Cell group today:

For the guys - Doesn't your wife deserve someone who prays more than he plays basketball?

For the girls - Shouldn't you like a guy who prays more than he plays basketball?

(not to hate on people who play or like basketball, that was just the example used. you get the picture)

Story of Arthur

There was a man of God named Arthur who knew a Japanese brother at church. One day he saw that his brother had his eyes closed and head bowed during service. Because he was close with this brother and knew of his spiritual walk, Arthur knew his brother was in deep prayer. However, the preacher singled this brother out during service, "don't sleep during the sermon!"

After service was over, Arthur went to his brother and asked him, "I know you were in prayer, why did you let the preacher single you out like that?" The brother replied, "It is okay, I needed that." The brother knew that even though the rebuke was incorrect and unfair, he also knew that the rebuke will help him grow in his understanding of God's love and truth.

Today was a probably one of the best cell groups I've ever attended (and I've attended many, and many of the others are now tainted with betrayal...as mentioned during the cell group). We have deep sharing and some of the most raw and honest prayer of this summer. That room was shaken, as it was shaken in Acts 4. I was crying at the end of it, and I wasn't the only one. Conviction. Burden. Fellowship. Brotherhood. Truth. Kindness. Hope. Freedom.

I remember mentioning earlier about the taste of heaven. Well this was what I was referring to.

It is funny how I thought during cell group when was the last time I was filled with the Holy Spirit like Peter was in Acts 3 and 4, and I couldn't remember. Then later in cell group I was definitely led by the Holy Spirit to speak. It was...a funny feeling. When you are filled with the Spirit, you speak with boldness.

If God decided to take away my future wife or fiance from me, or allow my child to be kidnapped, raped, and killed, would I have the heart to forgive? Is God enough for me? Am I to that point yet? I don't think so...even with the level of betrayal I've faced in my life, the loss of brotherhood and fellowship and intimacy.

Can I be like Horatio Spafford, or the Amish families who forgave the one who killed their family members, or the Mennonite woman who forgive the man who kidnapped, raped, and killed her daughter. Even though I pray pray pray that this doesn't happen to me or those I love and care for, believe me, someone nearby is truly in this kind of pain. Shouldn't we be there for them? Isn't that what true brotherhood or sisterhood about? Can't we ask others what kind of pain or burdens they are under right now?

It is truly amazing that God can used the dota2 internationals to bring a bit of honesty and sharing into the body of Christ. Just. Amazing.

It isn't about being ready for marriage. Truly no one is ready for marriage. But it is about being ready to be made ready for marriage.