Gilmore's Obeservations

Christian trinkets

2008-06-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.kingdom.com/search.aspx?Keyword=mp34gc

The link above is to a company that sales different audio and video devices to churches and a specific product that made me laugh. The link goes to a MP3 player shaped like a cross "Show your faith while listening to music or messages!"

This makes me laugh because I am not sure wearing a cross shows one's faith or any merchandise shows one is saved. I get blown away by all the junk one can buy in a "Christian" book shop.
- TestaMINTS
- book markers
- Ties with prayer of Jabez
- any new book's collection - currently 3:16 - book, tapes, t-shirts, coffee mugs, knails, etc.
- Your Life Now board game
- I love the action figures of bible characters - almost twice the cost of spawn characters but that is a different issue.

There is nothing "chrsitian" about the market of selling junk but we christians eat it up. Did you know that the music market called "Christian" takes up 20%. That is why one sees GMC and others sponsoring Christian artist. Also why Sony, and other big name companies have purchased smaller production companies, because of $$ not so much doing service to God. As a believer I do appreciate quality music but I laugh at how people think merchandise will show this world your faith.

This world is tired of gimmicks, prizes, trinkets... a cross shaped mp3 players does not demonstrate your faith anymore than a fish on the back of ones car. What demonstrates faith is actually caring for people, share the Gospel in a positive light, loving those around you, have joy in times of desperation. Being the light amongst this dark world and loving others.

I can not wait for the day when the Church reclaims cultural stuff instead of following the lead of the secular world. The one who created all colors, music, everything good is our Dad, can we not take back what the fallen world has taken from us for His glory. Being cheesy is not the answer but being authentic. Weeping with people, actually allowing people in a local body know that you are a fallen being in need of a Savior and the power of the Holy Spirit to grow daily.

Please before you buy the next coffee mug, or t-shirt that says "BeWiser" instead of Budwiser, or God's Gym vs. Gold's Gym. Let us live a life that does not take Christian designed trinkets to demonstrate our faith.

Secular World Has it Figured Out

2008-05-14T14:12:00.001-07:00

I keep watching media and i am amazed how the secular world has some Biblical concepts down but the people in the church seem to be missing it.

The two major areas community and missional living. I understand that Missional living can not be lived with out the power of Christ behind it but the act of service for the benefit of others is there. I was watching a commercial the other night and it had children talking about who heroes were and basically how they want to volunteer to help others. Here is a commercial telling people to live the way those who call themselves Christians should be living. The goal of the Christian life is not just do church events but to actually live a life out that is reflective of Christ. This means we actually have to love peoples and do life with them. I know that in our hectic world it is difficult to do so because once we come home from work all we want to do is watch the DVR and go to bed. The bottom line is thought during the day we must find a way to do life together that will make an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God. Christ did this, he lived a life that was missional in his culture. He Engaged people where they were so that God's name could be made great. The question I have is why don't most Christians want to participate in a true community of believers. How come organizations like the Masons & Shriners have men serving the pubic but the church have week men? Why is it that we can not have fun and serve Christ together so that Salvation is more than heaven but a lifestyle desired by others?

The other part the secular world seems to have down is the idea that we are not in this world alone and to have a since of community. In the church I have found it difficult to get people to stay faithful to a small group or organization but for some odd reason outside of church there are a ton of small groups that are flourishing. The reality is that people will sacrifice time with a community of believers to be with any other small group. I believe that Christians should be involved in secular society and engage the culture where they are but community within a body of believers is huge. No where is scripture is this Christian walk a one man show but instead a body, a collective, etc. I still get amazed how we try to put up mask on how holy we are instead of showing how broken we are. The local church is not perfect but made up of dead people who have been born again. Over time it seems those who have been made alive in Christ forget that others are dead and need the life of Christ. Once saved we have a process of sanctification where we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We cheer on Sundays how people need to be involved but once trouble arises people disappear from the local body. How I pray that we the local church will wake up to the point that the reason many people have not darken the door of the church is not because they don't know about you, but are we able to show how Christ of old fits in todays culture. The great thing about Christ is that He is timeless, meaning the truth of scripture can be applied to all generations.

