The church

Two of Elmer Towns descriptions of what a church is really about sticks in my mind: that a “church community is a bonding of people” and that it “allows for diversity” (100). I believe that churches everywhere are failing in regards to these two examples of what a church should be/do. There are very few churches that could label themselves “multi-cultural”, and only a small percentage of those actually have a multi-cultural feel, and by that i mean that the different races mix and mingle and are not separated. Have you ever walked into a church and seen for yourself the different cliques inside that building? If it is an ethnically diverse church, the different races are sitting with their race. There is no mixing and mingling, and that truly does make me sad. I am not sure, though, how this could be fixed by the church as an institution. This is one of those things that a person themselves would have to do. It is part of the bonding of the community. I have been to many different churches. The one i’ve gone to recently is mostly African American, but i love it. It truly is an ethnically diverse community. They make you feel welcome and loved. It’s daunting if you’re going for the first (or second) time because it’s one of those churches where everyone knows everyone else, but they make sure you feel welcome. The community is the key to a good church.

Personally, i think more services need to be held outside. Elmer Towns writes, “The Barna Poll suggests most people today want to know God, but wish to do so outside the established church” (97). When people think of church, they think of a building and stuffy old people sitting in old, worn out pews. It’s time to break the misconception that you have to wear dresses and slacks and sit in a pew in order to be in church! I’m all for being barefoot in the grass holding a conversation with a minister who not only preaches, but lives and teaches what he knows. Why does no one ever argue with the preacher? If they are discontent with his preaching, they find a new church without ever talking to the preacher. And why are we always afraid to approach the pastor (the bigger the church, the truer this is)? Smaller churches definitely have their advantages where this point is concerned. My home church is a full 20 members (on a good day) big. My pastor is the most incredible man i’ve ever met, and if i disagree with him about something, i know he’ll listen and we’ll discuss it.

This is what a church should be about! Diversity and openness! The word of God never changed, but the “Church” has, from what was once a gathering of a group of people to discuss the works of Jesus to a large congregation listening to a single person spoon feed them how they should be living. Church has become synonymous with Sunday morning worship service and a Wednesday night Bible Study, neither of which are truly open for discussion, and besides, who would want to argue with a pastor? He knows what he’s talking about.

Strong and weak

"I'd rather be known as the one strong enough to walk away versus the one that was too weak, and felt they HAD to stay..."


I had someone tell me this today, and i must say, i truly disagree with this statement. I think it takes more strength to stand strong and work through whatever it is you're going through than to walk away (depending on the situation. Every situation is different.). 


i guess that's really all i have to say.

On Divorce

Matthew 19: 3-9: "And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, 'Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?' He answered, 'Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.' They said to him, 'Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?' He said to them,'Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.'" (ESV)

What happened to marriage? What happened to vowing your life to someone for better or for worse? For richer or for poorer? Why do we give up on the ones we pledge to love?

Now a days one can get a divorce for the silliest of things, such as the significant other doesn't do dishes, or this person said that, etc, etc. They aren't willing to set aside their differences and work through their faults. In other words, they don't fit that person any more so they're throwing them aside like they would a pair of jeans.

This really does infuriate me.

I have friends who are divorcing or are the children of divorce. I'm the child of a divorce. My husband is the child of divorce. We all know that it sucks. 

The friends i have that are divorced or are divorcing are the ones i never thought it'd happen to. They are the ones that i look at and say, "if they can't make it, what chance do i have?" But John and i have made a commitment to stay married, for better or for worse, for richer and for poorer. Those of you that know us know that we've already been  tried and tested multiple times. And it's only made us stronger.

If you're married, engaged, have a boyfriend/girlfriend, or even just want one eventually, get it in your head now to make it a full commitment. Don't even let the word "divorce" enter into your marriage or relationship. Rededicate yourself to the person you swore you'd spend the rest of your life with. Don't become a statistic.