Thursday, August 17, 2017
THANK YOU JESUS!
This story had its beginning in mid-July 2016 when I first attended Storyside Church (then known as CitiChurch) in Bellville with my son Brian and his wife Kate. By then, they had been very active with this church for about 3 years.
I was overwhelmed by my experience. That Sunday's service had a spiritual vibrancy like I had never experienced--or, even imagined. Except for wintering in Florida I have not missed a weekly service since.
Back sometime in my childhood I was baptized and later confirmed in the Lutheran Church. That was at St. Matthew's in Mansfield. I like to think those lessons of catechism remained with me for the vast majority of the rest of my life.
Meanwhile I lost interest in organized religion. I was troubled by the fact many of the world's wars were between organized religions.
I was troubled by evident conflicts between theology and science.
I was repulsed by the stories of aberrant, sexual behavior of some church leadership.
I did find spiritual solace by simply walking in a quiet woods and conversing with God. He seemed to welcome my periodic visits.
A gentle breeze caressing tall pines can create a tabernacle far more inspirational than a structure of bricks and mortar with uncomfortable seats and a service that leaves folks out of sight of the pastor, well, dozing.
And so it went for 50 years or more.
Then a miracle began to emerge. I discovered there were lots of books that explored my concerns. In them I discovered answers that aroused my interest in taking a closer look at the Bible's lessons. That nudged me into experiencing Storyside church that had captured my son's soul.
That process continued for nearly a year until last Sunday when Pastor Micah's weekly invitation to invite Jesus into my life resonated and God captured my soul.
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