The answer is not another program, rally, or event, but instead for us to be starving for the Glory of God to be demonstrated through us to the point we ache over it. Like the profit of old, even if you try to shut us up our bones should burn with the desire to share. Not to have heart burn but do you bones burn for the glory and truth of Christ. Is your whole life demonstrating a relationship with the King of Kings who came to walk this world and live a life that is missional for your sake. Would you be found in a court of law because of witnesses that you are a Christian?

Let God get His glory out of your life today!

comment if you wish.

Just some thoughts

2008-04-23T13:56:00.001-07:00

I have not blogged in quite sometime and thought I would just do some typing of some thoughts that have come to mind lately.

First I am so thankful I serve a God that is everywhere all the time. I am sitting in a coffee shop and I got up to refill my coffee and when i came back God prompted a woman in the store to bless me with a gift. I am so amazed and thankful for God.

For the past 5 days I have been seeking after the will of God and what he desires in all the ministries I am involved in. As a fallen vessel i know that it is difficult to be in His will all the time and all i want to do is be used by Him to get His glory. During this searching I have come to the point of compassion for the church bodies that seem to be missing out on the agenda of God for their own agenda. Some might say I am judging with a plank in my eye but the reality is our staff already knows we fail in some ways doing this thing called church. As a staff we know that God's hand is on the institution of church and we have to do our best to be humble before Him and open with each other so God's agenda is accomplished and not man's. We stress about #'s sometimes but the reality is we are not going to sell out on what the Gospel is for the tickling of man's ears. I am so thankful for that. I have watched services this past week and i am amazed why people would even be there. While watching I was about to throw up with bad theology being sung, no life in service and it just seems to be going through the motions. I do not know how people can come together as a cooperate body and not be excited that God has called them from death to life. THANK ABOUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CALLED UPON JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR. God saved you a nasty, depraved person, FOR HIS GLORY... IF THAT DOES NOT GET YOU TO BE EXCITED ABOUT GOD I AM NOT SURE YOU ARE SAVED! Some might say that is strong language but Jesus is not an add on, HE IS THE END. JESUS IS WHAT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT NOT A STEPPING STONE TO SOMETHING BETTER.

If you realize that Jesus gets you something, but Jesus is everything then there is such freedom in that. That means you don't lose Him or He does not lose you. That means that it is not a bunch of rules and check list but an authentic relationship that is always growing. This means that things religious people call evil are not evil in themselves unless scripture clearly says so. For example witch craft = evil, Sexual immorality = evil, making other things objects of worship = evil.

I get amazed how so many people do not want to grow in their maturity of Christ so they are no longer that weaker brother mentioned in 1 Cor. So many people look at meats from idols and give them power instead of realizing that they are not evil. I laugh at how many people consider the internet as evil, instead of a tool. I realize that if you are reading this you don't see that the internet is evil but maybe you are doing this in secret which means you are not being honest so now you are participating in something wrong because you are bearing false witness to somebody.

Bottom line, the lost world is not in the 4 walls of the church - they are out in the streets, coffee houses, movie theaters, on the internet, and you neighbor. The question is how are you being like Christ in Luke 7:34 or are you being the brood of vipers Christ called out.

If you have a comment rock on and leave them.

Christmas Travels

2007-12-24T12:22:00.001-08:00

Chritmas Travels

Here i sit getting ready to preside over a communion service. This will be the first time in serving in this role and I am humbled and excited. The very fact that God would use a screwed up person like me to be responsible to share His glory with others causes me to worship Him. I am also so amazed that God would save me and allow me to serve Him. That is why I enjoy Christmas is because of Christ.

When driving yesterday to get to our destination for Christmas I was amazed on how many cars were packed with gifts and other stuff. What a great nation we live in that allows for people to freely travel with cars packed with gifts. Think about it, in other nations people can not travel or even have a gift. I realize that in some American's lives they do not have the pleasure of having much for Christmas but we still have a great nation that we can celebrate our Savior's birth.

As you open gifts tomorrow morning remember the ultimate gift which is salvation through Jesus Christ. Maybe you get a box of socks and say "wow, thanks!" or a big pink bunny suite, no matter what all items you receive tomorrow will fade away. Some might not even make it of their packages but instead regifted to somebody else. No matter what, enjoy the glories of God tomorrow how ever that is going to be. Maybe you are away from family this Christmas and seem to be missing something. Know this that as a Christian we are never alone with the HOly Spirit right by us and walking with us. This links us with others and allows for the church to be one.

