went to church for the first time in months

[profnachos]

Well, hello everyone.

Sorry I have not been around. No, I am not mad anyone, but life has been hectic. The biggest annoyance is this board's format which makes it hard to catch up.

Congratulations to Jane.

I just wanted to share my recent POSITIVE church experience.

I went to this new church last week and went back today. That is 2 Sundays in a row, which has not happened in at least two years.

All the red flags and triggers so far are absent, which I can't say about the vast majority of churches I have been to.

- They meet at a community center. No fancy facilities.

- People actually came to say hello to me. It is a small fellowship (about 30 adults), but I have been to small places like that without a single soul approaching me for months. Yeah, I'm short and kinda ugly.

- Two fellowships of the same denomination merged recently. Most pastors' egos are too big for that to happen.

- All ages groups from 20's to 70's. Many churches I have seen are either family (singles need not come) or youth (nobody over 35 welcome) churches. For someone who is neither, it is not easy.

- When the pastor spoke of "persecution," I braced myself for the culture war stuff and how the gays and liberals are mean to Christians, but he specifically said there is no political persecution in this country, but we Christians face consumerism. Basically we do it to ourselves. Now that was music to my ears. I am so done with the Religious Right stuff.

- Today, somebody else preached while the head pastor guy sat in the audience. I had NEVER seen that before. Usually someone else preaches only when the senior pastor is out of town.

- He spoke of how the early church grew because of "radical generosity," not doctrinal correctness. Not sure if that was the primary reason, but having come from the hardline biblical fundamentalist background, it was music to my ears.

I am cautiously optimistic, which I haven't been for over 10 years. It is a pretty well known denomination which has had its own share of controversy and I believe some people here have experienced abuse there, so I don't want to mention it. If you email me, I will tell you (profnachos@gmail.com).

Well, blessings to everyone, and I hope to do some catching up.

[InTheory]

Sounds pretty frikkin awesome, Prof...and good to see you! :)

Keep the positive church updates coming-they are like springs in the middle of the desert...:cool:

-Dan

[mary]

Profnachos!!!! :):):)

I am delighted that you checked in with us again - don't worry about not being "caught up." I've missed you!

Very happy to hear about your positive church experiences!!!! That's music to our ears! :D

Hope to hear from you again soon!

mary

[butterfly]

Good to have you back Prof :D:D:D
I think about you often.

So glad you have found a church with people who see you and talk to you.:D:D

Hope it works out for you. butterfly shiley

[ex-shep]

It is possibleto find a healthy church. It takes some work, but it is worth the wait. Glad you found a place.

[profnachos]

It is possibleto find a healthy church. It takes some work, but it is worth the wait. Glad you found a place.

Well I am not celebrating yet. Taking it slow one Sunday at a time

But what I have seen puts this church a head and shoulders above the vast majority of the ones I have been to. I fully expect to see flaws ... lots of them just like me.

But humility is the key, and I love how the pastor and the people go about conducting themselves, but trust me, my guard will stay up.

[Jerry]

- He spoke of how the early church grew because of "radical generosity," not doctrinal correctness. Not sure if that was the primary reason, but having come from the hardline biblical fundamentalist background, it was music to my ears.


Hi Prof,,,,
It's been a while :) The quote foreword caught my eye.Although I have never heard that idea discussed,,,early church history seems to support it...Doctrinal deviation was the main reason for most of the "Pauline" letters....

W/B love Jerry

[Elisabeth]

Well I am not celebrating yet. Taking it slow one Sunday at a time

But what I have seen puts this church a head and shoulders above the vast majority of the ones I have been to. I fully expect to see flaws ... lots of them just like me.

But humility is the key, and I love how the pastor and the people go about conducting themselves, but trust me, my guard will stay up.

All churches do have flaws; pastors are human, as are all the people there. IMO, the thing is what kind of flaws they have. If they are humble, love God, serve God, serve people and love people, and any flaws are due to people just being people and the fact that none of us are perfect, then you really have something. :)

Yeah, it's a good idea to keep your guard up, and you will know inside of you how much to trust as you go along. Sometimes people who were SA get SA again because they feel they have to trust, and end up trusting the wrong people.

[abbey]

Well I am not celebrating yet. Taking it slow one Sunday at a time

But what I have seen puts this church a head and shoulders above the vast majority of the ones I have been to. I fully expect to see flaws ... lots of them just like me.

But humility is the key, and I love how the pastor and the people go about conducting themselves, but trust me, my guard will stay up.

I can relate to putting your guaard up! After my extreme SA, the first time I walked up the steps of a church my knees shook I was soooo scared to be reabused. But if it gives you any hope, my church is balanced and a joy to go to. May you experience the same!

Abbey

[ex-shep]

I can relate to putting your guaard up! After my extreme SA, the first time I walked up the steps of a church my knees shook I was soooo scared to be reabused. But if it gives you any hope, my church is balanced and a joy to go to. May you experience the same!

Abbey

Most understandable. It definitely takes time. It did with me.

[jane]

Yeah, I'm short and kinda ugly

You have me laughing so hard to read that........Yeah right:rolleyes: even if this WAS true; is there scripture to support ignoring the short ugly guys?????

I DOUBT the ignoring had anything to do with you.........around here single men of any stature, any amount of hair, any weight and any income in the christian community is a CATCH!:D trust me.

ANYWAY- it is good to read your posts...........I myself get so busy these days........


Now about that church- YEAH, keep the guard up. You're out there in sunny california and that is the direction that our pastor relocated to.........and he LOOKED humble and had other men preach.......but if his name is DON and the group is Calvary, RUN LIKE He** ---------after you get the money he stole from us first, OK?????

jane