Welcome... 10 Years Later

Well.... Welcome. Just over 10 and a half years after we began this ministry, we have stepped up with a website, hoping to reach others through a different approach. Today's subject is about how to make the change in your life and find a relationship with Jesus. This is where you can grow the spark that's kindled itself in your heart, with a church family. For folks like some of us, it's hard to make that leap and return to church after the difficulties some of us experienced in church in years past. If you're like many of us, we felt looked down upon, ostracized from the tight-knit groups, the cliques, that seem to form in some churches. For some, it's hard to accept the long hair, the tattoos, the past addictions and “mistakes” we made in our lives before we turned to Jesus for peace. That's who many of us have been over these last 10 years; outsiders, loners, bikers, rocknrollers, addicts, in trouble with the law, no self-worth, fear of trusting churches. Yet, here, we have made a home. We have learned to begin forgiving ourselves for the things that no one else seemed to want to. I said it recently in a sermon, God has forgiven us, and it's time for us to forgive ourselves, too. It's time to quit caring what others think about our past. You can't move forward while you're looking back at the past. I've spent the last few weeks, yeah, me the pastor, procrastinating and finding excuses why I wasn't ready to begin this blog. I ran out of excuses after a sermon I preached this past Sunday on having passion for Christ, a passion for living a life for others to see Him in our lives. Over the years I've preached about a lot of the ugliness I created with my poor decisions and experiences before I finally gave my life back to Jesus at 39 years old, 16 years ago as of 2024. Oh, I believed. But, I couldn't deal with all the folks who still didn't believe in me, until the day I decided that their opinions didn't matter; Only Jesus's did, and He had forgiven me, just as He's forgiven you and accepts each one of us who genuinely ask Him to come into, or come back into our lives. Because, for me, and I suspect for you, that's where our recovery and growth has to begin; our new foundation. One of my biggest revelations was this: Learn to love myself, warts and all. I can't change my past. We can't!! But, each one of us has every equal opportunity to begin or begin again when we seek Jesus and a new life with Him. I've been focusing recently in sermons about honesty with ourselves, how we have to decide to become who we are; to let others see the real us, the brokenness, the doubts and fears. For too long we lived behind a mask, tried to show everyone else we were tough, 10ft tall and bulletproof. But, every time, eventually, people saw through us, and trust was lost. But, how can someone love you if you don't show them the real you? How can others love you when all you show them is the shell of who you are? When they fall in love with or develop relationships with that outer shell, when the cracks begin to show, and they always show up eventually, our relationships disintegrate. I know, it's not easy to trust people with the real you. It's easier to get taken advantage of, stabbed in the back by people you thought were friends. But, when you're creating this shell of a person that you want others to see, you attract the same kind of false people you're being, which increases that likelihood of relationships to fail, to implode. That said, its our responsibility to seek out the kind of people we want to be inside but are afraid to show. You'd think that'd be church, right? But, it's critical to remember that all these folks who are legitimately in church are dealing with the same hypocritical struggles you've been dealing with. Churches are full of sick people trying to get well. And, it's so easy to give up when we get to a church and find all those people struggling, and some of 'em are just mean. I mentioned the other day that there are 2 dozen churches within 10 miles of our church. Each one is different. When I came back to Jesus in 2008, I went to half a dozen churches before I found a group with “my people”, bikers and addicts, who accepted me for me and who I wanted to become, not who I was. In today's world, I'm sad to say, its a tough job to find that church where you fit in, and where the preacher isn't afraid to preach the hard truths. But, it's a huge part of our new foundation. Many of us know what it means to feel alone in a crowded room. It takes just the right combination for us to find the right environment. Now, of those two dozen churches in our area, I think each one has the same goal, sharing God's love. That's good!! There's variety! However, it's done in hugely varying ways. I'm not saying any of them are wrong. But, many may be wrong for you. Bottom line, you can't give up looking until you find “your people.” We've had members who drove over 50 miles, one way, and were here every Sunday for years. We fit them. They fit us. I'm not afraid to call it like I see it. I'm not afraid to preach the hard truths that may hurt feelings. But, I'm also there for my congregation 24 hours a day. They know they can call me for a meeting and I'll make time. They know they can call me at 4 am in an emergency or mental meltdown. But, at the same time, we're not for everybody. We're probably much less accommodating to your average church go-er. We don't tolerate attitudes for long. We follow God's Word when it comes to troublemakers. We're not as formal. We don't play lots of music. Some wear shorts and flipflops to church! We also preach that this ministry is only as effective as the congregation has the courage to open up and interact with each other some of the other 6 days of the week. It's nearly impossible to gain trust and love with people you only see once or twice a week. “It takes a village to raise a child”, as the old saying goes. And it takes a church family that spends much more time together than just a Sunday morning. I can usually track those with trouble who have left, largely based on whether they embraced this principle of family communication and sharing. I think it's crazy to believe that lifelong and deep friendships can form and last with someone I only spend a couple of hours one day a week with. How often do you talk with those whom you trust, with those you really consider your best friend? I bet its a lot more than 2 hours a week.

 Let's stop there this week. Are you trying to find your life with Jesus again? Have you done or gone through some horrible experiences in life and have trouble trusting others? Have you spent most of your life as anti-social, which is something I'm still working on in my own life, even as a preacher for over 12 years now? I'm here to tell you where it begins. First, after asking Jesus into your heart, soul and spirit, be real with yourself. Then forgive yourself. Then, stop caring that others don't forgive you, and go find a church family with others with similar struggles. You may go through 2 dozen churches before you do. Don't give up. Most importantly, learn to love that person inside of you who wants to be at peace. Jesus loves you, no matter what you've done, no matter what anyone's done to you. His love is unconditional. Love others the way you want to be loved, even if they don't in return, but don't stick around those who keep shoving you down. You deserve to be loved. Finally, remember this, most every church you end up in is going to have bullies, a judgmental hypocrite or few, and those with emotional struggles who are still learning how to let go and reach out in love. Churches are like hospitals for sick people. Don't expect everyone to be well. But, you'll know when you've found the right family, with the right pastor for you. Move on if needs change for you. Your relationship with God has to come first. Make sure you read your bible. Learn what the Word says so that you can know that the pastor and elders are teaching from the Bible, not just trying to spin the Word to fit themselves, or to put on a stage show of “entertainment”. Worship is important. But it isn't the main thing. Learning and growth in God's Spirit is. Remember, churches need money to operate. That's a fact. God will provide the church who seeks Him. Do your part. Help them keep the lights on. But pay attention to what programs, or pockets, that money is going into. A worker in God's church deserves wages. But make sure that isn't the focus. You've got to give it a chance, though. Stick around long enough to make a sound decision as to whether you fit there. And don't give up!!! God isn't going to give up on you!

Amen?

Got a question? Wanna talk?

Send me an email to RLCCitra@yahoo.com In the subject line put “Website Blog”. I'll do my best to respond promptly.

Let's be billboards for Jesus.

Have a great week. Make it one, with Jesus!!!

Love y'all,

 Pastor J