Goodpasture Christian High

Subject: Re: Church then and now Wed May 07, 2008 4:40 pm

I agree Nick. I know that he is in my heart, that is all that matters.

Subject: Re: Church then and now Wed May 07, 2008 6:47 pm

Ok- this topic is one that seems to tick a bunch of people off, but I will add my opinion to in in the kindest way possible.

After having Larkin, I don't know how it is possible for a parent to not believe in God. Larkin was born at 32+ weeks (7 months for those of you that don't follow the weeks). She was 3 pounds and 10 ounces at birth. My precious baby could have had so many problems, but she was perfect. I know that was because of God. He heard all of the prayers that went up for us and gave us the most perfect "Miracle baby".

We currently don't have a church. We took my grandmother to church for years and when she passed I couldn't even get out of bed on Sundays for a year. We are planning to find a new church, but in my heart I know that God knows what is in my heart and that if my life ended tomorrow I would have a palace in Heaven. I think that Kayla is absolutely right about needing to be in church to be around other Christians. The unity of Christians together helps each other grow, alone and together. You all know the verse, "Where two or more are gathered in His name"...

As far as the Catholic comment goes, I completely disagree that they aren't Christians. My sister-in-law is Catholic and I had never attended a Mass until she became part of the family. While Catholicism isn't the choice for me, I think that based on principle they believe in the same things that most of us on here do. The few issues that I have with Catholocism are confessions to a priest and baby baptism. BUT with the baby baptism they go through classes and learn about their devotion to God. At 7 they take their Euchrist(First communion- spelling may be wrong - sorry) and at the end of their 8th grade year they go through Confirmation.
I must say that until I took a first hand look at what went on I shared similar feelings as Allen, but as I have gotten older it is much easier for me to remember it is not my place to judge or determine what is right. All I know is that some of the greatest and most Godly people I know aren't CoC and I can't imagine a Heaven without them. I believe it is what is in your heart, not what building you are in on Sunday morning or what sign is on that building.

Subject: Re: Church then and now Wed May 07, 2008 9:05 pm

The kids aren't an excuse. They are actually a real motivation for me to find a home church and figure out how to surround them with a community of morality minded individuals. It just so happens that they are also far too energetic to sit still for a service (on Easter Hunter made it through exactly 1 song) and we are now completely outnumbered.

As for Catholics, I believe that anyone who believes in Jesus is, by definition, a Christian. Wether or not it's for me has no bearing on wether or not they are good and faithful Christians. To each his own. We all just do the best we can to find God where ever we can.

Class of 1998 Joined : 09 Apr 2008 Posts : 110

I have to say, my mom's brother married a woman who happened to be Catholic. He converted from Baptist to Catholic and they raised my cousins, Meredith and David. I love everyone in my family and we just don't talk about that much. They'd rather discuss politics with me, being like-minded as we are.

I also have had to share expenses with my friend, a Catholic, who was my roommate for the past 5 years until this past January. He got on my nerves a lot, and vice versa, so I decided for the friendship to last, this past rental lease period's ending I moved to save it and sort of allow myself some peace at home. But he is my friend from college, he was in the band there with me, and he was in my band service fraternity chapter Theta Epsilon. I have known him since 1999 and we both enjoy music (of course), while he focuses more on classical or opera, and I am more of a rock kind of guy who listens mostly to music made in the past 65 years. I still like jazz, synthpop, all kinds of music, but rock's where I hang my hat, you could say.

Class of 1998 Joined : 10 Apr 2008 Posts : 3

Paul i understand about your reason. Our age group is very small at the Church. We do miss youbut also wish you nothing but the best. The small group still prays for you all the time. Heck I ask them to pray for me all the time.
Now i hope yall know I didnt ask this to stir the pot. I was just wondering. My love for God and his Church as growen so much since high school. Heck since last year. But everyone is different everyone has different things that happen in there life. I have been married before. But having that behind me has made me and my faith so much stronger now. And as for the Church part other then my wife and her family I dont have any family members that go to Church. And having that "Church family" Helps me when I need it. For about 2 to 3 years Jonathon Robertson and his family helped me become as strong as I am now. But it stranger how God put people in your life even if it is only for a little bit. I dont even talk to them any more. But they will always hold a piece of my heart. But thats how God always works in ways we dont understand. Its when people try to understand the ways is when we start doudting God

Subject: Re: Church then and now Thu May 08, 2008 5:34 pm

First off Skyla, my comment was not meant to make kids an excuse it was a goofy attempt at a joke because I will do anything to keep people from knocking on my door and waking me up before my kids do.

Now for the meat.
I hear the its only what is in your heart that matters, its not where you get your religion, and the faith in God is what unites us.
I don't know, maybe what is in your heart matters, I however have nothing in my heart that concerns religion and I have no faith in what I don't understand. But I am doing well and seem to be eternally blessed as many of you would say. The only care in the world I have is my kids who I created. As of now and until I let them learn otherwise I am God. We are all created in Gods image. I created them, I provide for them, and I keep them safe. What happens in my life is because of the decisions I make. I can't fault anyone else. I shoulder it all.

