Ephphatha

I have heard this song on the radio quite a bit lately. Yes, its true I listen to country music with some regularity. I must admit as I heard this song today driving home from worship a mix of emotions crossed over me until I ended up landing on being sad. I am saddened by the fact that so many people hear this song and many of them will take it as Gospel Truth. I am also saddened that so many people I know would agree with this suggestion- that God must be too busy to worry about me, and my issues- otherwise wouldn't I have heard something back from him? Country Music often times has some interesting theology indeed- but I would tend to agree more with Garth Brook's "Unanswered Prayers" over this one- how about you?

In the face of my sadness over the state of country music as well as the state of so many people we had our monthly healing service tonight. And I got to say...God was not to busy to be in our place obviously! Due to bad weather our numbers were pretty low (seven) yet the spirit was there in a major way. It is so amazing to see in a quiet setting the work of God, as she seemingly reaches into our world and touches us where we are at. This service has become to me one of my most anticipated monthly events and I am convinced that for the future of our church this must be a central part of our identity. From experiences like this I believe God cries out "I am not too busy...come to me you who are weary and weak, come to me and I will fill you".

So...what do we do to further the promise of God's presence in the face of a culture where so many think "God must be busy?"

Labels: the church, theological ramble

it has been sometime once again since my last blog and really i have no good reason for this other than the fact that i have just not done it. i miss it, i miss the outlet that blogging has sometime provided so like many of us have said before- I WILL TRY HARDER TO BLOG MORE!

anyway, what has brought me back to this world of blogging is the subject of suffering. i am leading an adult bible study at church on the book of job, and this week we spent the majority of our time focussing on the idea of suffering- what is the hardest part about it, what we hope/expect from other people when we find ourself in the midst of suffering, etc. i also brought this subject to our newly formed youth group and was amazed as normal by the wisdom that they young people bring forth. so i wonder, all you out there in blogger land- think about a time that you have been "suffering"- perhaps you never have- great, but if you have, or if someone you love has, what was the hardest part about it? and what did you hope you would get from other people.

related to suffering, i was saddened last night by the state of our world- more specifically the state of marriages and families. in my small group of eleven last night, 9 of us were from families that were divorced, and four of them more than once...that is just sad- and i know there were more in the other group as well. it broke my heart to see the way this was tearing at the very being of these kids, and i wonder what can the church say in response to this? what is our role as the community these kids come to for something? and what is that something? okay, enough with the questions, but please ponder with me.

in other news....payton turned 1 last month, and logan will be 4 in a week. my how the time goes. the church continues to grow- we now face the problem of being too big for our current space. we have a website up and in progress-
Advent Website. life is good, god continues to bless us in amazing ways.

jg

Labels: church, life, theological ramble