I met a very nice lady who really got me interested in attending one of these.  She says that when she could get out, that is where she went.  (She was using a walker when I met her).  She said that there was a guy who could never play the guitar, but in a service, he suddenly knew how to play.  And there was a girl who was mentally challenged and could never read or write, but she got saved and could then read the Bible, even the difficult words.  She was just so nice and she made me interested in this kind of church - not to convert or anything - but just to observe and learn about.  But I do not want to offend people.
132501
Alot of people go to church to observe and to see what is happening there.  I appreciate your openness and not going there to mock them but to here and see if what is happening truly is. \n\nAssemblies is good, although you may be a little uncomfortable if your looking for the cold religious style church.  AOG and Apostolic are a very lively bunch at times and you could say "on fire" for Jesus.  Be careful of Apostolics though.  Depends on the what type of Apostolics they are.  Some are very heavily legalistic, like the woman cannot cut their hair and must wear dresses.  Some even believe that all other Christian churches are not true, they they are the only ones.  This is sad to say.  But I do believe that God works with all of us, even when we do get a bit judgmental and error.\n\nGod Bless, and I pray you have an opportunity to taste and see the Lord is good.  He is real, tangible and very active in our lives.
131677
Yes.. I read some of the link, but I have studied the JW's so much that I may know more about them than they do.  The false translation of their Bible, and many others.  The poor people have been decieved and just don't know it.  I spent enough time with one of their teachers that he almost converted as he could see that I had the answers that he didn't.
659059
I'm sure you can find one. It will be small and full of older people. Probably in an older part of town. That is where I usually find them. I love older Christians and enjoy the warmth of a small fellowship. Old buildings have charm. God bless.
259796
Hi bellbree,\n\n I was walking to the corner market for a loaf of bread when I had to pass by a neighborhood church. I was somewhat acquainted with the structure as it was always mentioned in the newspaper's community section. Known as "The loft," folks would gather there on Thursday evenings for poetry readings. \nHowever, this day happened to be a Saturday afternoon and a pair of gentlemen greeted me as I walked by. They invited me inside to sample an hour of their presentation. Ok, I went inside and found myself to be a prospective new recruit for their brand of religion. \n\nMost of the pews were filled with hooded monks chanting a haunting rhythm. There were others who like me, were wearing their regular denims. The service began like most other church-goers would be familiar with. A grand master of ceremonies led the group through some songs and gave a sermon. Near the end of the hour it was time for their ritual of "laying on of the hands." Some of the parishioners would come forward and ask for prayers for their ailments or for a sick grand mum who fell down in the tub. All the hooded dudes whose faces could not readily be seen would all place a hand on the person and their combined energies were presumed to have a strength and expedite a solution to the problem. \n\nOK now, there was another new guy in the pews who was watching eagerly. I recognized Mark W. Reinhold from the wanted poster at the post office. When he saw a chance, he approached the ring of conspirators and described how he was never able to settle down. The hooded goons closed in upon him, all to make a physical connection. The master of ceremonies began a prayer, a dogmatic mix of logic and pure hocus-pocus. I immediately saw the effects as the tension went out of Mark's body. When the beseeching was near an end, the master asked, "Are the brothers ready?" \n\nA suspenseful few moments passed until he almost shouted, "NOW!" \n\nOn that cue, the brothers began to pummel their hapless victim. Continually delivering blows over head and to the solar plexus until Mark was down on the floor getting stomped. After another minute, the grand Pooh-Bah decided the treatment administered was sufficient to induce a relaxing calm that would assuage the nervousness in Mark for a long, long time. \n\nI can't say for certain that Mark W. Reinhold was apprehended and locked up because, I had a loaf of bread to buy and some other errands to do that day. I hope for you bellbree, that you find a sense of closure to this bad episode of life. \n\n-Bryce
582154
well, I was a bible thumping christian for 23 years-old. Then one day I woke up and realized that all Christian's do is judge and say how everyone is going to hell if they don't believe in GOD.  Who gives them the right to say that.  I also realized that you can't force others to believe in what you  believe in.  I was always being asked by fellow church members on why I didn't have a visitor at church or why I wasn't persistent on sharing my faith with others.  I just got tired of it and left.  No one should tell you how your relationship  with god should be like, even if it's not to their standards.   I also realized that the money I thought I was giving to god wasn't going towards his work it was going into the pastors pocket, There were single mothers in our church who could barely feed there families and the pastor has five kids and a two story house and he is able to write off food and bills when it comes to taxes, cause the Church pays for it.  Yeah the CHURCH me and my money pay him so he can live like a king.  so F***religion.  I couldn't be happier with out it.
