Outreach with BK at the beach

I'd love to spend some time with God, in the most chilled out way ever. I've got myself into a little swing of buying BK at the drive through recently (since I got myself some roller kicks and a chassis) and taking it down to Bucklands Beach.

I'm not going to waste that time anymore. I'm going to use it as a way to do 'nothing much' with God - except there won't be any L&P (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X64DZr7MPwU).

At home group tonight, I got a better perspective on it though. I'm not going to do it so that I can be uber Christian or to even get closer to God that way. The point is, I already have a relationship, and a great one at that (it's not possible to have a bum relationship with Him), so it'll just be a time for growth... and allowing Him to enter for a least little bit more time of my week.

So while I'm eating my Outlaw, I'll be deliberating with the Rebel in a bid to expand my capabilities for growing the Kingdom through Him.

Man, the argument between faith, rest, works and character about reaching success as a Christian (and what that even means?) is my biggest struggle with God. I'm content with my answers to how He created the world? And what about evolution? And is there a heaven? How do I get there? But when it comes to faith... I'm so inspired by others that talk about it - and stories from the Bible - take this one for example:

The Faith of the Centurion

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Matthew 8:5 - 13

But still it concerns me so much that maybe I don't have the right faith. Merely saying I have or haven't got faith isn't enough for it to be true.

And how about works. What counts as works of our own doing. And when does it become Christ-centred?

This is what I hope to find out through lifes experience, others testimony to it, the Bible and through prayer. I'm just going to keep growing, and work towards the goal. And one day I'll finish strong.

Lord, thank you for our relationship. I thank You in advance for anything You make me capable of doing. Lord, help me to remember Your magnificence when I get praised or complemented for anything. Let my life point back to Your life that lives within me.

Amen

Pizza

I was fighting myself today. But thought of consequence, and the gifting of just a little self-control given freely was enough to come out victorious with my relationships all in tact.

Man, I've been told a few times that the very moment we give ourselves over God and live in his ways we witness heaven on Earth. The more we rely on God to live in righteousness and faith, the more God reveals Himself and the beauty of His Holy place...
We're so fortunate to have simple admission to His throne room through prayer.

So I'm willing to accept this theory for two reasons.
The first one is most obvious, and it is based on the contrast to the opposite.
Take Hell's pizza for example. The creative idea and extended metaphor of the franchise is the labelling of pizza with the '7 deadly sins' and more. Hmm, I'd say they're right, the 'gnashing of teeth' in eternal Hell is most likely full of this evil and more. But yet these things happen right here on Earth - the lies, the lust, the hatred, the stealing, the murder, the jealousy - they're like a part of daily living on this physical world. These things take no effort, they are mindless, self-centred but controlled by Satan no less.
But, there is another Way. God, by sending us His Spirit has empowered our spirit to live a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control - Galations 5v22.
My argument is that if the deadly sins bring Hell on Earth, so too can the gifts of the Spirit bring Heaven to Earth. Living in this way frees others from inhibitions, frees us from guilt, rids us of fear, gives us new worth, hope and peace, and frees us from pain. Doesn't sound like a week on Earth, but eternity in Heaven. Bring it on!!

The second reason is what God's Way has done in my life. My passions have completely flipped, and I have definite day-to-day purpose. By choosing to love and forgive even when others don't return the favour, I have a sense of belonging and peace that God is with me.

It's like having a slice of heavenly pizza...
and so that's how I know.

Lord, thank you for letting me take a bite today. Thank You that Your Ways overcome all tensions and You offer them freely to those who are willing.
Amen