If you have strong faith than you believe in that faith without hesitation of death, sickness, what ever else goes next. Ask your self if you are prepared to die. Are you prepared to meet your maker and his son. Are you worried about how you die? Most people I know are terrified to drown or burn to death. But if you get eternal salvation afterwards what does it matter. If you can't take the pain to see who you put all of your faith and trust into then why exist?

It does matter where you worship if you do. Many have been led astray and thats just in the Christian religion. You cannot say it does not matter. If you are strong in the faith of your religion than no other religion can be correct right. So it matters if I am at a place with a cross or a crescent moon.

Many have stated the effects on their life because God intervened and I am glad for you. Like I said with out religion the world would be a disaster. I put my faith in what I can accomplish and have never been misled. Whats really fudged up is I was a devout believer in Christianity until I got to GHS. After seeing the hypocrisy and the lives that so called Christians led I figured I was better off on my own and I live a totally happy and complete life without religion butting in. Exodus 20.5 I can't let a jealous God lead my life.
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The world is going crazy, I am just cutting in line.

Subject: Re: Church then and now Thu May 08, 2008 7:43 pm

Hurley I know what you mean about the hypocrisy..as a daughter of a preacher I saw a lot of hypocrisy in the church. A couple of years ago my brother-in-law announced he was going to seminary school. I was so against it. My husband questioned me as to why I cared and why would I be against it? It really made me think about my life as PK kid and how we were supposed to be "perfect". We had to sit on the front row and behave and never get in trouble. I really had a lot of resentment and did not know it. I wasn't perfect and how could anyone expect my family to be that way.
ANYWAYS MY POINT.... no one is perfect A LOT of people portray things that they aren't including Christian's. It took me a long time to filter out judgments and actions of others including those of the church. In a since I came to a similar conclusion as you. I am responsible for my life. I am responsible for my children and my family and our welfare. BUT... I do all those things because that is what God expects of me as well as my family.
Don't allow others to change your belief in Christianity because they lead double lives. Instead search for your self.
As for the question on death... my ONLY fear is for my children. I do not want them to be alone. I do not want them to be hurt by some crazy person. I would not hesitate to give my life to protect them.
Don't misunderstand me. I AM NOT PERFECT nor do I know the bible cover to cover. I only know that one day I will be at that gate all alone and be judged on my life. I want to go to heaven and I pray one day I will.

Subject: Re: Church then and now Fri May 09, 2008 9:53 am

I think that is a heavy burden we carry as believers. The world expects anyone who claims to believe in Christ to be perfect, waiting for a mistake. Truth is, if we were perfect, we wouldn't need Christ in the first place. I expect no one to be perfect, especially high school kids. When I was young I called them hypocrites, but as I get older I see them more as humans.
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Subject: Re: Church then and now Fri May 09, 2008 5:03 pm

[quote="hurley1313"]
It does matter where you worship if you do. Many have been led astray and thats just in the Christian religion. You cannot say it does not matter. If you are strong in the faith of your religion than no other religion can be correct right. So it matters if I am at a place with a cross or a crescent moon. quote]

I completely disagree. I think that God is bigger that we can fathom and may not neccessarily fit so neatly and perfectly into one religion. Or denomination, for that matter. Ancient texts use the term "Unknowable Essence" in place of the name God and I guess that kind of sums up my beliefs on the topic. I believe in Jesus and his message, but I also understand that no matter how sure I am, I am human and could totally be wrong.

ALl that said, I admire people who have the courage to say, "I'm right and you're not." It is difficult in this time to stand up for, or even admit your beliefs. Especially when tey are not so popular.

Subject: Re: Church then and now Fri May 09, 2008 5:41 pm

Unknowable Essence... is exactly what you said, Ancient. There are loads of ancient texts with ancient beliefs. Human sacrifice sounds ancient. Hell any kind of sacrifice is ancient. Roman Gods and Goddesses are ancient. There is a load of ancient but we are in the now and now it does matter. It might not have in ancient times but it does now. We are not a come on get happy and everyone agree with everyone else society.

God is bigger than we can fathom, thats the point of God. If God covered all religions than there would only be ONE religion. If everyone was right than there would be no need for faith. There would be no need to choose Christanity over Buddisim. In our age it does matter what the symbol on the front of your place of worship is or there would be no point in going.

I don't have a dog in the hunt all I am saying is there are vast differences in the many religions in our world. It has to matter where your faith lies or its all a waste of time.
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The world is going crazy, I am just cutting in line.

Subject: Re: Church then and now Fri May 09, 2008 6:23 pm

That is the difference between religion and spirituality. The whole point of every religion is to help you find YOUR truth, YOUR faith. Essentially every religion has the same goal: To get you to know God in your heart. They just all have different ways of going about it. That's why people that get caught up in dogma are totally missing the point. What makes sense to you, might not to someone else. It's just one of many paths to get to know that "unknowable essence". I think when it comes down to it, there will be no "I was right and you were wrong" there will just be an awesome knowing of a truth that we are incapable of grasping now. All of the suffering, finger pointing and judgement will be in vain, and we will finally know the unknowable.

