~ " I'm spiritual,not religious " ~

Have you ever heard someone say that they are "spiritual,not religious"?

I feel like my generation has milked that phrase to the very last drop.When ever I hear that being used whenever their asked about religion or their religious beliefs,I feel like it's used as an escape route in order to not address what really needs to be addressed.

Usually the type of people who say that they are just "spiritual" are typically the ones who are lost and don't know whether they believe or disbelieve in a god or the ones that like to float around in different religions and practices.

Although we are not to be religious or caught up in the idea of  religion,but I still find that saying you're spiritual is not enough to say that you're saved and follow Jesus Christ-You would be Christian,not just spiritual.I find that saying you are just "spiritual" makes it easier for people to either accept you or not prejudge you with the stereotypical characteristics of a Christian that people may have.

Too many celebrities have used this phrase and in turn made it popular amongst the younger generations.They perpetuate the confusion and the idea of being okay with drifting and experimenting with other religions,mainly Buddhism and Kabbala.

Be proud to be a Christian and don't think that just because someone else says that they are "spiritual" that they are saved...

~Obedience? Sacrifice?

o·be·di·ence

 [oh-bee-dee-uhns]

noun

1.the state or quality of being obedient.

2.the act or practice of obeying; dutiful or submissive compliance: Military service demands obedience from its members.

3.a sphere of authority or jurisdiction, especially ecclesiastical.

4.Chiefly Ecclesiastical .

a.conformity to a monastic rule or the authority of a religious superior, especially on the part of one who has vowed such conformance.

b.the rule or authority that exacts such conformance.

This past Wednesday in bible study,we discussed the topic of obedience based on our lesson in "Seeking Him" The first question that was asked in this lesson was what do we automatically think of when we think of the word "obedience". Most of our group said it only brought up positive things,except for myself.

I was kind of shocked that it only brought up positive responses from everybody...I also think it has a lot to do with the generation gap between myself and the other members.

My first automatic reaction to the word "obedience" is negative and brings up the thought of having to follow someone's rules regardless of what you think and or feel about anything. Usually the thought of obedience,at least with my generation conjures up ideas of having to be like a puppet and living life with out an identity or more commonly a dog (who has no voice) who has to be obedient.Usually the word "submit" or to be '"submissive" is linked to "obedience"-we ALL know that being submissive is was not at first appealing...Same goes for obedience.

Everyone has to understand that we don't all have the same reaction to certain words or ideas-it's VERY subjective.

sacrifice

sac·ri·fice

 [sak-ruh-fahys]  noun, verb, -ficed, -fic·ing.

noun

1.the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.

2.the person, animal, or thing so offered.

3.the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.

4.the thing so surrendered or devoted.

5.a loss incurred in selling something below its value.

EXPAND

verb (used with object)

7.to make a sacrifice or offering of.

8.to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else.

9.to dispose of (goods, property, etc.) regardless of profit.

10.Baseball . to cause the advance of (a base runner) by a sacrifice.

One phrase that kept coming up during bible study was "better obedience than sacrifice"...

To be honest,being obedient means you have to sacrifice doing,thinking and saying certain things in order to be obedient...I feel that that phrase isn't a proper one to use today...Once again it is subjective-I do believe that most teens and and those in their early twenties would see giving up a favorite hobby in order to read the bible as a type of sacrifice...Although it should not be one,it still is when you have let yourself become attached to something outside of God.

I understand that obedience is important in order to show God how much love Him and be open for more blessings to pour in...I believe in order to express that idea to others who don't have the same "peachy keen" idea of obedience,we have to understand that everyone has their own unique reaction to certain words and ideas.Even those that agree on a idea don't have the exact same INSTANT reaction....

~ReGifting The Gift Of Grace-UPDATE!

This morning I was watching "The View" and happened to come upon an interview with a African-American mother whose only son was shot and murdered by another young man several years ago and the man who shot him.

This segment of the show really portrayed what grace on earth is.This mother explained how over a period of time she found a poem about two angels who are mothers,in heaven;the gist of the poem was how these two mothers shared about their sons-one mother said she "wished she could have taken her son's place on the cross" and the other fell to her knees in respect and the other mother asked what happened to her son and the women on her knees said "my son is Judas..." and then poem ends there. 

The mother who lost her son several years back,said that what she received from the poem she read was that mothers who's children have been murdered and the mothers and children of those who murdered should come HEAL together.Although reluctant,she obeyed and went to visit her son's murderer in jail to forgive him.She said that naturally when she first forgave him it was just "lip service" because she didn't feel that way,but she knew she had to CHOOSE to forgive him of his actions in order to heal herself and the murderer.

