Butler

AMEN!

I love it! For ages I have only read "self help" gospel. You know, the ones that will make our lives better and more productive. Its refreshing to read this again.

Sean

Praise you Lord for your grase and mercy!

Its wonderful that you mom is back with you! God really is so good!

Bless you all!

Sean

In this season of my life Im a follower. God has however planted a seed in my heart that has given me the desire to lead a home study group or "home cell". The conditions arent right at the moment but I know that God will make a way.

Sean

How many times a day do you bless someone? If you are anything like me then the idea of going out of your way to do a favour for someone else makes you cringe. Well that was the old me.

Today I had a long hard think about my attitude. I cant honestly remember the last time I did a favour without moaning about it and the idea of doing something without even being asked was just absurd.

Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of this world. We need to set a good example. Imagine how wonderful the world would be if everyone would do something nice for someone just once a day. WOW!

Borthers and sisters, I am turning over a new leaf and will start blessing people not because I will get blessed in return but because it is what Jesus wants us all to do. Join me and lets turn the world around.

May God bless you, keep you and His face shine upon you.

Sean

My fiance has found a job! We took a bit of a knock but God really came through for us!

Thank you Lord!

We have a live band at church and a dance team. They are all spirit-filled believers. The Lord uses their ministry to bring glory to himself. Our youth church is very large, and growing weekly, with new converts every week. God blesses a church that praises Him with all they've got, with excellence!

When a church blesses Him, and are doing it right, it grows! God brings people to a house of praise! That is the attraction! He is not going to bring people to a house that isn't obedient and worships like mourners.

You make a good point.

Im going to have to think about this one. I think I still need to talk to my friends about this one though. They should know that Im struggling.

God bless!

Sean

If it is all done as unto the Lord, then it's fine! God loves a worshiping heart and He blesses a worshiping church! Our leaders, if they want to bring us up higher in worship, then follow them as the Lord would have you do.

I agree that God loves a worshiping heart. Im also sure that God enjoys loud music (He seems to love SHOUTS of praise) but Im beginning to believe that music is a kind of magnet to attract the youth. What ever happened on relying on God. I guess we all have to use our talents that God gave us but Im still not convinced.

My question is still this. When did Church start being about bigger and better?

Sean

Oh we do that. We actually do that alot.

The problem is that my friends believe that the church is going in the right direction. Well some of them at least. Actually it will be interesting to hear what everyone has to say.

Sean

While I agree that people can start Churches I know that we are not ready for that one!

Another problem is that our Church has this whole "if you arent part of the solution then your part of the problem" thing going. This is fine and all but it makes it hard to approach the leadership cause if I disagree with the direction the church is going I must be part of the problem.

Its crazy and to honest Im a little tired. We are having small group tonight so I might as well speak out and see what happen. God be with me.

Sean

Ah, rock music. Yeah its a toughy but my rule of thumb is if you hear its wrong just turn it off. There is lots of really good music out there.

God bless!

Sean

Hey there guys and gals!

Well the service last sunday was brilliant and the guest speaker (who was from north africa) was such a blessing! It was just what I needed, except for one thing.

We are "upgrading" our Church at the mo and this will mean that a gallery will be built upstairs for more seats and a new sound system will be put in to make things better sounding and of course............louder.

Now dont get me wrong, I love lively music and I listen to alot of "ccm" and loud music at home but when it comes to praise and worship I believe in respecting God and while it can be loud and joyful it shouldnt get out of hand. The newest toy that was bought was inteligent lighting. Its the lights that you would see at a large concert or at a club. They spin and shoot all these coulors onto the stage. Impressive but it could not have been more inapropriate.

I just dont know anymore. I LOVE loud music but I am struggling to honestly praise God when the front of the Church is lit up like a sycadelic christmas tree.

Any thoughts?

Sean

Hi there sister!

Yeah, I come from a similar Church. We are drummed with the "money" story too. Its sad and I often wonder if its right to continue attending this particular parish.

The congregation are told that "if you are faithful God will bless you". That is 100% right! The problem is that when things go wrong people start thinking that God obviously isnt on their side. I have experienced this.

The Churches are preaching a one-sided gospel and this has got to stop. Its true that God wants you to have many wonderful things but tons of money isnt always what you need.

Hope tomorrow is a better day

God bless you!

Sean

I am currently going through it for the first time in my life. As I am typing this reply we are waiting for news from my dad. He is in ICU and his organs ceased to function.... We are in another country and mom only has my brother with her. So, I am sitting here all day, wondering, waiting, emotionally tired, but my spirit soars....

Daddy is saved and we are preparing for Jesus to take daddy home....

I have comfort in the fact that my daddy is a child of the Living God and that God knows what He's doing, even if it hurts us in the process. He is in control! Amen!

