Sunday, March 1, 2009

Weird?

So as any good college student would be doing, i am up on a Sunday morning doing my homework. Ok maybe that is not the truth. I have been doing my homework but have been inspired (don't read too much into that word ;) ) to write yet another exciting entry into the blog of mine that is seemingly becoming more of a journal.....I guess that is what a blog is for. I will try not to speak too much of myself....aka soapbox but I can't really speak of what I don't know or haven't experienced so yeah. I think that the condition of the church right now is both exciting and at the same time dangerous. Let me explain. While I am no expert at seeing the church "as a whole" because that is difficult (seeing as howing there are many many churches and I fear to tread where the Pope is worshipped...I mean recognized) But I do know what I have experienced from the churches here in Knoxville. I have been to almost every kind of church on the spectrum (more on the way the church is organized than the theological spectrum....but still variation in the latter). Let me first start with the most organized church I have been to. It is the Greek Orthodox Church (well technically is is a Greek Orthodox Church). It was highly organized (not just in the way that the church was led but how the service was led). I only went once, there was so much structure to the service that I wondered if there was even a time when they had tried to listen to the Holy Spirit. Everything that was done was either a prayer based on scripture (I believe they used their own version of the Book of Common Prayer) or on their long standing traditions (i.e. the parade of the icons). Let me say I really liked the liturgy, don't get me wrong. I enjoy that kind of thing. The Priest (I think that's what they're called in that tradition?) had a really good message, though it was short. However everything seemed to be pointed solely at the liturgy and not at God, liturgy for liturgy's sake. Now the second kind of church I have been to is actually probably about 5 churches...I call them all "Generic Christian Church", you know the "church of the first century" that is rooted in tradition from the 1800s? yes them. Now it should be known that I grew up in this traditon, just FYI. In some ways I have a real soft spot for these churches because I know that they were started with the intention to simplify things and to get back to the basics, that may have been what they started with but I think that they have stopped listening to what God has to say and have idolized a certain founder of their tradition...I know this sounds harsh but my school is also of this tradition, and i am less interested in what Alexander Campbell has to say and more interested in what the God of the Universe has to say. There is a more loose structure to the services of these churches (thank God), and there are things that are done in the name of fellowship (i.e. those dinners on sunday with the contractually obliged KFC chicken bucket, and wednesday nights), and I think it is interesting that these types of things are done for "community" but I wonder how many friendships are actually formed and how many lives are changed and how many are actually lived together....I'm not saying that they are not but these kind of things seemed forced to me....I feel like i'm running out of steam and would just be going more on a soap box than anything.....so I will finish later.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Yes

Culmination seems to be such a good word for the things that gone on with my life lately. It's like that now since I actively am praying and seeking God. It's like everything I've wanted and hoped for is coming true, only kind of. At the same time my desires and dreams are changing as I become more aware of who I am. There's so much that has been racing through my head...I can't even type it all out, but if you are reading this please pray for the following:
Girl
Community
China (???)
Overseas in general
Finishing school work

thanks

Friday, January 9, 2009

I don't even know what to call this...

All I can say is that God is moving, and I am super excited about it! If you read this and you have my phone number give me a call and I will tell you more about it. Hopefully I can put it into words.

Alex