Unhappy people in empty churches

The last decade lots of people have turned their back to their church. 10% of those having left church have left the faith completely, but that means the others did not give up faith totally. Many because of the many questions and of seeing contradictions in their church, left the institution, but wanted to stay spiritual.
When the big institutional churches may still count on 20% who are still in churches and are happy, their members may not see major problems within their congregations or problems resulting from their institutional practice of faith. To them, church attendance is a practical and enjoyable expression of faith.

Though of the 30% who are in churches can not say they are happy, but indicate they are unhappy. They see major problems but continue with church attendance for a variety of reasons. The important thing for this group is that, despite all it’s flaws churches are still worth supporting through attendance and possibly finances.

We may wonder why they do not dare to question their pastors or ministers more and go not look for the real happiness in their Scriptures. For many a real confrontation with what is written in the Book of books seems to dangerous and to much bringing them in confusion, and that is something they do not like; They want a certain certainty? When reading the Bible they encounter too many things which seem so muddling or confusing with the many church doctrines and to leave church doctrines aside looks for them as treason to the community. They forget they are better to do treason to the world of man than to the world of God. That is what Jesus and the other prophets are all about when they talk not to be of this world but to belong to God.

40%of those who abandoned their church see the institutional churches of our era as more damaging than helpful to the Kingdom, and have walked out on the institutions their parents and grandparents built, to practice faith in a far more personal way, a far more tight-knit community.

It becomes time that those who left the institution churches come to see there are other ways to come to God and to please God, but that we still have to come together to unite as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The "Unchurching" is a growing movement of Christians who are leaving churches and the allegiance to trappings churches demand in order to find God, experience him more personally, and enjoy smaller, tight-knit communities that don’t put institutional concerns in front of godliness.

We can only hope they shall be able to find like minded people who find it more important to come to Biblical truth and to worship God in the way that God wants to be worshipped.

For those who left their big institutional church they, when they look for an other community of believers, should know

It isn’t about moving the same old church practices to a smaller venue. It’s about reassessing every one of those practices to see if they meet the needs of the Kingdom, advance the message of the Gospel, and draw closer to God.

Looking at the Source of joy

These months many denominations do have their conferences where they want to discuss matters of this world.
At the Vatican the cardinals look at the family. Lots of things are decided there and lots of happenings in the family make it that people may be happy or unhappy. The joy or gladness people may have depends a lot on what happens in the family and at work.

When we look at the people around us it looks like many have lost the 'joy de vivre'. We see many faces with their chin hanging unto the ground and people walking like zombies or with droopy eyes. Many seem to have lost the joy in their life.

Perhaps it is not bad for them to resource and to go looking for the reasons why they have lost that preciousness energy of life. It would not be bad if they, like us, would go looking for the source of joy. Perhaps you think that is not really necessary, or you think it is only having enough money that can bring joy.

For over 40 years, the Williamsburg Conference has provided a unique opportunity for praise and fellowship. From December 27th until December 31st at 12:00 noon, Christadelphians will be looking at joy and gladness, at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg, VA.

Morning sessions are devoted to building an understanding of the chosen theme through numerous sets of scriptural readings, exhortations, and hymns. Periods of quiet meditation throughout the morning allow us to focus on the personal implications of what we have considered and on our individual relationships with God.
The afternoons are devoted to smaller group sessions that again centre on the theme. The goal is to discuss how we can apply the thoughts developed in the morning sessions to our own service. Group leaders guide but never dominate the discussions. Group selection is random, so there is no age segregation and many brothers and sisters meet for the first time. This is all intentional. Participants find that they are able to speak from the heart. For this reason many consider the afternoons extremely beneficial and the heart of the Conference.
Evening programs are more relaxed and varied. Usually, a music program will occupy one evening. A discussion of the “Signs of the Times” and “Prayer for Others” sessions will now be part of the evening programs.
Classes for young children ages 4-13 will be available, with parent participation. Please indicate on your registration if you are willing to help teach a children’s class for one hour on one day during the Conference.
A generous continental breakfast is available for free. All other meals are taken in local restaurants, at your own expense. These are wonderful times of getting to know new friends, and renewing old friendships.
Please plan to join us for several days of intensive spiritual growth and introspection—a period of close fellowship with our God and our spiritual family.

