Wesley's Parish Fellowship ASA Thread (8)

So GS and Lee, I am in the Edwardsville, Illinois area for two nights visiting dad's family. I woke up this morning and told dad "Either it is not August or else we are not really in Illinois." It was an unheard of 76F this morning! All the other times I have been here it has been a miserable 100+ instead with dew points and humidity in the higher numbers.

In other news, I am looking forward to getting some koláčky[Bohemian pastries] tomorrow A rare treat that I can't get back in PA.

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Pane Ježíši Kriste, Syne Boží, smiluj se nade mnou hříšným.

WOO HOO! Just rec'd my letter of acceptance into Southwestern College Master of Arts in Theological Studies graduate degree program.

^ Congratulations!

Congrats!

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Pane Ježíši Kriste, Syne Boží, smiluj se nade mnou hříšným.

Nice one! Congrats.

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I hope everyone has a blessed Lord's Day!

Since I have come home from Indiana and Illinois last week, I have done a lot of soul searching. I am still confused but some things I have realized are: 1) I have done a lot of healing over time to the point that what used to satisfy [staying at home and reading] no longer does. I want to be out with people and learning new things. By not doing so this summer, I actually made things worse for me. Spending a week with cousins and learning new things every day did a world of good for me. 2) I'm confused over what to do concerning my ministry. I have a "district" license that is not being used much at all. And when I did have a chance to use it this summer while my senior pastor was on vacation, I couldn't because one of the "local" pastors fancied himself in charge and took over for those two weeks. And then there is the fact that my pastor has so many that are working on the course of study for ordination I really can't do much in the way of formal ministry unless I move elsewhere.

[edited to add: sorry this part is a repeat] Then last week when I was at my cousin's UM church, I started crying in church because it hit me that at her church I will not have a migraine. My church has LOUD rock music only that triggers bad migraines, plus is in the midst of another power struggle leaving people rather unfriendly. So the thought of going to my church gives me a migraine 5 days a week.

As I cried in my cousin's church from the relief of deliverance from pain, I knew that I had to do something different. I have decided to take a sabbatical from my church for a month so that I can recover from the church trigger and maybe hear God's voice better. Today I went to a traditional UMC service. Everyone [but the assitant pastor] was super friendly and there was no head pain at all. I didn't know what to do with myself this afternoon since I didn't need to lay down with a migraine and moan. I finally felt truly happy in church this am for the first time in...20 years?

So, what to do with this? I have been wondering for over a year now if there is a place left for me in the Church of the Nazarene because so many churches push contemporary music ONLY now. I can't stand the pain nor the mentality that says old is bad and will prevernt people from getting saved. The previous pastor believed that and was quite hateful in his approach over that. The lack of love drove some people away [esp. my friends this past Spring]. Love is what draws people in, not rock music. But I don't know if there is a place for my belief in my district or denomination anymore. And while I could see myself easily fitting into the UMC that I visited today, I don't know how easy it would be for me to become a UM pastor.

I am really at a loss as to what to do. Thankfully, I don't have to know all the answers today. But prayer would be appreciated.

I'm glad you've found a church which has done you some good, even though it's not your own. You're in my prayers that your church will change its footing and turn towards the right direction. May God continue to speak to you from your calling to preach to guide you to where he wants you to be.

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Thanks!

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Pane Ježíši Kriste, Syne Boží, smiluj se nade mnou hříšným.

I don't know the Nazarene system well enough to give you any advice. I do know churches though, and think that you will always find reasons for churches to give you headaches, at least they always have me. If not over the music, then it will be something else.

However, you also have a call. What that call is is only something you can determine. Completely apart from denomination, is it to provide leadership such as a pastor provides? Or is to be supportive of what a church is about? If the first, then you have to find that denomination in which you can be most comfortable in fulfilling the leadership role you are called to. Nazarene, Free Methodist, UMC, Wesleyan are all close enough that there are churches out there and ajudicaries where you will not only fit, but probably have only a few headaches. Again, don't think that there is any church with no headaches, the only one that has ever existed or ever will exist that fits that category is the Church Triumphant, and it usually involves a killer of a headache getting admitted there. If you strive for something that will never be granted and cannot be happy unless it is, you will always be unhappy no matter where Christ leads you.

So, in this life, find where you fit best, and pray for Christ to help you learn to accept and deal with the rest. Remember, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”