Why Church?

 Why church?  Should we go to church because of what they can do for us or to grow as individuals and encourage others?  Many of us struggle with this.  There are so many things churches can offer, but is that really what church is all about?  

Are the Christians of Today too Comfortable?

Are Christians Too Comfortable?

Romans 12:2 (NLT)
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Proverbs 6:6 (NLT)
"Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.  Learn from their ways and become wise!"

1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

1 Timothy 4:1-8(ESV)
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.  For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.  A Good Servant of Christ Jesus.  If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.  Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Compassion Indianapolis is an organization that recognizes different states that are serving others admittedly for their beliefs.  I was part of the effort to help my city become one.  I have never really been a part of a religious organization without Christ being at the center and was a little skeptical at first; but I found that actually, it allowed me not only to step back and embrace the many differences with love and respect, but also to be bold in my walk with the Lord.  While the effort encouraged us to reach out to others in need, it also enticed us  to do that  through encouragement rather than persecution or condemnation.  

Are the Christians of today too comfortable?  My youth pastor told us once that something is wrong with us if we are comfortable.  I didn’t understand this at the time, but later realized that stepping out of our comfort zone creates humility.  We are all human, so our souls need to be constantly fed and nourished just like any other part of our body, so as to not stunt our spiritual growth.  When they are not nourished it is like someone who is told to lose weight, but does not put in the recommended exercise and still expects results.  Putting into practice the spiritual discipline of being willing to be taught and led nourishes our souls; it grows and sprouts abundant fruit for a healthy spiritual growth.  

Many Christians focus solely on their beliefs and don't bother learning about the beliefs of others as if they do not care about other religions, but how will our ministry be effective if we do not understand what others believe?  Isn’t it better to come to a shared level of understanding before sharing the gospel or discussing it rather than simply judging them?  Instead of saying they are stupid in their thinking, why not strive to understand why they think that way?  Simply preaching may bring some to their knees, but oftentimes we make judgments without looking at the full story.  When we come to a better understanding of where people  are, there is room for God's work.  This also leaves room for us to share our views in a two-way conversation instead of pushing our understandings on them.  Too often misunderstandings play a role in both race and religious tension among the world today.  They may be wrong, but isn’t that God's place to judge?  As believers we need to know what others believe so we can have intelligent discussions, finding a common ground to better share the gospel, instead of being defensive.

When we neglect to put what we know to be true into practice both outside and inside the church it cheapens God's grace.  We are called to be salt and light, but most people like comfort; however how does one grow if they strive to be comfortable all the time.  Churches appealing too closely to the preferences of the people will leave a sense of comfort, discouraging change and with good intent Change can be good.  We need people that will spur on others  to be the “salt and light” both inside and outside of the church, even if that is hard.  Yes, our faith is not based on what we do, but instead on a response to or as Mike Donehey puts it "an overflow" of the faith we have in Christ.  He explains it best in another video, "We are the cathedrals that house God's spirit...The coolest part about my purpose...is to bring Jesus with me to my job [whatever you do]".  I find that often when going through a struggle or when God asks me to do something big, I complain and start to question God, making excuses as to why I can't.  I want God to show up in certain ways that will comfort me, to take away the pain, or to support my plans  in life.  There is nothing wrong with that, but why not instead ask Him what He wants?  Just ask and He will make it known.  For who knows us better than the creator of the universe?  We receive this deep connection with the Lord through grace alone and deserve nothing.  When we ask Him what He wants of us, we begin to see life differently and form a stronger bond with him.  Is it any better than asking for help?  No.  He says in Matthew, “ask it will be given”, but when you ask God to see it from His angle you open up new space.  .  You never know what He could be teaching you.  

          This year I have been trying to take action with what God has instead of looking at the end goal and feeling overwhelmed.  Through prayer and seeking the Lord more, he has begun to plant all sorts of ideas in my head, not only directing my future, but gives me little ideas or inspirations each day.  We can all impact the world in some way (big or small) wherever we are.  Sometimes it's the little things in life that matter the most.  There are times I may not know, nor fully understand His plan or even why I am to do this or that, but if I just let go with trust and obedience, I will see the way.  It sounds so simple and it is, but still requires great stamina and discipline.  With Christ anything is possible and he can give us the stamina and discipline we need to serve him.

