find a good church

Its good to find a good church who loves you for who you are and will help you get close to the One who has all the answers you ever needed. Like I always do I just want to add one more thought. I know some people are thinking that church is boring, or I've been hurt in church, there are a bunch of hypocrites in church and so on and so forth. Some of you are thinking that, lets be real. Think about this for a minute. Do you remember the story of Noah and the ark? If you've never heard of it they have a movie called "Evan Almighty" that kind of talks about it. Anyway I will give you a quick history. God was tired of how violent man was being on earth. So He made a decision to wipe out all of mankind except for a man named Noah and his family. The bible says that Noah was someone who respected God a lot. Anyway, God told Noah to build an ark. He wanted to save Noah and his family from the flood He was going to bring to wipe out mankind. Along with Noah and his family God saved two of every kind of animal as well. So on the ark it was Noah, his family, and a whole bunch of animals. Do you think there was any plumbing on that big boat? Don't you think that it smelled pretty bad after a while and it was just nasty to be inside that big ark? But even thought it was nasty inside the ark, who do you think was safe: the ones in the ark with all the bad smells or those outside of the ark drinking and partying and having a good time? I don't think I have to answer that for you. Even though it was a mess inside the ark everyone in it was safe from the coming destruction. I know that the church might be a mess at times, but those who are in the church are safer than those who are outside of it drinking and partying and having a good time. Think about that next time you don't want to go to church. Yeah, there are some hypocrites, and it can be boring at times, and church people can hurt you, but if you can forget about what others are doing and make sure that your heart is right toward God you can receive the protection that the church has to offer. Anyway, on to the next topic of discussion. Have you ever felt like there was something missing in your life? That you are searching for something but you just don't know where to find it? Girls you look for it in a boy only to realize that he doesn't have it to offer to you because he never received it himself. Men, you look for approval in your boys only to find out that they will turn on you on a drop of a dime. You look for it in girls but it doesn't quite satisfy you so you go to the next and then the next to find out that its not there. What is this thing that we look for but just can't get a handle on it? Why am I searching but just can't find it? You want me to tell you why you can't find it. Because you are looking in the wrong place and you have no one to guide you in the right direction because they don't know where to find it. They can only tell you where they think it is so we are all missing it. What is this slippery thing that we can't catch? LOVE!!! Thats right, you got it. LOVE. I know you are probably thinking, "I am not looking for love, what is he talking about". We all are looking for it. Some of us get into gangs to get love, some of us hook up with other boys and girls to get love, most of us become someone we are not just so that we can have some love. It is the very thing that we all want. You know why we don't have it? Because we are being steered away from the very thing that is love. The bible says "God is love". Society pushes you away from God so the very thing that is love is the very thing that we are walking away from. Let me guide you in the right direction. Run to God. He loves you. He delights in you. He wants a close relationship with you. He doesn't have love, He is love. Those of you who have been searching, you search is over. Once you realize that He loves you and wants to be your Father, to those who don't have fathers, you will begin to get the love He has to offer and you won't have to run to anyone else to find it. It is then that you can be filled and you will have plenty to offer to others. Fall in love with God and you will see your tank being filled like never before. Mick

Got Church?

[if not, here's what you're missing]
One of the most impacting things I’ve heard within the last few years was that, “The people you associate with, and the books you read, determine where you will go in life.” I’m a firm believer in this, and even though when I was told this, it had nothing to do with Christianity, it seems as if this theory were meant for such a religion. The most impacting part about this is, it determines where you will go in the next life as well.



I’ve spoke on the Bible a whole lot in the past couple months, but there’s no end to the impact it can have on someone’s life, so I’ll briefly relate a bit of the impact to support this theory. Since the books you read determine where you will go in this life as well as the next, it’s obvious the Bible should definitely be one of those books.



One of the biggest things I get out of church is translation. The testimony I’m about to tell you isn’t coincidence either… it’s God! Whenever I see the topic I am to discuss, such as this one, I initially have no idea what I’ll write about. I turn to God through prayer and pray he help me be able to relate and he’s pulled through every time. After my prayer, I went to my Tuesday night service and God revealed to me a translation from the book of Numbers. It was one of those stories I have a hard time relating to, let alone translating. The preacher broke down the 22nd chapter in a way that stung, and that feeling can’t be gained any where else but in Church. So when you pass up church, you miss out on things like this, and you never know when the word will touch you. Your best chance is to make a habit of attending.



