Saturday, we watched Alabama almost win aganist North Carolina. It was the baseball game for those of you aren't sure. It was a good game.
I had a great time in Tuscaloosa, God's Country. After the game, we went back over to Mugshots. I had another one of those famous hamburgers. You know, I don't really like hamburgers, fast food ones. For me to want to go back and eat another one is a pretty big deal. Afterwards, we went back over to Tyler's, Wes', and Parker's house. That is where John and I stayed. We sat on the porch and talked for about 2 hours or more.
Once again, I found myself sitting with people and talking about real stuff. Some of it was very deep and difficult. There was confession, laughter, Biblical application, prayer, John attempted to sing. But, it was un-solicited; it happened without a schedule or prompting. We just sat on the porch and the Holy Spirit lead us. IT WAS REAL. They asked me if I would go to church with them on Sunday morning to Calvary Baptist. I said, "Certainly." Problem is, I find it difficult to sit in a worship service when through the week I have sat in settings where I really see God doing amazing stuff. Do you follow me? It's not that I don't like church. O.k. it actually is.
I want to be very clear about this. I know that some people read my blog with a skeptical eye. Some read it so that they can say, "Did you hear that Tim went to the Greentrack and bet a few dollars on a horse? He must be living in sin." I want everyone to know that my blog is not for these people. My blog is me telling you exactly what God is doing, how He is doing it, and how amazing He is. And believe it or not, I actually saw more of Him at the racetrack than I have religious settings.
I don't like organized religion. I never have. This isn't something that I am saying in response to the last month of my life. This is just what I have said to many of you countless times. When asked to go to Calvary Baptist, I simply get this feeling that I am oppressed in my Spirit. Here is why. God has pulled me out of the Matrix. I took the blue pill (for those reading with skepticism that is purely symbolic - I have taken no pills). Now, when I am in a "Churchy" environment I feel like we are all faking it. It sucks. I have been given a greater sensitivity to fake things. Those things exist in their truest form in organized religion. The church institutions are the best at this. We have mastered deception and the concealing of our true identity.
Parker asked me on Saturday night if instead would I be willing to lead a Bible study on the Quad at the campus rather than go to church. That felt right. We did that on Sunday morning. It was so great. I read a passage from I Cor. I spoke for about 15 minutes. Then, we discussed it. Tyler said something to the effect that this was more real than anything else we could have done, like go to church. I have to say that I agree with him. But, why?
When I was in the 8th grade, I was in the P.E. dressing room changing clothes. I was chaning from my gym clothes to my school clothes. There is a moment when you get down to having very little on. This is the time when you don't want to be in public. This is also a time when you don't want to be standing near the door. I was standing in my whitie tighties when two of my friends shoved me out the door into the gym. There I was in my drawers with pretty much everyone in my class. I had few options. The guys were, of course, holding the door. I could have cried. I could have run out of the gym into another crowd furthering my embarassment. I could have started dancing (just kidding). I chose to make the best of it and joke about. Yes, I turned it into a standup routine.
"And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed," (Gen. 2:25).
In the beginnng with Adam and Eve being naked was no deal at all. Some of you are probably wishing for those times again. Pace yourself. Let's keep it clean here. Adam and Eve walked around completely naked. They also walked with God. Before the Fall there was no sin. They didn't know to put on clothes because nakedness didn't produce lust. They were connected with God in such a way that could just let it all hang out. No shame, no guilt, no fear. It was very much right. Then, they fell.
Adam and Eve ate the fruit that was forbidden. Immediately, the realized that they were naked. This feeling would be much like waking up from a dream and you had slept walked naked into a crowded place. This was the first time this had happened to them. The never felt naked before. So, they made fig leaf outfits. Now all of sudden they are ashamed of their nakedness and try to hide. Funny thing is that they were trying to hide from God. Good luck with that one.
God created man and woman as naked people. I am not so sure He doesn't desire that today. I need to explain. Adam and Eve made their own clothes to hide their sin. Yet, God knew. There was no reason to try and hide from Him. He made them naked. But try they did. We are just like them. We try to hide our shame and our mistakes and our hearts from people all the time. If you want to see people hiding their nakedness with skill and precision, attend a local church.
I have had the beautiful pleasure of being around lost people a lot lately. They don't hide their nakedness. They simply tell you where they are, only if you tell them where you are. You see, they don't trust "churchy people." I can't blame them. Churchy people are deadly. Maybe church people should go to church naked. It sure would level the playing field. I bet when lost people found out about the church people being real, they might even come. UNTIL THEN, lost people will certainly keep their distance, so will real people.
The moral: Live Life Naked! That ought to keep the e-mails and phone calls and gossip going for a few days.
