Ireland

so I went to Ireland this weekend, for a break, and it was a fantastic weekend away. Went into Belfast on the friday evening when I got there and had a lovely meal out. Then went onto Tiny's for the evening calling in at Basil and Noreens on the way for a cuppa. Some cool conversations in Tiny's and then 'home' to Neville's. Gorgeous house, didn't expect anything else really, and then in the morning went to Springhill for a walk before going back for lunch and then on to Port Stewart in the afternoon. Louise came for a meal on the evening which was great as I haven't seen her for 3 yrs. In the morning it was church with a slight difference. People didn't want to go home....

All that was a preamble to what is coming!!

Neville spoke about belonging and it is hard to feel you belong sometimes due to all sorts of reasons. What I found refereshing was that Neville was saying to go out into the world instead of staying in the church, to be with those on the edges of society or church, to be like Jesus instead of the pharisees. 10 out of 5!!!

When is the church going to wake up and realise that the church is not meeting the needs of the people outside - because we don't know what it is like to be outside. Who are our friends? who do we get on with do we have any non-christian friends or are they all insiders?

Don Miller has written 'blue like Jazz' which is a must read for anyone struggling with 'christians' or christianity, he speaks so much sense! It also made me want to cry as I recognised myself in there a lot!! Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell is also in my opinion an essential read, however there are others who would dispute my opinion - which is fine, go ahead. I believe that these two guys as well as a whole lot more people are trying to engage people 'out there' with Jesus, not the sanitised Jesus we get preached at us, not the meek and mild Jesus of the christmas carols, but the real Jesus who kept company with the outcasts and strangers - those people who are our neighbours, but who we ignore. Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to Love God with every ounce of our being, and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. But do we love ourselves, or do we continually pile on the guilt and the rubbish and feel that we aren't good enough? I certainly did it for quite a while...