Thank you to all my real friends and have a Merry Christmas. One never knows what the next year will bring because I would have never though I would be doing what I am doing now. The fact that God has me in a church plant and it is not Southern Baptist is amazing. Along with doing a Lord's Supper meal tonight for a group of people who are starting a new work, humbles me and amazes me.

Enough of my rambling and just enjoy your day! Merry Christmas!

Man or God

2007-09-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

I realize the subject line is funny... or at least causes curiosity...
Basically I am watching multiple events taking place currently to realize I am laughing as man tries to argue that they are in control... there is no control on man's side but only on God's side... the student from The Sanctuary Fellowship should be commenting on here about what God is showing them as they go through the book "Do you want to go to the Mountain?" I would recommend people to go check out the pod cast @ www.thesanctuaryfellowship.com to find out what we as a community of believers are going through the next month...

Another trip

2007-08-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

Today I have been up since 3:00 AM so I can be in OKC to learn the church operating system that will help us stay organize. I can say that I am running on fumes but have had a good day hanging out with God. I have never driven to the airport I departed from and realized that houston is a very large town and thankful that nobody was on the road. Did you know that the airport does not open till 5:00 am? Even if there are 3 people who can work a desk, nobody can check luggage in till 5:00 am, great stuff.

I actually got through TSA rather quickly since nobody was in line, I was there before the donut stand people were, how sad is that. Well I got on my small airplane. Running through my head on take off was the idea that this plane was put together by the people who would supply the least expensive parts, work for the lowest amount of wages, in the shortest time, etc. So I put my iPod on, read some scripture (Galatians 5) and enjoyed my 1 hour flight to OKC.

When we arrived to our gate to unload from the plane I looked out my window and say NWA airlines. Now for those from the 90's you should laugh, Flava Flavaaaaaa!! At 8 in the morning I was a little out of it but I enjoyed the joke. Then when I walked through the air terminal OU has these huge advertisements about how they are the highest ranked public university in academics or something like that. I thought to myself so out of 5 maybe, you are number one in the whole state of OK, hmmm...great! or in the words of Thomas Young "Stellar".

Well I found my way to one of the most exciting meetings anybody can go to... not really!!! I think I personally drank a whole pot of coffee to stay awake.

Once the conference was over I went to go eat at Toby Keath's restaurant. After dinner I went to the OKC Memorial. On the Wednesday the federal building was bombed I was a sophmore at OBU. I still remember the morning and how I walked into the Student center and saw the coverage of what was taking place. I also saw a group of students stop thinking about themselves and start seeking to minister. Seniors in the nursing and counseling areas went downtown to help out. My friends and I tried to give blood but we were turned away because of the out pouring from the state.

As I walked through the memorial in my 15 min. because I was parked at the post office and you could only stay there 15 min or get towed. I walked through the memorial thinking about a ton of things and realized how we do "Bark at the Moon" quite a bit. For those who do not understand the phrase, Pastor Thomas at The Sanctuary Fellowship is doing a serious called "Barking at the Moon" or basically getting our people to live lives that matter. I was there in that memorial reading the signs, seeing the pics of children, and noticing the chairs of that stand for those who died that day. I think about how in our news we have a football star that has now lost everything because of pointless acts, I think about how we get caught up in things that just don't matter and we make those things a priority of worship.

For those that are saved by grace and call Jesus Lord and Savior how are you "Barking at the Moon". What is it that you allow to become your worship for the day instead of God. I just had to be reminded how quick life goes by. I look at my daughter and get so amazed how she is growing up so fast. She can actually operate a computer, how scary is that. Just the other day she could not even feed her self and today she can get her own pudding. Life is short or a vapor, today what are you doing not to miss out on seeing God's glory around you?

I have to keep things in perspective... people are important, and God has to have the freedom to use us to spill his Glory out on people (John 2).

Have a blessed day!!

Great Signs

2007-08-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

Last night I was home after being gone for one week to frontliners. The week was great and I was able to reflect on quite a bit which if you read the other blogs you caught.

Yesterday I had some much needed mexican food, I love fajitas, salsa, tortillas, etc.