416945
Luckily for me I had no formal religious up bringing. When I was little some one did give me a book called" The greatest story ever told." I was really impressed with a wizard that could walk on water and heal people.  I was probably in my early teens before I realized that it was jesus the book was about.  But  it did not change my perception of the book or jesus for that matter.  So today I am a pagan but I was not forced into any religion.  I did go to a catholic church with my friend once I was really disturbed by the wine and wafer aspect of the rite.. I thought that was a little on the cannibalistic side.
25043
I have waited to answer this question to see what others would say. It is interesting. Unless you have a personal relationship with me, you really do not know me, just "about me", which is the same thing with Jesus. \nI genuinely thank those who spoke such kind and gracious words, I am humbled and grateful. \nOK, to answer, we will start at the beginning. I have always assumed there was a God. I was raised initially in the Catholic church, but I did not like the repetitive rituals or the standing when the priest walks in. My mother did not force me to continue the Catechism classes, and I continued my search for God into my teens. \nOn Thanksgiving evening, 1970, I was cruising in my friend Steve's 1955 T-bird around the towns surrounding Eglin AFB, Florida. We walked around an old cemetary and we got to talking about the spirit world. It sort of gave me the shivers. Steve asked me if I had ever been "saved". What is that? It is asking Jesus Christ into your heart. Something inside me said, "Isn't that what you have been looking for all your life?" That night, I asked Jesus into my heart and to be my Lord and Savior.\n\nMy approach to the Bible changed over the years. Before I met Jesus, it was a confusing array of religious writings and myths. \nAfter I met Jesus, it became a curious array of religious writings that may be true. \nAfter receiving the Holy Spirit a year later, it became personal love letters to me. \nDuring my high school years, it became a book of do's and don'ts that I could not quite live up to. \nDuring my college years, I came upon my mentor Chuck Smith, of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, who guided me through the Bible, verse by verse. The Bible became my life and foundation for living.\nDuring my single working years, I graduated to my next mentor Chuck Missler, who showed me the importance of types, how the old relates to the new, how the Bible is an intrigate message by One author. The Bible WAS and proved to be the Word of God! \nFive years under him and other great teachers, and I married Julie (Juliart). I was have been blessed to pass on all I have learned her and to my children and also to people stuck in cults, those confused by manipulative religions, and see the freedom the Word of God brings. \nThirty five years since that night in Florida, I have decided to pass all I have learned on to you. But in all things, be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. Receive everything I have to give with joy, but check the scriptures daily to see if these things are true. I consider what I impart here as "Handfuls Dropped on Purpose" (see study below).\n\nSo to answer this question once and for all. I am just like my other fellow Christians who just love the Bible and have a personal walk with its Author. An old Jesus Freak from the 70s who's life's motto is...\n\n"Have Bible, Will Babble."\n\npregowtwins-Julie cracked up at your post. I could hear her across the house!\nmikeiam20-Your post reminded me of a line in Close Encounters. "Einstein was probably one of them." (looking at the alien mothership) ;)
677300
Right on!!  I live a sheltered life, honestly... out in the middle of nowhere, where everyone you know goes to your church and everyone in the community is one great big family.  I was shocked to learn of some of the things that people believe, for instance, I didnt know that there was an actual religion called Satanism, and they go to church at the church of satan!  What??!  \nAfter asking some of my questions on here, I have learned a whole lot.  There are soooooo many people who are lost, and I never realized that until now! (BTW - I'm 20yrs old)
467411
They visited many times, I went to there church a number of times. studyed there book.was about to be baptized, then I told them of some miracles, that had happened in my family, they got up. said only priest and higher ups in there church Can do miracles and even called me crazy.They said it to each other as they left, but I heard them. I called them a week later the elder called me crazy again, straight out..I was fine till I told them about the miracles. Yes they are pagans.They think that only people in there church can preform miracles, which that's not the case at all. the spirit of God can work with &  thru anyone and anything. not just people in there church. they only believe in themselfs.and that book. not anything real.not the spirit of God. when you think you have a monopoly on the spirit of God. then you are lost. I think, The spirit of God is there for everyone.
