Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

I think I figured out why some who call themselves Christians have no interest in a love relationship with Jesus.  There are wheat and there are tares in the house of God.  Jesus said so, so that is true. Wheat wants to know Christ intimately, have a close relationship with Him.  Tares want to do "good works" and are only interested in outer works, not the condition of their hearts; not in an intimate relationship with Jesus. We don't know who's who, because only God knows for sure.  However, I think I've discovered how to get a clue as to who is who! When I talk in a group of women and mention intimacy with Christ, some start nervously flipping through their Bibles looking for all the verses on serving.  They want to justify that their way is best because knowing, obeying, and following Christ as He wants (not how they want) is not what they're after. Of course as Christians we are to serve God and serve others.  But ideally, that is the outer manifestation o

Your calling as a Christian is not a job title, or some great work to do.   Your calling as a Christian is to love others. Now that seems obvious, no?  Even unbelievers may have heard that Christians are to love one another. But why, then, aren't there more of us?   I will never forget an incident when I spoke at a Women's Retreat.  I don't remember exactly what I said, but I mentioned something to the effect that if we were truly loving each other as Christ loves us, the churches would be packed to the gills!  The lost would be so drawn to us/Christ, they would be getting saved.  Our example of loving each other would win and woo them to Christ.  Because His love draws and attracts.   What happened next is what I will never forget.  Literally half of the women applauded and yelped for joy in agreement.  The other half sat there, arms crossed, stony-faced, looking not too pleased.  Visually, they were literally split down the middle - one half on the left, the other on the