Great comments. I agree

Thank you for speaking up.  I agree one hundred percent with what you said.  I have a good friend who has blogged a couple of times, but then quit because NO ONE commented.  It is really hard on her right now too, because she doesnt have many friends and no home church to go to.  Just think about how disappointed she felt after pouring out her heart in her blog and NO ONE commenting. 

Kathy,

Thanks for your follow-up.  Yes, it is the norm, but the cool thing with blogging is that you can set up subscriptions to other peole's blog, where when they write a new blog, it will show up when you log in.  I recommend this to everyone.  I am trying to encourage my friend to keep writing, but she must do it in her time.  She is also shy and timid when it comes to adding friends, whereas I am not.  She is an awesome person though. 

I thank God for this site because it allows churches to come together and to realize that we are one body in Christ.

~Jeremy

Well, it's been a week or so now, and it's changed a little bit, but not much.

I wonder, if it were possible (which I don't think it is, but since this is just in the realm of wondering), would God allow some people to be disappointed with Heaven if they "weren't really into" what was going on there?

I mean, since basically we'll be spending eternity learning from the Lord and praising Him for the wonderful thing He's done in redeeming us, and some people even now in their daily walks would rather hear about green ewoks, purple sleeping bags and the latest video game* than things that will feed them spiritually, are some people going to be happy doing for eternity what they are not happy doing here on earth?

I don't know.  I mean I thank God that He's given me passion for Him, to serve Him and stand boldly for Him when before Him I was more a "go with the flow" kinda guy...but I can't help but wonder sometimes why it seems like so many people have sold themselves short in life by NOT living full-throttle for Him.

In one of the online fellowship groups I moderate, a topic has come up recently regarding tithing that demonstrates a common principle to the one that's at the root here: "if you had a 95-lb. 14-year-old girl and a 300-lb. 50-year-old guy in the same room, and you challenged each one to get up on a chair while the other was on the ground to see whom could pull whom in which direction easiest, you'd be surprised to find that it's always easiest to pull people down than it is to pull them up, even when greatly mismatched".

The people who are NOT doing as they should for the Lord -- not reading the Word, not studying, not praying, not sharing their faith, not discipling, not walking in obedience, not tithing, not comforting, not exhorting, not encouraging -- those people are far greater in number than those who ARE doing as they should, so you have the 95-lb. girl trying to pull the 300-lb guy up onto the chair with her, and in the meantime she overexerts herself and she can no longer do any work.

Less than 5% of so-called Christians have ever led another person to Christ.  Less than 10% of so-called Christians tithe.  Less than 10% of so-called Christians volunteer their time in service to their local church. Less than....less than...less than.....the statistics are appalling.  And do you know what the saddest part is?  If everyone tithed, if everyone served, if everyone not only evangelized but also discipled, there would be an EXCESS of people doing the work, it would be MORE than fully-funded -- in fact several times over (which means no pastor would ever have to be put in the uncomfortable situation of having to address a congregation about lacking money) -- and the world COULD be dramatically impacted for Christ in less than a generation -- less than 10 years actually, and that's with conservative estimation (there's a [blog] on my MySpace account that runs the numbers, for those who are interested).

Okay, I'm rambling way too much for a reply. :)  Hopefuly it will spawn some thought though, and maybe even get just one person to take their walk with Him a bit more seriously.

-pj

united -- did the link not work for you?

I think we agree perhaps more than you think.  I've been blogging on MySpace for almost two years now, and with somewhere around 200 done there I can say that I probably average between 10-25% for just "regular life" stuff.  I am always straightforward with the fact that I am here online in our various forums for the purpose of building up the body, but I also know that humor and such is an integral part of bridge-building fellowship.  In fact if you lived next-door to me, you'd realize pretty quick how much of a jokester and entertainer I am most of the time.

I know I take the things of the Lord more seriously than a lot of people, but that's not because I have a chip on my shoulder or a nose elevated too high; it's simply because I've realized in my years with the Lord that when I'm just making people laugh and making sure they're having a good time, I'm not really doing anything to truly edify them.  As Oswald Chambers reminded me the other day (you can read the blog <a href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=27133784&blogID=256421429">[here]</a> if you like), the decorative aspects of the temple are absolutely vital as well, but if the strength and structure of the pillars were not present, there would be nothing for the decorations to rest upon.

I did not in any way try and call into question anyone's relationship with God...I'm just relatively new here to MyChurch and in an attempt to understand more of what people here were here for, I asked a few people whether people more more edifying blogs or "regular life" blogs, and the common answer I seemed to get back most was "regular life" blogs, about things that would quickly pass from memory and had no lasting value.  So I thought, "Ok, I'll post a blog about it, and hopefully people aren't offended by it, but it's perhaps something that needs to be brought up."  I don't doubt at all that the people who post these types of blogs also post some in-depth ones as well; I haven't done a whole lot of looking into it, but of the few profiles I did look in on, it seems like the average blog (again, from those few I checked) was about "I like oreos, how about you"-type things, with a rare piece about the Lord.

I know everyone's at different levels in their walks, and I would not in any way want to stunt anyone's growth.  And that's exactly why I brought this subject up in the first place: my heart has always been for discipleship, and I just don't want any of my brothers and sisters to be ripped off in their walk with the Lord because others in the Body are too busy entertaining them to disciple them.

Hopefully this serves to clarify a little bit about what and why.

-pj 

Jason, I don't think anyone is taking offense. You've written a very eloquent and well thought out piece here, and I think most folks really appreciate it. It is difficult to get a read on the vast silent majority on mychurch, but I'd say if folks don't comment then a silent nod of assent can be inferred. Kathy, great response on the various purposes/uses of stars! I thought the idea of stars was interesting and hoped we would see more of them, on all the blogs. There are still a lot of blogs that get no stars or comments at all -- and with over 15,000 users on mychurch I admit that kinda bothers me a little. ~mike

Jason,

It can be dissapointing when we hear the figures of what people are not doing, as to what they should be doing.  It reminds me of where it is said that this walk that we are on is as a narrow path, few find it.  I am also reminded of where it is said that many are called, but few are chosen.  We must remember that even though many may say they are Christians, it does not mean that they truly are.  Sad to mention, but it is true.  I think that often we like to convince ourselves that there are more of "us".  Even here on mychurch, I would love to think that everyone is a Christian, but that is not true.  Remember, we are "known" by our fruits.  I think that it would be awesome to see more people talk about what God has done for them, and through them. 

How many unique songwriters and poets are there out there?

How many realtors and business men/women are out there with a Godly purpose?

How many missionaries....How many teachers...How many preachers....How many?

I wonder how many resources are on mychurch that are waiting to be used?

I wonder how many people from mychurch has actually met in real life....(testing the spirits)?

I wonder how many friendships are waiting?

I noticed that someone said that mychurch is also used for fun with people in thier church....but I must also also ask....are we willing to step outside of the boundaries of the "church walls" and make close friends with others?  Or will this site end up turning just like the churches nowadays where we know "our people" but we tense up and clam up when working with others.  Must I remind you that the church is not set for one building, but it is actually the body of Christ. 

WE ARE THE CHURCH.

There is so much in which I could say as well.  Yes, I agree, that we are in different walks, however, that is the point.  As Iron Sharpeneth Iron...It is time to build each other up...in the Lord.

I look forward from hearing from you.

~Jeremy