Compassion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmRoyqDDs1g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wktlwCPDd94

 Do Something - Matthew West

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RjndG0IX8

We are Cathedrals Mike Donehey Video Journal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0l2UmNy5wA&list=PLrq5kfc63lHdyJ7sHMNwKKqGXmMO4G-OA

Too Comfortable

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=JMFM9MNU

VERBALIZING your GOALS tells you they're ACCOMPLISHED!?

Simply VERBALIZING your GOALS tricks your mind into thinking they're ACCOMPLISHED!? Changing my major last year, blogging and sharing about goals I have to get there, I have found it a good breather, but am now striving to put it to practice. Talk is cheap and too often do I plan a routine more than doing it. On the radio someone said that sharing that you are going to say skydive once in your life or any goals tricks your brain into thinking you already did them, but I never really believed it until it actually occured to me and I read an article about it. From the gathered responses of friends I have heard some interesting points. My roommate said when she has a goal she does not share it with anyone until it is finished if at all or unless it is brought up in a conversation. Many of my friends agree as do I that it is good to set goals; whether mentally, written down or verbally. Accountability partners, whether friend, teacher, or simply someone you look up to can be very useful in these situations. As some have mentioned this article may not apply to goals specifically, but rather dreaming about the future, ideas, or dreams, but isn't that where goals come from; however I do agree that it is not healthy to stay in the dream state and not set any goals. When you set goals you create a challenge for yourself. Carrying out the goal depends on how motivated you are to do it. So quit the chatting and get to doing it. Yes it's good to ask for prayer, but sometimes answers come in doing. And if you're like me don't worry about looking at every option to attack the goal correctly. Sometimes it's just trial and error. As I have said in other blogs: sometimes mistakes are our way of getting where we want and we can't do more than our best. Maybe doing things as they come to mind instead of simply talking about them. What about proper preparation before I say I will do something such as sharing my testimony and just winging it even if I feel unprepared. I know having accountability partners helps, but it's up to me to actually do it right? Maybe that's why people say talk is cheap...
What do you think? I would love some thoughts and opinions...

Other resources:
https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself

Living Inside Out!!

Introduction

         There are a lot of people who are still talking about the movie Inside Out!!  I had the chance to see it when it came out in theaters and was inspired to write this amazing blog about how the we all needs to gain a better understanding of how to expresses themselves or use their emotions appropriately.  This being said I apologize as I let time get the better of me.  Through the courses I have been taking at school as well as the course of my years as an adult, I have come to realize a few things: There is a time and place for everything (see Eccl. 3) discussing my fears or emotions is one thing, while conquering them is another.  It may seem obvious when you put it in such plain words, but as much as I thought I knew this I guess I thought writing about it was how I could deal with it.  While writing about what I am going through may inspire me to change or help me come up with ideas to do so, but it will not necessarily solve the problem unless I allow it to.

Living Inside Out!!

 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."

Titus 3:9-10
9 Do not argue with people about foolish questions and about the Law. Do not spend time talking about all of your early fathers. This does not help anyone and it is of no use. 10 Talk once or twice to a person who tries to divide people into groups against each other. If he does not stop, have nothing to do with him. 

         There was a time in life where I unknowingly was believing a lie or only half of the truth: "If God's got everything in control then life's great.  What reason do we have to complain?"  Often people (myself included) think that those who complain are annoying.  They judge them for what they see on the surface rather than ask if they are ok or simply come down to earth and just listen.  Within the last year I have found for me it is easier to process or think through problems externally.  Now I may not want to, but if not, I will bottle it up.  Instead I should leave the cap loose if not off, so as to not later burst all at once.  Now, I am not saying we should complain all the time, but it's ok to cry every now and then and learn how to express yourself appropriately.  Take the movie "Inside Out" for example.  The whole movie was built around the fact that the little girl was doing all she could not to cry, when in the end crying was a way to release all the unnecessary tension in her body.  Now I do not cry as often as I should.  It is as if I feel there is usually something wrong with me if I am.  There are also times when it is best to talk or simply vent with someone and there are times you just need to cry and that is ok.  So look at it this way.  The next time someone pisses you off there may be something going on under the surface.  This is not always the case and they may not even want to talk about it; however, instead of jumping to conclusions, stop and say maybe they are hurting.  Even if they are not, what good is it to add fire to the fire.  Put it out with water instead and try to fight heat with kindness.  Life is easy.  People make it difficult.

