Sunday Thoughts/Messy Christianity

What a day!! My day started off really early. Earlier than normal for going to church as a person in the congregation. When i was on staff, my day would start at like 7ish. For the past month it's been nice showing up at service time. I could sleep in a little later but this morning it started at like 7:45. I went to West Lonsdale Baptist Church. I was in Sunday School at 9:00am. Man, haven't been to Sunday School in over 2 1/2 years. Kinda odd but it was good.

The service:
Lord I Lift Your Name on High (Old School)
Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty
All Creatures of Our God and King
Your Love Oh Lord
Enough
Great is Thy Faithfulness
These were the songs during worship and then the message. The message was more of like what I call a visioncasting type service/State of the Union kinda of message. I'm pretty much an outsider of this church but it really resonated with me. This is a church that went through some "stuff" about 16 months ago. The preacher made the comment about how alot of things happened, some things were said that shouldn't have been etc. That message got me to thinking that the Church can be messy. Its sad and its unfortunate but I was warned in college that some of the nicest people in the Church can turn and be the worst people out there. Now, i've been a Christian for 12 years now. I've been hurt by church and I'm sure alot of other people have been hurt, in fact I know ALOT of people who have been hurt by Church "People". I really liked this church is now moved past this issue and have made it a priority to minister, reach-out, and continue working for God. The fact is that people out there need help, they need to see Jesus in a real and personal way. They don't need to see church "people" being fools and making a shame. When Christians really dive in to help those who really need help they are going to see that it's going to be messy and it's not going to be pretty. But the reward is better! I'm stepping off the soapbox now.

Invitation song broke me. I knew it would happen. I've been in a place where it NEEDED to happen. In fact, it'l probably happen again next week. But the song "In Your Presence" really spoke to me. Lyrics below.

"In Your presence, that's where I am strong, in Your presence, O Lord, my God; In Your presence, that's where I belong, seeking your face, touching your grace, in the cleft of the Rock. In Your presence O God. I want to go where the rivers cannot overflow me, where my feet are on a Rock; I want to hide where the blazing fire cannot burn me, in Your presence. I want to hide where the flood of evil cannot reach me, where I'm covered by Your blood; I want to be where the schemes of darkness cannot touch me, in Your presence." This song is simple and the words are simple. I think it says where I want to be. Nothing more and nothing less.