jane
03-21-2005, 04:42 AM
I know that I have spoken about my friend who has cancer. Her youngest son turned 16 this week and they had a party for him at you guessed it, the church we just left. My son really wanted to go and be there for this child. My husband dropped him off. My son actually did very well. My husband came back a total grouch :(
He did not even see anyone or talk to them, it was all the junk that came back when he dropped Jason off.
Jason, however, had a few things to say. 1) the pastor did not even acknowledge him. He kept staring at Jason from across the room and would look away when Jason looked up towards him. Jason finally left the room because it was so uncomptfortable. 2) a new "youth pastor" never introduced himself or said hello to him. 3) Jason was talking to a couple who were close friends of ours (he is an elder, she is the pastor's wife's sister). When her mother came around (my maid of honor, the pastor's mother in law, the church administrator) the couple stopped talking to him. She herself barely acknowledged him (she was like a mother to him); he said it was made clear where he stands. 4)another teen ager asked why we left and kept asking after he said he wasn't going to talk about it.
He said the sanctuary has an additional camera on a big boom, they added huge amounts of artificle plants, a plastic see through podium. He said it looked more like a movie set than a church. They are playing church for television and only have a 1/2 hour slot on the local cable channel but that Pastor is after the big time. He was saved by Benny Hinn after all. . . . . .
all for a 500 people church at it's height.
It actually made me feel sad for them. It seems like they are trying to create this artificle reality that they are doing well when inside there is so much anguish. So many people in pain and so many secrets to keep hidden.
On a positive note, We had dinner plans with another couple from that church. This couple keeps waffling, one minute they are leaving and see through the dysfunction; the next minute they love their pastor and are staying so God can use them to effect change.
Well, WE CANCELLED THE PLANS! My husband and I asked ourselves, do we even want to spend our time going through this stuff? do we care enough anymore? And for us, the answer was, "we care about ourselves now to not spend our time wasted like this. . . ."
We stopped by their house to tell them and my husband actually had a good chat with the man about NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHURCH. So we left on our terms and not feeling compromised! Short and sweet visit.
We look forward to the day when we can drive by that building and not get a lurch in our stomach! We look forward to the time when we are doing those things that we once loved doing. baby steps.
Jane
He did not even see anyone or talk to them, it was all the junk that came back when he dropped Jason off.
Jason, however, had a few things to say. 1) the pastor did not even acknowledge him. He kept staring at Jason from across the room and would look away when Jason looked up towards him. Jason finally left the room because it was so uncomptfortable. 2) a new "youth pastor" never introduced himself or said hello to him. 3) Jason was talking to a couple who were close friends of ours (he is an elder, she is the pastor's wife's sister). When her mother came around (my maid of honor, the pastor's mother in law, the church administrator) the couple stopped talking to him. She herself barely acknowledged him (she was like a mother to him); he said it was made clear where he stands. 4)another teen ager asked why we left and kept asking after he said he wasn't going to talk about it.
He said the sanctuary has an additional camera on a big boom, they added huge amounts of artificle plants, a plastic see through podium. He said it looked more like a movie set than a church. They are playing church for television and only have a 1/2 hour slot on the local cable channel but that Pastor is after the big time. He was saved by Benny Hinn after all. . . . . .
all for a 500 people church at it's height.
It actually made me feel sad for them. It seems like they are trying to create this artificle reality that they are doing well when inside there is so much anguish. So many people in pain and so many secrets to keep hidden.
On a positive note, We had dinner plans with another couple from that church. This couple keeps waffling, one minute they are leaving and see through the dysfunction; the next minute they love their pastor and are staying so God can use them to effect change.
Well, WE CANCELLED THE PLANS! My husband and I asked ourselves, do we even want to spend our time going through this stuff? do we care enough anymore? And for us, the answer was, "we care about ourselves now to not spend our time wasted like this. . . ."
We stopped by their house to tell them and my husband actually had a good chat with the man about NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHURCH. So we left on our terms and not feeling compromised! Short and sweet visit.
We look forward to the day when we can drive by that building and not get a lurch in our stomach! We look forward to the time when we are doing those things that we once loved doing. baby steps.
Jane