Hmm, attending… Did that word strike a nerve? Hope so because I really wasn’t sure how else I would lead into this discussion about schooling. Growing up in the church - “back in my day” - children’s church was called Sunday school. I never really took it literally, but looking back on it, it makes sense. Monday through Friday, many people, especially teens and younger attend school regularly. Saturday of course is that “day off”. Then for Christians, there’s church on Sunday, or – Sunday school. Is that not the same thing? You go to church to learn, much like with school. You’ve got your textbook (the bible) your teacher (the pastor/preacher) and your classmates (the congregation).



In this sense, your homework is to study the bible on your own, meaning you read on your own time. That way, when you are unsure about something, or need guidance on the tougher topics, you have a place where you can compare and contrast thoughts, or just simply pick up on something you might not have caught on your own.



In the interest of keeping this short, I’ll move on from there. It is a common belief that a church is made up of 4+ walls, chairs, and an altar/stage. If that’s all you have, then there’s nothing but a building and furniture there. A church is nothing without the congregation! The God-fearing individuals who come together in organized meetings throughout the week. These are those people you associate with from the theory we discussed earlier. Fellowship among your brothers and sisters in Christ is what makes you a stronger Christian. Of course you don’t necessarily have to attend church to be a Christian. But where’s the fun in living alone? The moral support of those who you can turn to, to know that you’re not in the fight alone should definitely be enough to keep you going strong. And where else can would you be encouraged and influenced into ministry? Being involved is a sure way to help you grow into stronger Christians. I speak from experience. I’m glad to be able to share my experiences and thoughts with you. I helps me gain the self-control I need to become a stronger Christian, and I appreciate the opportunity! Be blessed and stay bless guys!

-C J

let's have some church

In order to begin to understand this we must first know and understand that “church” is the not the building, it’s not the service, it’s not anything physical. The “church” is the people, the group of believers that come together to worship together, to encourage each other in the things of God.

As people we need friends, we need leaders and pastors to encourage us to keep our faith. Have you ever been down or not feeling like doing the “God” thing anymore, then you got around someone who got you all pumped up and you were excited again?

There are many benefits to being part of a church. From each other and through our testimonies we can get encouragement, inspiration, strength. Have you found it hard at times and felt like you were the only one at school or in your group of friends that is trying to do the right thing? It’s hard to be the only Christian in a group of people just living for themselves. You will receive peer pressure to be like those around you. Whatever it is that they are doing they will try to get you to do, it could be drinking, smoking, having sex, stealing, etc. The more you’re around them the more you’ll be like them.

Here’s another saying: “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are”.

There’s a truth that has been proven over and over. Who we hang around will ultimately influence or determine who we are. The people that make up a particular church are there to influence you towards God. Next time you go to church take a good look around. Those people loving God and seeking Him with all their heart, they are the church. They are there to influence you in some fashion or form. I leave you with these words:

Hebrews 10:25 (The Message)
22-25So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

we are the body of Christ

Hello everyone,

This month's topic is all about the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ. We are the church because we make up the Body of Christ. Most believe that the church is only the four walls of the building that we go to Sunday and Wednesday services. The church is the gathering of God's Children. Some gatherings are small like my Tallahassee Church. The Body of believers that I attend here in Tallahassee is called Mosaic Church. The Body is small but powerful in God because we are all on-fire for God. New Covenant Ministries is a large Body of believers who are hungry for the Word of God. It is important to be committed to a church because of the connections and relationships that you make. With these relationships, you are accountable to others. For example, I attend a small group which is like a care group. The small group consists of college girls mainly juniors and seniors who are committed to Christ. In this small group, we discussed John Bevere's Book called A Heart Ablaze: Igniting a Passion for God. Also we are accountable to each other about our walk with God. We share advice and pray for each other. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 God says, " Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If they fall down, they can help each other up. But pity these who fall and have no one to help them." Do you want to be a Christian without another Christian friend?

