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Original poster

Christian chat thread continued

997 replies

Dutchoma · 16/06/2017 07:26

A place to share and chat about our funny (and not so funny experiences) in and out of church.
Did anyone say coffee? That would be good Brew

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nickelbeingnormal · 27/07/2017 18:34

apples - adam dyer in his talk today said that people are always going "oh why don't you just teach/follow the bible?" But what they mean is "why don't you just follow/teach my interpretation of the bible.
meaning that none of us really knows the exact meaning, and we're learning new interpretations every day, so we need to be open. Whatever we do has to be led by the holy spirit

(I don't like hypocrisy myself - it always means "I'm right, you're wrong. Do what I say, regardless of whether I'm doing it myself". I prefer "oh, yeah, that's a new way of looking at it" - not that I'm perfect, but I'll never be perfect if I don't keep trying)

nickelbeingnormal · 27/07/2017 18:35

Ooh, mhd said it very well indeed Grin

user1489675144 · 27/07/2017 18:36

I am not a believer but I love going into really old churches - they have a 'feel' about them.

nickelbeingnormal · 27/07/2017 19:33

That's lovely, user :)

Hundreds of years of worship and community in those buildings.

It's interesting that churches became less of a community over the years. Originally even churches here were where people met throughout the week, and they were am important part of life. Eventually it became more strict and structured and the community feel was lost in a lot of places.
I think churches now cannot survive without what happens in the other 6 days.
It's no good as a house of god if it isn't treated like a welcoming home

Niminy · 27/07/2017 23:17

I love your description of speaking g in tongues MHD. I know someone who prays in tongues a lot - nearly always when she's on her own - and she says it's a way of going beyond words and the ceaseless babble of her own mind. She's definitely not nutty!

I do sometimes when singing find myself improvising descants and harmonies and I think that for me is something of the same experience as praying or singing in tongues. On the rare occasions when I play my violin in church it happens too.

Madhairday · 27/07/2017 23:23

Nickel, yy re church being a welcoming house!! Smile have you been in Impact this evening? I was in arena and it was great.

Going back a bit, SP you said you thought evangelicals/charismatics/whatever didn't do proper hymns. I assure you I love a good belter of a hymn and get most annoyed when they change the words to modern! How on earth anyone can change 'innefably sublime' is well beyond me and I sing it In Protest if they do.

But there are loads of awesome songs with great tuunes and lyrics. There are also dreadful and repetitive ones. I get bored by them too but then try to concentrate on the worship, I try to think about this not being about me but about God, and because of that the higher church services are certainly not anathema to me - they are just another way of worshipping which I will do as an act of honouring God even when I'm not so keen on the style naturally.

Broomstick - thank you for being honest re your struggles with the charismatic thing. For me worship is not like working myself into a trance, but simply a conscious decision to enter into intimacy with God, and I find it then draws me in further if I let it and then it can be a deep experience of encounter and joy.

Madhairday · 27/07/2017 23:25

Thank you niminy. Yes I really do find it a way of engaging with prayer when I don't have the words and also with worship. I love it.

EddSimcox · 28/07/2017 07:56

I've never seen anyone pray in tongues and now I'm really wondering about it...

Doublegloucester · 28/07/2017 08:59

I don't think I have the right personality for tongues... But then I love Taizé - perhaops a different way of getting to the same place.

Niminy · 28/07/2017 09:23

Yes Double I think Taize can be a way for some people to really lose themselves in worship. I went to a talk recently by Br Laurence Freeman who leads the World Council for Christian Meditation and it was quite something to sit in silence and meditative prayer with 150 other people. The depth of that silence was something else - a real sense of holiness and turning towards God. One of my most profound experiences ever was in a very ordinary middle of the road CofE church complete with creaky organ and creaky elderly congregation and not very inspiring sermon. But after I'd received communion I found myself on my knees offering up my whole being in a wordless prayer of thanks and adoration.

Niminy · 28/07/2017 09:24

It just goes to show how the Holy Spirit blows where she/he will...

BroomstickOfLove · 28/07/2017 09:25

I love Taize. I sometimes think that the CofE is my compromise between being a Roman Catholic and a Quaker.

Original poster
Dutchoma · 28/07/2017 10:00

We were in Wales at Pentecost many years ago and I thought that if God wanted to I could stand up and preach the gospel in fluent Welsh. The minister was very capable and God did not require my input Grin.

I think it is beautiful if people speak in tongues, but also feel that there is sometimes a pressure to do so. In one Baptist church the minister went so far as to say you were not a 'proper' Christian if you did not speak in tongues. I think he repented afterwards, but we had already left that church by that time.

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Madhairday · 28/07/2017 18:58

I love hearing about all these profound encounters with God Smile

Oma, I know what you mean. It makes me very uncomfortable indeed if someone says every Christian should speak in tongues. If they say that they should also say every Christian should prophesy, have words of knowledge, discern between spirits, be hospitable, teach, preach, evangelise --- all of those things are gifts to build up the body of Christ and bring unity. No one has all of them, God gifts different ones to different people.

