Its Saturday night, I'm finding it hard to sleep. Maybe it was because of the nap i took earlier or maybe the fact that when my daughter is on my mind, i pray until i fall asleep. But regardless of what it was i had to be up the next morning for a 9:45am church service. Waking up through the night periodically and praying myself to sleep, i learned that even that would become a task in itself. I woke up, grabbed my phone and time reads 7:13am...then i go back to sleep thinking, "I got one more hour". I wake up again, grab my phone and the time reads 8:07am...at that point i just lay there and removed the thought of going back to sleep. I had gotten invited to a service by a friend so i really wanted to be there. I asked my nephew (which has become my son) to go with me like most places i go. I didn't know today it would change the way i view church entirely.
Jumping out of bed like i normally do, i call over to my nephew and tell him, "Ay get ready bro, we outta hea in a minute". He slowly pulls his 14 year old 6'0 frame out of bed and staggers his way to the bathroom. I get ready and then i edge his hair line up. I always feel that looking good is not only a physical thing but it affects you mentally as well. Plus he always talks about how i cut my hair every 3 days lol. So as I'm finishing up, i have on some jean pants, black dress shoes, black dress shirt, tie and vest. I walk into the room and my nephew has on jean pants, black shoes, black dress shoes, tie and vest. I gave a little smirk and said, "you look fly bro, lets move around".
Honestly, i didn't have alot growing up and didn't officially wear my first tie until i was about 25. My nephew does alot of what i do so i be sure to explain to him difficult things and allow him to understand things that would seem simple but important. We get to the church and the atmosphere was so different. First of all, this church was huge. It was so big, it had its own tour guide. People were rolling in and people were rolling out like watching a gathering on TV in fast forward. They had free donuts and coffee, there own Starbucks style set up and also a store, a upstairs visiting center and a info desk. I felt like Will Smith in Men In Black, well and it was a predominately Caucasian church so (shrug). As people are walking around in cargo shorts and tees, i start to feel like i overdressed. I was standing by the info desk and a lady comes up and says, "love the vests, i didn't get the memo" lol. We all start to laugh and she introduces herself and she was so friendly and welcoming. Told me, "If its anything you need let me know" she points upstairs and say "that's my office up there, if you would like a tour after service, stop by". I already felt like i had been there before and not those first time feels that you get. As we are walking into the service, a lady at the entrance of that door greets us. She hands us a pencil and a "Listening Guide". This Guide was a four page fold out pamphlet that helps the members go along with the message. It had fill in spot where you could fill in scriptures as the service progressed. I walk in take my seat in the upper level and become more comfortable than i ever had been in church. This place, had no dress code, no particular way to look, they had drinks in the service area, and they teach instead of Preach. Some people need to be taught, others could use a little preaching. The service ends, i was invited to lunch but had to decline because i had a second church service to go to that started at 11:15am. I get in the car and my nephew says, "I like it here, its different but i like it". Understandingly so, i cut my GPS on and head to the next church.
As we are pulling up, this church is alot smaller than the church we just left, not one Caucasian attends the church and "dressing up" is unspoken but mandatory. Parking my car on the grass near a ditch, i get out and walk into the church. Upon opening the door to go in, i hear the old door hinge sound as i slowly pull it open. I push my way through the swing doors shortly ahead and take my seat in the seating. It was about 30 people total in the service including the kids. There was a huge age gap between the ages though. The oldest was in their 70's or 80's and the youngest was about 7. It was like 6 teenagers and 4 people in their 20's. The feel was a bit different, they preached there as well. The examples given in the message were those of whom attend....example: "When you text in church or talk in church or play in church, you are not tuned into God". That message had to have been geared towards the 6 teenagers and the 4 twenty year olds. Shortly after hearing that, i receive a text message being invited to another church. I respond back, "ok imma slide thru for a min". Politely i get up and make my way out to my car. My nephew comes along as well. He gets in the car and says, "Unc im glad we leaving". I say, "its all good nephew".
I GPS my third church and began to go. I pull up into this church, the concrete is un level and just parking would seem to be damaging to your suspension. I park anyway, God is the purpose after all. As i walk up the handicap ramp i notice a sign on the door and its an under construction sign. Its stating that there are areas in the church that are under construction, please be aware. I walk in, noticing its only about 12 people total and that's including the pastor. The person that invited me wasn't even there. Sitting down, immediately i felt the feel of abandonment. They took up offering, unfortunately this was my third time giving offering so it wasn't as much as i gave at the first church. As I'm dropping the money in the plate, i couldn't help but notice the small amount of money that was given. I used to go to the church as a kid so the people that were there knew me but were too ashamed to even look at me and speak. That church preached as well. This church message was more so about current events...example: "Did you hear about the woman in NY that drowned herself and her three kids? Did you see whats happening in other countries, you need to get your lives right. Look at your neighbor and say, i don't wanna go to hell". My nephew attempts to make the moment better, he looks at me and says, "Unc i don't wanna go to hell, i heard its hot" lol. I laugh but understood what he was doing. About 15 minutes into the service, i feel nothing at all and decide to leave. I walk out, wave at the pastor and get into my car.
Now you may be wondering as to why im sharing this with you, but the significance of the three churches are us as people. Some of us are like the first church with not only the appearance of perfection but also the strive and progress for it. Some are like the second church, focusing on people around you and completely detaching yourself away from people even yourself. Then some are like the third church, clearly on your last leg and don't know what to do to fight yourself back in the game.
Today i realized that a great church home, is very important to who you are as a person. Even if you visit this place once a week. You see, we are spiritual beings, we are born and created in the likeness and image of God who communicates with us through the spirit. If your spirit is not being refreshed, not being renewed, not being increased, you start to notice it right away. You start to have self issues, relationship issues, home issues, job issues, financial issues and the list goes on. But when you are in a spiritual place with God, you not only feel but know everything is going to be just fine. God embeds in your spirit visit after visit a peace that surpass all understanding.
One church i went to because i was invited, the other because my family attends it and the other because its been a while since i had gone. You the person, have to figure out what church is best for you. Your "church" is not only your being, but also where your worship. Allow yourself to be increased and grow in the Lord.
It seems like relationships are the biggest problems today, and you can look at it that way as well. There are some that seem perfect and working towards that. There are some that are detached but trying to make it work the best way possible. Then there is the ones that hang on and are really over. As long as we choose our church or relationship, we will continue to get our responses and outcomes. But, when we allow God to spiritually make that decision for us....we increase.
Mark 10:9 NIV "Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate".
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