Jeremiah’s Blog

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/blog/view/264

http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/blogs/desertbeliefs/11031/puresextucsoncom

http://www.fox11az.com/news/topstories/stories/KMSB_20080827_dm_jh_sex.1c58edd7.html

I want to make a few things clear. First we are not doing this for media attention! Second we are not doing this because I want a lavish lifestyle. I lived a much more comfortable life with my former job, and I LOVED it. So why are we doing this. Simple we believe in Loving God and Loving People just like Jesus told us too. That is why we have done so many service projects in the city, that is why we adopted a refugee family from Iraq, and that is why we are dealing with sex, relationships, and marriage. At least 90% of all counseling I have done churched or unchurched have related to these three. People are hurting, maybe not all people, but a lot of people are hurting. We are doing nothing more than trying to love God and love people. ECC’s stated mission is to “Connect People to God and Each Other”. Why? Because Jesus told us to “love God and love people”! We believe people are made with a purpose and that by connecting people to God they will find that purpose. We also believe that people are made to live in community, not fend for themselves, that is why we try to connect people so that we have people to walk life with in joy and pain. To me it’s simple why we are doing what we are doing? “Love God…Love People”!

I find myself thinking…wondering…doubting. Today was the Catalina Baptist associational executive board meeting. (For those who don’t know ECC is associated with the SBC in missions) Anyway, the entire process though comical, was disgusting to me. I could not help but think what would Jesus think of this mess we call church. You see, you have to understand that I have a long history in the church. My father is a preacher in fact. I experienced church fight after church fight, church split after church split, moving, my father heartbroken and bitter, him finally being able to heal, and then moving again. Now today my father kinda looks down at me for the same reason that he would get into trouble when he was young, doing things differently! I wonder if I will be the same way when I am older? Anyway the clash between old and new is growing more and more. It was so crystal clear this morning, old clashing with new, and I was wondering where is Jesus in all of this madness? When are we going to figure out that Jesus was not a part of the SBC, or a Republican? I’ll be the first to admit I am not the perfect follow of Christ so I am speaking from a low position here. Somewhere along the way though I feel we have lost our way. At some point the church became an institution, a thought process I find myself having trouble breaking free from. I guess the questions I have been wrestling with are; what does Jesus think of Denominations? What does Jesus think of “the churches” in America? What does Jesus think about ECC? What does Jesus think about me? I hope He sees a man trying his best to follow Him. I hope the world sees a Christ-follower, a fallen man, a man who is perfect by no means, but a man who has been saved by grace, and is doing his best to walk and talk with Jesus.