Comments on: So I guess God just made me weird… http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/ The life and thoughts of spunky, funky, little punkie Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:01:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: JohnW http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3245 JohnW Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:14:34 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3245 Have you taken the Beliefnet quiz? http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html It's not perfect, but it'll point you in the right direction, I think. Have you taken the Beliefnet quiz?
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

It’s not perfect, but it’ll point you in the right direction, I think.

]]> By: Linda http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3143 Linda Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:24:02 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3143 Amanda, What is church anyway? I have finally come to the conclusion that "church" for me means gathering together with others with whom I connect spiritually, whatever that may look like--even just having coffee and talking God stuff together. If you are not finding what you are wanting or needing in a church as you currently define it, perhaps you could either: 1) consider other definitions (in the physical rather than semantic sense) 2) create whatever you are looking for. Just a thought. Want to go have coffee sometime? :-) Amanda,

What is church anyway? I have finally come to the conclusion that “church” for me means gathering together with others with whom I connect spiritually, whatever that may look like–even just having coffee and talking God stuff together. If you are not finding what you are wanting or needing in a church as you currently define it, perhaps you could either:
1) consider other definitions (in the physical rather than semantic sense)
2) create whatever you are looking for.

Just a thought.

Want to go have coffee sometime? :-)

]]> By: Therese http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3029 Therese Sat, 03 Feb 2007 08:34:42 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3029 Your last church experience is similar to my own. "To Train up a Child" seminars and pearl followers amidst a very 'young' and 'hip' non-denom church. I also would like to have my kids with me at church without getting tons of stares when the baby says goo-goo ga ga. In fact our current church has a no-kid policy in the sanctuary; but at least they have a family room for parents and kids that can see thru the glass window. I really dislike the check-your-kids-at-the-door attitude of churches. But I don't think I am ever going to find an AP church thats protestant. I hear about family-friendly Catholic churches and mormon churches, but not protestant it seems. Your last church experience is similar to my own. “To Train up a Child” seminars and pearl followers amidst a very ‘young’ and ‘hip’ non-denom church. I also would like to have my kids with me at church without getting tons of stares when the baby says goo-goo ga ga. In fact our current church has a no-kid policy in the sanctuary; but at least they have a family room for parents and kids that can see thru the glass window. I really dislike the check-your-kids-at-the-door attitude of churches. But I don’t think I am ever going to find an AP church thats protestant. I hear about family-friendly Catholic churches and mormon churches, but not protestant it seems.

]]> By: amanda http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3020 amanda Fri, 02 Feb 2007 03:39:07 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3020 You know, we had a similar experience at our last church. It actually looked pretty AP on the outside (lots of breastfeeding and babywearing moms in the service, a big focus on grace), but then we found out that there was a HUGE undercurrent of Ezzo followers, including the leadership. The one good thing about a lot of the churches around here is that at least they are up-front about their devotion to Ezzo. I'd rather know before I waste my time =P You know, we had a similar experience at our last church. It actually looked pretty AP on the outside (lots of breastfeeding and babywearing moms in the service, a big focus on grace), but then we found out that there was a HUGE undercurrent of Ezzo followers, including the leadership. The one good thing about a lot of the churches around here is that at least they are up-front about their devotion to Ezzo. I’d rather know before I waste my time =P

]]> By: Jenn http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3002 Jenn Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:44:31 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3002 We have had such a hard time with that!!! We had found a church that is "hip" in every way...except AP. Which was doable until we got a lecture from one of the elders about our parenting!! Grrr. After about 2 years I think we have finally found a church that we can belong to. We really aren't looking for perfection - but it's so hard to "be in community" which people who really do not value many of the same things. Sigh. I hope you can find a place to call home!! We have had such a hard time with that!!! We had found a church that is “hip” in every way…except AP. Which was doable until we got a lecture from one of the elders about our parenting!! Grrr. After about 2 years I think we have finally found a church that we can belong to. We really aren’t looking for perfection - but it’s so hard to “be in community” which people who really do not value many of the same things. Sigh. I hope you can find a place to call home!!