      In the pilot of Friday Night Lights, Coach Taylor says, "Every man at some point in his life is gonna lose a battle.  But what makes him a man is that in the midst of the battle, he does not lose himself."  It is just like the saying, it's not the mistake, but how you deal with it.  From the world’s perspective, how we deal with life is often determined by our emotional state; however, it doesn't have to be.  It all comes down to finding the appropriate use for our emotions.  As stated before in "Inside Out" she finally gave in at the end and used sadness to express herself when she had no other option.  Have you ever seen the commercials for allergy medicine where the picture starts off fuzzy and then later the fog is lifted?  Now, when I say God has everything in control it has a deeper meaning.  I don’t just brush it off and say everything is ok.  I do my best to stop, pray, and think about what I should do in the midst of my everyday life.  It was as if I was looking through a cloud and all of a sudden it was just lifted and the colors around me were heightened and I saw everything anew.  I try to think more positively or if I get stuck in the mud ask God to provide a way out of it.  Sometimes we all need to cry or step out of our comfort zone to heal.  Sometimes he will do it on his own or through others, while other times the answer to prayer comes through actions.  It's not always easy to express yourself and society's expectations don't make it any easier, so rid yourself from any preconceived ideas or intentions of how to go about it and just try it.  You will never really know until you do.  As we see in the scriptures it says to cast your cares and concerns upon the Lord.  There are many ways of expressing yourself.  Just because you are using something someone else wrote does not make you weak, it's still your voice so let it be heard.

Fail or Success

          In order to move on to my future, it has become necessary to look at my past.  There are times I dwell in my past and have not been able to see any hope in my future, but with one step at a time, I am getting closer to a goal for a much happier and brighter future.  Not living in the past or dwelling on it, but remembering the past and learning from it, so as to better live in the present for a better future.  I find it interesting that often "The enemy fights the hardest when he knows God has something good in store."  I love how it is best put in Season 3 of the TV show Nikita—The Guardian: “…to think about her future…she needs to be completely clear-eyed about her past.  After all, we can’t know where we’re going until we know where we came from.  It’s not an easy journey, it can be painful, arduous, but if we have the courage to face the truth it can lead to the right path…[sometimes we just need] clarity.  Our minds can be unreliable narrators.  You may think you know with absolute certainty what’s in your past and then you find out you don’t know the past at all.”  I have been through a lot   
         

The best thing anyone could say to me is you're not going to make it as a singer, you can't sing.  Many leaders were told of their insignificance.  Take Moses for example, he was convinced he had a speech problem when in the end it turned out he was just scared and didn't see it until he tried.  Albert Einstein was thought to be mentally handicapped and anti-social because he did not speak until later in life, but became to be a great scientist.  Plus if you ask me it's better to listen more than speak and I think he said something about that.  No in all seriousness telling me I couldn't sing was what pushed me to realize I wasn't living up to my fullest potential and ever since I began to see I never really pushed myself when it came to the I don't really care to do.  Like for instance, I am now in a Jazz class and I realized I am having a lot of fun with finding freedom in my voice and I should just let go and not care what I sound like.  Isn't that true with life as well, live, learn, and grow?  That year I found myself looking at other areas in life and putting more effort to learn from my mistakes.  Sometimes it takes a mistake to learn what we shouldn't do or don't want.  It was as if God was asking me if I was born walking and talking.  Well, when you think about it we have been learning from our mistakes since birth, we needed to fall before we walked correctly and mess-up our speech before we could form words.  I like how Eric from Friday Night Lights puts it, "Every man at some point in his life is gonna lose a battle.  He's gonna fight and he's gonna lose, but what makes him a man is that in the midst of that battle, he does not lose himself."  In other words, it's not what we go through, but how we respond to it.  I hope to one day I learn to carry the freedom I learn in Jazz to all the music and in life as well.  As I said once before true freedom is when we are comfortable with vulnerability.  That way I can learn to give my all through all I seek out in honor and reverence of the Lord.  For as it states in 2 Corinthians 10:17 "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."  Now I am not saying life is all about the achievements in life; however, it is often full of surprise and sometimes we need to work around them with what we have.  A lot of times we go through struggles that may bring us down, but it should only move us to push harder from another direction.  Now the teacher I had the conversation with may not like my answer, but there are plenty of times teachers have said this and I seek to do this, but only on a momentary standard, so it's about time I made a change and learn my lesson.  This being said don't let anyone convince you that you can't do something until you try.  Hard may not be easy, but it's not impossible.  For it's only as hard as you make it, so why not make it fun and as enjoyable as you can.

