Today was my first day back at Parkview church. I haven't been back since before I left for school...that was about 2 years ago. I forgot how much I love Pastor Tim. He began church with this little tune.
bahahaha...makes me laugh every time.
...On a more serious note..
He talked a lot about the church..what we are..and what we are supposed to be.
Churches today have become so overwhelmed with the production of services, how many people are attending, and their own selfish goals that they have forgotten about humility and peace. For thousands of years there have been wars over religion. Who is right and who is wrong has taken priority and dismissed peace, love, empathy, and compassion. There are many religions...thousands of denominations and if everyone could put aside their pride and opinions we could live in peace.
Many people put up a wall to religion because they have been hurt by churches or see how churches have hurt others. I myself have been slowly pushed out of a church and been accused of awful untrue things. I know that it is people who take those actions, people who inflict pain on one another, and people who give Christianity a bad name. We need to accept everyone for where they are at whether they be Catholic, Christian, Hindu, Islam, or Agnostic. We are to be patient with one another, care of one another, and to love one another. Jesus did not teach war and hate, but peace and love.
"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
"So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding."
-Jesus
"I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend. It is the practice of compassion."
"..And, although we can find causes for preferring certain interpretations of religious truths, there is much greater cause for unity, stemming from the human heart. Each religion works in its own way to lessen human suffering and contribute to world civilization. Conversion is not the point. Despite the progressive secularization brought about by worldwide modernization and despite systematic attempts in some parts of the world to destroy spiritual values, the vast majority of humanity continues to believe in one religion or another. The undying faith in religion, evident even under irreligious political systems, clearly demonstrates the potency of religion as such. This spiritual energy and power can be purposefully used to bring about the spiritual conditions necessary for world peace. Religious leaders and humanitarians all over the world have a special role to play in this respect.
Whether we will be able to achieve world peace or not, we have no choice but to work towards that goal. If our minds are dominated by anger, we will lose the best part of human intelligence - wisdom, the ability to decide between right and wrong. Anger is one of the most serious problems facing the world today."
-Dalai Lama
"Instead, we should glorify in the unity of humankind, strengthened and enhanced through the friendly competition of cultures, religions, and other diversities."
-Muhammad Yunus
amen.
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