The Church

Baptist by birth, there are a few life long influences that have stuck in my brain, some are even ingrained into my very being.

-When someone dies, you bring food.
-When someone asks how you are doing, there are a few acceptable phrases with which to reply: "fine." "good." "blessed." or any variation of these. Anything too extreme will only yield to awkward moments as the asker keeps walking by.
-When someone has a baby, you bring food.
-When you heartily agree with something said within the confines of the church campus, lower your voice an octave and declare, "amen". Note: the loudest "amens" seem to be in reference to husbands or wives...
-When someone has surgery, you bring food.
-Foreign missionaries are supernatural creatures with supernatural powers who do supernatural work, but still need our money.
-When someone loses a job, you bring food.
- Using "Brother" to preface the name of a pastor or elder is perfectly normal.
- When the pastor begins his closing remarks, the majority in the sanctuary shift in their seats and click off their Bible Apps, close their journals, and perk up for the first time in the last 45 minutes.
-Everyone who lived in Jesus' time had long flowing hair and a stellar beard.
-Basically, food is always a viable icebreaker, ministry tool, mood softener, replacement for words, or peace offering.

In the past few months, my spirit has been stirred for the church, the body of Christ.  I go through ebbs and flows in my feelings towards the church.
I am thankful for its presence in my life... I am frustrated at its presence in my life.
I appreciate the genuine nature and display of depravity that I experience... I cannot stand the legalistic and hypercritical nature that I am confronted with.
I am grateful for the fellowship... I just want to be left alone.
I want to devote more of my time and energy... These people are sucking the life out of me!
I love the freedom of openness... I loath the confines of secrecy.
And on and on and on...

There is a lesson being taught to my spirit. There is an affection being stirred.
I am to love the body of Christ, for it is the BODY OF CHRIST.  
When I look to these faces, no matter where I am in the ebb, I am to see the face of my Savior.
If only I could wrap this up into a nice package of the revelation that has taught me exactly how to do this, alas I cannot and, most likely, will not in the very near future.
In the meantime, I am praying "... to walk in the manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace".  (Eph 4:1-3)