When the murderer was released from prison,the mother and her friends put together a "welcome home" party as well as getting him a apartment right next door to her place.He expressed how grateful and shocked he was when this women who's son he killed was taking the time to nurture him and "adopt" him as her second son.Now they have a strong mother-son relationship and she thanks God for having His hands on the whole situation.She continues to call the man her "spiritual son" and wears a necklace with a picture of her and her son on the front and the picture of the man on the back because they are now family...

Think about it.Could you take in and nurture your son's murderer the way this mother did??

-Lauren

~Opinions-Everyone has one

A while ago I thought about all the different types of teachings all with in the Christian church.Once in a while this thought pops in to my head...It makes it even more obvious as to why many people can't choose a religion let alone choosing to be a Christian.

It makes it difficult for others to know what specific teaching they should follow.Of course we can say only go to churches that follow scripture..but that isn't helpful because there those who follow scripture to the "T",meaning they take every single word literally and try to live in the exact same manner as those who lived in biblical times,which is layered with laws that every member has to follow.Then there are other churches that twist scripture to fit their lifestyles,such as churches that are head by "out" homosexuals...yes,there are and have been closeted homosexual pastors out there that are married and speak out against homosexuality,but even that it is not right.

There are churches,like Spoken Word,that does not believe in rigid tradition and is word based and operates in the gifts of the spirit.

It's up to each person to choose where they want to go.But it is necessary to let the holy Spirit tell you where you need to be,if for a season or permanently.It's harder for those who don't even believe in the infilling of the Holy Spirit....

-Lauren

~Sacre Tactics!~

I felt the need to talk about how much the amount of health scares and terror threats have increased in the past few years.

This morning there was a heated discussion between Dr.Oz and the some journalist regarding the levels of arsenic in apple juice due to the fact that we get most of our apples from China.BUT later to hear Dr.Oz say that there aren't high levels of arsenic in the juice and can't kill you-it's just about long term use of the juice of decades...Really?? 

It's frustrating that we live a world that always wants something fear or want to scare others.Ever since I can remember there has been numerous food warnings on everyday common foods,like when there has been several spinach e coli detections and tainted beef.Yes,we should take every per caution necessary,but we can not live our lives avoiding several different foods because the news keeps scaring us about it...Have you noticed that they never announce when or how the "issue" was resolved?? Instead it just fades away and people either go back to eating it and living normally or others completely ban it from their homes.

Another scare tactic that has been in effect since September 11,2001, has been the threat of another terrorist attack...The president alone receives hundreds of thousands of death threats,regardless of whose in office,yet we don't hear about any new threat towards him.With this terror alert system it allows the media and others manipulate how people feel about certain situations,locations,cultures and patriotism. I noticed whenever a terror alert is issued,most people avoid flying and glue themselves to all the news channels or talking about it to other people,only to distract from more important things like....getting saved,evangelising,ending hunger in our country and so on....

Don't get consumed in in these fear tactics...use wisdom to discern what is real and what is just a ploy to get you off track and in fear.

-Lauren

~Spoken Word Church Retreat

As some of you may know, the Spoken Word Church is gearing up for our first retreat to Prayer & Fasting Mountain in Scotts Valley,California.This will be my first time going to anything like this.The retreat to the mountain is suppose to be a time to pray and fast (hence the name) to seek God and be revived.We are planning to have time for praise with music,corporate prayer and time for personal prayer on our own while we explore the beautiful grounds.The pictures of the location looks very peaceful and safe.The mountain is a 24/hr prayer and fasting destination and is covered with prayer on a regular basis. 

I'm interested to see how we all are after we come back from this mountain.We leave and begin our fast tomorrow evening and stay until Saturday evening.Right now,I'm anxious to actually see the mountain area and the cabins we will be staying in...hopefully there aren't any cliff sides-I have always had a problem with heights....

I will write about my experience sometime after the retreat.

Up until now,I've only fasted a couple times for no longer than about two days.I hope this time even though it's only a 24 hour fast,that I get to experience more clarity than in the past...

-Lauren

~Fine Lines~

How do we know that we have crossed the line from being aware to being involved in something? We are IN the world but not OF the world...The way I understand it,we still need to be aware of what's going on around us and not be ignorant to what is going on in the world...but when does it go from being informed to being involved? In other words,how can you stay informed about a situation,such as the evolution of song lyrics that are in mainstream pop music,that has changed the way young people think, without having listened to it or read the lyrics? And from that,we are told that we have to watch our ear-gate and eye-gate and that everything leaves a seed....

There are many different cases that can be brought up in relation to the initial question,but this has just recently (as of a few hours ago) come to my mind.I understand that the Holy Spirit would convict us if we did,said or thought something inappropriate-would that same "feeling" trigger in us if we had good intentions and were really trying to just stay informed and learn how to help people by knowing where they are coming from....I wonder how other Christians feel about this situation,because even when something is stated in scripture people can usually always manipulate it to make it seem one way rather than what it really is.

to be continued.......................

-Lauren