The Art of Refining

Malachi  3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant  about the character and nature of  God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the  group at their next Bible Study.

That week,  the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.   

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman  thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about  the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

  

She asked  the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.  

  

The man  answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had  to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be  destroyed.

The woman  was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy, when I see my image in  it"

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

My Controversial Thought of the Day

I'm going to put on my theologian hat today. So if you aren't into religious talk, you might want to skip this post.

To date, my favorite theologian question to get people riled up is "When did Jesus know who he truly was? What his mission on Earth was to be?" 

Oh the answers. The silly fights. I love it. I should tell you, my mother taught me when I was young that if it has nothing to do with my salvation, not to worry about it. So, I don't. But that won't stop me from asking questions & being a pain.

So I was listening to this song today & it mentioned the phrase 'original sin'. That got be thinking about how some Christians' view Mary. I should tell you now, I am a protestant. My father was raised in the Christian Reformed church & my mother was raised in what is called 'Gospel Hall' or how I refer to it, Strict Baptist. I do have an Irish Catholic aunt & my father is the godfather to a Polish Catholic. (Yes, I mentioned the different countries. There's a difference, so I'm told) Enough of that rabbit trail.

Anyway, back to original sin & how it portrays to Mary, Jesus' mom. Some people believe that Mary didn't have original sin. Some even put her on this pedestal & worship her. Either one, I don't get. But here is my thought. What if Mary wasn't pick out by God because of the original sin thing, but because who she was engaged to, Joesph. I hear people yelling now. But please hear me out. In the Old Testament, it talked about the Messiah being from the line of David. The line of David pointed to Joesph, not Mary. Not saying she wasn't a wonderful mother or anything.

That's just my thought. I could be wrong. My main focus in life will always be Jesus. Its just every once in a while, I like to stir the pot & get people thinking.

My church experience

So I've been thinking of why I go to church. I've been thinking about how the corporate church treats someone like myself. So with that, I'll have to start at the beginning.

The first church I went to, and later became a member of, I never truly belonged. After first grade I started going to public school because its expensive to send 3 kids to Christian school. That didn't help me fit in at all. 99% of the kids went to Christian school. The other ones that didn't go fit in because of family. The only family I had in this town was my immediate family. Again didn't help. Everyone was related somehow.

So when I was old enough, I started to go to another church. It was a little happier place. I saw some smiles there. Another plus, they had a youth group that met on Wednesday nights. It was fine for awhile, but it wasn't the same after my friends started graduating.

Luckily, during high school I was going to another youth group. This one met on Sunday nights. I liked it. I had friends there. Though no one else talked to us, we had each other. We were good friends with the youth pastor. (We still talk sometimes.) After high school, I stayed at this one for a long time. I became a youth leader myself. Though I never taught one lesson. I even became a Sunday teacher, a VBS leader, and ran the computer for service. During that time, the youth pastor got called to another church and my friends went on to other ministries. I was left alone.

I got my brother & his kids to go to church there for awhile. It was nice, but my brother left because no one talked to him. You see, he had long hair & dressed like a biker. How dare he go to church looking like that? (Please note the sarcasm) I stayed for awhile. I told myself it was for the kids I was helping. It really wasn't. I got complacent. I started noting how many people would sit near me. On most Sundays, if you didn't know better, you would think I had leprosy or bad body odor. The row behind me - empty. The row I sat in - empty. The row in front of me - empty. It's enough to make you feel loved. So from an urging from a friend, I found a new church.

I started going to this very small church. It had about 20 - 40 people on any given Sunday. They had a praise band and the pastor was okay. But I quickly found out it was an 'Alcoholics for Christ' church. It didn't bother me at first. After a year, I decided to to go to their Bible study after church. It was fine at first. Then I started to get attacked because I didn't believe the same way they did. I like to help people, they told me its because I was a 'people pleaser'. If you know anything about me, that isn't the case. Luckily, one of my friends invited me to her church.

So here I go again. I went to a new church. I liked this one at first. It was freeing. If I felt like dancing I could. If I just wanted to be, I could. I like the way the did communion. Grape juice in a wine glass and the most flavorful bread. We all came forward. Words would get spoken, we would clink on glasses and drink up like it was a celebration. Well, because it is!

