I don't understand why my church family never has visited me. Does anyone know where I'm coming from?
485434
I understand where you are coming from.  My husband and I have been in the same situation for a while now.  All we can do is draw nearer to GOD, and trust HIM to provide the strength we need.  People do not always obey what GOD would have them to do, but we have to forgive them, pray for them and bless them.\n\nGOD BLESS YOU!
270830
Yes.  It's kind of scary, actually that a church would keep such records on just about everyone, not just their members.  I went to such a place in Denver when I was looking for my birth-mother, but since I had no last name, they were unable to help.
1168527
sounds like you have all you need.  Ever try to call the church and ask? They might know.\n\nHave a good week.
1135733
my husband doesn't understand it either he's like things are so much better on the other side ( i dont go to church) I dont believe it, the thought of not seeing the people i love my son, his kids his grand kids my friends never seeing them never being here its awful,.....its scary. BUT i try not to think about it i take things one day at a time and live everyday as  the best day of my life. I do things w/ my family and my son.
294673
I was baptized as a Christian, and I believed in God during my younger childhood years. But my family has never gone to church since I can remember, and religion now is not at all a part of my life. I don't believe in any religion anymore. I rarely even think or wonder about God, or whether or not there even is one. I might consider myself agnostic, but even that could be going too far because I really have no feelings about religion at all.
947276
There is a reason why they open up to you. It is because you are 100% honest with them and use your own experience. What they are looking for is someone who is real, not some dull dry outlined bible study. Although there is a time and place for bible studies, God has you where you are for a reason. \nBefore answering this question, I read someone else's response saying you're still a kid yourself. To this I say GREAT! All the more reason for you to keep teaching these kids. Oh my goodness, if people only realized the character of Christ and how he loved to relate to the childlike and not to the religious Pharasees, you'd be getting more response like mine telling you not to change a doggone thing. They need you and it sounds like you're Pastor has enough wisdom to put you there.
479752
how sad.  First of all let me say that your family is now in my prayers.  Second of all, your age could help me answer you better.  Its obvious that you love Church, but I bet you love God more.  For right now, why not just study privatly until your mom cools down some.  After she has calmed down, sit down and talk to her, tell her how much you love her, and how much she means to you.  Explain to her that God is very important to you ,and while you wont force her to go to Church, you want to go yourself.  Tell her that nothing will change the love you have for her.  explain to her that while it would hurt her if someone took you away from her, it hurts you when you are took away from worshiping God.  \nThe faith that you have in God will sustain you, have faith in your mom that she will come around.  Remember the words that come out of our mouths have the power to either curse us, of bless us.  Keep saying mom will let me go back to Church.  Mom will change her outlook on God and religion.  \nGod Bless you, I will pray that mom comes around and all works out for the will of God.
1163121
The church I attend is more like a family in that we make it a point to be involved in each others lives.  We "deal with" the good, bad, and ugly (so to speak).  My wife and a good friend started a clothing ministry which provides clothing to the needy.  We are also working with recent African refugees that escaped the killings in their country and are now lost in this one.\n\nI personally am always looking for ways to help others.\n\nBy the way, this church "family" has a lot of us who are going on a motorcycle ride after church today as it is "Biker Weekend" here.\n\nCome visit if you're ever in town.
848050
Honey you might ask a pastor or someone affiliated with the church. They are used to dealing with all kinds of these things. You might even try the library. they might be able to lead you to the proper video's or they have talking books also. Pray to the Lord .He will help you find what you are looking for. He is always there . You just have to turn to him for answers. He has helped me in many ways and guided me in directions that I would never have thought. God Bless. I will say a prayer for you to find what you need.He can be very comforting. With the Lord all things are possible. God be with you and the family.
475918
The behavior of your husband and his family is very un-Christian-like behavior. They should be welcoming you with open arms. It sounds like you wonder why he even married you. Don't stop praying. As with any difficult situation, prayer and God can get you through. I don't know how I would have survived some of the heartbreaks I've faced in 52 years without prayer and God.\n\nIt sounds as if you feel ganged-up-on by his family and his church. Family is one thing, and bad enough for them to treat you poorly, but for his church to do the same is unconscionable.\n\nWhat I would do is to seek the advice of an attorney. Then you'll have the information you need in making the decision to stay or go. You have to balance your emotional and mental health with the money you've put into the house. Which is more important?\n\nI'm so sorry that you are so miserable in this marriage. I pray you'll continue to seek God's perfect will for you. That He will guide and comfort you. Bless you, my dear.
1187951
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)
53214
You know, I grew up being a 'religious hopper'. My mom would change our religion every week, and we would be forced to go and I hated it. We were over my childhood Baptist, Fundamentalist Baptist (perhaps the most traumatic experience in my life), Catholic, Lutheran, Church of Christ, etc, etc. You get the point. The only thing we weren't was Mormons....lol. Right now we are sort of trying out a Free Methodist church, because I would like my kids to have some idea of God. I myself don't feel as if I'll ever be done looking. There is always knowledge out there for us to find. Your religion is not what defines you, it is what you believe that defines who you are. =) I hope everyone finds what they are looking for no matter what you choose.
250614
very strange. it sounds like he hasnt come to terms with something in his life yet. pray for him and incourage him to check out different church groups.
