One Man, One Blog

So,

I've decided to merge my "life blog" and my "devotional blog".

I am not Matt the Christian, and Matt the person. I'm Matt the Christian person. God is in all of my life, so why separate the God stuff from everything else?

I've imported all of my old devotional blogs to this one and set the devotion blog to forward here.

Expect many more musing from the mind of Matt to come.

God is always up to something!

Cheers!

Matt

True Community

I believe that true community is the integration of others into your every day life.

I think it means making people a real part of your journey on this earth. It's not just in the big things, like long talks, sharing burdens, helping each other out at our lowest, and partying at our best. It's eating dinner together, going out for lunch together, hanging out and watching TV together, doing chores together, sharing your hobbies with each other. Things like that.

I think that true community is making an effort, and being somewhat spontaneous, not just seeing each other at meetings and gatherings. If the only community we have with each other is church and/or cell, and we don't make an effort to integrate one another into the day-to-day, we're really just two people who happen to like to chat at a meeting we both happen to attend.

I know a bunch of people who really love community, and love to talk about community, but I don't really see the evidence of this true (and Biblical) community in their lives. It's these same people who always talk about community, but don't seem to have it in their schedule.

Community comes at a price, you see. It comes at the price of giving up your time and resources, and essentially, a part of your life, to others. It requires sacrifice at times, especially at those times when certain members seem to be more at need.

I've been thinking on the topic of loneliness recently, and on the topic of community.

I think that in a true community, people don't feel lonely and separated from the others (all unGodly beliefs, etc. aside).

This is the kind community I want to be a part of. I hope you do too.

Acts 2:42-47 is a great example of a true community, one that seemed to mean that people integrated one another into their lives daily and it seems that that community of love and fellowship seemed to thrive (as God was adding to their numbers daily). Now, I think that due to culture and other factors, daily community is a bit much for us here in the Western world. That being said, I think we use our busyness as an excuse. I know I have. And though I want to be a part of a thriving, loving, inclusive and pervasive community, I can't do it alone. Anyone out there wanting to help a brother out?

Just some thoughts from the heart and head of Matt Mitchell here. These are just my opinions based on observations in my own life, and my thoughts on what the Bible has to say on it. Let me know what you think eh.

Truth

I'd just like to say one simple thing that I believe.

"Nothing should be preached from a pulpit with the same conviction and tone of truth as Biblical truth."

It's my belief, observation, whatever, that we as Christians are in the habit of preaching our local church culture, policy, experience, and opinion (with Biblical basis of different degrees being regardless) with the same conviction and tone as we do direct Biblical truth. I don't think that's good.

Feel free to tell me what you think on this...

Stop whining

God doesn't want us to complain, he wants us to contend.

-Matt Mitchell

I'm a hugger, what can I say?

So, I'm watching one of my favourite tv shows, Scrubs, and on Scrubs, they tend to make extreme and quirky one-time characters. On the episode of Scrubs I just watched, the quirky character is "Jimmy the overly touchy resident". Jimmy tends to come up behind people and give 'em a hug of squeeze or feel of the sort.
I have to admit, this quirky, crazy, touchy-feely guy reminds me much of myself. I express myself physically to people I love, what can I say? I love a good hug! I'm not a really conservative or reserved person, so I have no problems with hugs and such, and I think that's good!
I'm a hugger, what can I say?

"Brothers don't shake hands! Brothers hug!" -from the movie "Tommy Boy"

Matt

Objects of Affection for the Spending of my Time

I love spending time with...

God
Friends, close and acquantance
My guitar
My family
Music
Books

Matt