The winds of change...

Well, it seems my life is always in some type of transition. The transition du jour involves church.

Beth, RJ and I have been going to New Life Baptist for a little over a year now. While we love the people there, something is just not right.

New Life is a church on the cusp. Though they want to be a dominant force in the Inglewood community, they are still a little closed off with their thinking. The people there are fantastic. I remember several of them from Riverside Baptist where Beth and I got married. So, on one hand it is a very nice and homey church. On the other hand, I'm concerned. It seems like every opportunity that is presented that involves growth is shot down.

When we started attending last year, it was so nice to see familiar faces every Sunday morn. But that was about it. About 4-5 months ago, the pastor mentioned the opputunity to join forces with a local Hispanic church that was looking for a home. In my mind I saw New Life as a growing, ever changing church that was going to live up to it's name...New Life. That did not happen!

The Hispanic church came and started their own service, only renting meeting space. What was supposed to be a joint service once a month, has only happened one time. Maybe I am a little jaded with my train of thought, but something is just not right.

Onto another thought about the church. I have a 10 year old that does not want to go, because he is being bullied by the pastor's son. As much as I have tried to teach RJ about turning the other cheek. He is not happy there. Before you jump to concl;usions, I have spoke to RJ about this, as well as the pastor. I long for the days of a youth group like we had at Riverside. Jay Victory was a man you had a vision for young people and the trials that they were going through. The youth leadesrship at New Life is not real strong. They have people who attend to the department, but that is it. If you know me, you know my heart is with the youth of the church. I have volunteered several times to help out, but am told no, or we don't need you at this time.

For most of my Christian life, music has held a very special place in my heart. When I am singing a special on Sunday morn, I feel the spirit of God right beside me, singing right along. If I am in the choir, it is the same feeling . There is nothing like worshiping my Savior through song. Our music ministry at New Life is lacking tremondously. We had an iterim Minister of Music before Christmas, and that's when I became active with the choir. In Jan., the church decided to let Mike go, and start the search for a new Minister of music. Here it is August, and a search has not even started. this is a big part of who I am, and it needs to be mistered to.

I guess when it comes down to it, I am not happy in our present situation. Both Beth and I have prayed about this for a while now. It seems God is leading us in another direction. New Life has served a purpose for me though. It reminded me of the love, fellowship, and importance of forgiveness! It has taught me the importance of keeping my life Christ centered. It has taught me that I have a family that needs to have Christ in their lives. I hold no hard feelings to the church, in fact I have been blessed to be a part of it! But it seems it is time to move on.

I have a favor to ask though...Several of you (the 2 or 3 that read my blog), have family or friends at New Life. I plan on talking to Brother Brian this week sometime to tell him how we feel. This blog is just a journal of my thoughts and feeling. I'm asking that you keep us in prayer during this time of transition. Please pray for my family and I as we seek God's will in all that we do!