Creative Scribble

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9 comments

1. § Rodney Arnold® said on : 01/16/09 @ 10:03
   Come on! Let me hear it. Good and bad stuff. Don't hold back! Want to be anonymous? That's cool too. Just make up a fake email address and name.
2. § cheri hogrefe said on : 01/16/09 @ 10:10
   Some of my favorite memories of church were community. I have attended a few "big" churches and it just never felt the same way.
   One of the first draws 6 years ago to the church I'm at was the feeling that it was a big family. Unfortunately as we have grown we haven't been able to maintain that feeling.
   
   I also hate politics. I like direct, honest and open decisions based on how the Bible says to handle it...not man.
   And my last thought on that subject is this.
   When we get comfortable inserting our own "worldly" ideas on how things should be done and lose flexibility I think we lose touch on the sovereignty of God. God doesn't just work in ONE WAY ONLY. You can't box Him in...so there should be flexibility in ministry.
   
   
3. § Phillip Fulmer said on : 01/16/09 @ 10:39
   Worst: Those crazy guys with spray painted sheets walking around campus telling everyone they are going to hell.
   
   Best: The few Christians that act like they believe what they say.
4. § josh garrett said on : 01/16/09 @ 10:51
   This is a good question. I'd say the worst experiences I have had involve not feeling welcome. Even at a popular church in Knoxville, where I knew several people, I initially didn't feel extremely welcome and had to dive in and work to fit in. It shouldn't be that hard. Which leads me to the church I attend in St. Louis. My first impression was weak. The early service here is dead because only the elder members attend it and tend to sit and stare without any involvement, and I on accident came to that service on my first visit. I was disappointed in the experience, but quickly realized my mistake and walked out to go the class I'd gone to SCBC for to begin with, called BReal. The class is taught by Mark Mays, someone who is so in tune with what our generation needs. He teaches truth from the Bible, along with a message of love for people in general. He questions common ideas that most people just accept, and forces you to evaluate and analyze them. I've found that when leaders openly admit their mistakes and their struggles and that they are not perfect, the more I feel comfortable knowing I'm not alone in my imperfection.
   
   I've heard one of the biggest problems people have with religion is that people portray one life at church and then live another outside the church. I am no different of course. I guess it's just nice to hear from someone that yes, they are a hypocrite at times, but they are saved from hell because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   
   One last thought, which is something our church is dealing with right now. It relates to a Traditional vs. Contemporary style worship service, and we are attempting to have one of each rather than strictly Traditional as it is now. It gets voted on Sunday night. Without talking about that issue directly, I can see that several members seem to selfishly look out for themselves and not consider what the community needs, the people they are trying to reach. Several have lost sight of the Vision, the church's motto. During a business meeting/argument before Christmas, many of the comments were just ludicrous and hurtful on both sides of the issue, and at one point, with the uproar of "amens" on one side of the room after such a comment, I had never felt more unwelcome at a church. I think this attitude is dangerous, but it seems to be so deeprooted in some that it may never change. I dunno if that's what you were looking for, but feel free to call me some time if you want more of my perspective.
5. § keith church said on : 01/16/09 @ 11:09
   bad - business meetings, beaurocracy
   good - fellowship, teaching, worship
   bad - suit and tie, stiff
   good - relaxed, whatever you want to wear (mostly)
   bad - high and mighty preacher who cares about numbers more than people
   good - humble preacher totally dependent upon God for everything
   bad - mean people, gossip, slander, judgemental people
   good - nice, inviting people, genuine concern for other people and willing to disagree on things that don't matter and still love each other
   bad - preconceptions about church
   good - open to doing church any way that lifts up God and brings unchurched people in closer to relationship with the Savior
   bad - self-serving people
   good - unselfish people
   bad - leaders who let's self-serving people stay
   good - leaders who are okay with these people leaving and would rather they do
   bad - leaders who think they have all the answers
   good - leaders who are willing to listen and learn from others who have good ideas about church
   bad - stuck on legalism
   good - stuck on God's love and how people need to know how much God loves them
   bad - irrelevant teaching
   good - relevant teaching
   bad - dead music
   good - alive music
   
   that's all for now
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. § Tim said on : 01/16/09 @ 11:17
   My best memory is of an older man named Luther. I was just 5 years old and my parents were divorced. Luther, a devout Christian man, was my "dad" at a father-son campout since my dad was hundreds of miles away. He didn't care that I was a little white boy and he was an old black man. Without a single hymn or a sermon, he showed me Jesus in a real way that has stuck with me forever!
7. § bart said on : 01/16/09 @ 12:04
   I agree with the politics comment. There has to be an underlying biblically referenced structure for sure, but there has to be some major flexibility as well. The times I've seen churches run without this, tradition becomes key and people are turned away. One of the main points of Jesus' style is to go out there and see what happens. Nowadays we have to face the critique of society now matter what we do, but we don't have to worry about our friends being beheaded over this stuff anymore, so there's no reason not to run with whatever types of oppurtunities this church plant opens up. New beginnings, right? Go all out and see what comes back.
8. § Christie said on : 01/17/09 @ 10:32
   good- music that really makes you just loose yourself and raise your hands and not care who is around you.
   
   bad- those "visiting pastors/speakers" who talk forever and you just dont care or they are boring or repeat themselves.
   
   good- when i walk away and think, i forgot that or i never knew that before - i guess challenged
   
   bad- someone gets up to share, or gets up to share again and everyone goes "oh no"
   
   bad- when something goes wrong and people dont know just to play it off or they make a big deal. you should just keep going like nothing matters.
   
   one of the most memorable experiences ive had was when i was visting a church and walked in and they were singing songs off the radio- i thought - thats cool then i noticed that the group leading& part of the congregation was like 55 and above and they were singing and raising hands. ive only been there 1 time but that stood out to me that "hey there are some "old' people who like to worship God.
   another favorite is experiencing worship in another country where you dont know what they are singing but you just watch people praising GOD and you find yourself singing along - not knowing what your saying but just wanting to be part of the excitement and you just dont care. then all the sudden you recognize the tune and you sing in english while they sing in their language. in that moment its priceless- because guess what - we are worshipping the same God.
   
   
9. § Steve said on : 01/31/09 @ 20:14
   Bad- If you are a vistor - it's being single out the first time you show up, alot of people want to slide in and see if they will fit in.
   Good- Having a great Worship service to start
   service off with. Songs that people can relate to and can feel emotionally
   
   Bad - Those Hell and Fire sermons, although sometimes can be effective
   Good- When you can leave service and know what you came to hear, you can apply to your everyday life
   
   Bad- NO First Impressions team,
   Good- Great First Impressions, from parking to greeters to ushers, alot of "Hey great to see you"
   This could mean alot to someone who is trying to decide if they will be back or not.
   
   Dont' be afraid to push people's buttons with sermon titles. Say what needs to be said, Bad publicity is not all bad. Sometimes if it offends someone it's because deep down inside you struck a nerve close to home.