Sunday, October 18, 2009

When Do Thing Start to Get Better?

Hello readers. I haven't really been up to blogging lately, to be quiet honest i've been lazy (haha) but there's also been a lot happening... Not really gonna get into it now though...

One thing I do wanna blog about is the issue of what to wear to church. We got onto this topic on Saturday at Weston during out Sunday School training day, it was interesting to hear the views of some of the older generation, as well as from some people from my generation that were there.

I do remember as a kid wearing my "Sunday best", and then having to wear my Junior Soldier uniform (black dress pants and a white blouse). But now a days, people both young and old come wearing jeans and a tshirt. Is that wrong? One thing that was said was that as long as people come to church and hear the Word of God, what does it matter what they wear? This came from a mother of 4 boys who would rather they come to church than fight about what they wear. She has learned to pick her battles. Good point!

I have also heard the argument that you should dress nice because you are going to God's house. But my argument is, is it really God's house? I mean, a house implies that someone lives there. Does God really live in our church building? I know in the Old Testament He lived in the Tabernacle that the Israelites would have to tear down and set up everywhere, which implied that it wasn't a permanent residence for God. It wasn't until Solomon built the Temple that God had a permanent home on earth. But what about our Christian church buildings? Does God really reside there? I believe He is present, but I don't believe He lives there. I believe that He lives in our hearts. I believe He lives in the Church (people), not the church (building).

So what does that mean for church attire? I think that if God is in our hearts - inside us - what does is matter what we wear on the outside? Christ's blood covers our sins and washes our HEARTS white as snow, not our clothes.

Of course, I would stick within society's clothes standards, I wouldn't show up to church in a bikini (I wouldn't wear one anyways) or even nude (haha), but i'm completely okay if someone comes to church Sunday morning in ripped jeans. I would be okay if someone did come in their "Sunday best", as some people in my church do, that's okay! I personally just wanna wear something that's comfortable, something I can move in, something I can worship God in, and for me that would be jeans and a tshirt.

Now in the Salvation Army, there is a uniform, and i'm not gonna get into that cuz that's a whole other tangent, though I will say that the Salvation Army uniform is a symbol and a representation, something I would never want to get rid of. I do not wear a uniform because I am not a Senior Soldier (member of the church), I am simply an adherent.

I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on what you wear to church and why!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Emergency Numbers

I saw this on a friend's blog and thought it'd be cool to share it here...

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

When God seems far away,
...call Psalm 139.

When your faith needs stirring,
...call Hebrews 11.

When you are lonely and fearful,
...call Psalm 23.

For Paul's secret to happiness,
...call Colossians 3:12-17.

When you feel down and out,
...call Romans 8:31.

When you want peace and rest,
...call Matthew 11:25-30.

When you want courage for a task,
...call Joshua 1.

If people seem unkind,
...call John 13.

ALTERNATE NUMBERS:
For dealing with fear,
Ps. 34:7 "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them."

For security,
Ps. 121:3 "He will not let your foot slip — He who watches over you will not slumber."

For assurance,
Mark 8:35 "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."

For reassurance,
Ps. 145:18 "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."