Registration

To register online and get more conference information, click here. Registration will end on December 22, but will reopen on December 27 at the hotel. If you know of anyone who wants to register but does not have internet access, please print the form below and give it to them or have them contact:
Sis. Emilyclaire V. Walker
7515 Axton St
Springfield, VA 22151
(315) 651-3207

> Williamsburg Conference 2015 December 27-31 Joy and Gladness
>> Williamsburg Conference December 27-31, 2015

Related articles

• springfield va newborn photographer | baby makes three
• CSN Praise & Fellowship Day at Arden School, Solihull, on Saturday 11th October 2014
• 2015 Family Resource and Transition Fair
• Vatican takes in Syrian refugee family following pope's appeal
• Militants sneaking into Europe with refugees is a risk, says Pope Francis
• God bringing to Christadelphian community
• Lovers of God, seekers and lovers of truth
• God has not destined us for wrath
• May we have doubts
• Looking for a shepherd for the sheep and goats

Joy: Foundation for a Positive Life

JOY:  Foundation for a Positive Life

   Wouldn’t you like to experience deep and enduring joy?  Wouldn’t you like to be joy-full?  Be assured ~ you can!

   The world has a woeful shortage of joy and a surplus of fear, worry, discouragement and depression.  Even the “pursuit of happiness” and obsessive pleasure-seeking do not bring deep and lasting joy.

   Let’s first understand the difference between joy and happiness.  Happiness is an emotion, and God never intended for people to be in that emotional state all the time.  There is “a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

   Biblical joy ~ true joy ~ comes from filling the spiritual void with good relationships, primarily an intimate relationship with the One who is pure joy.  Jesus put it this way:  “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:5).  That fruit includes much joy!

   The Bible speaks much more often of joy than of being happy.  “Hap” means chance and is the root of several words ~ happen, haphazard (dependent on mere chance), hapless, happenstance (a chance circumstance) and happy.

   Happiness is a glad feeling that depends on something good happening.  God wants us to experience happy times (as long as God approves of what is happening).  But His greater desire is that you have unconditional JOY.  Jesus said His joy would “remain in you” and “your joy no one will take from you” (John 15:11; 16:22).

   Think of joy as a strong foundation that supports a variety of healthy emotions, including happiness. The long-range evidence of joy is general gratitude, contentment, optimism, a sense of freedom and other positive attitudes.

   Joy looks out and up, not inward ~ A common mistake is to think that getting something will make you happy.  We tell ourselves, “If only…”  But joy and happiness come much more from giving and serving than from getting.

   The Apostle Paul reminded his listeners that Jesus Christ had taught this very thing:  “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35, TEV).

   To grow in joy, we must resist not only self-pity but also being self-centered and self-absorbed. For joy to flourish, we must focus on loving others and especially on loving God.

   Joy is largely composed of gratitude ~ gratitude for the wonderful things God has done for us and His “exceedingly great and precious promises” for our future (2 Peter 1:4).  Gratitude produces joy (1 Thes. 5:16-18).  And our gratitude should be for other people’s blessings as well as for our own (Romans 12:15).

   Try to follow this biblical formula:  Add to your life gratitude, humility, forgiveness, faith, hope, patience and love.  Take away resentment, anger, fear, worry, materialism, greed, jealousy, complaining and pride.  The result? JOY!

   Joy is spiritual, supernatural and essential ~ God is joyful ~ far more than any human being ever was!  It is tragic that many people think of God as somber and stern rather than cheerful and smiling.  He is enjoying His creation and especially the delightful anticipation of many new “sons of God” (Rom. 8:14, 19).

   True followers of Jesus Christ will be joyful also.  Psalm 68:3 says, “Let the righteous be glad;…let them rejoice exceedingly.”  God desires that we serve Him “with joy and gladness of heart” (Deuteronomy 28:47).

   Paul spoke of the “joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). It is through His Spirit that God shares and communicates His joy.  And when Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit,” joy is second, preceded only by love (Galatians 5:22-23).  If we are filled with godly love, won’t that produce joy?  Of course it will!

   Joy is a major topic in the Bible.  In the KJV, “joy” appears 158 times and “rejoice” 198 times (not counting other variations such as joyful, joyfully, joyous, jubilant, happy and glad).  Rejoice is the verb form of joy, meaning to feel or have joy!  Clearly there is great emphasis in the Bible on expressing joy.  That explains why the Bible also emphasizes prayers and songs that praise and celebrate God (James 5:13; Psalm 150; Colossians 3:16, 17).

   Joy is not optional.  The Bible repeatedly commands us to rejoice!   The most emphatic exhortation is in Philippians 4:4, where Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, Rejoice!”

   Joy because of trials?  God’s joy continues to flow through His people even during their suffering because of their rock-solid hope of future everlasting joy in His Presence.  They know that all suffering is limited to this short life, and the time will soon come when “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying” (Revelation 21:4).  They “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).

