Venting

Okay, so I just need to vent for a minute. My Pastor just TORE UP a sermon tonight about mercy. Not your typical message though. He started off by saying that God had given him this message for about 1% of the church congregation. He said that God had told him that there are some people who have lived their lives in a particular way and that He had been merciful thus far; but that He was about to change the seasons of their life if they did not change the way they were living.

He was talking about those people who are so blatantly sinning and flaunting it almost daring someone to say something about it. He went so far as to say that he will stop telling people that they are Apostolic, because they are not. He said that our generation as a whole has become too lenient with what we preach. We don't want to offend someone. He said pastors are too afraid to preach it because it might offend, or make someone mad, or God forbid they get up and leave. He made the argument that if you do preach it and they leave... they were going to hell on your pews, what is the difference if they leave and still go to hell. However, how do you expect them to change if you never preach it for fear of them leaving. He brought it to personal level in the fact that we don't stand up to our fellow brothers and sisters and say hey, what you are doing is wrong!

So ... in the midst of this.... (Now, keep in mind our choir now has to stay on the platform because there is no room in the auditorium... so I have a great view of all that is going on)... I happened to catch the look on a cousin of mine's face. It was about that time when he was talking about flaunting your sin in front of the congregation. Now... this comes directly after another cousin of mine walked up into church with some "miracle grow" on her hair. You know... the kind that miraculously grows all the same length? Which, let me insert here, my opinion. Not a popular one, but mine nonetheless. I personally do not feel that if you cut your hair or wear pants or makeup and those other exterior standards of the church that you will go to Hell. That is my personal opinion. I do not judge someone who chooses not to uphold the standards that I have placed on my life. I value the importance of modesty, and the promise that I have power with the angels because of my uncut hair. I choose to submit myself to those standards, however I do not believe that following them will save you, nor that choosing not to follow them will condemn you.

okay, so where was I ... oh yes, miracle grow. So I happen to catch the look on cousin #1's face that said "uh-huh ... she is out there flaunting her sin for the world to see... what do you think about that? preach on preacher. Talk to cousin #2..." I know you know that look I'm talking about. Problem is... cousin #2... couldn't tell you the truth if her life depended on it. I swear she lies just to be lying. No reason or "need" to. Just doesn't tell the truth. So tell me there #2... don't you think you should be listening and heading the Word rather then pointing out someone else's faults??

And I know I sound hypocritical with this. I know I am FAR from perfect. But I just get so frustrated sometimes with my family who I KNOW is not right, and they can sit in a service that would peel the most hardened criminal from their pew into the altar... and they don't so much as flinch. Or even worse, preach the preacher when preacher's preaching to them!!

UGH!!!

Anyway... had to get that out. Much more that I want to say -- but I'm terrified that #1 and #2 may someday find this and read it ... then I'd be in trouble. ha! I was gonna put another instalment of my trip in here, but I'm too tired. We had a Bridal Show today at the Bleak House in Knoxville. I was out at Hope's this morning at 8am preparing. I pulled back in my driveway tonight at exactly 5:57. Church starts at 6pm. Luckily I'm across the street and I had the 20 min drive from Hope's house back to mine to figure out what to wear that didn't need ironing. I actually made it to church just after 6. Bro. Presson usually gets up and opens the service with a scripture and a little one min blurb about it and then choir starts with praise and worship songs. I snuck up into choir just as Bro. Presson was finishing up. woohoo!! What is REALLY nice is that we learned a new song tonight in choir practice (that I missed) and we sang it that night. haha... that was fun. I had heard it a couple times so I caught on pretty quickly. Still a struggle though.

Aight ... I'm out for now. I'm about to go to ZZZzzzzz... yeah... Asta...