to church or not to church

Ok, so this posting may be a bit offensive to some, but...well....

A question I have been asking myself a lot is..how much of my life is supposed to be 'about' Church?I'm not trying to belittle the church or it's huge benefit in our lives. Nor am I trying to ignore the huge part of the Bible dedicated to the church and it's function....I'm just trying to find a balance in my life of church and not church.

Let me first say that I LOVE CHURCH. I was raised in 'the church' and I find comfort as well as the majority of my friendships and support there. However, I'm not sure that that's how it's supposed to be. I don't think that there 's error in finding our support there, but I'm starting to think that it's contrary to what Christ wanted from his followers to submerge themselves in the church's culture.

I've thought a lot over the past year or so that many of the things I find 'normal' about church, could easily be viewed as CRAZY by someone outside of the church culture.Ex: Puppets

I'm not sure when it was that I realized that I was drowning in church 'muck' and that I had ceased to long to reach people for Christ...let me emphasize for Christ...not for the church.

I just want to get back there...that's all. And I don't want to hurt anyone in the process...and I think that denying something that you have been so 'involved' in can be hurtful to some people 'left behind', but I think maybe that's what Christ was talking about it saying that we 'should' deny our Fathers and Mothers for him...
That when the situation presents itself, we have to follow Christ and just pray that we don't have to deny anyone in the process.

Judgement

So.. I was at dinner last night with a friend and we began talking about how we view other people. I have to admit that I often say to my self (or others around me) "she could be really pretty if..."or "he would be really cute if..."

And, thinking about that a little deeper than I usually would, I can't help but think how horrible it is to think and say those things. Honestly, since when do I get to judge what makes others 'better' or 'more acceptable'? And since when is it ok or even an attractive quality to judge people on how they look?

I can easily justify and make myself feel better by saying that I never 'dislike' someone because of their outward appearance, but who am I to judge it on any level?

And even if outward appearance did create some value level, who am I to say who 'scores' where in this system? We are all created beautiful to God...and just because some stupid magazine, or whatever it is that gives us this 'beautiful' image in our minds, says that 'this' is beautiful and 'that' is not, doesn't mean it's true.

I'm ashamed to say that I've fallen to that lie on many occasions...but I realize that I do.

So, today...know that you are beautiful. Truly Beautiful.