It has been a crazy busy summer.

So many amazing friends, so many great great memories made just hanging out and being random and goofy.

My favy. haha.

God has brought so much blessing and I am humbled and so very thankful.

It crushes a person to realize that things are not what they seem,

things and ppl that were so important to you and precious.

I have lived thru many things,

but only recently have I ever been truly crushed.

It only takes one time...

but the things learned from it

are priceless, precious, and permanent.

It is definitely worth the price paid,

though the evil involved was never God's plan.

He is faithful in bringing beauty from ashes,

to bring good things from what the enemy meant for evil.

It is in the consequences of the crushing

that the sweetest fragrance is released from the most fragile of flowers.

And it is in that fragrance of prayer and sacrificial praise,

that crying out with all sincerity and passion,

that broken place, that trampled place,

that God transforms us and lets us rise up into his presence and his favor and his grace.

Some people seek popularity and power

and they will gut anyone and anything to get it.

Such people can make you bleed and never blink.

It can rob you of your hope, of your confidence that there is some kind of good in every person.

But God is a restorer.

He blesses when those around you choose to curse.

He gives you strength and newness, and seven times seventy what the enemy took.

He gives you hope once again,

that there is good in the world,

confidence that some people do reflect his character,

the courage to intercede for those that choose to embrace evil, to forgive them, to let them go with God.

The evil remains for a time, but it will never rule and reign.

Though so many claim to labor for the Kingdom of God,

not all who wear his name actually do.

There is a separation

as heartbreaking and devastating as it is.

And you can see it like a black bold line

when you examine the fruit of a person's character,

what they value most

how they treat others to get it

there willingness to kill, to justify murder,

to make excuse for the sin of those whose favor they seek,

who supply them the popularity and the power that they crave...

to look the other way

as though that makes them innocent.

There are casualties in war.

Not all are healed, not all are rescued,

not all choose Life...

and Jesus weeps.

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broken

It gave way... the wall
And the earth shook in the crashing.
Clouds rose in the silence
Then settled.
It was accepted,
The crashing,
The harshness of necessity.

The wind blew softly,
Sweeping a path thru the pieces,
Swirling away the dust.
Cleansing breath;
To live once again,
To be strong,
To rebuild beyond what once was.

Tears finally dry.
Sweat drips in the labor.
The rebuilding is now.
A new day,
The sun shines golden
With sweet warmth
And with a light that purifies.

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Thoughts during a conversation with a college-age friend, who is searching out a church to attend... Thought this might be helpful to others as well. I know several ppl who are at a similar crossroads in their life. Luv and Hugs <3

--------------

I was raised Roman Catholic. My husband was raised Pentecostal Holiness. Both of us were out of church when we met, but as our relationship became more serious, we began discussing God. It's an amazing story how God brought us together and back to him. But in the beginning we wondered how it would ever work with our church backgrounds the way they were. We began reading our Bibles together -- we weren't even in church at the time. And the church that seemed to fit our understanding best of what we were reading and what God was putting in our hearts at that time was the Assembly of God denomination.

We were there for 11 years and loved it, but felt God was calling us to a contemporary movement called the Vineyard. We were there for eight years, and have recently settled in a Nazarene church because our teens are challenged by the youth group and love it. They are also very community outreach minded, and are not just hearers but doers. Tons of opportunities are available and encouraged to get involved in practical community fellowship and service.

I was just thinking this week how refreshing it was to actually feel like a part of THE CHURCH rather than A CHURCH. I recently heard of a band called BRADDIGAN. They really stress having a heart for a global community. I think there is too much emphasis on our churches and not enough emphasis on THE CHURCH as a global force ministering to a global community.

anyway, sorry to ramble so... it's late and I'm very sleepy. I was just so moved by God lately. He is so real and active in our lives today. If a person just takes the time to believe that he is speaking to them, they will hear him saying so much to this generation of the church (young ones and old ppl). haha. (Selahgirl)

...

It gets complicated sometimes trying to find a church that is in tune with everything in our heart or that we feel Scripture teaches. I don't think I've ever found one that aligned perfectly. But the core of the Christian Faith, the standards of the Apostle's creed, Nicene Creed... is the heart of the Christian Faith for me, cuz it's laid out in the word of God from what I understand after reading the Bible and praying for Guidance.

Beyond that I feel like God tells us to work out our own salvation. That doesn't mean to find excuses for stuff we want to do... it means to let God fine tune your walk and make it personal. It's like being cookies made from the same doe, but shaped and decorated and flavored by the baker's own hand and preference. So there is a distinct beauty in every denomination that agrees with the fundamental teachings of the Christian Faith.

The Vineyard doesn't take a stand on several controversial issues... such as the Rapture. There were ppl that believed it and others that thought is was a ludicrous teaching. So the church taught that either could be true... but here is the catch. It was never boldly taught from the pulpit. It wasn't a big deal at first, but over time I missed hearing messages about the Blessed Hope of the Rapture. And my children weren't hearing it proclaimed and taught in the sanctuary (though they heard it at home).

So it's kind of a give and take when you step outside the fundamentals of the faith. I don't think denying the rapture will send you to hell. You might not go up when it occurs, but you just might. I don't know how God will judge or fulfill it. I'm just called to express to the people around me what I believe God wants of us and of me, and then I've gotta step aside and let them work out their own salvation with God. Our walk is so completely personal, yet so very global and community focused. I luv how it will never fit into a box!

