didnt stop God's love and power from entering the room. Everyone else was rejoicing the Lord with those bad songs, but i simply decided to remain quiet until they played a song i knew. puke. who does that? once i woke up and decided to open my abusive ears to what was being said amidst the bad jokes and nervous gestures, i really learned a lot.
the message was from 1 Peter, chapter 4. it calls for us to be stewards of God's grace. here's the verse:
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
what do you value as most important in your life? where does your passion lie? those are questions that i should be asking myself. what is the point of life if we just strive to please ourselves? we learn nothing.
xoxox,
erin