]]> By: kristen http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3000 kristen Tue, 30 Jan 2007 17:03:02 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-3000 That's great! Sounds like it must be just the place for y'all. A lot of emerging churches (e.g. ours) have solid ties to denominations/established churches with sound doctrine and that seems right to me. Good boundaries? Our church is having a cookout tomorrow and they are totally serving veggie burgers (and real burgers for the meat eaters among us.) And they aren't just serving them, they put it on the fliers. You have hope! That’s great! Sounds like it must be just the place for y’all. A lot of emerging churches (e.g. ours) have solid ties to denominations/established churches with sound doctrine and that seems right to me. Good boundaries?

Our church is having a cookout tomorrow and they are totally serving veggie burgers (and real burgers for the meat eaters among us.) And they aren’t just serving them, they put it on the fliers. You have hope!

]]> By: amanda http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-2999 amanda Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:32:32 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-2999 Thanks for the response, Kristen :) Last night I was reminded of an emergent church that meets downtown. I went to their website and was very encouraged. :) I talked to dh and he thought it sounded good too (it is super hard for us to agree on a church!) Even though this church is emergent, they have backing from three conservative churches, so that seems like a pretty good sign. They said in an article that the majority of people were anti-war and anti-Bush, lol, and they have a huge focus on the poor and the homeless. I don't necessarily need an anti-Bush/anti-war church, but it is a good sign that they aren't afraid to break the mold of modern Evangelicals and the "conservative Christian right." I also saw a picture of a veggie burger at one of the events, lol. I am very hopeful. =D I am with you about giving up. I can't give up, and I am so sad when other people give up. I long for a new church home now that we've moved. The kids want to have a church that is "ours" so badly. We've only been here a month, but it is so hard without a church (we have been visiting, just haven't found a good fit.) Our church family is what made our last city really feel like home. Thanks for the encouragement. You really confirmed that this church I found could be a good fit ((hugs)) Thanks for the response, Kristen :)

Last night I was reminded of an emergent church that meets downtown. I went to their website and was very encouraged. :) I talked to dh and he thought it sounded good too (it is super hard for us to agree on a church!) Even though this church is emergent, they have backing from three conservative churches, so that seems like a pretty good sign. They said in an article that the majority of people were anti-war and anti-Bush, lol, and they have a huge focus on the poor and the homeless. I don’t necessarily need an anti-Bush/anti-war church, but it is a good sign that they aren’t afraid to break the mold of modern Evangelicals and the “conservative Christian right.” I also saw a picture of a veggie burger at one of the events, lol. I am very hopeful. =D

I am with you about giving up. I can’t give up, and I am so sad when other people give up. I long for a new church home now that we’ve moved. The kids want to have a church that is “ours” so badly. We’ve only been here a month, but it is so hard without a church (we have been visiting, just haven’t found a good fit.) Our church family is what made our last city really feel like home.

Thanks for the encouragement. You really confirmed that this church I found could be a good fit ((hugs))

]]> By: kristen http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-2994 kristen Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:18:08 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/01/30/so-i-guess-god-just-made-me-weird/#comment-2994 I think lots of emerging churches would fit your description. At least have of our church consciously APs. Probably half are democrats. We have a huge downtown focus (we meet at the literal center of the city) in mercy and justice to the poor. The vegetarian hfs is a block away, etc. I belong to a specific conservative evangelical tradition because I think they teach the most truth, Do they have everything right? No one does. But I need the church to support me, especially in the lives of my kids. And they do a great job of that. Even if I couldn't go to my church, I'd go to the best I could find and serve and love there, because that's what God called us to, community. That's why the church is the body of Christ and not families or people. I get tired of people who give up on the church. It's not perfect, it's got some crazy uncles and some skeletons in the closets, but it's the best we've got. I think lots of emerging churches would fit your description. At least have of our church consciously APs. Probably half are democrats. We have a huge downtown focus (we meet at the literal center of the city) in mercy and justice to the poor. The vegetarian hfs is a block away, etc.

I belong to a specific conservative evangelical tradition because I think they teach the most truth, Do they have everything right? No one does. But I need the church to support me, especially in the lives of my kids. And they do a great job of that.

Even if I couldn’t go to my church, I’d go to the best I could find and serve and love there, because that’s what God called us to, community. That’s why the church is the body of Christ and not families or people. I get tired of people who give up on the church. It’s not perfect, it’s got some crazy uncles and some skeletons in the closets, but it’s the best we’ve got.

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