   We also have good reason to rejoice because of our trials when we understand how God is using those trials to help us build godly character.  “And we know that God works all things (even severe trials) for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). More specifically, Paul wrote that “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope” (Romans 5:3, 4 NIV).  James wrote, “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” in remaining faithful to God (James 1:2 NIV).

   And because Christ suffered for each of us, we should have a special joy when we are persecuted for our faith.  Jesus said, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11, 12).

   The number one key to Joy: God’s Spirit ~ Supreme joy is God’s nature and character!  We see proof everywhere in God’s creation, i.e., birds singing, animals frolicking, flowers blooming, brooks babbling and the sun shining!

   Our unique joy begins when Christ comes to live in us (Gal. 2:20). We then have an intimate relationship with the Lord God, through His Son ~ the One Psalm 43:4 calls “God, my exceeding joy!”  God’s Spirit is a tree of life, producing life-giving fruit which includes great joy!

   Jesus prayed for His followers “that they may have My joy fulfilled in them” (John 17:13). He taught, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full!” (John 16:24).

                                                                                         Don Hooser                             

Whom can we trust to govern us?

This month's survey question:
Whom can we trust to govern us?

POSSIBLE ANSWERS:

- There are some good politicians but they are the exception
- All politicians are unreliable and cannot be trusted
- We can only REALLY trust the Lord Jesus Christ when he rules in the Kingdom of God.
- We should implicitly trust our elected politicians
- Don't know.

Go to www.thisisyourbible.com to submit your answer!

If you look around you can find people that you think you do best not to tell too much and others where you could tell your deepest secrets.
What about your living conditions and for the future that lays in front of you? You might think that there are politicians you can rely on or not trust. Or maybe you think that no one in politics is to be trusted. You think that they are slime balls or still do those things they find important to them. Or that they do not keep to their word.

If you think politics is nonsense perhaps you can ask whether you should be engaged. But as a Christian you can examine to what extent we agree with our politicians or may have to attend to it.
You may wonder whether we actually need to vote or whether we can join a political party or even go further and imagine us to come forward as a candidate?
In the world so many things that happen there are plenty of events or things we want to resist to. But to what extent we can resist against the chest punching things? Can we join reactive groups or join a group demonstration? Which are groups we would consider valuable to join and which not worthy or even wrong to join?

What we also need to ask is how it is about the obligations of the country where we live or are citizens from.
I think you must obey laws of that country if they do not go against the will of God. And nowhere has God forbidden voting. If it is required to vote, as in Belgium you should keep to that commitment. (Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar) How you vote is up to your conscience. This is not to imply that you would not think that God is the only one who can solve everything.

Because we believe that it will ultimately be Jesus Christ that will bring the world order in its place, and give the start to the most complete and accurate Kingdom. The Kingdom of God will have the best management and is the only way to give full happiness.

Dutch version >

The truest greatness lies in being kind

"The truest greatness lies in being kind,
the truest wisdom in a happy mind."
- Unknown

"A kindhearted woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth."
Proverbs 11:16
God give that I always can remain humble and friendly
and that I may gain insight.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > De ware grootsheid ligt in het vriendelijk zijn

Be happy that the thorn bush has roses

"Instead of complaining that the rosebush is full of thorns,
be happy that the thorn bush has roses."
- German Proverb

"Do everything without complaining or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,
in which you shine like stars in the universe"
Philippians 2:14-15

God, let me look perspective to life.
All the problems I encountered I want to overlook
and the beauty and goodness of your creation set against it.
That I may be just in your eyes
and may live impeccable according to your commandments.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Wees blij dat de doornstruik rozen draagt

Happy is the person who knows what to remember of the past

"Happy is the person who knows what to remember of the past,
what to enjoy in the present, and what to plan for in the future."
- Arnold H. Glasgow

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
2 Timothy 4:7-8

Jehovah, let me from the past only remember the good things and take care that in the present I shall only experience the right things. That your wishes are fulfilled on earth.
That life lessons shall not be too heavy and shall not test me to much. I ask you that they will build a bright future and prepare the road for Your Kingdom, that hopefully can come quickly.

Dutch version / Nederlands > Gelukkig is de persoon die weet wat te onthouden van het verleden
+++
2013 update

Related articles

• For Jehovah is greatly to be praised
• Praise be to God
• What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits
• The Prophet Of Fire
• "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord." - Hosea 6:3
• Measure Your Walk!

