Jude 2

In the past year we have been to church 2 times and one of those was a A.O.G. I have church behind the prison walls. I meet once a week with a mens group to help keep me on a good path. So am I really missing anything by not go to church on a regular basis? I am feeling a little guilty about my wife and I not going to together. But is guilt a good reason to go to church?


Jesus
is the way

guilt or conviction?

doilooklost wrote:In the past year we have been to church 2 times...

I guess I stopped reading after that phrase and asked "Why?"

RamboPreacher wrote:guilt or conviction?

Rambo said what I was thinking. That's something you'll certainly have to chew on & answer for yourself!

Perhaps another question is - do you feel like you're missing anything by not going to church on a regular basis?

Men's groups are great to help keep us in check! However - sometimes they only minister to part of our needs. Churches are great - however - a pastor's sermon will most likely only minister to part of our needs. Reading the Bible is great - but if we don't meditate upon the words, keep it's commandments & apply it to our lives - it's nothing more than text on paper. Singing is great - but if we lose focus on the One we're singing about - it's nothing more than hollow sound. Prayer is great - but if we're alway's telling God about our problems & don't take time to listen to Him for answers - are we missing out?

Are you getting the "full meal deal" or are you missing the fries, soda, or apple pie? I don't know - because I can't see inside your bag? But if you unfold the top & peek in - you will probably be able to tell for yourself.

doilooklost, I know something about what you're experiencing, I think. I've been only a handful of times in that span, only 1 time since Christmas (and that was at Easter). I lost my church. I don't have the desire to look for another one, because I thought I was at the one I'd be at for many years to come. I enjoyed it, loved the people, and then inexplicably and still to this day a mystery to me, we were uncermoniously dumped into a corner and forgotten. And, then I got busy with work things, and next thing you know, boom, we're not in church at all anymore. So, the loss is real for me. I know you've got the prison ministry, and that's important. I don't know what to tell you, if anything. I know that we miss church. We miss our church. We must, absolutely must, for our sake and of our daughter, just go. Umm, we just have to. We haven't, but we're gonna, real quick.

doilooklost wrote:In the past year we have been to church 2 times and one of those was a A.O.G. I have church behind the prison walls. I meet once a week with a mens group to help keep me on a good path. So am I really missing anything by not go to church on a regular basis? I am feeling a little guilty about my wife and I not going to together. But is guilt a good reason to go to church?


Jesus
is the way

Nancy and I have a very hectic shcedule, overseeing the ministry and a lot of traveling. I t would be easy to justify not being in church. But for me the importance of a local church family cannot be overemphisied. To know that I am a part of a local family, those who pray for us, care for us. A place where I can go and be spiritually fed by my Pastor.
also a place where I can be held accountable is extremely important, to be submitted and to submit my ministry to someone who is over me in the Lord ( MY Pastor) is vital.

Our local church is about a 45 minute drive one way. We are there most services when we are not out traveling and ministering here or overseas.

For me it is very personal, when I travel and in places where it can be life threatening to come together in local church services, where christians are putting everything on line, where many have walked for hours to come together and to see there faces in service. How can I neglect such a great opportunity and blessing I have to come together with my family at will and under no threat. ( no guilt intended, just my personal conviction ) just that I have realized what to me is so very important.

Paul is so very right. We must be connected to the body.

dolfan, I am sorry for the loss of your church. I have members who have felt the same loss and when they finally tell me about it, it generally is that God is moving them to a different ministry within the body. Most people, when they burn out in a ministry in the local church, will leave to find a new home. I don't recommend that as the best anwer. Sometimes it IS the answer....but generally not.

I would like to see you go back to your old church and find that place again where God would use you. Or......find a "start up" and work with them to build a good structure. I could sure use you here...lol Might be a little far to drive, but my motto is " a church alive is worth the drive".

Anyway, don't let your children grow up thinking that it is acceptable not to attend church. That is the first step in wrong parenting.

