Church today..

[Chuck7]

The Church I'm attending is what I've always looked for ..I've worked in many churches and have seen them all as "ministries"..{Where you overlook or put up with alot until you get burned out} Here lately I honestly thought finding a real church was impossible..

3 weeks ago one of my students invited me to go to church with her ..It was a Church of God..I had visited this type before and it wasn't my cup of tea..They had substitutes at his particuliar church until today..I finally met the pastor..

I was floored..finally a real church..It's way back in the woods on a back road. My first thing I look for is fruit..true holiness bares forth genuine fruit..The man is a pretty good preacher but a wonderful pastor..a real heart for God's people..The music was nice but not over bearing..there were no super stars sitting in the front. Each member looked like they were hand picked by God..the maturity was unreal..Folks had manners..The youth were quiet..The pastor flat out had the respect of the people..

Order of service..

Welcomed me and Aaron..my wife and Matt plan to come next week since we told them how good it was..

2. Sang about7 good ole fashioned worship songs..reverently

There were no special singers..

3. Offereing..no pressure..

4. 1 hour of preaching from
Psalm 72 and 73 and admonnitions about the end times..

5. 15 minutes of annointing and praying for the sick..

Very simple ..no thrills just folks who truly love God..and were going there forGod alone.

[Leafrivermac]

Good to hear Chuck. I attended a Church of God for several yrs. My experiance there had it's ups and downs. When I first started there they had a really dedicated young pastor. We soon became good friends. I never hardly went to his house unexpectedly but what he wasn't in the sanctuary crying out to God for his charge. Soon tho , he moved on to another church and another fine preacher came in. He was a real theologian but a very humble fellow. Folks did'nt take well to him tho as they were let down mostly because he just did'nt have the charisma of the prior pastor. Many of the congregation decided they did'nt want to keep him and used his "wayward" son against him. It came down to a vote and enough voted to keep him that he stayed a while longer. The church split, with those that were unsatisfied left and started what is now a large Assembly of God. Our preacher stayed on but never really seemed to have the burden any longer.
Things were bleak there for awhile and I stayed on thru two more pastors and watched things come back around. I finally left the Church of God . . .because of my own understanding. Now tho I see that they are growing by leaps and bounds and have a really great guy for a pastor. He and I are good friends and we work together. Occasionally he will come to a service at our church and really seems to enjoy it. I plan to go help them build on their new fellowship hall on weekends soon.

[Chuck7]

Neat Mac,
Because of my wife's recent illness we have both surrendered our hearts to God..The Lord has led us here we beleive..It only has about 70 members tops..I'm shocked becasue there really wasn't anyting offensive done in the service..I was expecting something totally different..The pastor is an older man about 65 -70 ..very real fellow and very sensitive..

Once he said."If I'm too loud people please let me know so I can turn it my mike down." The place was very clean and certainly God's presence was there. All the folks were modestestly dressed and acted like old fashion Christians from the 60s..It was like God was keeping this place a secret..I'm really glad it's small ...I diffently want to suport them and get plugged in. I know my family will like this this place..

[The Rev]

It's so nice when you find a place to call home. We are starting to look for a new church home. We both love the pastor and his wife, but we are not being fed there..I know God will lead us to where He wants us to be.

[Chuck7]

Rev.I've worked in many churches for years at a time.BUT as you said you need to be fed as well..

God as certainly used my wife;s sickness to bring true revival in our lives..The doctor said her liungs look like the lungs of a 70 years old..She had TB as a child and they fear that may be the culpret.


It's niceto know our God heals and does miracles..but in all reallity these things can only happen if our heart condemn us not..We;ve done some house cleaning..We are doing what 2 Cor. 6 says.."COme out from among them and be ye separate." Teh TV is put away...the wine is poured down the drain..My wife said.."If she's goingto die..she wants to go in faith." As a husband ..I'm doing my honest best..A real church is a blessing..This fellow is like a spiritual dad..I don;t feel the needto minister here..for I am the one getting ministered to..just by being in the midst of God fearing people..That is such a blessing..no confusion..just holy peace and holy reverence before God..

There are no politics Rev..no hype..no cliques , no manipulations..just simple minded people full of faith and full of God..a place to rest in God...no craziness either...a house of prayer

[The Rev]

I wish I could go, the nearest I get is Atlanta, Itravel theretwo or three days a week. I need to find a church at the airport, I spend more time in airports than I do in church. Now that's sad, and I'm not joking about this.

[Chuck7]

I'm sorry to hear that Rev..It's been so long since I 've seen a real church..I thought they were either extinct or raptured..[:-]..well..I'm getting ready to retire for the night.We are off all next week and I'm going turkey hunting tomorrow..on public land...I've been practicing the ole striker anddisc calls today..I like 'The Freak' by Primos..

[Venator1]

There are no politics Rev..no hype..no cliques , no manipulations..just simple minded people full of faith and full of God..a place to rest in God...no craziness either...a house of prayer

< Message edited by Chuck7 -- 3/30/2008 7:02:44 PM >

I am happy for you Chuck, I know what you mean and hope you have found a home. I do find more of these churches in small towns, at least in the Northeast. They do seem to be more orthodox though. The sad part is they are closing daily due to lack of participation or funding. This is not meant top be nasty, but up here the nondenominational churches have all the money and large congregations. I think little is being used ,money for what the lord would intend. I just wonder if anyone sees this also. The churches with the money seem to draw younger set.

[Chuck7]

I appreciate that word brother and will take it to heart..
GOd bless,
C7

[motor]

I am happy for you Chuck.. I want you to know i have been praying for you everyday for many weeks now..God Bless you and yours in all you say and do my friend..