Blog 12-22-2011
Here is a blast from the past that holds true today. I originally wrote this in 2008 and I was on clean up today and found this on a CD and as I read it I found it important to repeat.
Monday
PRaP 5/12/08
“Alien”
Do you ever feel that way? You go to an event and feel like you are the only one that doesn’t fit in? What is really weird is when you feel that way amongst so call brothers and sisters in Christ. You walk in and you listen in on conversations of others and all they seem to be talking about is their house or their car or how much money they are investing in this and that and women are talking about the latest sale at the shoe factory or the makeup counter and they are doing this at church. I know that as we grow spiritually that the worldly things seem to be further than ever from our minds but I sometimes also wonder if maybe there is a point that just maybe we can take that too far? Am I set apart so far as to not be able to relate with people my own age and worst of all with the same belief system I have. When I think of this I can only imagine how Christ felt. He, the Perfect sacrifice for the world was so set apart you wonder how he ever had any friends. He related better with sinners, non-believers, prostitutes, and tax collectors. I find myself being pulled further away from “Christians” in my own age group because they seem to be so wrapped up in the world they have lost sight of Christ. Maybe I am missing something here? Christ got along with everyone except the leaders of the Jewish people who denied His existence, well they denied Him being the Christ. But the Bible says in 1 Peter 2:11; “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” I guess this is what it means to live by faith. Hebrews 11:13 “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.” When you are at a party are you the alien? When you admit to being a virgin are you laughed at and called weird? When you refuse to follow the culture of this world do you feel alone? You’re in good company and you’re not alone. The Bible says that we should live as a peculiar people not like the world. Try and find that balance that you can be all things to all people in order that you may help lead a few to Jesus, whom they cannot see.
Key Verse:
Hebrews 11:40
God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews 11:39-40 (in Context) Hebrews 11 (Whole Chapter)
Week 20 for those of you doing the Bible in 52 weeks program, http://www.c2cministry.org/Bible
Send your questions to us if you need help. There is a link on our web site called “Ask The Pastor”. We will answer all questions live on our weekly Ask The Pastor program on Saturday nights from 8-10 PM and if you want an emailed reply be sure to include your email address. Remember the only dumb question is the one not asked. All names are kept confidential unless you say it is ok.
PEACE and AGAPE LOVE, Pastor, Dad, DJ Dude
From The Desk Of:
Pastor Stephen Eldridge
c2C http://www.c2cministry.org
Got Jesus?
Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