Confession

1 Corinthians 6:12-13, 19-20 (New Living Version)

“ I am allowed to do all things, but not everything is good for me to do!  Even if I am free to do all things, I will not do them if I think it would be hard for me to stop when I know I should...The body was not meant for sex sins.  It was meant to work for the Lord.  The Lord is for our body..."  Do you not know that your bodies are a part of Christ Himself?  Am I to take part of Christ and make it a part of a woman who sells the use of her body? No! Never  Do you not know that a man who joins himself to a woman who sells the use of her body becomes a part of her?  The Holy writings say, 'The two will become one.'...Do you not know that your body is a house of God [other versions say temple] where the Holy Spirit lives?  God gave you His holy Spirit.  Now you belong to God.  You do not belong to yourself.  God bought you with a great price.  So honor God with your body.  You belong to Him."  

Luke 9:23(NIV)

“Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

         Confession relationships have not always been my strong suit.  Yes I'm great at building friendships, but what I am referring to is a relationship with the opposite sex.  In my family, my age group is the next to get married, so it is a topic I have been thinking about a lot lately.  I've only been in one relationship, but it did not end well.
         My first year of College I saw a great spiritual need, but not many outlets to offer help.  I was ministering to others so much there were times I forgot to take care of myself and was drawn into the attention I was receiving from guys.  At first it was simply conversational, but then lead to a friendship and it was not until it was too late that I realized I had a problem.  I thought I was putting the needs of the other first.  I had the right intentions, but let my emotions get the better of me.  I looked to man instead of God.  As Mike Donehey puts it, "When I realize I don't want that thing
[, but] it's really the one who made that thing [or person] that's the one my soul longs for I can trust Christ [with my life]."

          OK, so let me start off by saying too many people in society portray the wrong idea of a relationship and it is almost nauseating.  Too often do I see people rushing into a relationship without getting to know the person.  In a discussion in one of my classes a student said people questioned why her and her fiance had not lived together before they got engaged or even talked about marriage.  What happened to getting to know one another?  As we see 1 Corinthians 6:16, "a man who joins himself to a woman...becomes a part of her."  Science calls it a releases of oxytocin and vasopressin creating a strong bond between one another lasting regardless if they want it or not.  The release of these hormones are often believed to be the reason some people stay in an abusive relationship.  Knowing this is it really worth pushing the limits in a dating relationship when you are not sure will last?  I love the way singer/songwriter Tyler Ward put it, "You're never going to find the right person until you are the right person."  This being said we don't know what we have to offer or sometimes even what we want until we know ourselves.
       Marriage is more than a simple companionship.  It is a relationship with one another designed to glory God by showing the full image of Christ.  If dating is practice for marriage, how can we know our role if we don't know who we are in Christ?  I love how the movie Not Easily Broken ends, "God didn't make me to be a husband [wife], coach, or daddy [mommy].  These are just titles not who we are as men [women].  But I guess, sometimes he has to let life turn you upside-down so you can learn how to live right side up".  To be honest for the longest time I always thought I was a Tomboy or one of the so called, "tough girls".  It's not so much that I liked to hang around guys.  In fact I avoided guys until my Junior year of High School.  It was as if I saw them to be "fairly useless and unhelpful" as Courtney Reissig says in her book, Accidental Feminist.  I was also afraid of doing anything girly as if it would make me seem weak.  Culture has many stereotypes on the roles men and women play in both the world and home.  It doesn't make any girl/guy less or more of a girl/guy if you do or don't do the things every girl/guy does.  As long as you are being yourself and are not afraid of who you are that's all that matters.  So don't hold back just be yourself no matter what others think.  If someone doesn't like it that's their problem.  Besides all that really matters is what God thinks of you right?
       I didn't know what true love was until I knew who I was in Christ or what I really wanted.  I sought after affection and comfort from others to fill what only God could.  Then coming from a broken relationship I believed a lie that the broken relationship was all I knew; that I couldn't love and wondered if I ever did.  I began to learn that as C.S. Lewis puts it, "humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."  I've had a rough start and I don't know about you, but I want to start new, to save myself for someone special and I'd go as far to say till marriage.  I have no problem with falling in love with my best friend and wouldn't mind if he loved God more than me.  There is more to a relationship than the physical and sometimes all it takes is to really get to know yourself before you know what you have to offer or even what you want.  So who are you really and are you believing a lie keeping you from seeing the real you, (who God made you to be) and how does that affect your relationships?