733535
Since you insist on remaining in this coutry, you should seriously try attending church services.  You could make nice friends there.
1140572
We woke up one Sunday morning when I was seven. I actually remember this like it was yesterday because what happened that day left a lasting impression which I honestly believe guides my "religious" beliefs today.  Mom and Dad were getting ready for Church and Sunday School and I obediently did the same. My sister and I were all dressed in our Sunday best armed with crayons and paper to keep us occupied during the sermon. (Doesn't that speak for itself?) So we're in the car driving to church. We are literally 150 yards from the church when we are stopped at a red light. Were we to go straight, we would have entered the parking lot of the church and routinely parked our car and, as with every Sunday morning, gone into this huge edifice to "get saved." Were we to turn right......it would lead us down the road to temptation! You see the road led us to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park only a 30 minute drive away. It absolutely blew my mind when I saw my parents look at each other in the front seat without saying a word, smile and then my dad did something that would change my outlook forever. He turned right. \n\nWe didn't make it to church that day. Interestingly enough, we never went back to church at all. My dad turned right and immediately started beaming while accelerating the car and loosening his tie all in one split second. My mother turns back to us girls just gleaming and saying, "We're not going to go to church today. Let's go the moutains instead!" Ok, surely you had moments where you and your siblings just sat there thinking your parents had lost it. This was one of those moments. You see, my parents were amazing people. The epitome of responsibility. If this is what is expected of you, this is probably how you should do it. If you say you're going to do something, you don't let someone down.........you do it! Were they spontaneous? Hell no! I mean......heck no. (Afterall it IS Sunday.) So for my parents to just turn the car away from church and head out towards adventure, this meant something huge. \n\nWe spent that day hiking up to Laurel Falls. Oh I can not tell you how breathtaking this part of our country is. The mountains all around you with the water flowing off the steep terrain into the stream that runs through the rest of the  park. We took our Sunday shoes off as we hiked to this point. We stumbled over a few rocks and roots in the pathway. We stopped and took in the sights. My dad would teach us a few lessons along the way about flora and fauna. We watched the clouds and made up stories about each one as we pictured the fantasic creatures each air mass formed. It was an amazing journey up to the falls. Once we got there, we all sat on a rock in awe. We didn't speak for quite a while as we all just watched the water tumbling down the mountain. We didn't need to say a word. I'm sure we were all thinking the same thoughts, feeling the same amazement. \n\nI ask you, would have going to church made me closer to God than I actually was at that moment? \n\nAs I said, my parents were amazing people. They had it figured out. And the little lessons they taught me along the way helped me figure things out for myself as well. We all worship in our own way at our own times. We are all in awe of this world we live in and somehow know that the way we have evolved into what we are now was probably jump started by a force bigger than ourselves. What it is and how it manifests itself may become clear in due time. Meanwhile, we can be in awe of it in our own ways. \n\nLater in life I asked my dad about that day and why we never returned to church after that. I knew the answer, but so needed to hear his take. He told me that he knew my sister and I were gaining nothing by hearing "words" at our age. He wanted to help us learn by doing. What better way to appreciate the creation of the world than to be a part of it. People don't have to
1122532
I'm sorry that you had so much trouble and pain in your life.  I am Catholic also.  I was away from the church for a long time because I just kinda wanted to do my own thing.  It was about 4-5 years ago that I started feeling something missing in my life.  I couldn't figure it out.  Initially I started looking for a sense of meaning in my life.  Tried a couple churches, even a Methodist church.  Nothing felt quite right until I found the church I attend now.  It's a Catholic church.  It is truly amazing when I look back now on things that happened in my life and to people I love.  I looked at things very much like you.  My son went to jail, I was in financial hell, didn't have the greatest relationship with my wife which caused us to separate for a year.  Looks pretty gloomy huh?  Where was God during all this?  Well, my son was running with some pretty bad people.  He was put in jail where he had time to reflect on where his life was going and he now attends mass with me and my wife who are now together with a relationship stronger than ever because we needed time apart to see how much we needed each other.  As for the finances, we still live week to week, but when I look back, there is always enough there.  There is always a sum of money that comes from somewhere right before we really need it.  Sometimes God doesn't give us what we want.  Sometimes that's a good thing because we rarely know what we want and our mind is always changing.  Mostly God gives us what we need.  Because he knows us.  I doubt what I said will change your mind about God right now.  But please keep in mind what I said.  Please give Him time to work in your life.  I don't know what you have been through, but maybe some of the things were for the better.  For your better.  Maybe they weren't what you wanted.  Maybe they were what you needed.  God is always there waiting for you to turn around and talk to him.  Start small and tell Him how you feel.  Even if it's anger.  Tell Him that you hurt and need healing.  I know it's cliche' but even if you don't believe in him, he believes in you and he loves you very much even if you don't feel it.  Faith isn't a feeling.  Faith is what keeps us praying when we have no feeling to grasp.  If everyone had that feeling of God's love and presence, there would be no need for faith.  Hang in there my friend.  God Bless you.
1128334
It may be that his church is filled with husband/wife couples and he feels the lack. Or people have asked him where his wife is. My husband and I are in nearly the same situation. I think religion issues have done almost as much damage to marriages as having affairs. Try to discuss this when he's not angry?