My issue

[Dagwood]

Houston, I've found myself in your position a number of times along the way. I wasn't raised in a stable church environment growing up (you and I are almost the same age, btw). So, I found it on my own. Has it been easy? No. Have I been blessed? Yes. I'm just taking a guess, but you might be in a dry season right now. It doesn't mean you're any further away from God than if you were deeply moist in Him. It's just a part of life.

As for the church scene, there is a certain message of preaching that speaks to me as well. Prophetic/encouraging preaching has put a lot into perspective for me, and so has the opposite...the hell, fire, and brimstone. Either way, do what you know, not what you feel -- I heard an evangelist a few years back preach on that very statement; what a concept and what a difference it has made for me! And to extend on what AQP said above, church is about community and reaching out to one another. Make no mistake I'm not decreasing your concern for exploring a change for you. Just want to help you kind of put things into perspective. Whatever your testimony is, someone is waiting to hear it whether you know it or not. I read a thread on here recently that mentioned a bood titled "Mere Churchianity" by Michael Spencer. It talks about church in such a non-traditional way it's unbelievable.

Nevertheless, we're all here for you. Sometimes going back to sqaure one and analyzing everything is good as long as God is in the center of it.

[OneAccord]

Year ago, I attended a church that was in a rut. No, it was more than a rut. Every service was exactly the same. Same songs. Same sermons. It was the Pentecostal equivilant of the Bill Murray movie "Ground Hog Day". All we lacked was Sonny and Cher singing, "I got you babe". The church had a radio broadcast and every braodcast was exactly the same. Nothing changed. Ever. No new people joined the church. No one left. It was if we were in spiritual limbo. We had several peachers in the church but, they weren't preaching. Th pastor did the preaching. The pastor conducted the radio broadcast. The pastor did the teaching (what little there was).

I began to prayer. I said, "God, we're in such a rut. We're dying, Lord, please show someone this. Speak to someone...." And God seemed to answer.... "I AM speaking to someone. I'm speaking to you...."

What you, my friend, are experiencing is God speaking to you. You see a problem? FIX IT. Don't abandon ship until you have, at the very least, tried to plug the leak. If you can't fix it, then, by all means, go to where God sends you. But, before you walk, put forth an effort. If you don't, then you are no solution... you are the problem.

[coadie]

What a world. Too much teeevee and we expect to be pumped up at church.

The gospels promise salvation

They do not promise,
career fullfillment
job security
sunny days
health
absense of boredom
a handsome man and marriage for every woman
clean and obedient children
self actualization

King David spent many years running from King Saul. That is not what he signed up for. He may also have preferrered sitting on a pew bored to tears than hiding and running.

I wonder how much my boredom comes from not taking inventory of all we have and being gratefull?

[ILG]

I have no idea what you should do. I guess if I was you and thinking about leaving, you just need to be sure you're doing what you're doing for the right reasons. I don't even attend church and feel just fine, but, you don't want to end up as a trainwreck. I think some people do when they leave.

[houston]

So it comes down to me not praying or reading the bible. RIDICULO!! The only fulfillment I have is when I'm pouring out of myself to build someone up. Plug leaks? I already tried that. Don't look to the pastor to promote? He promoted someone who does not have the holy ghost per the upc doctrine. Everyone else, thanks for your words. I mean that.

[houston]

too much tv? coadie, please see your way to an exit. thanks

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by houston

So it comes down to me not praying or reading the bible. RIDICULO!! The only fulfillment I have is when I'm pouring out of myself to build someone up. Plug leaks? I already tried that. Don't look to the pastor to promote? He promoted someone who does not have the holy ghost per the upc doctrine. Everyone else, thanks for your words. I mean that.

So you're bored because you are not being used, and not receiving nourishment? But you're not bored with your personal walk with God? I don't mean to over simplify.

[houston]

Originally Posted by Cindy

So you're bored because you are not being used, and not receiving nourishment? But you're not bored with your personal walk with God? I don't mean to over simplify.

Yes. You get it!

[Apprehended]

Just go to church. Never whine or complain about being bored. Just go hopping and jumping glad that God included you in the number of the saved of earth...whether anyone else is excited about it or not. You and I should be at all times. After all, Jesus is coming back for the CHURCH...bored or un-bored.

Now, ask God to forgive you for complaining.

Luff ya....

[MissBrattified]

houston,

If you like outreach, don't limit yourself to doing it through the church. There are TONS of opportunities you can involve yourself in. The other day I was searching for some things teenagers can be involved in (for Hannah), and I found:

* A local hospital that needs volunteers to sit with hospice patients.

* A local literacy program that trains volunteers and assigns them to students

There are boys and girls clubs you can volunteer with; hospitals that need volunteers; soup kitchens that need dishwashers; etc. If you're more interested in something involving evangelism, then start a weekly bible study group in your house.

If you are most fulfilled when you're serving, then by all means, look outside the church walls for opportunities to serve.