Weirdos

What does it mean when we hear from the church and the bible that we are made in the likeness/image of God?  How do you imagine or how would you draw God?

Growing up in a fairly literal church, I was taught that we are made and look like God... I never truly believed that. Human beings are weird looking! We just are! Next time you are shopping, at a friends house, large gathering, look at the people around you. Seriously look at people and try to imagine what someone from an outside planet or even our fellow little animal friends would think about us. First we are the straightest standing animal, besides a snake getting ready to strike, we have round ears for hearing yet they have weird crevasses, and ledges within and then because one hole for listening isn't enough we add holes to them. Our height varies tremendously from 4 foot to 6 foot 9 inches in any given public space. We have really weird behinds...no really look at a person's butt...just to look, its weird! just like out elbows they are weird too! And our hair! Why does our hair grow only on top or our head and then in places that increase the smell of BO if not taken care of or so thin on our legs and arms there is no way it is for warmth. I think this is also a look into why I don't really believe in Macro Evolution fully, we are kind of backwards and yet we survive and surpass all other living animals...because we are weird! Then our voices, our laughs, so different!

Yet supposedly we are made in God's image. Today reaffirmed my believe that we are not physically made in God's image. Yes god created us, Yes God Imagined us but are physical bodies are as my pastor put it Earth Suits! 

God's image is our spiritual selves!

Who God is, is evident in our spirit and what makes us human, not solely a scientifically defined homo sapiens. 

1. God is creative! We are each very VERY uniquely designed and not only that but we are creative too! If you do'nt believe me then you must not have a Pinterest...look at your house or apartment, look at any form of artwork. The idea came from somewhere and something was eventually created! How amazing is that?! That is only a part of who God is!
2. God has control and has given us control of the Earth! As stated in Genesis 1:28-30, he has made all things and has given us all things so that we may "Rule over" His creation for food and to "be fruitful and increase in number." However, as humans, we do not always govern over the Earth as desired by God. (Another post could be about the example God and Jesus led of ruling over the Earth)
3. God loves Communion. Warning church word! By this the Pastor was saying that God desires us to be with Him, to have that relationship with Him and not only Him but others! God's desire throughout the bible old and new Testament, is that we as humans, believing in Him, create oneness, create relationships with people that are deep, personal, a communion like gathering where sharing of thoughts, concerns, problems, and ideas can be welcomed. A true family with all believers and openness to those who do not believe! Not only are we like God in our desire for physical relationships but reflect on the fact that "we have been created to live temporarily and on this finite Earth to be able to talk with an everlasting God!" (Pastor T.) 

Thus I do not believe God to be a human or to look like a combination of all humans put together. I believe God to look like something beyond our imagination and I can not wait to see Him in heaven. I am thankful for the descriptions of God provided in Exodus and in Revelation about the glimpses of the Glory of God! 

The second question above "How do you image or how would you draw God?" is where I may be considered a hypocrite. When I sit back and imagine God during my quiet times I picture the sun, warmth, the feeling of hugs. When i want to draw God, I try to go for a person. A Father-figure, not this ball of light or a spiritual nature. I love my boyfriend's interpretation of God and it fits closely with the what the bible states as the glory of God (I can not find the specific verse atm... sorry). He pictures God and fire-y show of all the colors emitting from a signal source. 

Questions given to me and now passed on to you.

How would you draw God?

How much value do you place on yourself? On others?

How can you better affirm the value of other people?

"The greatest error a person can make is to not know the truth about God. The second greatest error a person can make is to not know the truth about himself."

Exploring of Isaiah

BTW! "Practical Justice" by Kevin Blue (previous posts) pretty much ended with my last post. Kevin Blue made many of the same comments I shared and didn't share in the last remaining two chapters by giving resources and more stories I did not feel the need to post anymore. Now I am back into Isaiah as my quiet time and found one specific verse that caught my attention one very very late night.

Isaiah 29:13

"The Lord says: 

'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."

I could write so much about this verse in fact my goal this week is to meditate on this verse everyday. Learn something new each day, wait on God to reveal something new. But I felt like I would begin by focusing on the last statement made, "Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."

I have grown up in the church. All my life, every Sunday was go to church, Wed was small group, youth group, or church again, and when I left home for school I was motivated to find a church home of my own. There is nothing wrong with that. I think its great that my parents taught me the importance of being involved in a church and finding a church family. To find the outside support system that has many ages of individuals not just my peers. I am thankful, God has used my past church families from NC and OH for advice regarding relationships, advice on balancing life, motivation for spiritual growth, and simply to be an example for me. However, I am blinded by the Church and understanding that what Church is could be simply made up of rules that we believe are to worship God but really do not add or even the rules hinders others from worshiping God. 

in my small group last Friday morning, Francsis Chan spoke of what God intended the church to be. A family, with a common goal, working together to reach the goal and by growing together, in communion and fellowship with each other. Not tolerating each other,but by being a true definition of a family. This lesson on top of Isaiah 29:23 cemented the notion that I should question or explore the reasons behind actions. Are they God's intention or man's design?

It is Sunday, the perfect time to write a list of everything that goes on in my church and that could easily be questioned as man-made rules, not God's design for the Church. I hope to explore each of the following... most likely in following posts. This list will most likely grow too...

• Attendance to a Church
• bringing a bible to church
• Communion is a quiet, isolated act with you and God
• Songs sung before and after sermon
• Pastor talks, everyone listens, people say amen if agree, no one states disagreements
• Sunday school is taught with one main teacher, questions maybe asked to group for discussion (depending on group) 
• How you sing the songs (arms/hands up, swaying, clapping, dancing, etc.)

I am actually excited to dive into this list thus far! The following posts I hope to learn about what God desires in regards to each through the bible! The Ultimate God Decipher! 

I am also clinging to Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."