tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9684236.post115915245441329890..comments2023-10-16T06:10:24.969-04:00Comments on Julie Unplugged: First time in church in, uh, five yearsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00088119765077193302noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9684236.post-1161522975789866642006-10-22T09:16:00.000-04:002006-10-22T09:16:00.000-04:00Your writing just amazes me, Julie.And I hate it t...Your writing just amazes me, Julie.<BR/><BR/>And I hate it that not being a sports fan cost me that U2GD gig!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9684236.post-1159271104974749902006-09-26T07:45:00.000-04:002006-09-26T07:45:00.000-04:00Lisa, that link to your parent's church dwarfs any...Lisa, that link to your parent's church dwarfs anything the Vineyard can dish up. Wow! Flying (or floating) angels...<BR/><BR/>Dave, you won't believe this. I actually missed the performance except for the excerpt in the halftime show. I turned on the TV as the Edge was hugging Billy Joe. I feel like an idiot. In all my prep for the night, I never once noticed that U2 and GD were performing in the pre-game show!<BR/><BR/>Argh! Hoping some generous soul will post the whole thing to youtube. Looked like it was awesome!<BR/><BR/>Aneta, I was a big Amy Grant fan for years. Age to Age was the soundtrack of my senior year of college. Saw her in concert with Michael W. Smith. Nice to meet you.<BR/><BR/>JulieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00088119765077193302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9684236.post-1159235009680579452006-09-25T21:43:00.000-04:002006-09-25T21:43:00.000-04:00Kind of hard to darken a doorway with all of the h...Kind of hard to darken a doorway with all of the hi-tech track lighting and other atmospherics in today's worship center megaplex, but I get what you're sayin'...<BR/><BR/>The Cincinnati Vineyard reminds me of the Resurrection Life Church that I've mentioned in my blog a few times. The one with the 900+ students in their youth ministry. They have separate cafes for the young people and the adults, with the kids' place featuring pool tables, video arcade games and for all I know, a convertible laser tag/paintball obstacle course that drops out of the ceiling on special occasions.<BR/><BR/>I love the "Connections Cafe" weblounge concept in church. One could hang out there all morning long and never go to church for all that anyone knows.<BR/><BR/>So you are able to be in the vicinity of the worship service and maintain an irenic though deconstructive mindset. Nice. That's pretty much what I do when I attend my old church, which I do from time to time. A fascinating opportunity to do some off-the-cuff theological and sociological ruminating. <BR/><BR/>I saw the Green 2/U Day concert before the game tonight. I didn't know they were going to combine to form a supergroup! Is a tour in the works? Will they release a special edition of "Beautiful Day" like Elton John did when he reworked "Candle in the Wind" in honor of Princess Diana? (I apologize to anyone who found that remark tasteless.) <BR/><BR/>I don't think there are too many worship leaders sporting Lions jerseys around here. No one wants to associate God with LOSERS! However, I imagine a few youth pastors are donning Tigers' caps.<BR/><BR/>I'm eager to read about the failure of American liberalism. Just the kind of pick-me-up that will pull me out of the cynical funk I've been in lately!<BR/><BR/>I like your account of that little warm "prayerful" moment you experienced there. I have those quite a bit when I'm praying at work, before meetings as well as at home when we pray before meals. <BR/><BR/>Notre Dame again, huh? Spartan Fan is dramatically upping his antidepressant dosage after Saturday's collapse. <BR/><BR/>Amazing post, Julie! Awesome, majestic, and glorious too!David Blakesleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12167200509158903679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9684236.post-1159226857088608592006-09-25T19:27:00.000-04:002006-09-25T19:27:00.000-04:00Very interesting article. I have a love/hate relat...Very interesting article. I have a love/hate relationship with church. I love God and my fellow friends at church and know that it's good to be with other believers in order to encourage and build each other up,pray for each other, etc., but I now prefer small groups, book studies with friends, and personal prayer and readings, and listening to music on CD. I grew up in a very Conservative church for my first 13 years (I'm now 47) and the older I get, the more I value the old hymns whose words mean SO much more to me than the music we sing in church today. I feel I've ripped off my kids because they don't know those meaningful songs (not all of them, but there are some great ones). All they know is these 'lovey dovey' praise and worship choruses (some I do love, but not many). I picked up Amy Grant's Legacy CD and love it! I won't quit going to church because I do believe it's God's will for us to meet together, even if it's an imperfect place. And it's not always about me. Yet, I'm so frustrated. Your blog sure makes me think! I really enjoy it! Thanks.netablogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03701837355683136230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9684236.post-1159218559746449362006-09-25T17:09:00.000-04:002006-09-25T17:09:00.000-04:00The nice thing after a day like yesterday is that ...The nice thing after a day like yesterday is that I felt a fondness for some of those old feelings and maybe a peek around the corner at a different way to think about church and spirituality.<BR/><BR/>There are things I miss, but not in that building particularly. What I miss is deeper than that and I'm willing to work to figure out what that is and what it will look like in my life.<BR/><BR/>JulieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00088119765077193302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9684236.post-1159198498417834222006-09-25T11:34:00.000-04:002006-09-25T11:34:00.000-04:00This is what is wrong with many people in church ....This is what is wrong with many people in church ...<BR/><BR/><I>"I had only wanted to be good. That's what everyone in that building wanted."</I><BR/><BR/>... when it comes to who they are at a core level they do not believe that they are good ... they do not believe that their regenerate heart is a pure one.<BR/><BR/>This is problematic because it drives the schizophrenic behavior Paul talks about in Romans 7. It also causes us to pursue "being good" through activities instead of through relationships.<BR/><BR/>I guess I still go to church because ...<BR/><BR/><I>"I felt this gentle rush inside that reminded me of the thousands of hours I swayed with arms lifted to those very melodies."</I><BR/><BR/>... 30 years later I still sway ... still feel enraptured ... still love to dance ... still cry as I pour out my heart in prayer.<BR/><BR/>My long journey from fundamentalism has changed my perspectives about church ... the structures ... the leadership ... the dogma. Most importantly it has helped me to understand that people in church need me at a heart (not head) level. They need my compassion, my understanding and my friendship.<BR/><BR/>All of that said I have to admit that, while I absolutely love ministry, I struggle with some aspects of "church" and regularly re-evaluate where I can be the most effective minister. I wish it was easier but, as you know better than I, these heart issues simply are not.<BR/><BR/>Blessings to you Julie, BobAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9684236.post-1159154233547199022006-09-24T23:17:00.000-04:002006-09-24T23:17:00.000-04:00You took me back Julie. Thanks for the walk down ...You took me back Julie. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. <BR/>The megachurch complex, complete with internet cafe, disturbs me. Perhaps I'm being judgemental and should just say "to each his own". Plus, it provided you with a place to study. Perhaps it's not so bad after all. ;-)<BR/><BR/>SusanSUSANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04656015308557797386noreply@blogger.com