Sunday, August 29, 2004
Easy choices
I'm back - at least for a bit. I'm still on my project, and it's crunch time, but everything's building up and I must BLOG! Today, I had a very easy choice to make. I decided that the 50 mile round trip was a bit too much for this church I've been attending for about a year and a half. I decided to try a local church sorta willy nilly. Location (close), size (pretty large) and denomination (non-denom-Christian). So, this morning, I prepared for two services 8:45 at this new one and 11:00 at my existing one.
I promise not to rant about this church I attended for the first time, but here's a short synopsis. I never thought I'd ever hear drums playing to "It Is Well With My Soul". When teaching on forgiveness, it's bad form to mention that nothing tastes sweeter than revenge, and mean it.
It confirmed for me two things. One, I really love the church I'm at already despite the commute (more on that later). And two, I must be different from others because when I take revenge (example?) I feel HORRIBLE.
Example: Someone cuts me off on the freeway, and (this is important) I take it personally. Time was when I'd go out of my way to give them an eye for my eye. Taking vengance into my own hands to teach them a lesson was what I wanted in the heat of the moment. Regardless of the outcome though, as soon as I was done - I felt horrible. I feel as if I've seized another opportunity to show the other person how ugly I can be. I feel like I've overstepped my authority and passed vigilante judgement on another sinner. We're all plank-eyes. Just because my plank is of a different type of wood than yours, doesn't make me better. I've calmed down alot in the past year, but I've got so much farther to go. With strength and patience, I'll make it.
The church I'm at now:
Now that I've beared my ugly icky faults, I'd like to praise my church for who they are. Compliments in chronological order - I can't show up without several smiling faces greeting me. They don't know me - heck, they don't know the first thing about me, but they all greet me just the same. The music. Ah, the music. We don't have a rock & roll band. No drum sets, no acoustical guitars, just a piano, an organ and a choir. This morning, as with recent Sundays past, it's been a struggle to hear the choir over the congregation. We sing the old time hymns with all the passion due them. It's wonderfully deafening. I'm sure they can hear us in Heaven. The message: strong, firm, unyielding, from the Book, from the heart, from the mouth of God. It's been real meat & potatoes lately. Or maybe I'm just listening for a change. Anyway, it's been a real joy. The first time I've felt this way in - well, years. Perhaps 5 or more.
I recently picked up "Purpose Driven Life". I'm on day 6, and there hasn't been a day that I can't take something to heart and think about. The next 35 days will expose my soft underbelly, but I'm willing to go through it. It's for the best.
O.K. I've got to get my program done and shipped to the customer tonight. Good night - God Bless.
I promise not to rant about this church I attended for the first time, but here's a short synopsis. I never thought I'd ever hear drums playing to "It Is Well With My Soul". When teaching on forgiveness, it's bad form to mention that nothing tastes sweeter than revenge, and mean it.
It confirmed for me two things. One, I really love the church I'm at already despite the commute (more on that later). And two, I must be different from others because when I take revenge (example?) I feel HORRIBLE.
Example: Someone cuts me off on the freeway, and (this is important) I take it personally. Time was when I'd go out of my way to give them an eye for my eye. Taking vengance into my own hands to teach them a lesson was what I wanted in the heat of the moment. Regardless of the outcome though, as soon as I was done - I felt horrible. I feel as if I've seized another opportunity to show the other person how ugly I can be. I feel like I've overstepped my authority and passed vigilante judgement on another sinner. We're all plank-eyes. Just because my plank is of a different type of wood than yours, doesn't make me better. I've calmed down alot in the past year, but I've got so much farther to go. With strength and patience, I'll make it.
The church I'm at now:
Now that I've beared my ugly icky faults, I'd like to praise my church for who they are. Compliments in chronological order - I can't show up without several smiling faces greeting me. They don't know me - heck, they don't know the first thing about me, but they all greet me just the same. The music. Ah, the music. We don't have a rock & roll band. No drum sets, no acoustical guitars, just a piano, an organ and a choir. This morning, as with recent Sundays past, it's been a struggle to hear the choir over the congregation. We sing the old time hymns with all the passion due them. It's wonderfully deafening. I'm sure they can hear us in Heaven. The message: strong, firm, unyielding, from the Book, from the heart, from the mouth of God. It's been real meat & potatoes lately. Or maybe I'm just listening for a change. Anyway, it's been a real joy. The first time I've felt this way in - well, years. Perhaps 5 or more.
I recently picked up "Purpose Driven Life". I'm on day 6, and there hasn't been a day that I can't take something to heart and think about. The next 35 days will expose my soft underbelly, but I'm willing to go through it. It's for the best.
O.K. I've got to get my program done and shipped to the customer tonight. Good night - God Bless.
