I am a Methodist and have been all my 77 years, baptized in a back creek in the hills of W.Va., at one time it was nothing unusual to hear from the congregation an "AMEM", nothing unusual to hear s person offer a testimony-----TODAY-----well to keep it simple, it just is not the church I grew up in. Then I look at some the Baptist, Presp., etc, and hear in Va. it appears that what is available really are not Bible teaching establishments......So---I spend at least 2 hours in morning time with God and on Sunday's 3 to 4 hours.....I still do with my money as I promised God years ago that I would do......Am I right not going to the church building or am I dead wrong? I have discussed this many times with God, I believe I am safe. My preacher after church one day I made a comment and I was told that things change over time----I said the Bible clearly says God is the same yesterday, today & tomorrow----that went over like a fart in a wind-storm. Then Cocvid came along, need I say more. I share my faith every time I get that little felling inside to do so, I use the term "God Bless" until folks think that is my name. The other day a lady from the church called and informed me to how church services are going to happen, the church is trying to get folks back to church, through the conversation I had the opportunity to say, "If we want folks back in church, we have to offer what folks need and I can not tell you the last time I heard the word "SALVATION" come from the pulpit, I can not remember the last time I had a preacher offer an "ALTER CALL call"----as I said above --went over like a fart in a wind-storm. OK!!!! Maybe I am old fashioned or just an old grouch, I don't know, but I have come to know quite a few non-believers, I respect their views and they respect my views----I hope that at the very least I am planting a seed & that's my job and unfortunately my church is missing the opportunity to do some gardening.. I could go on & on & on about how the church has changed, when a non-believer tells me things about their experiences in church, I find I have no argument against what they say and often have to agree with them, but this also allows me the opportunity to offer a little story of what God has done for me. The real subject is "God and His people" not the commercialized Church or the fancy speaking preacher, or a congregation which has been led to the path of "WORKS & MONEY"-----reckon I best stop before some of you good people get the wrong impression of me----I struggle with being a good Christian, I struggle with setting a good example, I struggle with, at times, my language, I struggle & struggle & struggle with more junk than I care to mention----but those Bible verses I have committed to memory from Psalms, from 1st John, from all over the Bible will come into my mind ----I ask for forgiveness and God gives......Just yesterday I told my youngest son that we have to remember no one is perfect---we die in corruption and then we are raised in incorruption-----we are human, we have to learn to "BELIEVE" the behave like a believer
Sorry to rant on so long, I have a doc's appointment and have to run,,,,,,God Bless and do take care
AI