304341
That's a dumb b.... It makes you really wonder about the current state of our educational system. I like how she says there's evidence that supports Christianity. I hate to tell her, but the bible is not rock-solid.
132639
I was invited a mate's baptism and the testimonies I heard there made me think,'These people really think they actually know Jesus.' Something about the peace they had made me cry. When the pastor brought a message about people of the world seeking answers through drink, drugs, sex and anti-depressants it struck a nerve because I was on anti-depressants at the time. He asked if anyone who would like to be blessed by Jesus would raise their hand and when I did I was instantly baptised in the Holy Spirit. In the course of 2 hours or so I went from being a sceptic to being a child of God......
459656
Actually I worked with a very cruel woman who was a minister in the the No Name Church.  She justified mistreating those in her way as necessary in the world at this time.  (I don't think it was their belief, I just think the wrong person in their religion was given some power.)  I witnessed many manipulative cruel schemes in the work place to help her gain a position of power.   I grew up in a fundamentalist hotbed of religion and thought I had seen and heard everything up to that point.  People like Ted Haggard may do damage on a phenomenal scale, but I have never seen evil masked as Christianity as I did with this woman.  It was truly a eye opening experience as I listened to how other members had to come to her for council and her advice . . . such as advising one man to divorce his wife.  Part of her rationalization was the marriage ceremony was not printed in the Bible so it was a man-made contract not supported by the Church.
540156
Yeah, it's interesting, if you think about it. God can find a lover for some random lady in Oklahoma but he can't (or won't, whatever) prevent or stop disasters. Some crazy lady came on here earlier and tried to say that God DELIBERATELY didn't do anything about the Holocaust, because the Jews were wrong about Christ. Seriously, that kind of logic makes me shudder.
22593
I prayed for my future wife for several years. When I met her, she was not saved. I did not know it at the time, but when I was praying for her, God was protecting her from things that could have killed her, like drugs. When she accepted Christ into her heart, her life took a 180. She lost ALL of her friends because she was now a Christian. But she gained a whole new set of sisters that replaced what she lost.
541634
Yea I went to church today. We learned how Jesus impacted our lives and what he think of us?  Those that don't attend church miss a good change to fellowship with believers and to come to know Christ more. I find those that don't know anything about the Lord avoid going to church. Only Satan makes you avoid church.
491642
I like your first responder, am a praying, studying follower of God!  I would be honore to share in your faith experiences and vice versa!  My email is pinkpearl0872@yahoo.com.  \n\nIron....If you are willing to participate in this journey or anyone else...please feel free to write!\n\nGod Bless!!!!
604201
It is very sad. Anyone who does a good amount of reading on ethics will know better. Christians tend to not read good books. They just accept the beliefs they were raised with and stick to them out of loyalty, fear, and familiarity. A lot of people don't like to think that what their parents taught them was wrong. A lot of people also have a very hard time dealing with mortality without a belief in a Heaven and benevolent god waiting for them. The truth is, we really just do not know what happens. There could be a deeper purpose to our being here. There could of been an intelligence behind what is. I would never say there definitely is or is not. On the same token though I can see the works or man from a mile away. The Bible wreaks of man, and all his fears. It's far too obvious that a god had nothing to do with what's in that book. I can can spot it just like I can spot the hand writing of a three year old. It's a shame others have such a hard time seeing this. I think this goes beyond their intelligence or lack thereof. It comes from a much deeper emotional issue. To lose faith in God would be akin to losing meaning to everything and that would leave them horribly broken and lost. It's too bad they can't see the other alternatives. One can lead a very spiritual life without placing belief in ridiculous claims.