Thought 2009/10: Clear Conscience before God

This 'Scripture Tag' I saw on a website got me thinking..




In particular, thinking about the past year & my relationship with 'my church'. Which as some of you already know is far from good, in part for reasons that aren't for airing publicly (my sensible gene kicked in there).
My relationship with God, like all good relationships is ever changing & growing stronger (in a big part, thanks to my Twitter & 'online' friends)

However, I haven't been in the church building in 8 months & that's after barely missing a Sunday & almost all other church events in the previous 13+ years!

The bible quote above has hit home, more than anything else has in the past year...

My conscience before God is clear in most places & ways - but step inside 'my church' building & suddenly I feel like a fraud - so what changes?

My dilemma is summed up again by whats above - my conscience before God (when in 'corporate worship') is clouded/unsettled... because I am aware that those around me aren't right with God - their conscience isn't clear!
Many, many of those around me are going through the motions.. being polite, civil & 'doing church' - BUT under all that festers past hurts & angers -

But rather than doing the sensible thing (in my opinion) by addressing & acknowledging the, still obvious, undercurrents - it has been generally accepted (silently endorsed?) that its easier to be dishonest with ourselves & by that logic God..

So, it seems that as long as the church 'looks right' .. God will understand & accept our weekly/daily dishonesty?
My opinion is that's so twisted a logic, it falls over before it has even begun!

Ultimately, I don't have an answer to my dilemma... Still listening to God on that one.

But... still my conscience, under those circumstances isn't clear before God..



BTW: I know that 'church' is not the building, but the people joining together in worship. Also that I could go elsewhere but (fortunately/unfortunately?) God says, for the moment, my church is still where its been for the last decade & a half.

So...

...Prayer is all I got left...

Thought 2009/9: Coach Carter-Our Deepest Fear

via youtube.com

Reminded of this clip from Coach Carter
Thanks to: Emmsy

Used this QUOTE when I became a Soldier (Full Member) of The Salvation Army..

"Our deepest fear is not that we are in adequate.
It is that we are powerful beyond measure."

So having been reminded - thought I'd share it!

EDIT: I did blog on this quote before... Right Here!

Posted via web from aldakila's posterous

Thought for 5th December 2008: The Salvation Army @ Christmas

This Should be shown Everyday on every TV Channel-From Now until Day After Christmas....
Can't remember last time I saw The Salvation Army UK advertise on TV?
In Canada & USA they seem to all the time... Deeper Pockets & Better Resources perhaps...

Quick Halloween Thought

As Christians should we be marking Halloween?

....its a complicated one..
I remember looong discussion with my Officers (Salvation Army ministers) few years ago (they were English & very anti-Halloween {as per American traditions that have filtered over here}-reason why i saying that will become obvious)

I explained to them:
In Scotland "Guising" has long been a tradition dating back over 200yrs & comes with very different traditions than modern Halloween (which has it origins more in spirits & dark tales) Also 'Guisers' could also be found out & about on New Years Eve (Hogmany in Scotland) so it almost totally not about Hallow's Eve at all!

Read More...

http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_halloween.htm

http://1st-halloweencraft.blogspot.com/2008/06/halloween-and-halloween-craft-guising.html



"Guising" was about children having fun & spending time with family & close friends (your neighbours mostly) I remember it being just that as a child...

I think if churches & christian families emphasise the fun & family side (Guising?) and don't show it as anything else (Halloween?) then children shouldn't need to feel their faith is excluding them from having fun!?
Not sure ministers totally agreed (but saw that many Scottish people saw it as something different from "Halloween" - All Hallow's Eve...)

WE had a "Light Party" instead that year - not sure that sent any obvious message to kids (except perhaps, as 1 of mine said at time, {they were early primary age} "if you're a Christian & go to church, Halloween is evil & we can't have fun!)"

Nuff said perhaps?

OOH sorry I ranted :-)

"Thought" for 29th October 2008

$150,000 worth of clothes for Palin & family (required for campaigning?!)
NO Comment!

Leave this quote & links therein, for you to digest & come to your own thoughts...

"We would be delighted to be the beneficiary of the clothes from Gov. Palin" said Jenni Ragland, public relations director for the Salvation Army's office in Anchorage.

Photo taken for this article

Quote & News Article Found using Daylife

"Salute"

BBC News

From BBC News Site:

"When Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave a gloved Black Power salute on the Olympic podium in October 1968 it sent a shockwave through sport. But what happened to the other man on the platform?"

I Think -
What happened is probably less about the "Olympic Ideals" & more about the "Olympic Corporate Image" (yes even in 1968!) - what initially drew me to read the news story was the third man, Peter Norman was 'a Salvo' (as they call members of the Salvation Army in Australia) ; But also because it seemed to me that this was a perfect example of 'The victor writes the history'.
In this case Australian Government (of even today) & International Olympic Committee (of the past & possibly still today)..

But please read it for yourself - draw your own conclusions....

{I'll need to watch out for "Salute" on TV or somewhere.}

The film has an official blog here

Oh So Me Too!! 1.5

After writing the blog "Oh So Me Too" on 2nd July, I thought well said my piece, time to move on...

Oh I should know better -

Few days later I'm reading 'The Street Bible" (now known as The Word on the Street)

Decided to look up Amos 5:21-25 & half way through reading there is this, well... Slap in the face, a thunderclap moment if you will. Best part is I wasn't alone & now my 13yr old daughter is wondering why I'm doubled-up with laughter, (feeling like) practically rolling about the floor.

Not sure why I was 'cept to say that this translation of the Bible is even more appropriate for how I feel just now!

The words & phrasing just so resonated with me that I had to:
Firstly, thank God for saying it in the 1st place & pointing me to it now.
Secondly send it out the to the 'universal ether' known as the Internet.


I feel it will possibly resonate & connect more with us 'Army Types' but any 'church going christian' should understand what God is, to me, so clearly saying....

" God Says, 'Can't stand your religion - it turns my stomach. I detest your meetings.

Yeah, fine, you bring me your offerings by the book, but I'll throw them back in your smug faces.

You bring me your peace offerings, but they mean nothing; so I'll ignore them.

Oh, and your songs: just shut up: they're doing my head in! If I hear one more tambourine I'm going to scream!

What I want to hear is the roaring river of justice sweeping through your towns.

What I want is for the right things you do to wash away the dry, hard, crusted build-up of evil.' "

Amos 5: 21-24 (Word on the Street Translation)

I'm not setting out to offend or irritate - it's just how I feel; and God, I feel is trying to point the way forward.

18 Months Late - Oh Dear!

Not going to say much @ This Moment... (Its my Birthday - so this will be short - for now)

Full of good intentions 18months ago - then kinda got distracted so, as I enter my 37th Year of life - I will attempt to Post more often....


Promise to explain Photos in later Blog... Thought it might be good to put them out there 1st & comment second

That's all @ the moment - Back Soon {I Hope!!}