Rhonda,

That's great. I understand your being leery. When  we went to Texas I
didn't want anything to do with music ministry from being sort of burnt
out  from the church we were at in WI previously. Eventually  someone told
someone on the team I played and sang. A couple people prodded me and
before I knew it I was playing and doing some specials, I loved it there.
When we returned to WI however  we returned to the church we had left that
now had a different pastor and I wasn't going to get involved as I figured
it might be a temporary stay, we weren't sure we'd stay at that church for
various reasons and were only going to "date" it. I wound up getting
involved from a need they had and before I knew it I again was totally
involved except this time I wasn't in agreement with the doctrine taught
there. I felt it was a mistake to get involved so early and that I had  run
in front of  the horses a bit. Brenda thinks maybe not, that it served a
need, regardless I decided I wouldn't make that mistake again. So
we  gracefully bowed out of that church as best we could and began
attending another, I soon found I was making the same mistake, not dating
the church long enough to see how the things were there before jumping in
and serving.  Again we found need to gracefully bow out of that church.
This sounds terrible I know. I am adamant about not church hopping and was
very disturbed about just that fact alone, yet I felt convicted serving at
one place, and felt I was helping folks drown in shallow water in the
latter one, including my family,  plus some other things which we could no
longer feel conviction free in serving there. So I am leery about this
jumping in and serving thing. Guess what happened  the Sunday before
yesterday? The pastor of the church we  have been visiting on and off
approached me and said "So I hear you have a hidden talent?" I said "Oh?",
He said "You play guitar and sing.". I said "oh?". It turns out some folks
who also left our former church attend this one as well and they squeeled
on me. Then he called me later in the week to see about doing a special
song during offering or something. I was agreeable but then it worked out I
didn't anyway, but I did sort of agree to fill in if they needed help. He
introduced me to the guy who heads up the worship ministry this Sunday. We
talked family talk and etc. and a little music stuff  and then he had to
go. I kept it light talk and was really hoping inside he'd not ask me to
the weekly practice or the like. Just as I may like this church, I don't
know it, and perhaps the opposite, they may like me on the surface, but
they haven't known me long enough to know me and that isn't good either.
I've seen people on worship teams get on that way when they were
homosexuals and others that served in public ministries when they were
living with married folks, not married to the one they were living with. So
how can they know I'm not some sort of hatchet murder or something lol.
Anyway, so I understand your apprehension. After thinking on this all more,
I believe I need to cool my involvement at this point for a  couple
reasons, one of which really doesn't have to do with that church in
particular. Anyway, but I too have apprehentions although for different
reasons.  I think yours were more damaging however and it is good to see
Ben supported you as well. it is great you feel confident enough to begin
to participate, churches are different and what happens at one doesn't mean
it wil happen at the other, unless you self indulge as I had. It  is also
good that they  feel comfortable with blindness. A lot has to do with the
type of person one is and you are a very pleasant person and that sets
people at ease too I think. So, does Bowers sing too? The baratone female
on the team I bet she is. Give baritone Phil a run for his money.

Brad



At 01:46 AM 12/19/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>Friday I sang with the Christ Fellowship choir in a Christmas program called
>Sing Joy! Ben and Christa came.  I was very glad they came.
>I enjoyed singing, and the practices helped me get to know others better.  I
>am really happy, didn't really plan to become involved again with a "church"
>after having been deeply hurt at the last church I attended.  But I am glad
>I went, even  though at first it was a little scary, everyone loves Bowers
>my yellow lab guide dog especially the children.  Every Sunday,  they come
>over when I am leaving and talk to Bowers and me.  According to them,
>"Bowers is the smartest doggie in the whole world" Bowers of course agrees.
>Just thought I'd send in a note, it's late, and I am once again awake, this
>is due to my nap this afternoon.  We did the Christmas program at both
>services today, so I was at the church at 8:30 I made Ben breakfast before I
>left so got up at 6:30.  I arrived home around  1:00 ate lunch and took
>about a two hour nap.  I was very tired.
>All my classes are all over, I ended with  three b's and two c's not too
>bad.  I now have a little break.
>I hope you all have a Merry Christmas,
>Rhonda

Brad

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