Being apart of the church is essential for on-fire believers. We live in a secular world that does not enhance our walk with God because most of the time the worldly influences try to create hurddles in our walk with God. The church provides an excellent support system for believers. I am thankful that I have a great support system of Christians who help me grow in God through their divine guidance. Many times I have asked my fellow Christian friends about being a light in a dark world especially on-campus. Their advice helped me because I learned how to show my light better to the other students without comprising myself or beliefs. Also I learn about being a light when I attend the church services in order to hear God-directed messages. These messages can stir up your faith in God, give you peace in the midst of a storm or restore hope back into the hearts of hurting people. I am truly honored to a be apart of a dynamic Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is alive and well and ever growing with new members daily. My dad told me how many people were saved on his medical mission trip to Ethiopia. Praise God for the new believers in Christ!!!!
You should be apart of this fellowship of believers because we are like one big family helping each other on our daily walks with God.

guilty by association

Today I want to talk to you about something very important. I want to start by asking you a question.
Have you ever gotten in trouble or arrested over something someone else did? You did not even do anything but just because you were around that other person you got in trouble too. Maybe you were in a store with a friend and he or she stole something and you didn't steal anything but you both got arrested. Or you were in class and your friend is talking to you and you are not saying a word but the teacher catches your friend and you both get written up. This is called guilty by association. You do not have to commit the crime all you have to do is just be there. Well, that is life. Who you hang around will determine your lifestyle and consequences. The bible says "evil companion corrupts good habits". In order for you to live the life you were meant to live you have to surround yourself with the right people. God wants you to give your life to Jesus, build a relationship with Him, and read His word (the three things we have talked about so far this year) but you are going to need help doing it. You can't do it on your own and you surely can't do it with people who are not going to help you to get God's best for you. So what I suggest is that you find a group of people who will help you accomplish these things. And you will find them in a church or youth group. Out of all the organizations in the world this is one that God began. God wanted the church so that His people could have a place to come together. Without the church it is nearly impossible for you to live the life you were meant to live. Sure the church has its faults. And I am sure some of you have experienced them. But the church is God's design and He wants you to be a part of it. Have you ever been to a pep rally at your school or anywhere else? That is what church is like in some ways. It should be a place that we get together to get excited about life. And not only is it a pep rally but it is also a place where we learn how to live our lives to the fullest, the way God intended for us. Will you get everything you need in the church? I am here to say that you will not. It's not all about church because you spend most of your time outside of it but you get a foundation for your life that you can jump off of. A real church will teach you how to get close to God and in turn He will provide you with a relationship and the training that you need in this stage of your life. Some of you are searching for something and you are looking in the wrong places. You are looking for it in your friends, through music, drugs, sex, and alcohol. But I am here to tell you that the very thing you are looking for is God. You were meant to look for Him but we have been taught wrong. We have been taught to look in other places. You will find God in a good church and youth group. Like I said before, it wasn't designed to give you everything, only God can do that. The church can't even fully communicate to you what you need right now in your life but God can. And in a good church or youth group they will teach you how to find God. You need to get connected to a good youth group who loves you and encourages you to find God who will in turn give you the life you have been missing out on.

Mick

just read

I know the bible may seem like a lame book at times, but its really not. God gave us a part of Himself in that book. He gave us something from Him so that we can see what men and women (us) are supposed to do on earth as a whole. The bible says 'every scripture is inspired by God'. That means that all the verses came from God. Was it written by men? Yes, but it was men who God had to use to write His message for us. So, He spoke to men and women and they wrote down what He told them. Did you know that He can talk to you? His word (or the bible) is Him talking to you. Once you get a hold of what He is saying in the bible you will start hearing him speaking to you personally. It will be what the bible calls a 'still small voice' but you will be able to hear Him because you took the time to read what He said to other men. This is real stuff. Wouldn't you want to hear from Him? It takes practice and time but it's so worth it. He will talk to you about things that others missed to tell you in life and He will lead you into adventures you never thought possible. I am serious. Read the bible and look at all the fun and dangerous stuff His people did. It will shock you and inspire you to live an exciting life led by God's voice.

Mick