I'd be careful about saying you haven't the personality for it though. God tends to like surprising people who say that. In a nice way Smile

I'm just home from new wine and sent DD off to Soul Survivor. She's utterly exhausted from being on team and now has 5 days of craziness with her youth group. She will love every minute.

I am enjoying my sofa.

I had an amazing week. Lungs held up, were dodgy a few times but sorted themselves out so I could join in. Didn't do many seminars but managed morning Bible studies and evening celebrations.

It was utterly brilliant to meet nickel who is just lovely. Think she's coming back next year so we didn't frighten her away with all the loud worship Grin but I'll let her tell you.

I feel very refreshed in my faith and encountered God deeply in worship and word. So grateful.

Edd, if you're wondering a lot about tongues God may well be giving you a desire... It's often what happens! Grin -- scared you now. But if you'd like to ask more, do ask here or on messenger because I'd be delighted to talk with you.

Please please can I come to your high church charismatic thing too!! It would expand my borders too in a slightly different way.. I'd be really interested.

nickelbeingnormal · 28/07/2017 19:15

I was listening to a lady last night, and I thought "I really wish I could give her one of Zombie's crocheted hearts."
I thought the ones left were at home.
Later on when I got back to the tent, I found one in my bag!
I forgot about it by today, but she's on the team in this venue I've been coming to, and she was on the icebreaker section tonight. They got everyone to come to the front to have a group selfie taken, so when we were sent back to our seats, I dug out the heart and handed it to her.

Madhairday · 28/07/2017 19:18

Oh nickel! 💛

nickelbeingnormal · 28/07/2017 19:25

Yes, I think I'll come back next yeae.
it's been challenging in lots of ways (especially coming away and "living" with my group - there have been some moments where I wish i'd just been here with dd among strangers, but at the same time loving being with my "gang".
They've all spent most of the morning and evening sessions in the arena and I've been here on my own in Impact. But thar means I've been able to listen and partake (or sit down during the songs....) without feeling like I need to live up to a reputation or other.

I had a strange heart-to-heart with one friend yesterday, where it transpires that she's concerned I rebuke dd or allow her too much freedom with no in-between and not a lot of expression of love. Which was news to me, because dd and I just get on with it - add that to the fact that I've been surrounded by other parents (that I love and respect) and have been spending a large amount of time attempting to look like I was "doing it right" in front of other people. Turns out I got the masking wrong Hmm

That minor wibble aside, it's been an amazing week and I do want to come back.

applesandpears33 · 28/07/2017 22:00

Great to hear about New Wine. It sounds fab, but is just so far from us. Maybe some year...

Nickel - don't worry too much about your parenting. It took me years to learn that everyone has different ideas about parenting, and as a result you can never get approval from all people all of the time. I know some people think I am too relaxed with the DC, others think I'm not strict enough. You just can't win.

Madhairday · 28/07/2017 22:47

Yes, agree with applesandpears. You can't please everyone and you know what you're doing is right for you and DD (who, by the way, is gorgeous!) I'm sure the friend is trying to help and it's always good to think these things through but don't let it make you feel guilty at all.

Glad you enjoyed impact. I was in there most evenings but missed you in there. I was the one at the front with hands in the air Grin I was at the arena in the mornings though. RT Kendal was very good.

nickelbeingnormal · 28/07/2017 23:45

Oh, you were on the team, weren't you! I knew that but didn't put the two together (I think I thought you were in a different venue)
I did impact on 2 or 3 evenings.
When I read about Impact I thought it didn't sound like a style i'd enjoy, but after happening on.it while "browsing" it turned out to be the venue I favoured! Grin

EddSimcox · 29/07/2017 00:35

I'm so glad your lungs behaved well enough for you to enjoy New Wine mhd. It sounds like quite an experience! Of course you can come to On Fire Mission- when and if we ever get there! Everything about the future is up in the air for me (as it has been for yonks) but one day we'll I'll be able to do these things...

nickel I completely agree about parenting- if DD is happy that's all you can hope for. Everyone will have a view - take what's helpful and ignore what's not.

Madhairday · 29/07/2017 10:58

Yes I was on the prayer ministry team. It was a privilege Smile I love that venue too, I love them all!

Thank you Edd. Yes I was so happy I coped OK. One day I got really poorly and slept most of the day but then found strength flowing back the next day.

On fire sounds fab!

How are things going for you over in NZ Edd?

EddSimcox · 29/07/2017 11:01

DP's mum died last night. Was good to be here. You couldn't hope for a better ending. Less than a week, surrounded by family, peaceful. She was blessed with a long life, large family, and a happy disposition.

BlackeyedSusan · 29/07/2017 11:05

oo I like a good hymn.

and yy to not liking the repetitvesongs that have little meaning and are based on the singers feelings. from experience, I often do not praise when things have gone tits up... I shout, rail and weep at God. I then need a hymn/song that tells me what he has done...and what he is like.

BlackeyedSusan · 29/07/2017 11:07

so sorry edd (cross post)