I believe in the church of Jesus Christ. I believe that He came, died, rose, and put Himself in Spirit into his people for One Purpose. He wanted to live as a body of people on Earth!I believe in His brothers and sisters. I believe that each of His people has Him inside, and that His people can learn to share Him with each other in a Heavenly way... here on Earth! I believe in a couple of men who lead and then go away! I believe in the church!
I believe God's greatest desire is to push, pull or drag everything into Jesus Christ. This has not happened yet, and I don't know about the future. But He is calling all who will come... to come... to His House.
I believe He wants to live in an US, as often as He can!
Then, I look around the "christian world" today...
I believe there are many things in the 'christian world' today that slow down and/or flat-out prevent His One Purpose from actually happening, among a group of Christians. I don't mean to judge... it's just hard to find any place where He, Himself is front & center and the star of the show. (Let alone a place where there is no "show".)
I - and we here - shore ain't poifect! But it bothers me to see what people settle for.
I long for the day when most christians' lives won't be dominated by human systems like Pastors, Bible Study and Sunday Service, to just begin. I would do anything on Earth to prevent these distractors from happening.
But I know better. Other Things will always be more popular than Jesus Christ, because Other Things can be explained, used and controlled. If I could banish all the distractors today, men would invent more tomorrow. Men will always invent systems in which they feel they can succeed.
Trying to seek and follow the spirit together is a constant exercise in FAILURE! Nevertheless, this is our goal. God has not called us to succeed. He has called us to live together in Christ, in the spirit.
Here in Arlington, we live in HOPE. We are messed-up, but we are determined to know HIM together! We try to focus on Him. We fail. We try not to hurt and kill each other. We find Him again. We never quit failing. We find Him again. And we're not holding this together by human effort! (That's for sure!)
I strongly wish there were more of us here. I deeply wish there was more of THIS elsewhere. I've met lots of individual christians who love the Lord, and they do other things too... but where is a GROUP that is held together by NOTHING BUT the Lord?
I'll never change the world - why try? But I'm always hoping to find a few people willing to chuck it all and start over! Every saint that moves to THIS is another vessel with MORE of JESUS CHRIST for me to Know! And even the ones who won't move here, but who will find more of their Lord and of Freedom - even if the chains fall off but they stay in the pew anyway!
Some will see MORE of Him.
I'm looking for them. I'm writing for them. And maybe I can help to destroy the distractors for them! And maybe some of those will ALSO come and help us discover MORE here.
This was my purpose in blogging.
Anyway, I won't be around for a while, because my goal for the summer is to finish this one project. (You can check back in August... I hope!)
Why all this work? I don't know. 'Cause I'm crazy? Or maybe 'cause I'm no good at sports! And you gotta have a hobby, right? ;)
It's been nice roaming around the 'blogosphere', but I got a reason for being here.
Jesus Christ is so simple. The rest should not be so complex!
25 comments:
here here,
amen,
and
SO BE IT!!!!!
Nice post, Bill.
what? you expected me to say something else? No really...nice post. :)
And if you'd like some bibliographical material for your summer project--if you'd like to borrow some books on the Story of Jesus--let me know. I have some that would benefit you.
It is so wonderful that you value the doctrine of the Church so much.
Mike, please do go ahead and send me those books. When you do, could you also return the ones you borrowed from me... several years ago!? That'd be great! ;)
VEry true. The REST should not be so complex.
Amen, brother!
I love the REST!!!
(or should I use HIS proper name?)
;)
Hey, Johnny...
Jesus Christ: Simple.
The "rest": Complex.
Capice? ;)
Hey...
Don't you have work to do?!
Alright, Bill! Now I got you to do it.
Yes, Sensei-Johnny.
Mike - never before and never again!
"nothing but the Lord" - Amen.
"determined," "never quit" - good words. I'm encouraged to keep going.
Hey bro. Thanks for that. I'm exhausted of finding fault in the church.
I'm with you... summer blogging break!! Focus on Jesus? Simple. Try to fix the world? Horrific.
Thanks for the reminder. Count me inspired.
Thanks Adam. Thanks Jeff. I'm encouraged right back!
Remember - Christ in a "youse guys" is HIS hope of Glory.
Hey, Bill! Is it possible for the sake of the people visiting you from Zoecarnate.com to make one more post available to the public for these summer months? http://herobill.blogspot.com/2005/06/my-bible.html - your Lecto Divina post?
Sure, Philip. I have no idea on earth what "Lecto Divina" means, but I do take requests. I'll put it back up.
Now you go ask the DJ if he's gonna play "shout". ;)
"Lecto" is that stuff that comes from cows. Some people are "lecto intolerant."
"Divina" is a kind of very light, but sweet, white candy.
"Lecto Divina" is very tasty.
We should all try it from time to time.
High-stair-ical! :)
I love it! Yes, you are crazy but you are holy.
I believe in Jesus Christ, not in the church. He didn't say you would be saved if you believed in the church, but IN him and On His name. He does seal us with his spirit, but many people with that seal are carnal and fleshly, not expressing the life of God residing inside of them. Salvation only means you've been saved from eternal condemnation and have a right relationship with God. Giving God freedom to live His life in the believer is optimal, but frankly only seen in glimpses here and there, even in the best of us.
OK
Summer is over!
Back to blogging!
Soon, Joe... Soon.
And thanks for saying "hi". :)
Hi!
Your concept of soon and mine must be different.
Bill. Where are ya?
Bill,
I've missed you. Great post. I'm still reading your story bible. I hope all is well. I loved the pic of you in your library. I'm in the midst of a church plant. I hope we hold on to some of the values I've learned from you.
Peace.
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