Things were going well, then it happened. The pastor and his wife became controlling. I don't think they meant to in a mean way. Everything had to be just so, when before, it was more Spirit led. Next thing I knew, they decided to move church to Saturday nights at their condo. Two problems at the beginning. #1 - I work second shift, so Saturday night is my one night to see friends and go out. #2 - Their condo. 30+ people in one condo. New cork floors. Too controlled of an enviroment for me.

So I went in search of another church. Luckily, I remembered a church from a New Year's Eve service. So I started going there. It's okay. I don't really talk to a lot of people. They have their cliques. I do like that I am able to worship the way I want. Its not always the way they would like though, but its not up to them.

So why did I write all this, you ask? It's simple. Corporate church will never accept me. They say they do, but in reality, when I don't show up to church, no one misses me. No one talks to me during the week. That's not the reason I go to corporate church. I learned a long time ago, that I am the church. Jesus lives in me. He uses me as a vessel when needed. Wherever I am. I go to church to get that little boost I need to go out into the world.

I try when I'm at church, if I see someone new or sitting alone, to talk to them. Let them know that someone cares. I have to remember not to be bitter. I'm a work in progress. Though there are times I want to scream at people, that's not what I'm called to do. So if you're reading this, and you go to church, please think of the people who don't fit in. Don't pity us, but talk to us. A lot of us of walls built up, so you might need to help us tear them down.

Thank you & God bless!

Mashed Potatoes & Being the Bride

I was thinking the other day about how different some Christian denominations are. Mainly in the way they worship. To demostrate, I'm going to use the analogy of potatoes.
I was raised in a Christian Reformed church. They are very solemn. You came in, sat down, sang hymns (accompanied by a pipe organ), prayed, gave offering, listened to the sermon, then left. Nothing much more than that. Which is like having mashed potatoes made with very little salt in the cooking process, then using 2% milk for the mashing part. It's alright. You get fed, but its bland and you don't want it all the time.
The church I go to now has been describe to me as a charasmatic one. You enter the door and have at least 2 people greet you before you reach the sanctuary. When it comes to the worship, totally different. You have a praise team that sings & plays contemporary music. To which people dance and wave flags. The sermon isn't fire & brimstone or boring. Sometimes it can challenge your way of thinking. Afterwards, people linger, give encouragement to each other, and pray for one anther. This recipe of mashed potatoes has salt in the boiling of taters. Instead of 2% milk, you use buttermilk. Not only that, you use herbs & spices like garlic, onions, pepper, etc. It tastes good. The taste lingers. You want to eat it all the time.

Now to switch the thought process a little bit. I want to talk about being the Bride of Christ. I've been thinking about for a while. It has to do with watching the people at church. They are so in love with Christ. You look at their faces and you read it, right there, on their foreheads, LOVE. It's like looking at couple on their wedding day. So caught up with each other, the rest of world is in the distance.
There is no anger here. Nothing but pure, sweet love. Who wouldn't want this? Falling in love in Christ is like falling in love with your spouse. Kinda. He already gave his life for you. Every woman wants a guy who is willing to do that. (Plus, you know he'll listen to everything you say.) What guy wouldn't love a guy who saved their life?
Okay, I drifted a bit. The point I want to make is that we been courted, or wooed, by Jesus to His bride. To be in a loving relationship FOREVER! Never have to worry about if He is going cheat or leave. He's here to stay.
So all this together, makes me want to have a relationship with Jesus. Even a stronger one than I've had prior. No earthly man can take His place. Though they may try. Jesus has to be #1 in my life. I want to be His bride. I want you to be His bride also. As weird as that sounds. I know when I get to Heaven, there is going to be a huge party & I want a big one. So a lot of people need to be there.
Hope I didn't lose anyone with my thought process.

Love & Blessings

Titles & Pride

 I have this problem with members of the church. Now I don't think they mean any harm, it's just one of my peeves. You might disagree. I'm mainly writing this to get it off my chest.

Okay, here it goes. I have a problem with people who have to introduce themselves as prophets, apostles, bishops, or what ever their gift may be. Here's the thing, I don't ever remember Jesus introducing himself as the Christ/Messiah. If you asked Him, He would tell you who He was. He is God in person and didn't shout it from the rooftops! I feel if you have to introduce yourself as your gift, you're boasting. Like you're better than the people who don't have those gifts.

I will probably have some people after me, but its how I feel. I'm still looking through the Bible for where Jesus introduces Himself saying, "Hi. I'm Christ Jesus." Why can't you just go by the name your parents gave you and let me find out what your gift is when its needed?