ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE
I appreciate the comments made by Michelle about the last post. Here is an extract from the sermon I'm going to preach tomorrow. If you like you can listen in on the internet at www.standonline.org.uk we stream our services out every Sunday 10.30 and 6.30 tomorrow eveni is an alternative style service andit starts at 7.00pm
THE LOST GENERATION
This morning I'd like to talk a bit about this lost and wayward son because in reality he is everyman and every woman. I think we are all looking for direction and meaning in our lives. Very often this story is told in such a way to represent the lost sinner looking to find his way back to God. But for some it is a story of alienation from God. God seems distant and uninterested in their situation. But they also feel distant and uninterested in God because they have a wrong notion of the Character and attributes of God. Sometime we are alienated from God because of the actions of others. And the way others have described God to us. Is it just possible that many who are rejecting God are rejecting something that is indeed a lie in any case. they are rejecting a false concept of God.
UNDERSTANDING OUR CONDITION
The story of the lost generation is the story of classic mess and distrust of hurt rebellion and fear. And if we were being honest it is a story that represents part of all our lives.
The longer I'm a minister the more I realise that the church is not for good people – we are a community open to embrace the lost the broken the lonely the sad the proud the fearless the fearful the arrogant and I could go on.
THIS IS WHAT A CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS IS ALL ABOUT . IT IS ABOUT A PLACE WHERE LOST PEOPLE CAN DISCOVER THEIR CONNECTION> WE HAVE NO WALLS THAT EXCLUDE PEOPLE - WE ONLY OFFER A TOUCHING PLACE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE>
So what o earth is the touching place? I have come to the conclusion that God has created us all with an inbuilt homing device. There is something in the nature of God and his home that never leaves us. We may be lost but we remember, smells, feelings, and attitudes in people that remind us of HOME God's Kingdom home.
However we have too often blanked out the strains of home with the fear of our present situation. In doing so we lose the one thing that would save us our spiritual survival kit... to hear more listen tomorrow or download the podcast from www.standonline.org.uk.
