I have really done this, and still do it!

We had been in limbo for a while, searching for a place to worship. We either had issues with doctrine or theology or both. So we tried worshipping a home, but felt something was missing.

We decided to go back where we had previously worshipped, even though we felt the preaching sucks. Really, I can't think of a politically correct word for what I hear. Like recently, two of points were that 1) We should trust the promiser and not his promises; and 2) We should focus on the relationship and not the results.

But why would I trust a promiser who does not keep his promises? Why does God make promises and swear by Himself? I need to trust His promises, not as I understand them, but as He gives them. God is completely faithful. And to tell me not to trust in His promises belittles Him.

And why have a relationship and not consider the results? Unless we go in with selfish motives and then of course we will be unhappy. One of the greatest things about a true relationship with God is the result of the changed life I have as a result. That is why I seek a relationship, because I know God is good and I trust in Him.

So what have I done to resolve my dilemma? I use my i-pod during services to listen to preachers that uplift God rather than try to sell some god to me that needs to have someone give excuses for his imperfections. Really. And the preacher has seen me with them in. And no one says a word about it. Now, I must have had them a little loud a couple of weeks ago, because the little old lady in the row in front of me looked back at me a few times, but no one has said a word in the 4 weeks we have been back. Because if you ignore the elephant in the room, it isn't there, is it?

Why go back if it is that bad? Because we have made some connections there that will likely fade if we leave, and we don't feel that we should have to give them up. Strong, gospel centered connections.

Maybe someday they will talk to me. Maybe someday I will have an opportunity to say something that will change them. I am going to leave that in God's hands. I am not seeking to create controversy, but you really can't have a controversy if one party refuses to participate. I just want to worship.

Maybe I do need to turn up the volume a bit more though.

Knowing God

Romans 11:22


Know the kindness and severity of God. Why is it that I do not mind knowing His kindness, but don't want to consider His severity. If you read the Bible, you will see so much of His severity. But that doesn't preach well, and I don't want to hear it. Jesus understood both the kindness and severity of God. He knew it from the start and everything he did was predicated by both of these. I believe that is why Jesus was like He was, compassionate for men while able to confront and preach and teach the difficult things of God. That is why He was able to let the rich young ruler walk away and not chase him down and change His stance because the man rejected His message. The Scriptures teach that Jesus looked at him and him and loved him, but that did not change the truth or the way that Jesus dealt with the truth.


I believe one of the keys to understanding and worshipping is seeing the severity of our sin from God's eyes. But how can we see that if we do not know the severity of God? How does a child learn if never exposed to the rod of discipline? How many of us have heard the words. "Wait until your father gets home!" Now I am fortunate to have had a good father and I know that he loved me. But my behavior was also based on the severity of his response if I did not do as I should.


The severity of God's response is not based on me, but on the sin that is in me. That is why I am so thankful that Jesus came to remove that from me forever. And that brings our the worship in me.