Faith evaluation
2010-06-13 09:33 by Buchanan Grant
Mission House Blog 2009/2010
Evaluation! (Every Sunday should be an evaluation) Church
It’s the last month and so I turn to evaluations. Evaluations are useful little things, they help you to see what you’re doing well and also not so well. I’ve asked for evaluations from all my projects, from my Mentor and from others who have played an important part in my Mission House year. You notice the same points being raised and the same comments made. It helps confirm beliefs and give you a better plan of action.
Proverbs 20:18 (The Message) “Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get”
Church on the other hand....I’ve been going to church for years and never in my life have I ever evaluated my faith, never once have I sought the opinions of others when it comes to giving my faith a check-up. We live in a society which medicates every possible aliment (and some which don’t medically exist), we increasingly turn to psychologists, counsellors and other “specialists” to answer our questions but across Europe organised religion is on the decrease. Many people (including myself) are turning away from God because he doesn’t give us that quick fix, in some way God’s authority is diminished because he doesn’t fill out a prescription detailing what we must do, when and how often.
Story from Prayer of the Frog (Anthony de Mello page 139)
A woman dreamt she walked into a brand new shop in the marketplace and, to her surprise,
found God behind the counter
“What do you sell here?” She asked
“Everything your heart desires,” said God
Hardly daring to believe what she was hearing, the women decided to ask for the best things
a human being could wish for. “I want peace of mind and love and happiness and wisdom
and freedom from fear,” she said.
Then as an after thought , she added, “Not just from me For everyone on earth.”
God smiled, “I think you’ve got me wrong, my dear,” He said. “We don’t sell fruits here,
only seeds.”
One thing I’ve learnt from my relationship with God this year is following his advice isn’t like taking a pill, nor is the answer found by simply going to church once a week. For me the solution is found in growing my relationship with God, getting to know him and myself better, getting to know how we work as a team. Knowing where my faults lie, knowing where God wants me to improve. It’s only through growing my relationship with God that I can take a step back with him and evaluate my journey with him.
Take a look at this clip from Scrubs, take it with a pinch of salt but really think about it.
Add a comment
Comment by Iain | 2010-07-05
The end of the 5th year, I wish all of you the best as you turn off this road and start the next stage of the journey. I hope that you all had a good year and could learn alot and as the story above says I hope that the Mission House has planted some seeds in you.
Comment by Protestants Jeugdwerk | 2010-07-05
What a year and what a journey we have been on these last months, it has been a year of change for the Mission House and a year of celebration, I wonder though if we were all to evaluate ourselves what we would be see in front of us, what have we done? Are you pleased with your year and if you had the chance what would you do differently? Good luck to you all in the next phase of the journey!