Remember there's a light in the next day

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Herinner dat er een licht is in de volgende dag

" Every time we look down, past a dark lonely night, remember there's a light in the next day. Whenever you drop 7 times get up 8 times.
Never look down, always stick your head up and look at what you've got and do the best with it!"
--- Author Unknown --- Submitted by Osbel Barrera --- Texas
For everybody who's feeling down either about work or love or just basically life.

" The art of being happy is to be satisfied with what you have."
--- Written in 2009 by Ranbeer H. --- India

As human beings we are never satisfied. There is lot of jealousy, attitude and conflicts between individuals because of the differences in status/positions that they do not have in common. This gave me a thought that the moment I feel what I have is enough for me, then I will feel happy. With this, I wrote the above quote.
Ranbeer H.

Lord give me a positive outlook on life and allow me to overcome the difficulties.
Make also that I can show others the good side of this life
and that together we may look for a better life in your Kingdom.

Commit your self to the trustworthy creator

Dutch version / Nederlands > Verbindt u met de geloofwaardige Schepper

“So, then, also let those doing good continue to suffer in harmony with the will of The God, committing their souls to a trustworthy Creator.” (1Pe 4:19 MHM)
“For it is better for persons to suffer because of doing good–if that be the wish and will of The God–than be persons suffering for doing bad.” (1Pe 3:17 MHM)
“And so I continue to suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the One in whom I believe, and I am persuaded he is able to guard what I have laid up in trust until that Day.” (2Ti 1:12 MHM)
“Because this is the will of The God that those doing good muzzle ignorant and senseless persons.” (1Pe 2:15 MHM)

“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God:” (Ps 146:5 ASV)

“Devolve upon Jehovah thy ways, And trust in him, and he will bring it to pass.” (Ps 37:5 Calvin_Bible)
“Into thy hand I will commend my spirit; For thou hast redeemed me, O Jehovah! God of truth.” (Ps 31:5 Calvin_Bible)
“I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou art afraid of man that shall die, and of the son of man that shall be made as grass;” (Isa 51:12 ASV)
“[The God] will reward each one in harmony with [their] works. Indeed, to those who endure in good works–glory, honor, and incorruption to those searching for everlasting life. But, to those who out of selfishness disobey the truth, obeying rather unrighteousness–wrath, anger,” (Ro 2:6-8 MHM)

Have a real happy day today!

Dutch version / Nederlands > Heb een echte gelukkige dag vandaag!

"Have a real happy day today!
Enjoy it because you got up this morning."
- Unknown

"But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble."
Psalm 59:16

God, in the morning I am to call you and you hear my voice, stand by me this day.
I keep hoping on you and put my expectations on to you.

Partakers of the sufferings

“So let us go forth to Him outside the camp bearing His reproach. For we do not have here a continuing city, but we seek the [city] coming.” (Heb 13:13-14 LIT)

 “Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial happening among you for your testing, as [if] a surprise [were] occurring to you; but according as you share the sufferings of Christ, rejoice; so that you may rejoice exultingly at the revelation of His glory.” (1Pe 4:12-13 LIT)

 “and our hope for you [is] certain, knowing that even as you are sharers of the sufferings, so also of the comfort.” (2Co 1:7 LIT)

 “If you are reviled in [the] name of Christ, [you are] blessed, because the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you." Truly, according to them, He is blasphemed; but according to you, He is glorified. [Isa. 11:2]” (1Pe 4:14 LIT)

 “Then they indeed departed from [the] presence of the sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were deemed worthy to be dishonored on behalf of His name.” (Ac 5:41 LIT)

 “having chosen rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than for a time to have enjoyment of sin; having counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” (Heb 11:25-26 LIT)

Dutch version / Nederlands > Deelgenoten van lijden

+++

2013 update:

Related articles

• The Five Crowns we are Eligible to Receive
• The Sufferings of Christ
• Sin If I Partake
• Partakers of the Promise.
• Why am I being persecuted?

Thirst for happiness and meaning

There is within every soul a thirst for happiness and meaning.

      -- Thomas Aquinas


God the Father, I hope to make something of my life.
 Give me that the things I do make sense
and let my experiences be to constructive to my life.
 Hopefully I can, here on earth, already enjoy this life
and may happiness surround me and my family.

Dutch version / Nederlands > Dorst naar geluk en zingeving

Looking forward to the return of Jesus

As we come to the end of 2008 we look forward to 2009 and do hope we shall be come closer to the end of times, when Jesus shall come back.

Our prayer is that we shall soon see the coming of our Lord Jesus.

May the coming year bring to you all the blessings of peace, health and happiness.