Okay, so I went to church for the second time this month and instead of going the traditional route, I went for the contemporary service. Wowza! Huge room, four screens, full band, at least 400 people in attendance and I felt like my usual neurotic self.
Last week I got to belt out the patriotic tunes that I kind of knew. This week I didn’t feel super comfortable singing songs that I didn’t know, even though the lyrics were written on the screens in an easy to read format. I guess I felt kind of self conscious singing words when I didn’t know where the song was heading. A lot of the songs were about love for Jesus, surrender, “here I am arms open wide.” I started thinking about Journey during the service and I don’t know if God planned that or not, but I’m going to post “Open Arms” for your listening pleasure.
I’m a fan of Journey now. And it makes me kind of ashamed to admit that because when I was a teenager, I thought they were stupid and I couldn’t stand when I was at the roller rink and “Faithfully” would play because no boys ever asked me to skate with them. Heck, I was practically seven feet tall in my skates, so maybe that had something to do with it. It took awhile for those boys to catch up, just as it took awhile for this gal to appreciate Steve Perry. (I still think his jeans are totally ridiculous in this video, but I guess that was the style back then!)
Shame. This word stood out for me during my trip to church on Sunday. I was standing in the book store and there was a whole shelf with a bunch of colorful t-shirts that said on the front, “I am not ashamed.” I kept thinking, that’s kind of a weird message. Do the people of this church feel as if they have to apologize for their Christianity?
It wasn’t until the service when I saw three baptisms performed right before the sermon that I figured out what those shirts were referring to. Three children were baptized and they said, “Jesus is my lord and I am not ashamed.” And then they were dunked. I later had to ask at Bible study what that meant. It’s in reference to a verse in the bible. Romans 1:16
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Okay, so church was cool and I could probably write three posts on the contents of the sermon, but I need to think a bit more about what the pastor said. And then there’s the whole Bible study that happened later in the day and all of my questions about sin and how to get to Heaven.
My head is spinning. And not in a Linda Blair, exorcist kind of way.
Finding My Religion 
Wish I could verbalize like you. Sincerely I do. Wish I could say what I want to say in such a way as to make sense. Sometimes I ramble. Yes, I know it. Oh, well. Keep on keeping us on our toes!
Am I keeping you on your toes? I’m not trying to do that. I just have lots and lots of questions.
Interesting church motto…it also makes me think of Peter’s denial of Jesus. As a Christian and a teacher, it’s a difficult balance for me to practice my faith publicly without shutting people out. I try to demonstrate Jesus’ teachings in my actions and words rather than preaching or evangelizing others, instead. I used to tell my students that my religion wasn’t their business, but if they ask now, I tell them I’m Catholic and that my faith works for me and my family. As a Catholic in particular, there are times when I am ashamed of some of the things that happen within my Church, but never of my faith, itself.
P.S. The rollerskating gave a nice visual. The boys were intimidated by your beauty, not your height.
Awww, Robyn. That’s a nice thought about my beauty, but I assure you I was not very attractive at 14:) I’m going to my mother-in-law’s Catholic church in September and I start Bible study with her in T- 10 days!
Why was church cool? I can’t imagine that but I really want to know!
LOVED getting your card yesterday! It lives now on my makeshift board in the kitchen…. love it. If only…..
It was cool because the message was positive and hopeful. That’s what I want. I want to walk out the doors on Sunday and feel Hell bent (for lack of a better word) to be a better person. Not that I don’t want to be a better person now, but it’s awesome to feel inspired by something.
that old time religion is a very powerful lure… we all want to feel special and safe and included. not saying it’s good or bad. just remember there is a flip side. hell and damnation are part of the package.
Can’t we just bask in the glow of Steve Perry’s vibrato instead of thinking about Hell?
works for me. excuse the conditioned response. therapy was supposed to have fixed that