Subject: Re: Church then and now Fri May 09, 2008 10:13 pm

Ahhh...Brandi. My fellow once exposed to Ba'hai but still a Christian sister. I agree with all you have said.

And Hurley, I'm not saying everyone can be right. THe Bible says that most will be wrong. That's my point. We probably are all wrong to an extent. In some small way it does matter what symbol is on your door, but I agree with Brandi that it will all fall away and there will be a lightness of knowing and all of the symbols and titles will hardly even be remembered.

And with that, I'm done on the topic. Well, I'll probably get pulled back in but I'll try to be done.

Subject: Re: Church then and now Sat May 10, 2008 8:08 am

[quote="skyla"]

Class of 1998 Joined : 09 Apr 2008 Posts : 110

"What makes sense to you, might not to someone else." I agree, Brandi.

I agree. I have a friend who recently perished. She was a great soul, I guess that would be a good way to explain what I felt being around her. I asked her how she was one day, and she told me she had 3 types of cancer, and had 6 months to live. Now I'm not trying to be dramatic about that, it's just that I knew she was Native American and was curious to where she thought she would be going.

She said, "We all worship the same God, Nick. We each just do it in our own way." So to her, the Great Spirit, is that higher power. To us, God. To others, Yahweh, Allah, etc. It was a way of understanding the difference of religions, but at the same time not being divisive. We each respect each other and live and let live. I think that if I agree with Christ's example, I shouldn't judge others for their differences. The point of Christianity is to get others to God. I think I should live my life by morals, ethics, of course. But I also think that these ideas should come from someone who knows more than me. The higher power I believe in is one God, who is in three persons. I don't go around telling others what to believe, but if I come across someone who needs help, I give it. If someone who I help asks why I was so nice, or something to the effect, I would proceed to tell them it's not all about me. It's about a guy from 2000 years ago who led the cleanest life I have ever heard an account of, and that if he wants to know more, he should follow that example from Christ. The idea of Christ inspires me and motivates me to be as good as I can, and to be fair and just in treating others the same no matter what their religious beliefs are. Christ would not put down someone or try to poke holes in other people's religions. He used to speak ill of the Pharisees because they were pretending to know everything and yet acted unaccordingly to their Law. They killed him because of that. I feel I should preserve what is left of his teachings and of the teachings of His followers. That is simply what I do, without putting on blinders and acting like the rest of the world needn't apply. Everyone is unique, and has their own strengths and weaknesses. As Christians, we fall each day. But being picked back up and asking forgiveness *do* make us accountable to God. Someone mentioned taking responsibility for one's own life and decisions. I agree wholeheartedly, we should take that responsibility and live as well as we can. And it doesn't hurt anyone to try to live after someone's example, much as a son might follow his father, a Christian follows Jesus.

And after all that writing, I can just say that I cannot ever live up to that ideal. I make mistakes, but I get back up and hang in there. "We're all doin' what we can" as John Lennon sang, another brave, free soul that I admire and wish I could have met personally, but who was killed a little over one year after my birthday.

I like these discussions and I am reading along each person's thoughts.

Subject: Re: Church then and now Tue May 13, 2008 9:25 am

Ok...for those that knew me well back in high school...I was one that strongly believed in Jesus Christ and had tremendous blind faith. It came from being raised in a conservative church and those people were more of a family than what I had in my home life (not saying that my home life was "bad" but I was never treated as a daughter but a confidant) and gave me the comfort and support I needed at those times.

Anyway...while in school, listening to the man in the pulpit wasn't enough for me anymore. I have started studying on my own...

The more I study the Bible and the history of things...the more I question things. I am called a Christian because I attend a christian church...but my church is a very liberal one by society's standards (the only protestant denomination to openly accept gays on a national level...one that questions if Jesus really is the Christ...and one of the few that teaches that the Bible came from men). My beliefs are a huge blend of many things (took this test through my church: I am liberal Christian, liberal Quaker and liberal Jew combined apparently)...and I actually agree with Hurley that who is to ever say what is right and what is wrong? I also believe in a higher power...I call him God but others have a different name for Him/Her. Although I also believe that He does not play an active role in today's world. My main concern is that I have to believe in myself...do what I feel is right...not judge anyone else for their differences...and help those that I can. Heaven and hell aren't my motivator as was taught in the Church of Christ I grew up in but the sole fact that I want to become more aware and make a difference in this world I live in now.

Now back to the question: church is still a large part of my life as it was in high school although high school had absolutely nothing to do with it. I am still as active as I was. I actually missed the lovely Clint's wedding because I was on a mission trip with my youth group. Just because my beliefs have changed doesn't mean that I don't still need the support and love that a church gives me. On that note: one of the youth called me on Sunday to wish me a Happy Mother's Day....so cute and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.