My prayers are that God will be glorified whatever the outcome.....

Esther

Im sorry that you are going through this rought time.

Knowing that your dad will be with God is such a relief Im sure. The promise that we will be reunited in heaven is something to hold onto. I will be praying.

God bless

Sean

Hi there brother!

Yeah, I lost a brother. Not a blood brother but a friend that held a very special place in my heart. Like I said, my brother.

His name was Jason and we started off playing in a band and as we progressed we atarted getting closer. Eventually because he had no family (that wanted him) he started living with us (most of the time). He was loved by all of us and became part of the furniture. We were all doing some seriously wrong stuff (in the band) but when Jason started dating an underaged girl I flipped and left the band.

Its at this stage that I came back to Christ and that was the last time I spoke to Jason. He felt that I had abandoned him (and maybe I did) but we just couldnt co-exist in the same room without our differences causing an argument. I saw him once again before he died. It was at a party and he was completely wasted. We stood around in a circle of friends and I said nothing to him.

About a month after that I got a knock on my door from 2 of my friends and they told me that Jason was killed on his motorcycle. My whole world crashed.

I honestly believed that I could put off meeting with Jason until "tomorrow". Unfortunately "tomorrow" never comes and now he was dead. I have never been a big cry'er but at Jasons funeral I just couldnt stop. Why didnt I talk to him!

I know that I was wrong to shut him out. I have (almost) made peace with myself about that. Jason was a good man. He was once a leader in the Church and played in the praise and worship team. He made some bad decisions in his life and went astray. I just know that God looks at the big picture and Jason (while disobediant) was one of Gods special children. He is in heaven right now.

Sorry for the long post but to this day I still get very emotional talking about Jason.

Friends, if there is anyone that you are at odds with and arent speaking, go to them right now and make up. You never know when will be the last time you get to see them.

Sean

Hi there sister!

I dont have children nor am I married but I do come from a divorced home. My advise to you is make sure your children are protected during this period. If he has a temper problem and he might take it out on the kids dont let him keep them.

Make him a deal. Tell him that if he can prove that his temper is under control after 6 months of supervised visits then you can renegotiate and maybe unsupervised visits can become possible.

This is just my humble opinion. I will pray for your situation. I will also pray for your children. Its very hard for everyone going through a divorce but it can be especially hard on kids.

GOD BLESS!

Sean

I can really sympathise with you on this one. While I havent had them a good friend suffers with them terribly. He had one in the car on the freeway and tried to punch his way out of the car!

The can be brought on by large amounts of stress as well as insufficient sleep and a variety of other things. My suggestion would be to take your son to a doctor and if its not medical then a therapist.

Lots of people get all upset when I mention therapy but there is nothing wrong with it. I spent many years with my "shrink" and it turned my life around.

I will be praying!

Sean

I just cant help feeling guilty. Its like a great friend that has never let you down but when things look like they are turning against you you question him. I guess I just dont want to hurt God.

Isnt is strange that no matter how much God blesses us, how much He rewards us or how faithful He is we sometimes still find it hard to have faith enough to believe that He will come through?

I for one have witnessed amazing things. My hands were healed when I was young, I have seen manafestations that are quite real and also seen "God hating" friends come around and give their lives. You would think my faith is unshakable. You would be so wrong.

Often we have proof and still we doubt (to a degree). Why do you think this is?

It just amazes me. When did parents loose the right to protect their kids from things that were harmful to their faith?

The children should have the right to leave the classroom when homosexual material is being taught. Why dont they just set up a homework class for the kids?

I think that people are so desperate for a savior that they will adopt the firts fool that come along.

I read up a little about him and what he preaches and I think it goes beyond scary. I think its dangerous. He is preaching that the Church is confused and that the Gospel is false. He even said that the deciples were the most wicked men that ever walked the earth! CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS!!!???

I couldnt care less about this idiot but the people he is deceiving are being led straight to hell. It actually maked me so mad!

Well as some of you know Im going through a rough patch at the moment. My fiance's job and her health issues are causing a few grey hairs.

About a year ago my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and after the operation has been doing pretty well. Last Thursday she was booked back into hospital cause the doctor found another lump in the remaining breast. We were all terrified and she really didnt want to loose the remaining breast. We all waited to hear the results and finally when the doctor came back to us he had good news. There was no cancer just a harmless growth. She was back home the next day. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!

Sean

I think its all got to do with what you can relate to. I like lots of different styles of music, everything from classical to metal. My father on the other hand only likes 60's music. He thinks todays stuff is rubbish and without substance.

There are "ccm" songs out there that have touched me more than any hym has. There are powerful songs that have been used by God to speak into my life.

Just a thought