Mosh Pits and Community (Part 2)

"Dad-
The best thing about a hard core show-
(A particular musical and dance style-
That is shall we say.......a bit dangerous-
Dangerous-
In the sense that there are some pretty wild movements-
Movements that can lead to collisions on the dance floor)

Uh..... let me start over-

"Dad-

The best thing about a Hard Core show-

Is that you don't have to worry about hurting anyone-

About starting a fight................

It's sort of expected that people will crash into one another"

There are so many different directions I could run with that statement-
Many predictable-
I think I will run with the less predictable.

It is amazing to me how much Grace my son seems to

find in something as crazy as a Mosh Pit.

A question-
Do you have a place you can go where you can totally be yourself-
Where you can let down all the facades-
Where you can be honest-
About your fears-
Your doubts-
Your temptations-
Your............... sin?

Do you have a place where you can flail about wildly-
Sometimes rythmically-
Sometimes not so rythmically-
A place where you can collide with other Christians-
Without having to worry about offending-
Without having to worry about starting a fight?

Do you have a place where much Grace is given-
A place where much Grace is received?

We live in a dangerous world.
It seems we always have to be on gaurd-
On the defensive.

I don't know about you but,

I need a safe place.

A place where I know am loved........

No matter what.

I need a place where I can set aside theology-
A place where I confess the good and the bad-
A place where I don't have to work so hard.........
To look good.

I need a place where I can feel the arms of Jesus wrapped around me.
I need people who won't judge me.......
but will still challenge me.

I need a place where I feel Love of God........
Through the Love of His people.

Acts 4:32-33
All the believers were one in heart and mind.

No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,

but they shared everything they had.

With great power the apostles continued to testify

to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

and much Grace was upon them all.

Heavenly Father-

Thank You for my close friends-

Thank You for how You use them in my life to show Your Great Love for me.

Father,
Help me more and more to come into Community with my brothers and sisters.
Help me to be an instrument of Your Grace to all those You bring my way.
Make us all into safe havens for one another-
Even as we collide in the Mosh Pit of this Life.

Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit-

Take even the pain of the collisions

and use them to spur us on to Love and good works.

Amen

Changing my heart (Part 3)

I can not change my heart alone. I do not want anyone to get the wrong idea from parts 1 and 2. No amount of disciplined living- Directing my eyes and feeding on what is good- will ultimately be successful when it comes to finding the Life God made me for-

If I try to do it in isolation.

God works out my heart changes in the context of Community- Through relationships- Honest real relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ as I discipline my eyes and my appetites.

I need help. Yes- I need help from the Holy Spirit to become what God made me to be, and I find His help most often in the context of Authentic Relationships with others who have committed their lives to Jesus.

A friend recently said to me-

"Charles, I don't believe I have to go to church to be a good person."

At the time I nodded in agreement- and in some sense I still agree.

Going into a church does not make you good any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car.

I get that- I think I understand where my friend is coming from, yet..........................

I am not sure when people say this kind of thing- if what they really mean is........

I don't need a community of believers to be good- I can do it myself.

What a lie- from the father of lies.

If I am ever going to find the Life God has made me for- The Life He sent Jesus to win back for me- I am convinced it will only be found as I pursue vital living relationships with others in His Body.

These others are not my salvation, but they can be an incredible expression of God's Love for me- To lead me to Life.

John 17:21 Jesus prayed, "that they all may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe"

Father in Heaven- Lead me to others who love you today. Bring us together in You for the Life You have for us all- Together.

Amen