Kenya Blogging

http://erikagoestokenya.blogspot.com/



Go to that blog! This is where I will be updating viewers
on my Kenya missions trip progress.

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms from Epicurious.com

Okay so I HAD to share a stuffed mushrooms recipe I found online- this tasted too dang good! I give it double thumbs up! 

WHY I LOVE JESUS AND HATE RELIGION's lazy, faithless tendencies

Alright. Well, Jeff Bethke's "Why I Love Jesus and Hate Religion" video has gone viral, and I am extremely excited about that. When God is honored in all we do, amazing things happen!


I have read a lot of NEGATIVE responses and disagreements to this video that I have thought over.
Truly, the only wrong I see with Jeff's wording is that Jesus specifically hates religion. Now, I believe that Jesus HATES when people worship other gods in their own frail religion; however, regarding Christianity and Catholicism I believe that Jesus hates when His proclaimed "followers" stay pew sitters. Pew sitters make church a routine. They fail to be engrossed in God's word. They fail to talk to God and pray. They fail to be humble and self-less. They fail to have a GENUINE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. Honestly, the only thing they care about in their "religion" is that they attend church. How is that any different than a Colts fan going to every game? You're just going. Does this Colts fan necessarily know Peyton Manning... NO! Now that was a sketchy example, but I think you get my point.




Here's how it is. We are all imperfect human beings who make mistakes and backslide. Though we can never be perfect on this earth because no person can own up to God's eternal sovereignty; God washes us clean, helps us see, and makes us right. Going to church does not. Going to church simply helps us learn more about God and fellowship with others. Going to church presents us with opportunities to lead and be led. God calls us to have relationships with other people. On top of learning new things about God, church provides opportunities for a person to have relationships with other people that share the same beliefs.


A huge argument that people have against this video is that some believe that Jeff is suggesting that we don't need the "rules and guidelines of a religion" since Jeff "Loves Jesus But Hates Religion." By paying attention to the video Jeff states, "Now let me clarify: I love church, I love the bible, and yes I believe in sin." By this line it's obvious that Jeff is NOT saying that we are free to make up our own rules and excuses either. By following Jesus (as Jeff says we should be doing instead of following the routines of a religion), and in turn following the Bible that was God-breathed, we're following God's Word and commands.


Jeff Bethke is trying to send a message to our world that we need to do more than be "religious". We need to take ownership of our faith and stop thinking that going to church is all we need from a religion. Jeff was showing us more of who Jesus is as a savior so we will stop putting our religions (Christianity and others a like) on a pedestal instead of our Savior, Jesus. 


We all need a wake up call once in awhile. We need spiritual check-ups. Are we being real in our faith or are we just trying to not burn in hell one day? Because, let me be blunt, simply going to church once a week is not what saves us from the fiery pits of hell. Jesus does.