Taking Ownership, Part One

The church in many places is ready and wanting to move deeper into God’s Love and purposes but are blocked at the door. This blockage is also  a stumbling block to the many who listen to what we “preach.” One stumbling block comes in the statement, “don’t tell us what you have, show us.” Have we not yet been admonished by Shakespeare, “You speak an infinite deal about nothing.” Merchant of Venice? I know this for the most part is not the reality but it is for the on looking world. We must take responsibility for this historical disconnect. 

Of course there is an enemy that hates Truth but to say the devil has distorted our message really just does not cut it. Some of the visual disconnect is found when we have said, "it’s the devil." Why did we not perceive this? Perhaps this is a significant reason why many come in the front door of our buildings drawn by promises only to find a lack of substance so they leave. I have in my past realized that I was more style than substance.  
 
We promised rain.

The great cloud laden with wonderful rain came. The thunder roared. We stand waiting to be refreshed  with the deluge of cool life promoting rain. The cloud paused above us and like an enormously cruel tease, it passed on. Not a drop descends as we stood in the dry dust. My understanding, and I believe this to be true, God is not going to encourage old wine skins to be filled.

We should not have stood there and cried, we should have followed the cloud! For this we must, as the church, repent. We have promised much not realizing heaven was not backing us because we were not ready. We  then decided to plant the church on the dry plains rather than follow the cloud which would lead us to Truth and Love in the  lush valley with still waters. There is  pain in change but to walk in the Glory of God we must follow the cloud and not dictate where it should drop it’s rain.  Let's remove this blockage and ask forgiveness for hindering the gospel of good news from reaching  the world. May we join together in our desire to follow the cloud. God wants to give us the ability to change, to lead and to be filled with the wonderful substance of heaven. We together are changing the perception of the world towards the Loving Lord and His people.
 
                          Love…..Dan