I love you, your servant, your friend,
Tim
I had a great time in Tuscaloosa, God's Country. After the game, we went back over to Mugshots. I had another one of those famous hamburgers. You know, I don't really like hamburgers, fast food ones. For me to want to go back and eat another one is a pretty big deal. Afterwards, we went back over to Tyler's, Wes', and Parker's house. That is where John and I stayed. We sat on the porch and talked for about 2 hours or more.
Once again, I found myself sitting with people and talking about real stuff. Some of it was very deep and difficult. There was confession, laughter, Biblical application, prayer, John attempted to sing. But, it was un-solicited; it happened without a schedule or prompting. We just sat on the porch and the Holy Spirit lead us. IT WAS REAL. They asked me if I would go to church with them on Sunday morning to Calvary Baptist. I said, "Certainly." Problem is, I find it difficult to sit in a worship service when through the week I have sat in settings where I really see God doing amazing stuff. Do you follow me? It's not that I don't like church. O.k. it actually is.
I want to be very clear about this. I know that some people read my blog with a skeptical eye. Some read it so that they can say, "Did you hear that Tim went to the Greentrack and bet a few dollars on a horse? He must be living in sin." I want everyone to know that my blog is not for these people. My blog is me telling you exactly what God is doing, how He is doing it, and how amazing He is. And believe it or not, I actually saw more of Him at the racetrack than I have religious settings.
I don't like organized religion. I never have. This isn't something that I am saying in response to the last month of my life. This is just what I have said to many of you countless times. When asked to go to Calvary Baptist, I simply get this feeling that I am oppressed in my Spirit. Here is why. God has pulled me out of the Matrix. I took the blue pill (for those reading with skepticism that is purely symbolic - I have taken no pills). Now, when I am in a "Churchy" environment I feel like we are all faking it. It sucks. I have been given a greater sensitivity to fake things. Those things exist in their truest form in organized religion. The church institutions are the best at this. We have mastered deception and the concealing of our true identity.
Parker asked me on Saturday night if instead would I be willing to lead a Bible study on the Quad at the campus rather than go to church. That felt right. We did that on Sunday morning. It was so great. I read a passage from I Cor. I spoke for about 15 minutes. Then, we discussed it. Tyler said something to the effect that this was more real than anything else we could have done, like go to church. I have to say that I agree with him. But, why?
When I was in the 8th grade, I was in the P.E. dressing room changing clothes. I was chaning from my gym clothes to my school clothes. There is a moment when you get down to having very little on. This is the time when you don't want to be in public. This is also a time when you don't want to be standing near the door. I was standing in my whitie tighties when two of my friends shoved me out the door into the gym. There I was in my drawers with pretty much everyone in my class. I had few options. The guys were, of course, holding the door. I could have cried. I could have run out of the gym into another crowd furthering my embarassment. I could have started dancing (just kidding). I chose to make the best of it and joke about. Yes, I turned it into a standup routine.
"And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed," (Gen. 2:25).
In the beginnng with Adam and Eve being naked was no deal at all. Some of you are probably wishing for those times again. Pace yourself. Let's keep it clean here. Adam and Eve walked around completely naked. They also walked with God. Before the Fall there was no sin. They didn't know to put on clothes because nakedness didn't produce lust. They were connected with God in such a way that could just let it all hang out. No shame, no guilt, no fear. It was very much right. Then, they fell.
Adam and Eve ate the fruit that was forbidden. Immediately, the realized that they were naked. This feeling would be much like waking up from a dream and you had slept walked naked into a crowded place. This was the first time this had happened to them. The never felt naked before. So, they made fig leaf outfits. Now all of sudden they are ashamed of their nakedness and try to hide. Funny thing is that they were trying to hide from God. Good luck with that one.
God created man and woman as naked people. I am not so sure He doesn't desire that today. I need to explain. Adam and Eve made their own clothes to hide their sin. Yet, God knew. There was no reason to try and hide from Him. He made them naked. But try they did. We are just like them. We try to hide our shame and our mistakes and our hearts from people all the time. If you want to see people hiding their nakedness with skill and precision, attend a local church.
I have had the beautiful pleasure of being around lost people a lot lately. They don't hide their nakedness. They simply tell you where they are, only if you tell them where you are. You see, they don't trust "churchy people." I can't blame them. Churchy people are deadly. Maybe church people should go to church naked. It sure would level the playing field. I bet when lost people found out about the church people being real, they might even come. UNTIL THEN, lost people will certainly keep their distance, so will real people.
The moral: Live Life Naked! That ought to keep the e-mails and phone calls and gossip going for a few days.
I love you, your servant, your friend,
Tim
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