I just had a guy pull into my parking lot at work and start screaming and yelling at the sky. I came out to see what was wrong and asked if he was ok. He yelled, “DO I LOOK LIKE I’M OK?!” He then proceeded to rant about how he is sick and tired of Covid Cowards, he was yelling about Biden spending us into oblivion, and on and on. I stood and listened, knowing he needed to talk it out. And then I said, “Well, I totally agree.” He stopped, shocked that I would say that. And I added, “It takes a lot of patience to deal with it.” He stood silent for a minute, then got back in his truck and drove off.
I see a huge variety of people everyday and people’s minds are snapping. I see it in the people who watch the news and live in fear, those that are vaxxed and mad at those of us who aren’t (because they blame us for prolonging this pandemic), in people who had to go to the hospital and are now in isolation, in family members who have been rejected because of some “Covid infraction”, I think we have all experienced it ourselves in some way or other. They are trying to break our spirits.
The best advice is from Q: put on the Full Armor of God— read Ephesians 6:10-18. Bookmark this and read it every single day out loud. When you need protection, read Psalm 91 out loud. Pray every day. The days are evil, but God is faithful.
1 John 5:19-20. “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
I just tried a new church last weekend, about the 3rd time I've been there. Trying to find something closer than the one I had been going to which is Southern Baptist Convention. Anyway .. I was liking the sermon until he decided that he needed to call out Trump and his supporters as sore losers. He didn't say names, but I could tell that's who he meant. Won't be going back there anytime soon! My point is: not easy finding a good church to go to sometimes!
I'm a recovering Catholic... I can't go into a church without huge trepidation.... I have been to 3 church services in the past 2 weeks for friends & family memorials
I go out of love and respect for the ones that passed and the ones they left behind.
I just sit (and stand and sit and stand & on and on 😂) and pray the Our Father over and over. and asking for protection. And absolutely flee when it's over.
I talk to God in the open. Most are Catholic one was something else, but very similar to Catholic ... I can't focus or pray in there, definitely not looking for a church but fellow Christians would be nice to be around. I do run across them in the wild tho; There are way more around lately ❤️
That’s a terrible experience! I hate it hat! My husband probably won’t ever step back into a church unless it’s for a funeral or wedding. He doesn’t talk much about it. I believe he was pushed very hard. Knowing what I know about the church he grew up in & his mom I can’t blame him. I’ve seen to much of the judgmental side in Southern Baptist churches and that’s why I left. I can’t imagine how must feel. I don’t go to church anymore because everyone I’ve been to has judging people! I’m very thankful I had a great experience growing up in a very old country church. I sat beside my grandma and all us kids would fight to sit next to her. I wasn’t saved back then. I don’t remember those teachings about being saved till I was an adult in baptist churches. Old hymns are my comfort. I don’t listen to them music, but when I need it I find them on the streaming site. I don’t believe we have to be in a church to seek God. Church is any where you are comfortable and can feel his presence. God is forever present if we let him in. In my opinion that’s any where you are comfortable.
Yes He is everywhere. I love him and try to make him proud :)
I was a catholic too. I have found that studying the Bible on my own gave so much more clarity. It is difficult to rid myself of catholic guilt tho. 😁take care friend
I have a NIV parallel Bible.
This is gonna sound like a weird question.. But is that a "Good" (legit) Bible?
I use the king James Bible and also strongs to look up the meaning of words. You will find much wealth of information that way. I find the older versions of strongs much more accurate.
For instance in genesis the "pitch" for the ark, can actually translate to "atonement". What a wonderful depth of meaning when you think of the ark being a symbol of protection and Jesus being the atonement for our sins.
So, if you compare translations, but accept the easiest reading version, you can miss a lot of depth.
Bible hub online has great versions, commentary and strongs all in one place.
I've recently become a serious Christian and have tried numerous versions. Currently, I REALLY like the NKJV. I use a MacArthur study bible and highly recommend it for the notes and expository content. John MacArthur is probably the best preacher out there right now and he does it from the heart of enemy territory...Los Angeles
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, II Timothy 3:16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/2ti.3.16.NKJV
I've started going to an underground Latin mass. Find one. It's a totally different Catholicism, that's why the fake pope is trying to ban the Latin. Demons hate Latin.
First one I went to made me weep, I'm not sure why, but it was like my soul understood what my mind could not. (It had been over twenty years since I went to church, never heard a Latin high mass before)
How do you find an underground Latin mass? We have an FSSP parish in our town that offers the Latin mass 100% of the time and it's smack dab in the middle of a very liberal Marxist shithole.
I got turned on to it by a friend. They hold services in a rented space on a farm. No gilded bullshit, simple, pure, beautiful.
I guess Rome tried closing them down so they moved off grid.
Have you tried an FSSP parish?
Amen. Many, many, many churches have been infiltrated. To the left, the Church is just another institution to infest. But God gives us His word and the bible will lift you up and give you Life. Good on you for pursuing fellowship, but until good fellowship arises just spend time with God and His Word.
It does make me laugh how people of Faith just randomly pop up when I need it most.
Easy check: is this church a 501 c3? Does the pastor (minister, priest) belong to the FEMA Clergy Response Team? When was the last sermon from the pulpit against abortion? Do you believe in Jesus?
If the answer is not a loud and resounding NO, NO, last week and YES it is not the place for you or anyone you love.
Communism is by its nature anti-religious. It considers religion as "the opiate of the people" because the principles of religion which speak of a life beyond the grave dissuade the proletariat from the dream of a Soviet paradise which is of this world.
https://www.learnreligions.com/karl-marx-on-religion-251019