Dr. Ron wrote:Anyway, don't let your children grow up thinking that it is acceptable not to attend church. That is the first step in wrong parenting.

I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for those words of encouragement. And, I agree and hear you on the children thing. It will be remedied in short order.

Dolfan wrote

we were uncermoniously dumped into a corner and forgotten. And, then I got busy with work things, and next thing you know, boom, we're not in church at all anymore. So, the loss is real for me. I know you've got the prison ministry, and that's important. I don't know what to tell you, if anything. I know that we miss church. We miss our church. We must, absolutely must, for our sake and of our daughter, just go. Umm, we just have to. We haven't, but we're gonna, real quick.

I know what it means to be set aside and left out. From that experience I was way from the Lord for several years. Glad to be back now for a while now and back doing what I was called to do. With this said, I do a TV program two or three times a month and try to before I finish the program encourage every one that has children to get them in church while they can still take them. So important to do it now for later they will go their own way. Dolfan don't make the mistakes that so many has made. I have one in the ministry with her husband. The other doesn't live for God and prayer is the only thing that I can do about it now.

Don't know just where in Alabama you live, but we are in Russellville in the NW couner of the state and would love to have any body that needs a place to worship. We are small , but devoted to God.

doilooklost wrote:In the past year we have been to church 2 times and one of those was a A.O.G. I have church behind the prison walls. I meet once a week with a mens group to help keep me on a good path. So am I really missing anything by not go to church on a regular basis? I am feeling a little guilty about my wife and I not going to together. But is guilt a good reason to go to church?


Jesus
is the way

The important thing is to not allow your "guilt" to keep you away from church. The love of God is so great and His grace so complete, that even when we fail to worship Him as He ask us too, His love and grace is still present for our lives.

Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Don't go to church for friends, family or denomination, attend to worship!

PastorP wrote:

doilooklost wrote:In the past year we have been to church 2 times and one of those was a A.O.G. I have church behind the prison walls. I meet once a week with a mens group to help keep me on a good path. So am I really missing anything by not go to church on a regular basis? I am feeling a little guilty about my wife and I not going to together. But is guilt a good reason to go to church?


Jesus
is the way

The important thing is to not allow your "guilt" to keep you away from church. The love of God is so great and His grace so complete, that even when we fail to worship Him as He ask us too, His love and grace is still present for our lives.

Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Don't go to church for friends, family or denomination, attend to worship!

I think that last statement is the most important, we don't go to church for any of those other reasons, and if we are going for the right reasons, we can always get something out of it, even if things aren't what we would prefer. I sat through a service in a Catholic church in Austria years ago, I was at first dreading it, it would all be in German and Latin, neither of which I understand, but then I decided to just pray, and devote that time to God, and it was a real blessing. We often in America want things catered to us, almost to the point that we have stopped seeking God, and expecting him to just put it all out there in front of us.

Yes go to church, and look for God there, I don't know all the reasons you stopped, but I do know they are less important than your relationship with Him, and your family's relationship with Him.

Thanks for all the repiles I try to give some more detail.
Why job, burn out and feeling like a failure. My kids are all grown up and they go to church more than I do. Going back to my old church my sound good but I don't is a good Ideal at this time. We will go this Sunday and hope for the best.

If your old church isn't a good idea, then pick another, doesn't have to be perfect, but it would be best to go somewhere. You and your family need to be fed, and have fellowship. We can always find at least a little of both in about any church if we are looking for it.

removed

I'd like to ask you all to pray for me.

I'm at the point in my life that I dread going to church. It's a 30 minute drive one way and we have been driving it for 10 years. With my health the way it is right now, sometimes it is not worth the sacrifice to get out of bed to go. Last Wednesday night, my daughter and I had Bible study in my bed and I really enjoyed that. I know that I need to go. There are people depending on me there. I've tried to look at the positives but sometimes it's hard for me to find them. I want to be excited about going to church, but I just am not.