I received an invitation in my mailbox today. It is from the "blended" church. It has a picture of a black woman and a white man holding up a sign. The title on the sign is: We fixed what kept you away!
Then it goes on to list 10 reasons, people supposedly have been kept away from worshiping God.

#1 Come reconnect in a living and safe atmosphere.
#2 Experience a freedom that leads to a life of purpose
#3 Loud guitars. Big drum set. Worship like you've never experienced before.
#4 30 nations of people, so you will fit in.
#5 No membership required, just a place to connect.
#6 Your kids will love the indoor playground, X-boxes, live music, clowns, and more!
#7 A practical message that will help you overcome life's difficult issues. No history lesson. Yes, we even use movies & videos.
#8 We don't beg for money.
#9 Accepting, forgiving, and authentic. We all have issues, so you will be at home here.
#10 No dress code. Just wear some clothes; socks are optional.

I have to tell you I was just amazed at this mailing. It is laughable that people think this is OK. BUT more importantly, it is so sad that people will read this and go there. Did you notice as you read this that there is absolutely no mention of God. Not once. It does say "worship like you've never experienced before". I'd have to ask...Worship who? Is this a worship to God? If it is, I wonder if it ever occurred to this Blended Group to look at God's Word to see how HE wants to be worshiped. BUT, sadly this is not about what God wants. It is all about what the people want. What can this church do that will make ME feel good. What does this
church offer that will cause me to feel fulfilled. Wake up people...it is not all about YOU. It is about God, the creator. It is about pleasing HIM...not self!
#2 speaks to "a freedom". A freedom from what? A freedom from what God wants; to do what I want to do to in worship.
#5 speaks to "no membership". I can see why---there is no responsibility to God--only to self.
#6 speaks to "your kids will love..." What? Kids don't need to learn to love God--just playing and satisfying self?
#7 speaks to "no history lesson"; hmmmmmm....we don't need to study the Bible, the history of God and His people. We
have no need to learn what God says because we can do what we want at this
place to overcome life's difficult issues.
#9 speaks to "we all have issues"; Yes...we all have issues, but don't try to make me change. I want to feel justified.
#10 really is funny....at least, for now, "some" clothes are required to "worship". I wonder how long it will be till they offer nude
worship?
It is so evident that God is not even in the picture.

The scripture says: On the 7th day God rested. What does that mean? NO WAY does it mean that God NEEDED a rest because He was so weary from all His 6 days of hard labor, He had to sit down and take a breather!

Teaching children by using an "overstuffed" chair as a prompt for an activity paste-in or to teach them in song as we fold our hands and close our eyes, is teaching that God is less than what He is.

In context doesn't "rested" mean God stopped creating and was finished because there was nothing more to create...He had done it all?

Gen. 2:2:
By the 7th day God completed His work which He had done and He rested on the 7th day from all His work which He had done.

Isaiah 40:28:
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not grow weary or tired.

Exodus 31:17:
It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever, for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased and was refreshed.

In context of Exodus 31:
God set aside the seventh day as a "sabbath". God calls it "My Sabboth". It is a day He set aside as a sign between Him and the sons of Israel as a perpetual covenant so the children of Israel would recognize God as the One who santified them.
vs. 15 says it is a sabboth of complete rest. It was a day of "ceasing" from labor to recognize WHO God is. God certainly was not saying to the children of Israel that HE needed a rest. He was not saying to "rest on the Sabboth" because that is the day I needed rest. He was saying to "stop" work and recognize who I AM.

To teach little ones that God needs to sit in a chair and "rest" as we use the word today is giving them the idea that God is like us and needs "rest". To teach the children in song and use a motion of folded hands and closed eyes to teach what happened on the 7th day, is not a truth. To teach children that God needed to sit down after His hard work, is not a truth. As God's creation, we are the ones that grow weary and tired. One day, we will be "like" God, eternal in nature, not needing sleep, food, etc.

Today, we should "pause" and "rest" and "wait" and recognize God for who He is; an ETERNAL and ALL POWERFUL being that loves us enough to provide salvation and an ETERNAL REST. An ETERNAL place to cease from our labor as we bask in the glory of our God. Just as there was no more need to create because God was finished creating, we will cease from our work to spread the gospel because there will be no more need to teach about God because time will be no more. There will only be a constant recognition of who God is forevermore.

Wow! I have never participated in a VBS as a student; always a teacher. I am looking forward to it.

It is time to get ready for worship. Looking forward to this day of worship. I love teaching my class too!
Glad to have my Molly home again! The house is just too quiet when she is away. Now it is full of dirty laundry and that's OK!
Hopin' to get a visit from RMandR this week!
Looking forward to Ladies Class tomorrow evening.
Thank you God for blessings.

I am amazed at how busy I've been these last few days. I thought my week would be kind of slow. NO! I have something going on every day and some days....more than one thing! That's OK! I'd rather be busy than idle.
I'm off....again.