Sunday, February 8, 2009

Is it possible?

I have these dreams that are SO real.
I used to think that my dreams were the reason I didn't sleep well. I would wake up in the morning after a full nights rest and be exhausted. But now I feel plenty rested and still remember most of my dreams. I have recently been taking my dreams more seriously and writing them down. Sometimes I write them down and i go back and read them I go "oh...." and other times I just think "well that was an interesting dream having to do with absolutely nothing." But mostly my dreams are just a curious thing of my mind for a long time meaning nothing until the time i look back on them. Is it possible that God is trying to speak to me though my dreams? maybe that's crazy?

Some of my dreams have very obvious meanings.

If God IS trying to speak to me through my dreams how do I know? When's God speaking to me? it's not like there are websites for these things...

Anyway... just an interesting concept. any ideas?

Sunday, February 1, 2009

United we stand... Departed we fall.

"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." - Ephesians 4:1-6.

If ever there was one thing I learned from being in Campus Crusade for Christ and Bellevue Community College it was that there were no more powerful times than when God's people (no matter denomination) came together to worship him. Lutherans, baptists, Pentecostals, it didn't matter, everyone was there to worship God and it was powerful. We loved each other and people who were not Christians saw our love for each other despite our differences. I remember times when we would all go and hang out at Jesse's house (a young man with 10 brothers and sisters who lived in a small 3 bedroom, one level house and a tiny little living room) and we would come together and worship God! I really believe that is the attitude the Lord desires from us. it's keeping unity. And because we were a unified body of believers (about 50 or so) we were able to see people come to the Lord and join our family.

Somehow the church has fallen away from his and separated themselves into different little bodies. It really bothers/hurts me to see lovers of the Lord pollute and dishonor the name other lovers because of their denomination: as if one denomination should be considered higher than another.

Maybe all of this falls under the issue of control or pride? Paul said "be completely humble...." if recognizing any christian denomination as equal to one's own means stepping on their pride then I guess that would make Paul's statement apply.

Jesus even prayed for this. Before he died he prayed that we'd be unified. "...I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them 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 that you have sent me... May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17) - Jesus also seemed to believe that this unity would be a light to the world of the gospel.

Well, What do you think? Maybe I'm a bit too harsh?