Your heart is following desperately after what will please God. I am convinced that such motives will always lead to good things. Our heavenly Father loves us, and will not allow us to mis-step if our heart is sincere. Mastering that wrestling within our own heart is the most difficult part, but God will walk you thru it. Sometimes it's a process requiring much patience so we can be sure of what we believe, if it was always easy we would be tempted to doubt further down the road. (Selahgirl)

:o)

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There is no one I know of that is speaking more under the anointing to this generation thru worship than David Crowder at the moment. It is not about the man or the band, it's about what God is speaking to all of us personally who make up the church and what voices around us are confirming that message. David Crowder's song NEVER LET GO is impacting a generation at the moment, as well as several other songs from his current cd. He is more than a musician. He is a minister, a teacher, a voice for this hour of the church... that is challenging people to walk closer to Christ, to be like him, to view the world and the chaos in it thru God's eyes and not their own, to keep their chin up, to look toward heaven for their redemption, watching, waiting and never giving up.

The moshing, the extreme expression, everything that seems outrageous on the outside is a release of the tensions swirling around this generation. Sometimes we just need to scream, like a pressure cooker, to let it all out. God has given us permission to express ourselves, he made us emotional creatures, with a keen ability to feel... not just love and flowers, but anger and frustration at the injustice around us. We all see the consequences of sin increasing exponentially from our parents generation to ours to this one. They face a much darker world than we did at their age, and there is connection of the internal and the outward expression.

What we need to do as God-ordained mentors is to be that gentle voice reminding them to keep Christ at the center of their being and their perspective. We live it, we make it available, but it is God that convicts and convinces them to embrace it and own it.

The biggest message/challenge I see for this generation is SELF-CONTROL. Not just teens but in every generation of the church merging in this hour. We have come from an era of prosperity and are entering an era of difficulty. The challenge is to maintain Godly character in the face of disappointment and loss. Satan may temporarily rob us in the physical, but the question is whether we allow him to rob us of our joy in the spiritual/in our hearts. Perspective.... how we view it... how this generation views it... if all of it is measured to the promises of God and the prophecies of his word, a peace and power emerges. But it still remains a choice, a need for self-discipline, restraint, a rejection of haste... to be constantly conversing with God in all that we do, big and small.

I see this generation hungry for that kind of relationship with Him.
And I see key voices in worship/music that are moving them in that direction. Not just music that sounds holy, but music that can seem abrasive. It is the violent that take the Kingdom by force, passivity and harp-playing churchiness stamped on something doesn't make it God's will. Jesus was a controversial speaker, a kind shepherd, emotional at times, angry at times, expressive at times... but always acting with self-control and never losing site of the will of God in everything he said and did.

That's the model for every generation.
And each person in every generation must make daily choices in the matter.
I love the teens of this generation. They are gutsier than any before.
As bad as some choose to be without Christ,
there are Godly teens that are outrageous in their commitment to Christ!
Talk about rawkin the world... this is the generation of the church that is doing it. The music is just a reflection of their worship and the challenge placed before them. God is talking thru many voices, and they are listening and ready to act on all that he is saying.

peace
^_^

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Here are some Indie bands I ran across that I like, and a couple of my favy songs by each.
Share some of ur new finds...

20 TON ANGEL, song: POINT YOUR FINGER, hard
http://www.myspace.com/20tonangel

Devine Dayle, song: ORDINARY WORLD, beaut soulful worship
http://www.myspace.com/devinedayle

MANIC DRIVE, song: OBVIOUS, rawk
http://www.myspace.com/manicdrive

all these bands are playing at the
ICHTHUS CHRISTIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
June 2008, ichthus.org

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hmmm.... another crazy week. Let's look at this past weekend...

my daughter had her wisdom teeth out Friday and is needing lots of TLC during the recovery, pipe under kitchen sink breaks and floods, dishwasher breaks down (huge deal with a house full of teens and company always dropping by), some sweet little ol' lady (not much older than me, haha) rear ended me at a stoplight, hubby gets sick at a friends on his cycle late one night so I head out to pick him up just as a literal tornado blows right over the city, hmmmm... I guess that's enough for now.

but, let me tell you what God did....

My daughter had no complications and is recovering nicely and been in wonderful spirits despite it all. Still waiting on the landlord to get a plumber here to work on the sink and dishwasher, but I've been able to keep the dishes caught up in the meantime. And it flooded under the sink, but not the whole kitchen, so the mess was minimal. Little lady was really sweet, and there was no real damage to either vehicle, so we let it ride. Hubby is much better. Tornado blew over our city and hit the county beside us but damage was minor. Everyone is healthy and happy and my son got a new job that he's very excited about. On the heels of my husband doing the same...

so...

it just proves that while crazy stuff is endless in life, God sustains us and blesses us despite it all. My emotions have been a rollercoaster, but a crazy peace seemed to rest on me in the midst of the most challenging moments. God is truly with us, and that Truth will bring us thru anything we face in life. No matter if we're laughing or crying in the journey, things are gonna be okay. Just remember that. I know you've all got stories to tell as well. We all do. But God loves us all equally and just as precious. We're never alone, and life is never hopeless... because Christ is the author and finisher of our hope, of the future, and of the here and now.

Have a blessed week <3

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