How unseeingly faith grows

How many years has it been now since I first started my walk on the damn narrow path to Christianity. OOOH! the pain I went through. the doubt, the anger at even contemplating christianity, the despair created if I didn't follow. What a conundrum I was in.

I moved forward, it may have been painful but it was the better option than staying stagnant in pain and despair.Always, the feeling of never moving, never growing but still more at peace with my decisions lay within, ever beneath the surface. When oh when was I going to feel, smell, sense what it means to be a Christian. When was I going to have a slow, ever swelling sense of Faith built within. To know,without doubt, or at least reasonable doubt, that I did not have to do it all on my own; That faith would get me there and grace catch me.


Its not like a lightening bolt, is it? I thought it would be. There was no "wake up call", sound of trumpets or fanfare. Only the realisation that the wordsI have uttered for the last 4 or so years "I CANNOT go through that excruciating journey of pain again" are not directed at God. God did not cause mypain! I caused my pain, maybe the devil caused my pain, maybe the devil just sat back with his feet up on the coffee table because I was doing sucha damn fine job all on my little lonesome, who knows?

What I do know now is that faith grows. Silently it weaves through your inner being, bringing tears to eyes that never cried, peace to a mind that would never rest. More importantly my faith screams, yells, stamps its feet and proudly says "I will not do this again, I have felt the pain and here I stand". My anger yelled it at God. My faith screams it to the world.

What ever happened to Michael Guglielmucci?

Ever wondered what happened to Michael Guglielmucci, a Pastor of Planet Shakers? I certainly have.

Just to recap, on the off chance anyone out there has forgotten the story. Michael claimed for just on 2 years to have a rare and deadly form of cancer. He wrote the song Healer, which apparently was inspired by dealing with Cancer. As it turns out, the cancer was a lie.Wonder if that makes the song a lie? I suppose if you are going to lie, at least make it grand.

So, my question is, where is he now? I don't mean geographically but mentally and spiritually, personally.

I may never know, but i am busting to find out.

The "Discussion" rages on

Well, Well, Well.

Mention the word homosexuality within a church and see everyone run to protect and staunchly uphold their own views. Of course, this is human nature. Bible verses are wielded like weapons to pummel the opposition into the ground. I don't actually think this is what the Bible was designed for, but what do I know, I really can't say I am a shiny example to others on how to live the Christian life.

So what are my own views?

Firstly, and its a personal view, do whatever you want as long as it causes no pain to others. I can live with that!

Secondly,If you are searching for something more, I figure the church should scream with open arms "come on in, take a seat, rest a while".

For anything else, refer to rule number 1!

Wider, broader, deeper, stronger

I bounce around a little between churches. Its not that I like or dislike one more than the other, it's just that I always feel I am on the outside looking in. I have issues, what can I say!?

Anyways, on Saturday I attended Citylife church in Knox. Deb Hirsch (I have probably not correctly spelt her name, sorry about that) was being interviewed. Deb is a woman who was living a lesbian lifestyle. Since that time she has found God, or more importantly, God found her and she is now married. Both Deb and her husband run a ministry in the USA that runs for people within the Gay community. It's a topic that is "to hot to handle" for most churches, at least it looks that way from my perspective.

The topic and the host of problems, both in the "real world" and biblically, that this unique minstry faced was extrodinarily interesting and eye opening. My first reaction was amazement. "OOH MY GOSH! There are normal people withing the church.!!!" Strange first reaction, isn't it, when you consider the topic being discussed. It did gladen my heart no end to know that inbetween bible bashing homophobic christians and liberalism there was a middle ground, which previously I had not been able to see. Even if I could have seen, I would not have been able to verbalise anywhere near as well and still couldn't.

It also covered the topic of acceptance. Accepting people where they are at. Accepting people first BEFORE repentance. Not expecting people to repent and conform BEFORE they walk into a church and THEN be accepted. There was so much food for thought and I was so very grateful for that.