this morning we spoke about values. what values do we hold? what values does the church hold? and what values would we look for in a church if we were to look for a new one?
within a church we agreed that it is good to have set values and aims so that everyone who goes to that church are aiiming for the same thing, plus it also gives the people some values that the can make their own, for example, i have taken on the values of the 5 i's, and one that has grown throughout the year was inclusion, and how far i should take that.
within ourselves, it is ok not to have a set of solid values. but it is good to have some that your more sure about, some that you can live out. and then you can begin to form the others as you move through life, also some values change, or progress as you learn more about them or more about how to live them out.
we also talked about change and if it is a good thing in the church. i think change is very healthy in a church, without it, a church would become repetative, and would not then be able to have out outlet when they can continue to bless people. change is good, but you want to have some consistacy as well. eg, you dont want everything to change at once, otherwise you may loose a lot of people.
we also spoke about th change we are about to go through. thinking about the next few months, and beginning uni, i think i am ready for this change as i have known this is where i am going from the beginning. my year was about taking me from college to uni whilst changing my mindset, and learnng more about myslef. this has happened more than i could imagine, so i am ready to move on to the next part of my life at uni.
Monday, 20 July 2009
Monday, 1 June 2009
Life by the Spirit
Galations 5
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Monday, 25 May 2009
The difference
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day
I has so much to accomplish
That I didn’t have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me
And heavier came each task.
‘Why doesn’t God help me?’
I wondered
He answered. ‘You didn’t ask.’
I wanted to see joy and beauty
But the day rolled on, grey and bleak
I wondered why God didn’t show me
He said, ‘You didn’t seek.’
I tried to come into God’s presence
I used all my keys at the lock
God gently and lovingly said
‘My child, you didn’t knock.’
I woke up early this morning
And paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.
And rushed right into the day
I has so much to accomplish
That I didn’t have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me
And heavier came each task.
‘Why doesn’t God help me?’
I wondered
He answered. ‘You didn’t ask.’
I wanted to see joy and beauty
But the day rolled on, grey and bleak
I wondered why God didn’t show me
He said, ‘You didn’t seek.’
I tried to come into God’s presence
I used all my keys at the lock
God gently and lovingly said
‘My child, you didn’t knock.’
I woke up early this morning
And paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
spiritual health
in our training this week we spoke about spiritual health. what does it mean to be spiritually healthy and what does it look like.
we discussed what qualities we value and respect in people who we feel are spiritually healthy.
we decided that it is not enough just to go to church, read the bible, pray, etc that make you 'look' good and 'look' spiritually healthy, but rather that you need to be praticing other qualities such as:
humility, integrity, a larger vision/a goal, and a passion. we need to be living these things out in our lives and by doing so, we encourage others to live them out in their lives.
we discussed what qualities we value and respect in people who we feel are spiritually healthy.
we decided that it is not enough just to go to church, read the bible, pray, etc that make you 'look' good and 'look' spiritually healthy, but rather that you need to be praticing other qualities such as:
humility, integrity, a larger vision/a goal, and a passion. we need to be living these things out in our lives and by doing so, we encourage others to live them out in their lives.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
The world could show nothing to me
The neon lights in bars
And headlights from the cars
Have started a symphony
Surrounding Me
The things I left behind
Have melted in my mind
And now there's a purity
Inside of me
Are you listening?
My week has been good, but very tiring. I’m now learning to play the piano, which is really cool. I hope the discipline needed in learning the piano will help me in other areas of life.
Jo is leaving on Sunday. This makes me a little sad, as she is a very lovely person. I’m going to Salford on Thursday. I’m so excited! I really cannot wait!
If I were to set up a church the three most important aspects that I would have included would be:
1) Good Relationships
==> I think relationships in a church are very important. I believe you cannot have church without good relationships. The pastor should be respected, but shouldn’t be put above everyone else; they are still an equal person. Every new visitor should be welcomed at the door, and welcomed by people of the congregation, accepted into the church regardless of circumstances and included in the things the church does.
2) Varied worship
==> Worship will definitely be included in the church as worship is a way of life. There will be a time of singing as this is how many people can connect with God, but I also think meditation should be involved, as well as many other ways such as drawing, moving around the room, etc.
3) Community outreach
==> I don’t think a church is fulfilling its purpose if it is not outreaching into the community around them. Many people think church is where Christians get fed from the bible, and yes this is true, but it is not the whole story. To be a church is to be a place of help for the community, not necessarily to evangelise, but to simply help and love.
Do come and visit, your presence will be appreciated, and I hope you will be welcomed well.
And headlights from the cars
Have started a symphony
Surrounding Me
The things I left behind
Have melted in my mind
And now there's a purity
Inside of me
Are you listening?
My week has been good, but very tiring. I’m now learning to play the piano, which is really cool. I hope the discipline needed in learning the piano will help me in other areas of life.
Jo is leaving on Sunday. This makes me a little sad, as she is a very lovely person. I’m going to Salford on Thursday. I’m so excited! I really cannot wait!
If I were to set up a church the three most important aspects that I would have included would be:
1) Good Relationships
==> I think relationships in a church are very important. I believe you cannot have church without good relationships. The pastor should be respected, but shouldn’t be put above everyone else; they are still an equal person. Every new visitor should be welcomed at the door, and welcomed by people of the congregation, accepted into the church regardless of circumstances and included in the things the church does.
2) Varied worship
==> Worship will definitely be included in the church as worship is a way of life. There will be a time of singing as this is how many people can connect with God, but I also think meditation should be involved, as well as many other ways such as drawing, moving around the room, etc.
3) Community outreach
==> I don’t think a church is fulfilling its purpose if it is not outreaching into the community around them. Many people think church is where Christians get fed from the bible, and yes this is true, but it is not the whole story. To be a church is to be a place of help for the community, not necessarily to evangelise, but to simply help and love.
Do come and visit, your presence will be appreciated, and I hope you will be welcomed well.
Monday, 2 March 2009
Monday, 23 February 2009
Lent.
So we spoke about lent today. As well as a few other things.
We split lent into 3 sections: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
We looked at what we would need to pray for if we were going on a long journey, and we wrote a prayer to pray each day over the next few weeks.
We had a small talk on what we were doing. Im giving up facebook. Crazy I know. But im on it way too much.
Also, I thought about how im entering a whole new part of my life. a part where it is just me. As me. Since before Christmas I haven’t just been me. Ive been me with kerry, then I was me without kerry, then I was me with candy. But now its just me. Andd im scared, but excited about my journey. Im ready
We split lent into 3 sections: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
We looked at what we would need to pray for if we were going on a long journey, and we wrote a prayer to pray each day over the next few weeks.
We had a small talk on what we were doing. Im giving up facebook. Crazy I know. But im on it way too much.
Also, I thought about how im entering a whole new part of my life. a part where it is just me. As me. Since before Christmas I haven’t just been me. Ive been me with kerry, then I was me without kerry, then I was me with candy. But now its just me. Andd im scared, but excited about my journey. Im ready
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