Change Of URL

Just so you're aware, I seem to be having issues with my domain name. So until further notice, I am reverting back to http://thejesusfilter.blogspot.com/. Thanks!

To The Forsaken

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25

Sounds like such a simple concept - doesn't it?

Not so much for me, this verse could easily have a thousand and one different meanings. I can think of at least three.

1. We are required to go to church every time the doors are open. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Prayer meetings, Bible studies, youth group and church picnics. One could argue, quite reasonably, that to miss a single church service would be unbiblical. We are to be there - rain or shine - no matter what.

2. We are to all live together in a giant commune, so that we are together all the time. We should eat together, sing together, work together and play together. Then there would be no possibility whatsoever of accidentally "forsaking" anyone. We would do whatever favors anyone ask, just so we hold to the standard of exhorting one one another, without fail.

3. We are to be active participants of a church. Go to church, build each other up, develop a solid support system to help us get through life until Jesus returns.

Before you make your final decision, let me explain what has been going on in my life to bring this subject up.

My husband is a Sunday School teacher. We have been told that if we do not attend every Sunday Evening service, than we are a bad example to the kids he teaches. People also feel that he's not "committed" enough to the church for the same reason. Personally I feel that we are committed, that we are active functioning members of the church, and we don't feel a person conviction to attend every Sunday evening. we like to go sometimes, but being there every Sunday evening is not what we feel required to do. For some reason, I feel that a requirement to attend every service is a bit dogmatic. And now, since it's been put to us this way - I feel the decision has been taken from my hands, which makes me not want to go to any Sunday evening service.


I have heard many arguments to this opinion, so let me answer a few of them as a preemptive measure.

1. What's wrong with going to church Sunday nights - doesn't God come first?

Yes. He does. He can come first at home too. He can come first when I go or when I stay home. Just because I walk out of a church building doesn't mean I'm walking away from God. But going to evening church services should be optional, not required.

2. You need to show the kids you teach that going to church is important.

I do. I'm there every Sunday morning, and for as many church functions I can make it to.

3. You're being petty for not going because they are trying to make you.

Maybe. But I cannot do things because someone else wants me to, I have to have that personal conviction to do something. I have to know that I'm going because I choose to be there - not because I'm forced. I want to go because I wholeheartedly want to - I don't want to grudgingly submit to something I don't believe.

4. So....submit.

Aye, there's the rub. Do I submit? So I try and make a stand? Is it so important to make a stand that I can't submit? Is it right to submit to this? I have issues with submission to people - so this is a hard one for me.

I don't know, so I'm asking. I would like to hear from you. I would like honest opinions so I can come to some conclusion on this - because I have to make this decision with a clear head and heart. I also need to be able to come to a FINAL conclusion, and not backtrack in my thoughts. I'm praying about it - I hope you will too. Let me know.



* In doing some further research, I found an article (here's another one)that really sums up how I feel about all of this. I am running up against a legalistic view of church attendance, and I really would like some advice on how to deal with this attitude.

Still No Computer

I'm still here, still alive, and still have no computer. We plan on getting one this September, so I'll be back then, God willing. It's hard to research and network on someone else's computer, I'm so used to my bookmarks! So hopefully , soon, I"ll be back to writing!

A Quick Hello

A quick hello, and update! April was about the craziest month I've had for a while. I planned a baby shower for my sister, a birthday party for my son, and Easter for my family. Then my sister had her baby on May 2nd! It's a girl, the first for our whole family. My brother has been living with me and now my Dad returned from work in Alaska and is staying with me. They'll move out to Washington state in a few weeks. And during all this I have been planning my wedding. That's right, I'm getting married on May 23rd!!! Less then 2 weeks from now I will be walking down that aisle. So I've been absent, but this time I have a legitimate excuse! God had been so amazing and gracious to me these last few months. I've been busy, yes - but happily so. And even though my computer has completely died, I'll be back in June - Thanks to those of you coming by and saying hello, I appreciate it! The Lord is so amazing to me! He's given me a lot of patience and understanding these past few months. Well, I'm off - I'll see you all again in a while!

