Well they often say "3 strikes and your out"!
Well for me right now it's 4, but by the grace of God I'm not "out" as Paul often described in other words,"I may be down but not out"
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2 Corinthians 6: 3-10
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Not to mention here 1-3. but 4 is this:
I had been going back and forth about whether the church we have been going to is for sure the right one for now. The first 1 1/2- 2 yrs I was content and set. Always on verge of wanting to get more invoved, but not yet able to fully do it. I have been feeling soo stuck & frustrated (not just in this area though) and fighting this feeling of futility.
I really had been tossing and turning about getting more involved in ministry there at church. Always just about to do it, but for whatever reason not taking that leap. I wanted to be sure, I wanted to know that I knew and not start something and then have to pull/back out of it. I believe now that was the Holy Spirit holding me back, knowing what was to come. Then there was the questioning in my mind that if we, this church is supposed to be Assemblies of God- why isn't there any talk about "being filled with the Spirit", or speaking in tongues, the gifts of the spirit, why didn't I hear people "praying in the spirit"???
I wrestled with this as well, but took it as not a good thing bu not really something "bad" either. It becomes "bad" or wrong, if they start talking/preaching against it. It wasn't at that level, so all this time I've kept quiet about it, swallowed my thoughts in silence (for the most part, for me, lol).
Plus I wasn't sure, but I had my beliefs why the pastor was avoiding the subject. Even now after all this time when they are supposed to be doing like a month and a half long series on the subject of the Holy Spirit- they have been skirting the issue and still have not said anything clearly, but only implying things.
I had been getting really annoyed and somewhat bothered, but then all these things add up. Finally tonight as I was praying and crying out to God in my Spirit, sensing that tight sese of "stuckness" of a horrible "feeling trapped"... I was led to look up some things and I ebleive I found my answer and my peace about it. I found information tying different things together that paints a picture that now makes sense, however discouraging and deeply dissapointing.
I also must add that there were some other points: how the pastor had suddenly gotton so hung up on the whole "cause of the illegal immigrants" wnating to fight for justice and such things. Making a big deal about and sending a team to an area where a bunch of people who were being charged and in process of being deported were staying. This was supposedly for the purpose of feeding & counseling them. I say it that way because I thinks a good thing when you just look at it as people who are in need of food, babies who need diapers etc. but to bring the whole discussion & argument of the whole illegal issue, into it is another thing. Just let's minister to them as people in material & emotiional need- that's it..leave all the rest out, the first is enough and the second shouldn't be a reason to motivate- one way or another.
Then just this morning I (and my spouse as well) were troubled by the fact that they mentioned they were joining with some community organizing group (can't remember the name- but I'm sure it's some extreme liberal group "fighting" for extreme liberal causes) to "sue" the state government over minority kinds in the city, particularly hispanic ones , over them not getting enough funding for education. This is like the whole Meeks protest. My spouse was really bothered about that one. Even though for the most part I stand on the side of the working class, those in need and vulnerable, I try to be fair (even more so these days). It is ridiculous to blame suburban schools and communities for the education problem our city is having. They pay for their own systems out of their own pockets, and contrary to how some want to make it sound, it's not the suburbs that have taken money away from the city's failed education system. It's insane & demonic to get raving mad at the suburbs while being deaf & dumb to the financial corruption in our own city & city government!!! This is who people should be mad at- Daley and the city & county governments. They are the ones misappropriating funds, lining one and others pockets whille charging the "soo needy citizens for every little thing: fees tickets, taxes etc...I hate these stupid fees, fines and taxes- to what? Line the Stroger family's pockets? To pay off Daley's family & friends, to pay off workers (in what ever branch that may be) to sit around and do nothing but yet say they did, to what build the "majestic Millenium Park" all for the glory of Daley and tourists- paid for off the backs of the people in this city! Oh the liberals claiming to love the poor & needy so much while at the same time Daley trying to "cleanse" the city of the homeless, lower class and those that would look bad for the image, esp. since of the whole issue of the Olympics. Yes, lets drive the poor out to the south suburbs or something (anywhere but here) and put in more beautiful flower pots...makes me want to scream & gag. (actually I am right now in my mind).
Just today I got the information on how there's a 4.7 million payroll for 50 city employees etc. etc....and sure, the suburbs are to blame.Why aren't more city people bothered about this? I guess people don't care about corruption, or they are numb to it. OK then stop complaining about CPS, CTA & blaming it all on the suburbs...
Anyway (stepping off the soapbox), We though it strange our pastor was getting invloved/connected with such things, that his mind seemed to be getting filled with different ideas...
