Whatever Takes Us Away

For those very few loyal readers I have, forgive me for my inconsistent writings of late.  Summer, what little of it is left, has once again blown by me and blown me over.  I have finished my Associates Degree in religion, the kids are growing and swimming (when the weather cooperates), and things around the Mundy house have been usual - busy, busy, busy.

I haven't been writing here, for no good reason, and while I have intended to write more often, it just hasn't happened.  I could say that will change, like I have in the past, but I now know that I will not respond (even to myself) in kind in that respect.  Get used to the fact that I won't be posting here as often as I once did, but this has become more of a last place for me to put my thoughts out. 

Summer has once again come and gone, and I have once again lived another year to tell the stories.  Oh well, at least I have this beautiful wife to help keep me on track with all aspects of my life.  See you around!

I'm not one to look for handouts, but sometimes you've got to do something that will help. Over on the left side of the blog are a few links to various websites you may find to be of interest to you. I have recently added another link . . .

I do not expect everyone that reads this to hurry up and start buying the items found in my Amazon.com wish list, but anytime you feel so led to do so would be more than appreciated. This list is for me, as a way of keeping track of what I would like to read, and I intend to use it frequently to remind myself of what I still need to read up on. This also helps me from having to search through the miriad of book cases through the house to check a book. You will notice that nearly all of the listed items are related to the Christian faith, its history, important figures, and apologetics. From time to time I may include some CD's or DVD's as well.

Again, don't think I am sticking my hand out for the sake of saving a buck (though it is nice to do so), but as I have a house full of kids and am a college student, sometimes the budget just isn't there to acquire the books I would like to include in my personal library. I know there aren't many that read this and therefore I am not expecting a truckload of books to arrive at my door anytime soon. However, if you do feel so led to help out I will appeciate it and will note here on the blog anytime someone does send me something.

Thanks in advance. God bless.

So, if you read this much at all, you may already know that I really enjoy music. It takes many forms, functions and all different kinds - most of which I truly to love and appreciate listening to. Last night was no exception. I took two of my three girls for a night out complete with a concert with BarlowGirl & Toby Mac. I love my family and I love music, what better way to spend an evening and a birthday gift. We sang, danced, praised & worshipped God with both groups. I was a little hesitant about BarlowGirl, after hearing the latest album, thinking it may not be a rock concert, but they proved that notion all wrong. Those girls have really got it going on when it comes to music! They are truly amazing (young) women for God; taking vows of purity and not dating and using the talents and gifts God gave them to share the message of Jesus - really awesome!

Likewise was Toby Mac. He's been around a while, formerly being a part of dc Talk. He and the Diverse City Band brought the house down. A real professional and a good man of God, his show lacked nothing.

I'm so glad I was able to share that with my wife and oldest daughter, who happened to turn eight yesterday! It was equally great to be able to share in fellowship with so many other believers. During both BarlowGirl and Toby Mac there was an awesome moment of Bible reading, sharing testimony and God showing up in our midst. Something I will always remember, me and my girlz, a night on the town and with God!

I don't even know where to begin, but I'll attempt . . . God answers prayer.

I have struggled the last few months with being a "youth director" and whether or not it's where I'm supposed to be. I may have stated this before, but I got some confirmation while on our trip to Muncie last month. Still, I sometimes question myself and I continually seek God's guidance in this, ask for help and pray a lot over this.

Normally I can't attend the Wednesday evening prayer service, but I had stiches removed this afternoon and stayed home from work as a result - as it turned out there was a board meeting/discussion time along with the prayer meeting tonight at church. God works in funny ways sometimes. All I was hoping to do was see if we could get the church's support with the youth ministry (not just financial support, but physical, spiritual and prayer support).

We've been here alomst a year now and there's a lot Tina and I don't know about the history of NHUMC, but we are willing to learn and be a part of that history as it unfolds before our eyes. What I learned this evening was there was a couple a while ago (probably 15 years at least) that was in charge of the youth group at the time, very involved, very energetic, and in touch (as much as possible) with the teens of that time. One of those teens was sitting at the table with us during this meeting; grown with children. Another thing learned was that the prayer group that started a few years ago had a priority list, and at the top of that list was the youth of the church.

I can't remember the exact moments, but some really awesome things happened at this meeting and I received more confirmation as to my status as the youth director.

So, here I am, back at home typing on the iMac. Where is this going?

Here.

Right now.