We found one of the slowest car wash places but the car was clean but one may not want to scream La Migra. After that Isabella got to drive a car in the grocery story which is a great invention. I was pushing her around thinking the greatest thrill we had in a grocery store was riding under the basket, you the place were people put cases of water now. I also can remember able to go to the magazine rack and not worry about being kid napped either.

We got home and nice night at the house. How great is it that we leave in America, every body in the house has their own computer. Last night Christie was working hard on her computer, I was working on the work computer, and on the tower in the office Isabella was playing noggin games. Yes my 3 year old is surfing the web. I am so amazed, she switches between games and everything. It makes me laugh that she has more technology experience than some adults.

After everybody got settled in their positions I was on the couch flipping through the guide and what do I see NFL Preseason and i was excited. Football is here and I have missed it, thought it was preseason I watched the game. The cowboys third and fourth string looked good. That helped the night turn out even better.

I look forward to hearing from some of you all and especially my Sanctus students, hope everybody is hearing and listening to the gentle whisper of Christ.

Blessed

2007-08-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

Today was day 2 of Frontliners and it was rather interesting. Typically day 2 has the Frontliners going to church with the host family like it is any regular Sunday. So that is what I did and it was a good morning. I observed some cool things in the youth building and their technology. I saw the Sanctus study before worship and after their worship. Had a good lunch with my host family, then took a nap.

Tonight we had a blitz party and a small rally. I have to say I am very proud of the sanctus students because they did such a great job handing out fliers for the activities for Frontliners. I am also thankful that I am starting to understand their personalities and can visit with them about topics besides The Sanctuary Fellowship but actually get to know what makes them tic. I do have to say that Blake made me proud by watching his approach in handing out fliers, I was impressed. This does not negate the great work the rest of the group did, I mean John stepped out of his comfort zone by handing out fliers. The group as a whole is doing great.

I do have confess that God illuminated some things to me that has caused me to say thank you and that I am blessed. First I have a great family and I miss having my girls around. Second I am humbled to be associated with Thomas and The Sanctuary Fellowship. The idea that God had this all planned out amazes me and I am excited to see what we are going to do as a church. I do not understand why anybody in the Richmond, Rosenberg, Sugar Land area would want to go to any other church besides ours. Third I am so blessed to have had such a great group of young adults in ft. worth. If you are a student from my youth group from ft. worth please realize I am blessed to have you in my life and the time we have shared together but over the past week i have missed 8:15. I see in my mind the great things God did during our time together and I do not apologize for inviting every one of my 8:15ers to transfer jobs and come down here, that includes you James. I love doing young adult ministry, tonight I spent the evening talking to my host home's college age daughter just about life. In side I was weeping from my sweet memories of my time I had with the 8:15ers. I am so humble that God allows me to be apart of people's lives, I am not worthy to do such a thing but He equips me to do so. This week should be fun at frontliners and I should have some good stories to share, please stay tuned.

To my sanctus studnets reading this I am praying for you this morning and hoping that you will live a life in the overflow. John 2 - wine jars - let His glory spill out because you get so full of his word and love.

To my Ground Zero students who may be reading this, I love you guys, hold on to the cross of Christ, I pray for you daily and want to hear what God is doing in your lives.

To my 8:15ers, know that our time we shared is some of my most blessed memories. I would love to have each and every one of you to do a road trip to visit The Sanctuary Fellowship and decided to stay to help us grow a church. I am so thankful to be on a church staff that believes in the Sovereignty of God, freedom to worship, and has an authentic out look with people. Know that you are missed and I desire for God to use you in miraculous ways where ever He has you to be missional.

To anybody else who maybe reading this. I am not ashamed that I am a screwed up, flawed person who is in need of a savior. I believe that works all things for His Glory and that we as humans get to participate in this great story of God. I hope and pray that people will see the freedom in realizing God is in complete control and there is not much one can "choose" do to about it. Along with that, my prayer is that people will taste true freedom and that is through the blood of Jesus Christ and not by any man made traditional set of rules.

Have a blessed day and I look forward to hearing comments.

Howdy

2007-08-03T09:09:00.001-07:00

Hello one and all this is my first entry in this blogspot, and I look forward to writing more and hearing back from others. Have a great day!!!