new life church
Warning for incoherent rambling
I seldom watch television on the weekends so it wasn't until the 11 o'clock news tonight that I heard about the church shootings in Colorado. I can't even begin to tell you how this saddens me. New Life Church hasn't always been a 'mega-church'. I was part of it before it got quite that big, you know? I was part of the College and Career leadership. I remember keeping one of my best friends company while she took the pastor's younger children to Six Flags (yes, that would be Ted Haggard). When I read the articles online, I could see the layout in my mind even now, years later.
I have known from the time I started reading my Bible in earnest that people will hate Christians for BEING Christians. It still makes me sad, though. That kid had no known connection to the church. I hurt for my friends and for the place I remember fondly. Yes, it had some big faults. That's what happens when you institutionalize any form of religion or personal relationship (which I believe true Christianity to be: a personal relationship with the Creator God, not an institution). Okay, I am getting off target so I will wrap it up. Sufficed to say that this upset me. I sometimes fear for the world my children will have to raise their families in.
On a related note: Did anyone see that they are trying to declare Scientology 'unconstitutional' in Germany? How scary is that? Personally, I don't care a flip for Scientology in and of itself BUT.... if they succeed, who the heck gets the 'axe' next? *shivers* In Iraq, Chrisitians are going to church in shifts already, just in case their church is bombed that day. That way someone is still around to raise the surviving kids. Yet another example of why religion is personal and should not be institutionalized. Gah. It's a scary world out there and sometimes, I can't ignore it. I think I will be spending some time in serious prayer this week.
Goodnight and thank you for being a sounding board while I try to process this.
I seldom watch television on the weekends so it wasn't until the 11 o'clock news tonight that I heard about the church shootings in Colorado. I can't even begin to tell you how this saddens me. New Life Church hasn't always been a 'mega-church'. I was part of it before it got quite that big, you know? I was part of the College and Career leadership. I remember keeping one of my best friends company while she took the pastor's younger children to Six Flags (yes, that would be Ted Haggard). When I read the articles online, I could see the layout in my mind even now, years later.
I have known from the time I started reading my Bible in earnest that people will hate Christians for BEING Christians. It still makes me sad, though. That kid had no known connection to the church. I hurt for my friends and for the place I remember fondly. Yes, it had some big faults. That's what happens when you institutionalize any form of religion or personal relationship (which I believe true Christianity to be: a personal relationship with the Creator God, not an institution). Okay, I am getting off target so I will wrap it up. Sufficed to say that this upset me. I sometimes fear for the world my children will have to raise their families in.
On a related note: Did anyone see that they are trying to declare Scientology 'unconstitutional' in Germany? How scary is that? Personally, I don't care a flip for Scientology in and of itself BUT.... if they succeed, who the heck gets the 'axe' next? *shivers* In Iraq, Chrisitians are going to church in shifts already, just in case their church is bombed that day. That way someone is still around to raise the surviving kids. Yet another example of why religion is personal and should not be institutionalized. Gah. It's a scary world out there and sometimes, I can't ignore it. I think I will be spending some time in serious prayer this week.
Goodnight and thank you for being a sounding board while I try to process this.