2. If you could visit any historical American site what would it be? Why? I really want to visit Plymouth Settlement, because my family can trace its roots back to John and Priscilla Alden. I know it's not popular to think well of the Pilgrims these days, but I am very proud to have some of their DNA.
3. Free as a bird, free reign, be free of, free enterprise, free trip, walk away scot free, free for all...which 'free' phrase can best be applied to your life in recent days or weeks? Explain. Hmm...not sure that any of them really do, but I'll stretch a bit and say "free as a bird" as I think it describes what our grandsons feel when they go sailing into the air on the swings. Neither of them can get enough of it.
4. Something in your frig that's red? Strawberries, tomatoes, radishes. Something in your house that's white? The kitchen island. Something in your view that's blue? The light on the cable box.
5. July 27th is National New Jersey Day. Have you ever visited The Garden State? Just to drive through. If so where did you go? Nowhere. Are there diners where you live? Oh yes, plenty of them. Have you tried Taylor Pork Roll? Never heard of it. Do you like to play Monopoly? I HATE to play Monopoly. Salt water taffy-yay or nay? It's okay, but I never choose it on my own. How do you feel about shopping at the mall? It's a pretty peaceful experience these days since not too many people ever seem to be there. Springsteen, Sinatra, or Bon Jovi-you have to pick one. Bon Jovi all the way!
Raise your hand if you know why these add-on questions are appropriate on National NJ Day. I'm doing a half-hearted, noncommittal kind of hand raise over here. I think I know for most of them but the other one or two...I'm just guessing it's the same reason.
6. Insert your own random thought here. I'm about to begin the process of finding a church to attend. Oh, how I hate the process. The internet helps some in that I can check out what a church believes before visiting and weed out any that don't mesh, but you still just can't tell about a church until you visit and experience it for yourself. We've gone through two extremely nasty church situations that have left us with a bad taste in our mouths when it comes to organized religion (which I tend to view as dominated by the traditions and doctrines of men). Still, I know there are good churches out there, that teach sound doctrine, not the fluffy, feel-good, tickle-your-ears kind of stuff that seems to dominate the mainstream and I hope to find one of them. I have a good and growing relationship with the Lord and belong to a home fellowship so I'm doing okay as is, but I do miss music and worship as well as more opportunities to serve the community. So, I will pray and look. I have a couple on the list to start with.
Praying you can find a church to attend. Enjoyed reading your answers.
ReplyDeleteThanks and thanks for stopping by!
DeleteOh, yes, I remember the freedom I felt while swinging :)
ReplyDeleteI never did any of those daredevil stunts I saw other kids do like jumping from the swing while it was still in motion and high up in the sky.
I enjoyed your answers and I think we are both coming from the same mind set on #1.
I do hope you find a good church to go to.
We are thinking of moving in the next year and that is something we'll need to consider, too.
Have a great 4th!
I think we are of the same mind on #1, too. Thanks for the good thoughts about finding a church. I hope you will find one when you need it. It's such a tough, but important choice.
DeleteI didn't even think about Plymouth but that would be really cool!
ReplyDeleteI've heard the rock is much smaller than you'd think.
DeleteI'm sad to say I could have written your random answer. I am not a fan of the process either and we've experienced two bad situations- one where I was embarrassed by the judgmental congregation and the other was a very bad pastor situation that tore that church apart. Good luck to you on your hunt for a church. We still haven't found one. I thought about the freedom I felt as a child to just be a kid and I miss that but I do love seeing it in my grandbabies. :) Have a wonderful Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's a shame that the church hurts so many these days. I hope you can find one to attend some day. It's taken me a while to be ready. The grandbabies are the bestest!!
DeleteThat's neat about tracing your family's roots back to Plymouth! I think your 'random' resonates in many of us. Our (new) church services are more traditional than what I'm comfortable with; I've even been guilty of compiling shopping lists on my bulletins. All the same, our pastor and other parishioners are so friendly I'd feel guilty going elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI suspect it resonates, too. I've met so many people wounded by the church. The one I'm thinking of visiting says it has a nice blend of hymns and praise and worship. I can live with that and actually like some of the old ways. I hope I find a congregation that is that friendly.
DeleteHope you find a church. I think some of the 'traditions and doctrines of men' are actually traditions and doctrines of Scripture and the Early Church fathers that we've brushed aside for our own traditions that are more 'entertaining.' God bless you as you search.
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree that some churches do use traditions from the early church. My home group does. We model ourselves after the home churches the early Christians, but there are a good many out there teaching things that aren't quite true and not quite true makes it false. I'm definitely not looking for a church to entertain me. I am not a fan of those.
DeleteGreat answers...a few of those questions were a bit tricky and required a lot of thought from me. I do hope that you find a church that has everything you are looking for. There is no such thing as a perfect church because they are all filled with imperfect people. You are right...check them out online and then visit. That's when the rubber meets the road! Praying the Lord will guide you to the right place! Happy 4th!
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree with you about there being no such thing as a perfect church or perfect Christians. It's just that the situations we've been through have been blatantly wrong...like a pastor who kept a man in leadership even though he was refusing to answer to leadership and was strongly suspected of inappropriate sexual behavior. Many of us in leadership left and sadly, we were justified. It was less than a year later he was arrested and splashed all over the news for being caught in a police sting. He arranged online to meet (what he thought was) an underage boy at a hotel and got a big surprise. I could understand and forgive the pastor for not believing it, but not for refusing to at least look into the charges...and that pastor got UGLY with those of us who didn't agree.
DeleteWe have been thinking about finding a church to attend. I found one I want to try, but getting my cradle catholic hubby to budge is the issue. He would rather not go than go to a protestant church. I grew up Methodist. It's a process. I enjoyed your answers!
ReplyDeleteI get that. Tim started out life as a Catholic. I was raised Methodist, too. He was baptized in a Baptist church. We both joined a Churches of God, General Conference church. More than half of my home church group are what they call recovering Catholics. We have one couple who still attends mass every week because they like the liturgy. More and more it is possible to make the combining work as priests become born again.
DeleteKnowing God will lead you to the church you need.
ReplyDeleteI believe that and can be patient.
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