Sources:
I Suck, You Suck, Let's Date! Tyler Ward

Sex Tips (my hope for young women) Tyler Ward:

Where Life Will Never Die Mike Donehey

Beloved: The Last Supper - Mike Donehey

Other Resources:
Why It's so Important to Marry a Godly Man!!

Don't Settle When You're Dating Jefferson Bethke:

Fear God or Man

Romans 8:31-39
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"  

        We are to fear God not man.  We should not be afraid of God, but we should fear Him in reverence to who he is as Job learned to do.  Fear can promote humility with the appropriate response!!  Don't get me wrong, fear is not of God; however overcoming fear is not accomplished without humility.  Too often are we clouded by pride.  When we fear we feel vulnerable and vulnerability reminds us of our mistakes.  Overcoming our fears allow us to Trust God and fear him rather than man.

True freedom comes when you're not afraid of vulnerability.  Then and only then can you fully surrender; giving God full authority.

What if we look at fear as a reminder we are not perfect and overcoming it as a way to step out of pride?  Satan can not create, but only use or twist what is already there, so hidden behind every lie is a truth (Read Screw-tape Letters by CS Lewis).  If fear is not of God, then it is a twisted or false form of what is true.  So is Fear a lie?  Identifying our fear allows us to look at our mistakes and turn it around.  Once identified, we see what lie we were believing and have the option to change or learn.  Without humility we cannot overcome fear.  Overcoming fear produces humility and humility peace, which allowing us to experience the full depth of the Christ's love.

         In the movie, Batman, the first thing he is told to do in his training is to rid himself of all his fears.  In fact he gives himself a name from which he most fears, bats.  This year I made a goal to overcome all my fears.  First thought, I just didn't want anyone to have anything to use against me. While it’s not for everyone, for me it turned into a way to give of my all to God.  I thought maybe I watch too much TV for no one was out to get me, but Why should I let any fear keep me from carrying out a plan God has for me?  There are plenty of fears people have, but don't we really just fear ourselves?  We are man as well and we are to fear God not man no?  Hard is not impossible it is silly not easy.  It is only as hard as you make it.  When overcoming something when I try to fight it I find myself making up excuses.  At church last Sunday my pastor pointed out that: often when we find excuses come easy is when God wants us to do something and just trust Him.  When we step out of our comfort zone we become very vulnerable and the first thing that seems to be in check is our pride.  Sweating blood before death on the cross, Christ may have been scared, but he was not reluctant to carry out God's will.  Through this not only do I begin to find greater freedom with the Lord, but greater peace with myself as well.
       When we become comfortable with vulnerability is when God can use us the most.  We find hope when we cling to the knowledge that freedom comes after the fight.  Or as it says in the scriptures, “The battle is already won”.  Too often do I struggle with the fear of making a mistake, but how will we know unless we try.  For the longest time I hated doing anything in front of anyone: singing, public speaking, even just speaking up in class or small groups I worried I would say something wrong and now look where I am.  I began to see that many fears are based on a lack of good knowledge or understanding or bad/false experience.  Remember as Job learned to Fear God not Man.  Fear is a powerful tool.  It can either bring you up reminding you to be humble or tear you down when you focus on your flaws.  So which do you choose?  Do u fear God or Man?

I would love to hear some of your thoughts or opinions on this subject.  Please feel free to leave you comments and questions or any other suggestions on topics you would like me to blog about!!  I am open to any suggestions and compliments as well as constructive criticism.
      ~Thanks

  
#Kalei #Blogs #Fear #Misunderstood

Sources Used:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZL2tAWcGj8&list=PLrq5kfc63lHdyJ7sHMNwKKqGXmMO4G-OA&index=2