...the worst of it yet to be described...
Well for me right now it's 4, but by the grace of God I'm not "out" as Paul often described in other words,"I may be down but not out"
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2 Corinthians 6: 3-10
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Not to mention here 1-3. but 4 is this:
I had been going back and forth about whether the church we have been going to is for sure the right one for now. The first 1 1/2- 2 yrs I was content and set. Always on verge of wanting to get more invoved, but not yet able to fully do it. I have been feeling soo stuck & frustrated (not just in this area though) and fighting this feeling of futility.
I really had been tossing and turning about getting more involved in ministry there at church. Always just about to do it, but for whatever reason not taking that leap. I wanted to be sure, I wanted to know that I knew and not start something and then have to pull/back out of it. I believe now that was the Holy Spirit holding me back, knowing what was to come. Then there was the questioning in my mind that if we, this church is supposed to be Assemblies of God- why isn't there any talk about "being filled with the Spirit", or speaking in tongues, the gifts of the spirit, why didn't I hear people "praying in the spirit"???
I wrestled with this as well, but took it as not a good thing bu not really something "bad" either. It becomes "bad" or wrong, if they start talking/preaching against it. It wasn't at that level, so all this time I've kept quiet about it, swallowed my thoughts in silence (for the most part, for me, lol).
Plus I wasn't sure, but I had my beliefs why the pastor was avoiding the subject. Even now after all this time when they are supposed to be doing like a month and a half long series on the subject of the Holy Spirit- they have been skirting the issue and still have not said anything clearly, but only implying things.
I had been getting really annoyed and somewhat bothered, but then all these things add up. Finally tonight as I was praying and crying out to God in my Spirit, sensing that tight sese of "stuckness" of a horrible "feeling trapped"... I was led to look up some things and I ebleive I found my answer and my peace about it. I found information tying different things together that paints a picture that now makes sense, however discouraging and deeply dissapointing.
I also must add that there were some other points: how the pastor had suddenly gotton so hung up on the whole "cause of the illegal immigrants" wnating to fight for justice and such things. Making a big deal about and sending a team to an area where a bunch of people who were being charged and in process of being deported were staying. This was supposedly for the purpose of feeding & counseling them. I say it that way because I thinks a good thing when you just look at it as people who are in need of food, babies who need diapers etc. but to bring the whole discussion & argument of the whole illegal issue, into it is another thing. Just let's minister to them as people in material & emotiional need- that's it..leave all the rest out, the first is enough and the second shouldn't be a reason to motivate- one way or another.
Then just this morning I (and my spouse as well) were troubled by the fact that they mentioned they were joining with some community organizing group (can't remember the name- but I'm sure it's some extreme liberal group "fighting" for extreme liberal causes) to "sue" the state government over minority kinds in the city, particularly hispanic ones , over them not getting enough funding for education. This is like the whole Meeks protest. My spouse was really bothered about that one. Even though for the most part I stand on the side of the working class, those in need and vulnerable, I try to be fair (even more so these days). It is ridiculous to blame suburban schools and communities for the education problem our city is having. They pay for their own systems out of their own pockets, and contrary to how some want to make it sound, it's not the suburbs that have taken money away from the city's failed education system. It's insane & demonic to get raving mad at the suburbs while being deaf & dumb to the financial corruption in our own city & city government!!! This is who people should be mad at- Daley and the city & county governments. They are the ones misappropriating funds, lining one and others pockets whille charging the "soo needy citizens for every little thing: fees tickets, taxes etc...I hate these stupid fees, fines and taxes- to what? Line the Stroger family's pockets? To pay off Daley's family & friends, to pay off workers (in what ever branch that may be) to sit around and do nothing but yet say they did, to what build the "majestic Millenium Park" all for the glory of Daley and tourists- paid for off the backs of the people in this city! Oh the liberals claiming to love the poor & needy so much while at the same time Daley trying to "cleanse" the city of the homeless, lower class and those that would look bad for the image, esp. since of the whole issue of the Olympics. Yes, lets drive the poor out to the south suburbs or something (anywhere but here) and put in more beautiful flower pots...makes me want to scream & gag. (actually I am right now in my mind).
Just today I got the information on how there's a 4.7 million payroll for 50 city employees etc. etc....and sure, the suburbs are to blame.Why aren't more city people bothered about this? I guess people don't care about corruption, or they are numb to it. OK then stop complaining about CPS, CTA & blaming it all on the suburbs...
Anyway (stepping off the soapbox), We though it strange our pastor was getting invloved/connected with such things, that his mind seemed to be getting filled with different ideas...
...the worst of it yet to be described...