This church gets it. Everyone at the meeting agreed that the youth of today will be the church leadership of tomorrow and they need the support of everyone elder to them. They are so willing to let God use them, their talents, skills, abilities, everything and I am humbled to be a part of that. I'm so used to having to jump through hoops to get anything accomplished at church. I've been praying that God would open doors for this group of teens entrusted to me. Praying that I would be able to be the man God wants me to be. Praying that my life can be an example of Christ to these kids. Tonight, sitting there with many of the elders of this church, I was humbled several times over. A few times I fought back tears. These people are awesome and they want to reach out to as many teens as they can. One said to me that she is so glad that I came to this church and told me how glad she was that I share my talents and abilities with the teens (one of whom is her grand daughter).



What I expected was not what I received. What I received was unexpected. What I received I will gladly share with any teen that walks through those doors; broken, beaten, depressed, stressed, addicted, happy, sad, mad - I am not bothered by the conditions, but I do care about you and I will share something truly amazing with you . . . a story that broke even me and was shared with even me, the story that came from heaven.

Jesus.

Who is who? or Why to we in-fight?

There will come a day when all Christians will be held accountable for their own actions, or inactions as the case may be. One at a time we will stand before the Holy One to be judged, will you be found in the Book of Life? Knowing that, by grace I have been saved through faith, I stand a pretty good chance of meeting with those that have gone before me and meeting with my Savior and Redeemer, when that time comes.

But then I fear, will I really make it? This, I am sure goes beyond denominational boundaries. Will our acceptance be based on what church I attend or belong to? Do the Baptists have a better chance on the entrance eam than the Catholics or Methodist or any other denomination? Doubtful, highly doubtful. So then, why do we, as the Body of Believers, feel it is necessary to fight amongst ourselves? "We're cannnibals, we watch our brothers fall; we eat our own bones and all; we fell asleep on the plane to wake to see we're going down in flames" (Relient K, Down In Flames from The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek). Again, is all this bitterness and fighting necessary?

Rather than builiding each other up in LOVE (as we're instructed) we continually find and create new and inventive ways of breaking each other down; smashing up any hope of ever getting along. Funny isn't it? The enemy certainly thinks so! What better way to ensure his time of power lasts on earth than to have the ones that should be fighting against him fight amongst themselves? Infighting, or Civil War, you choose the term you like better.

How did we end up this way? To that I can only offer suggestions.

Dissention among the ranks. We are a part of an army, are we not? And sadly, many of those who are in charge fail to see the whole Truth: Love. Many of those in command spread lies, take meaning out of context from Scripture, and fail to love and be loved themselves. Pray for our leaders.

Fractured churches. If we believe in the Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Trinity); hold the Bible to be God's Absolute Truth; and place our lives at the cross of Christ we are "Christians". I understand the need for different denominations (as each one reaches people in different ways), but I don't understand why one church claims to be better than others. We splinter ourselves into countless divisions and fail to see what and whose we are as a whole. Pray for all denominations to come together.

Inability to communicate. As with our divisions and dissention we often times fail to communicate between denominations. We fail to share the good things God has done for us and how this or that may be helpful to the church across the street, or in a different country, or a different denomination. Effective Communication is clearly needed and necessary if we want to continue our work in the faith. Pray that we can all communicate more effectively.

Non-ecumenical. This one ties it all together; dissention, fractures, and communication. As I've stated before, there are a number of different churches and each one reaches the lost differently. Some people are drawn to authentic worship through music (myself included), some are drawn towards deep intellictual teaching and preaching (put me in that one too), some like small and intimate settings, others are drawn by loud or even yelling preachers with music in the background; I could go on for a while with this, but I think you get the point. There is a need for different denominations, but there is no need for them to be fractured, there is no reason for one to point the finger at another in blame. We are Christians, right? Not Methodist, Baptists, Catholics, Church of Christ, etc. We belong to Christ, hence, Christians. Ecumenical Christians, not adhering to one denomination over another. We are all struggling towards the same goal, wouldn't you rather there be more people in heaven to rejoice with? Or, would you like to see only those in your specific church? The latter might be a much smaller party and less likely to include many of your friends here on earth today. Pray that we might all come together in the love of Christ.

Think it over. Test it. Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in this. Don't let us become those on the plane, waking too late to find that we ARE going down in flames. Pray for the Church Universal that we might someday soon be one in body, mind and Spirit! Then, maybe the world that doesn't take the church seriously will change its collective mind.