The Jesus Filter

I'm sure some of you have heard of the shooting in Binghamton, NY. Binghamton is a small city located in the Southern Tier of New York. I live in the area. I've been to the American Civic Center.

Does everyone remember where they were on 9/11? I can remember what I was doing, what I was thinking, and who told me to turn on the TV. I remember thinking, "How did this happen to us?" That's how I felt again on Saturday, because this happened in my neighborhood.

You know what else I remember? I remember being a young girl and seeing all the police shows on TV. Along with everyone else, I've always thought that it couldn't happen to me, that my world was safe. I thought that things like that happen only in large cities, or other states.

Now the violence is next door, it's where I raise my son, it's where I shop and eat and go to the movies. Not to mention that every time I open my Yahoo page, I see more stories of people shooting one another. It's every where. Children, schools, nursing homes and civic centers.

Would this be happening if we had no TV? No violent songs, no disturbing books? Be careful little eyes what you see, little ears what you hear, little mouths what you say. Remember Columbine? Would that have happened if one person had reached out and said something kind or been a friend. They say that this man, Jiverly Wong, shot up the Civic Center because he had lost a job and people were picking on him for his limited English. It's just another version of grown up bullying. It need to end, and it needs to end with us. How many times have you, as a Christian, lashed out at someone, said something unkind, let some TV show influence your life? That's why I started this website - and chose the verse in the header. It's time to seek out our ways and turn back to the Lord. Everything, and I mean everything needs to be filtered in our lives. The phrase "what would Jesus do?" may have become a little overused, but it's so very true.

Let us seek out our ways, and turn back to the Lord.

Of Dusty Bibles And Comfortable Knees

I have not read my Bible in two months.

Why am I telling you this? Why am I admitting such an awful thing such a public way?

Because some one's got to. I am personally here to let you know how easy it is for satan to worm his way into your life, steal all your goals and undo all that a person has done. Melodramatic? Yes, but I know I am only one of many.

How many of you sit in church week after week and go home to a dusty Bible cover and an unused notebook? Since we're all being honest now, how many of you sit at home week after week? How many of you hope, deep down, that you have a bad headache on Sunday morning - because that's always a plausible excuse to stay home from church. How many have looked for symptoms of a fever in your child - because we can't bring sick children to church, now, can we? How many of you secretly turn off your alarm clock in the middle of the night - hoping you sleep until it's too late to go? I know I have.

I'm not proud of this fact, I'm angry. At myself. I've looked back over the last few months and asked - when did I let myself slip? It only takes a moment, and it only takes one time. Then you end up where I am, wondering where you put your Bible, hoping it's not too dusty. Who remembers the old kids song - "Shut de door, keep out the devil"? It's really good advice. The Bible says "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) When satan wants you to be "too tired", "too sick" or just plain too selfish - put the kibosh on that right away folks.

I have a good friend who "fasts" her distractions. When she's on the computer too much - she "fasts" it, she gives it up for a time. I know I need to do that with a lot of things - TV, music, books - even christian books! If it keeps me from time with my Lord - it needs to be put aside.

So that's where I am and that's what I'm doing. I write this today because, like I've said before, this blog is turning into something that keeps me accountable to myself, and to God. And I need that - don't we all?

Sick Games

I was going through some friends blogs, and I ran across a startling article at Channel Of Healing. (She's on my blogroll) The article is about a game called RapeLay. If you couldn't guess, the game is about stalking and raping women.

Now, I know our world is sick. We live in a day where perversion is at our fingertips and just a mouse click away. I haven't even let my 7-year old on the Internet yet, I'm afraid of what he will find. I can install all the security I want, but there will always be someone finding their way around it. even though I am aware of what people have become - I was pretty shocked. I thought I had become a little numb to all the violence and sex there is in the world. I get so tired of seeing bikini's and cleavage everywhere I look. And if I turn in the other direction - I see violence and hate. Yet it's all "normal" and accepted!! Anyway - for me, this is (more) proof that the world is truly coming to an end. I'm pretty sure that there isn't far to go before we hit rock bottom.

I hope and pray that Jesus comes back soon.