Tag: Church

IT’S A MAD,MAD,MAD WORLD!

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A girl at school was just kicked off the soccer team because another class mate complained to the school officials that said girl would not be friends with her. Now the school officials are accusing the swimmer for being a bully. Who is the real bully here?

I just recently was kicked out of a church. Yes, you are reading correctly! My family and I are not allowed to come back to a certain church because I refused the pastoral counseling being offered to me. That was the main reason for our having been banned from this church. The other reasons are of no lesser significance: I was also told that the pastor did not like some of my views on this blog. Hello! The 1st Amendment guaranteeing my rights to freedom of speech were infringed upon. Lastly I was  told by this same man that my husband and I had to meet up with some key people he had already designated for us because we needed to learn from these people how to be “Godly parents”. Apparently this pastor is under the impression, that after  raising 4 great kids together for the past 22 years that we’ve been married, we haven’t a clue as to what we’re doing. 

Folks, when your kids were younger did you ever try to pick out their friends for them? That’s crazy right? So how can a school and a pastor even think that they have any say in whom a child or two adults choose to associate with? It’s a MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD and that madness has creeped into some churches.

Perhaps the best thing this pastor did by banning us from attending his church was to spare us any further hurt by him. Now THAT’S a silver lining on my cloud!

Sheepish Sheep

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people are strange
when you’re a stranger
faces look ugly
when you’re alone – “People are Strange“- Echo and the Bunnymen

People are strange, I have to agree with the lyrics I posted above. I recently attended a church picnic  and there is one thing I do on purpose whenever I go to social functions of this type; I completely avoid the pastors, I go as far as not even making eye contact with them.  Hold on before you go on and think it weird and maybe even a bit anti-social of me. Here’s why I behave in such a different manner. I always see people hanging around the pastors and expecting them to be Jesus 24/7. Consider this: Could it be pastors show up to enjoy the food and revelry just like everybody else? Some people just don’t understand that a pastor cannot always be in the Spirit; God‘s leaders have needs too!

A long time a go , when I was new to the things of God and to the ways of church, one evening I received a very interesting and unexpected phone call, from the pastor’s wife from the church I was regularly attending. She said she was calling to thank me. I was ransacking my brain trying to figure out what I had done for this woman since we hardly spoke to each other. Then she continued to say that she was thanking me for not bleeding the ministry. WOW! I had never heard such words. She explained that people like my husband and I were a joy for any ministry to have  around because we weren’t always calling on them for help.  She thanked me once more and then she hung up.Those few words blew me away because even as a new Believer, I always knew not to take advantage of those people God places in my life to bless me.  That brief conversation has stayed with me all these years later.

People: Stop being so selfish and understand that God’s leaders need you to bless them back to0 now and then. They are the ones who are up at all hours pacing the floor for you and covering you in prayer. They are the ones who freely give of their time and talents to feed and nurture you. They are the ones who study God’s word so you can have a fresh message each week. Some of them sacrifice a lot just for you! Next time you go to church, instead of wondering what does the good ‘ol pastor have for ME today? Why not go there and ask God to show you what YOU can do for the man of God? You know, sometimes all these people  need is a kind word of encouragement, a hug or maybe just a warm smile from you. Something that will show them that they are appreciated and cared for. When was the last time you prayed for your pastor and those in authority over you? They need just as much prayer as everybody else.

The way I see it,  pastors are some what like presidents; they have been put in charge of many things and they can not do it alone. They need the support of those they lead. Without our prayers our leaders suffer many attacks that could have easily been avoided had they been prayed for.

Now, I ‘ve seen some people in leadership positions who won’t let you bless them; whether they receive it or not is not your concern. Lots of times pride will keep them from accepting a blessing. Don’t worry, do it anyway and let The Boss deal with them 🙂

And the hands of Moses became heavy. And they took a stone and put it under him. And he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one from this and one from that side. And his hands were steady until the going of the sun.   Exodus 17:12

12 Things You Never Assume When Attending Church

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Assume-To take for granted, or without proof; to suppose as a fact; to suppose or take arbitrarily or tentatively.

Today I want to share some truths that I had to discuss with my kids last Friday. We haven’t attended church on a regular basis up until now, so I had completely forgotten what the church atmosphere can be like at times.  Here are 12 things you never assume about church.

1) Never assume that everyone in church will welcome you or your calling.

2) Never assume that everyone that goes to church has your best intentions in mind.

3) Never assume that everyone that goes to church is going to be friendly.

4) Never assume that you won’t find bullies in church.

5) Never let just anyone lay hands on you or pray with you. Someone with a wrong spirit can defile you if you let them pray or lay hands on you.

6) Never let just anyone prophesy on you. Words are power and words spoken in a wrong spirit or out of timing can defile you.

7) T.D. Jakes once said: ” Remember this, folks is crazy.” Never assume that there are no crazy people in church.

8) Never assume that there are no cliques in church.

9) Never assume that everyone who goes to church is a nice Christian; there ARE wolves in sheep’s clothing going to church right along side with you.

10) Never assume that the people in leader ship like the pastors and the elders see or hear everything that is going on. They are after all,  human like all of us.

11) Never assume that everyone who goes to church loves and serves the same God you do. There are people in church who serve their own version of God.  Jesus said we would be known by our fruit (or lack thereof) so become a fruit inspector. 🙂

12) Just because someone sits in a garage doesn’t make them a car; in the same way, don’t assume that everyone who attends church is a Christian.

If you keep these things in mind, then your church going experience might be pleasant. I have met some of the nicest people out side of church and I have met some of the meanest people inside the church walls.

 

“I am a bit too worldly for the religious. And I’m a bit too religious for the worldly.” -Phil Keaggy, Musician