practicalmonk
Tune out the noise
Tune out the noise
July 2 was the middle day of this year 2010. I can't believe we have come to the middle of 2010 already. I started this year with goals and expectations and promises from God. And now I think its a good time to reflect on how the year has transpired so far. Statistics say that most of us have given up our resolutions and goals by valentine's day. If that is the case now is a good time to recalibrate and try again. If you are far from your goals, gave up on them or never even started, better late than never.179 days left in this year. Lets go! How's it been for ya'll?
Resurrection by Nicol Sponberg. Hope ya'll have a great week!
According to a Barna group research on the christianity of twentysomethings, if you are 20 something, then you are in an age group that is the most resistant and spiritually independent age group in America. We make up the group that is least likely to be attached to a church. And I have found this to be true in my circle of friends too. But this does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. As americans we do tend to approach church like a shopping adventure from a consumer mindset. And I don't recommend that. But on the other hand I have seen and am experiencing myself a different trend. We value authentic faith and community and when we dont find it at our present churches we are more likely than any other age group to leave and look for another church or setting to live out our faith. According to the same Barna Research, we "are significantly less likely to believe that a person’s faith in God is meant to be developed by involvement in a local church." I found it interesting that this was a general trend among 20 somethings and not just something I was experiencing.
We often have a hard time reconciling times of trial and suffering whether personal or not and a good God. And in times like this we can either "allow our view of evil to determine our view of God and cut him down accordingly or we can allow our view of God to determine our view of evil and elevate him accordingly accepting nothing is beyond his power for good." (Willard)
Hope this reminds you to keep worshipping as you go through your day...
I have noticed people get into the habit of watching TV shows or sit on facebook when they dont want to really face life or deal with the stuff in their lives. Our lives lack any excitement that we have to now tune into Hollywood to add excitement to our lives. Instead of appreciating and living our lives, we are bored with ours so we tune into other peoples lives. And hence we never have chance or time to make a change in our lives because we are happy with living other people's lives. All these reality shows are more show than reality.
In a time and generation where we are blasted with media and information, it has become more vital for us to filter what we let into our lives. And be careful of our "teachers".
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm(Prov 13:20). Who is it that is speaking into your life concerning purpose, success, money,sexuality etc ? Who are you walking life with? Who do you go to for counsel? If it's hollywood, Oprah or reality tv chances are you are walking with fools(Def. of a fool).
Take a good look around you. Do you like what you see? Understand your life down the road is going to look like the people your walking life with today. Now do you like what you see? I cannot expect apples if I plant seeds for oranges. You cannot expect to be godly if the things you are sowing into your life are ungodly.
America has a favorite color. Its gray. We even think in gray. There is no more black or white. There is no more right or wrong. Because now it all depends. Depends on what you feel is right or wrong. We want to include every one's opinion irrespective of right or wrong. We want the freedom to decide right and wrong. This cannot happen because truth my friends, is exclusive by nature. One of us has to be wrong. Sorry for not being "nice" or "politically correct".
