Good thoughts Brad.

Your thoughts here on music lead me off on to a slightly different, you know
the same only different, bunny trail.

I was just sitting here thinking about going to church tomorrow.  I love the
messages there, they are convicting.  I actually have to take notes.  I love
the music.  It's a big church.  I know a few folks as we were involved in
church previous.  There are other places to serve other than music.  Music
is my love.  keyboard people are a dime a dozen.  Have been in this church
attending reasonably faithfully Sunday after Sunday.  But can't find a place
to serve.  Thinking that if I had taken up a new instrument a year and a
half, well short of a month, that we started attending there, that I could
find a niche.  Part of the problem is a small platform which is not guide
dog accommodating.  But then I don't think it's the platform's accommodation
problem.  And for the time I've spent there, I don't know any other people.
But then, have I invited any of them to my house?  Well, I don't know anyone
other than our former church people well enough to ask, and I sure don't
want to hang out a sign.  So for now, if I am to continue there, I must
content myself, that I'm there to worship and praise the Lord and continue
to ask the Lord to show me a place of service.  At first I knew I was there
to rest and refresh.  But now???  I must admit, the temptation for tomorrow
, is to go to the water aerobics class at the gym in the morning.  Our
common element would be the water.  I've got it.  I could be water baptized.
No.  I don't think that's quite it.  Depending on how aerobically I am
challenged I could be water logged rather than water baptized.

Vicki




.  Well enough of that.  Just some thoughts around, very much on the edge of
what we are talking about here.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad D" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 3:28 PM
Subject: Re: [ECHURCH-USA] Right Church


> Kathy,
>
> Searching for politically correct answer sensing a set up lol.
>
> *rubbing hands together before setting them on the keypad*
>
> First let me say, I am not against organized gatherings of believers, nor
> am I against calling it a church. I mean it is a matter of semantics
> anyway. We go to cake walks and I don't see any cakes walking about, but
> they are still delicious. Or here, just the other day, my wife, she
says...
>
> "Don't jump all over me!"
>
> I swear!  My feet never left the floor!! Ever heard someone say... "She
> jumped down my throat on that one!" Very difficult imagery here, very
> difficult indeed. Especially  if we take some things literally. So
"church"
> to me is the people, who tend to collect in buildings of same name but
> hardly the same thing. I mean buildings are made of cement blocks and
> mortar... well I was called a blockhead the other day so perhaps there is
> some similarities... I don't know. Anyway, the point is church indeed is
> the people and not the place.
>
> The question is, "how long do you wait, when exploring a new church,
before
> you get involved?"
>
> Well as Phil noted there are two sides to that proverbial coin, a
servant's
> side, and the leadership's side. We too had people wanting to jump in and
> do music after being there only one Sunday... Geesh I hope we didn't sound
> that bad... anyway, yes we don't know who they are, where they came from
or
> what their beliefs are on such items. I mean get a low key tongue talker
> who suddenly feels led to speak his piece during praise and worship in the
> midst of a room full of  Baptists, and you got all kinds of shades or red
a
> happening. From blushes to heads ready to blow.
>
> As for the servant's side? There are similar considerations, or should I
> say "discernments". For instance here they seem to have a need for praise
> and worship folks, or so I thought in myself... wrong. They could well
have
> done without me, but I wanted to involve myself because that is what I
like
> to do. I do not care  to just sit back but like to get involved in an area
> I can contribute. And after all, this church seemed to be contemporary,
did
> messages on salvation, seemed unstuffy, and seemed to  have a heart for
the
> community. And it does. However, the doctrinal differences I have I
ignored
> at the time to find a church nearby, one that we could be involved within
> the community this time and not travel. And, seeker friendly? Hey it is
> good to catch those seeking God. The problem is with that there is
> compromise. I won't go into detail but there are issues I just do not feel
> is part of God's word. So to really sum  up this dribble with an answer,
> I'd say "until God leads you to get involved". How do I say this without
> sounding egotistical or positionally Pius, because I'm not. Involved has
> it's own intensities. I mean jumping in to play music is less dependent
> upon than folding service pamphlets. Now now now now now now. now . Stop
> it! Don't take that wrong. I truly believe we all work together and each
is
> an intricate part of itno matter what is seen or unseen, but finding
> someone to fold pamphlets is a bit easier than anyone who is willing to
> embarrass themselves in front of hundreds of folks by playing an
> instrument. I mean I could become involved folding pamphlets and drop dead
> and they'd mourn for me and hardly discuss who could take my place,  but
if
> one is leaned on to sing, lead others, play an instrument, work up songs,
> work up schedules for singers and musicians, and so forth, the prospects
> become in the form of a smaller ratio. That is why involvement is to be
> followed by God's leading and not override it. Sometimes patience, as we
> discussed need be exercised and not create an Ishmil (spelling???)There
are
> times people fill in because there is a need, a hole needing to be
plugged,
> and then there are times when things move on to where someone who is
called
> to be the real person need come in.
>
> No quote, "church", is perfect, we are human, we have issues, jealousies,
> egos, selfish desires, able to take offense, fears, desires and agendas we
> see which leaders don't, and after all we are right aren't we?? Huh? Sure
> we are, I think lolAren't we? Sure we are. Hmm? . There is no set time, a
> month, six months or the like but there is a time of proving and a time of
> knowing you are where God wants you to be. If not I could put all the
names
> of all the churches in a bucket and reach in and pick one. I really like
> the people in this house of worship... see dad, not a church *smile* just
> funnin' ya, and they are all good people, but it has been for some time
now
> I've known it was not where God wanted us to be, but we stayed to help
> anyway, and we are still staying until end of May to not thwart any
> momentum currently enjoyed by folks stepping forward to help. I do not
feel
> a rush to  attend or be members of another church for the sake of being in
> one, I think there is a time of refocussing, and building up from the
> resources we have here and then set out. I am also of the belief to not
> forsake the assembly, because not only do we learn and grow as a result of
> that assembly but others may as well from what you have to offer. It may
> not seem so, but I am very bothered by the need for the decision which has
> been made, first because I don't wish to lead anyone up the garden path
> regarding our commitment to helping out. I mean I value commitment very
> highly and feel I've put myself and family in a position of not letting my
> yeses be yeses and my no's be no's.  More bothersome is that I put aside
> what God might want and jumped in on my own reasoning. Perhaps it was
meant
> to be as such and God is just repositioning. There is no set time to
> decide. I know, you as a pastor's spouse and involved in church as a
> calling will have perhaps a different vantage point. So as Colin Rae, the
> country singer says..."that's my story and I'm sticking to it!" lol. Now
> aren't you glad you asked???
>
> Brad
>