JEClark's Blog

The other day I was riding in my truck on my way to a good friends house when I passed this church. I don't recall the name, but what did stand out was the horseshoe pits they had beside the church building. In all my thirty something years of church I never saw any thing like it. I mean we had softball fields and a gymnasium; However I never had horseshoe pits. The reason I bring this up is to say the church look inviting, really inviting. Which brings me to the purpose to this blog. Churches today need to conform to there culture instead of creating a new one thats well just uncomforable. Now what I mean by that statement is this, people at this paticular church proably don't do business lunches or golf scrambles, but they do enjoy cook outs and outdoor activites where they come together as family. So this church reaches out to the community by establishing a church that fits with what the culture is accustom to. This way people feel comfortable when they come to church and don't have to be something there not. Then the presentation of the Gospel can be taught in a inviting atmosphere. Sometimes churches can make people feel like they don't belong by having certain dress codes or so many programs a person feels lost an out of touch with people. So let Jesus be your guide and open a church thats welcoming and inviting to the community and who knows maybe even play some horse shoes .............Your Brother in Christ James

What does it mean be a Christian? I have had a chance to explore this question in full. We know that we are saved by Gods grace(Ephesians 2:8-9)But is that all there is to salvation? I mean once you recieve the gift from God of eternal life is there any thing you have to do, or can you just set back and live the life you always lived. Paul would say there is more, his words in Galatians 2:20 State he was crucified with Christ. Powerful word crucified, why did paul say such a thing? He tells us in the next part, he no longer lives his life, but that it is Christ that lives in him. Does this tell us we have to be crucified as well that we are no longer to live are lives but to allow Christ to live for us? Paul tells us in (2 Corinthians 5:17)"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;behold, all things are new." So paul tells us we are new creatures which must mean we no longer resemble the oldself, but what things is he talking about? In (Colossians 3:1-16)Paul tells us seek those things which are above, where Christ is,not on things of the earth.which are fornication, uncleanness, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry.Paul says these are things we once walked which the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, which he staes we once walked anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.Paul tells us we have put off the old man with his deeds, meaning we were crucified with Christ.What are the things above were suppose to keep are eyes on verse 12-16 tells us tender mercies, forgiving, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsffering, love etc. So according to Paul we are to die old ways and life being Crucified with Christ and to live as Christ would and he tells us this in (Ephesians 5:1-11)"Be imitators of God". Well according to paul we die to our selfs and summit to Christ but what does Jesus say? In(Matthew 16:24-26)"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoevr loses his life for My sake will find it." Jesus states we must die to are selfs as well if we truly wish to follow Him. Salvation is based on are total surrender to God, the knowelege we can't live with out Him. Once saved we must attend to the works are Father in heaven has prepared before that we should walk in them(Ephesians 2:10). Even Jesus tells us to "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."(Matthew 5:16) and James said faith with out works is dead (James 2:20).The point to all this is to say that when you recieve salvation it is only the beginng, and a true believer sets off to do his Fathers work to be a servant to his fellow man and to grow and to be made Holy. Jesus tells us to be perfect like the Father in heaven (Matthew 5:48)which we can never achieve until His return, but we should try. Rember Paul said to set your sight on Jesus not the world. We as humans are so in love with the world we try al lwe can do to be part of it to make justifcation of why we still hold on to it using the excuse were forgiven and God saved me so I can live how I want to. Even know His word tells us to cleanse our selves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.(2 Corinthians 7:1)Well just my way of thinking that being a Christian means your God's and not of this world, being santified, and made holy, may God Bless and Keep you all. your brother in Christ........James