2012 New Years Resolutions "GOD"

[muley4x4]

I grew up in a house where missing church was a no no.

I went to college wanting to do something in the Ministry. For two years I chased that dream. It was harder than I ever thought it should have been. I struggled with the idea of telling people that the "sins" they were commiting were wrong when I was doing them myself. I ended up switching my Major to Marketing and graduating with Business Degree.

The reason I'm posting this on a hunting site is because I think the two are directly related. I have found and come up with excuses of why I can't make it to church, I'm at the deer lease, I'm out of town, and _____. Daily I breath in his air everyday and am surrounded by his beauty. Through nature and hunting I have come to a greater respect for him. I want 2012 to be year I continue to grow closer to him. I want to challenge you to make the same kind of resolution along with all of your other ones.

I am a blessed individual.

[EnW]

I know the feeling. I will commit to your challenge.

[Redneck Archer]

I grew up in a house where missing church was a no no.

I went to college wanting to do something in the Ministry. For two years I chased that dream. It was harder than I ever thought it should have been. I struggled with the idea of telling people that the "sins" they were commiting were wrong when I was doing them myself. I ended up switching my Major to Marketing and graduating with Business Degree.

The reason I'm posting this on a hunting site is because I think the two are directly related. I have found and come up with excuses of why I can't make it to church, I'm at the deer lease, I'm out of town, and _____. Daily I breath in his air everyday and am surrounded by his beauty. Through nature and hunting I have come to a greater respect for him. I want 2012 to be year I continue to grow closer to him. I want to challenge you to make the same kind of resolution along with all of your other ones.

I am a blessed individual.

I have my own beliefs, and just like a told my mom last week when she was motivated to go to church, and tried to get me to...

I personally dont feel you have to go to church to worship/prey/say thanks/be close to god...

I dont like the path church's pastors/preachers/reverends have been heading. seems every time you look something bad has been done by one. Something I consider a HUGE sin.

When I hunt/am in the outdoors/with my family I feel I am closer to GOD than I could be sitting in a church with people I dont know or trust...

I also feel that I live my life as best I can and I dont feel I need to go to church on a weekly basis to ask forgiveness. If I do something wrong and I find out its wrong I should try not to do that again... If "you" have to go to church every week and ask forgiveness for the same ole sins I think "you" are doing it wrong.

just some of my thoughts. I will stop before I start to ramble.

[VorTexan]

Christ died for the church don't take it lightly. I feel God's presence in nature as much as anyone and don't care for crowds but it ain't about me.

If you ain't servin and supportin you ain't LIVIN.

[Deb]

I grew up in a house where missing church was a no no.

I went to college wanting to do something in the Ministry. For two years I chased that dream. It was harder than I ever thought it should have been. I struggled with the idea of telling people that the "sins" they were commiting were wrong when I was doing them myself. I ended up switching my Major to Marketing and graduating with Business Degree.

The reason I'm posting this on a hunting site is because I think the two are directly related. I have found and come up with excuses of why I can't make it to church, I'm at the deer lease, I'm out of town, and _____. Daily I breath in his air everyday and am surrounded by his beauty. Through nature and hunting I have come to a greater respect for him. I want 2012 to be year I continue to grow closer to him. I want to challenge you to make the same kind of resolution along with all of your other ones.

I am a blessed individual.

Good stuff in this post. I'm in for the challenge, what kind of changes are you going to make to have a closer relationship with Him?

[southpaw]

God has used my hunting to teach me a lot. First off, I used to go as often as I could during bow season ,it's only 5 weeks long ya know. Then I wounded and animal and did not recover it. God must have been punishing me so I made a pact that I would not miss 2 consecutive Sundays for hunting. That seemed to work for a while, then another wound. I determined that I had not been praying before each hunt and asking God to bless the hunt. That worked for a while and I had a third wound. I cried out to the Lord, why, I prayed to You and everything. I didn't get the answer right away but over time He has taught me that it's not about what I do but what He's done. He's taken away my sins, that's a done deal. Now He wants me to be tottaly dependant on Him. The bible says anything that's not of faith is sin. That includes me working in my strength to try to impress God. When I focus on what He's done for me and how much he loves me, He will work His will in me. Since then without me really having to think about it my hunting has changed. I find myself going up early and coming back from a hunt on Saturday for most of my hunts. I will be missing Church this Sunday and it will be the second of this season. One thing I have definately learned is that God initiates and we respond. I can't do anthing in my own power to merit His Grace.

[PSD Ryan]

I've made the same resolution. It's one that I know will actually enrich every aspect of my life too, unlike the usual superficial resolutions of "lose weight", "quit smoking/dipping/drinking", etc. Of course, this is one I've decided not to wait for new years to start on

I personally dont feel you have to go to church to worship/prey/say thanks/be close to god...

I dont like the path church's pastors/preachers/reverends have been heading. seems every time you look something bad has been done by one. Something I consider a HUGE sin.

When I hunt/am in the outdoors/with my family I feel I am closer to GOD than I could be sitting in a church with people I dont know or trust...

I also feel that I live my life as best I can and I dont feel I need to go to church on a weekly basis to ask forgiveness. If I do something wrong and I find out its wrong I should try not to do that again... If "you" have to go to church every week and ask forgiveness for the same ole sins I think "you" are doing it wrong.

I agree, you don't HAVE to go to church to worship, pray, have your sins forgiven, etc. but I do think that going to church helps to strenghten your faith through guided worship/lessons/sermons and having that common bond with others.

As for the church pastors/reverends/whatever, they are sinners just like everyone else. Only one perfect man has ever walked this earth. And just like everyone else, some preachers commit some bad sins. The problem is that some churches are now condoning it, by allowing openly gay preachers, looking the other way in child molestation cases, etc. The church should confront anyone openly and unrepentantly living in sin, preacher or not.

Not sure what your church was/is like, but I go to a small church with maybe 100 members. I can honestly call them my church family. I know and trust everyone fairly well. We are a close group with a common bond. I'm sure it's a little harder to get that feeling in the megachurches, but it doesn't have to be a bunch of people you don't know or trust.

[TxCazador]

Good stuff in this post. I'm in for the challenge, what kind of changes are you going to make to have a closer relationship with Him?

I grew up in a house where missing church was a no no.

I went to college wanting to do something in the Ministry. For two years I chased that dream. It was harder than I ever thought it should have been. I struggled with the idea of telling people that the "sins" they were commiting were wrong when I was doing them myself. I ended up switching my Major to Marketing and graduating with Business Degree.

The reason I'm posting this on a hunting site is because I think the two are directly related. I have found and come up with excuses of why I can't make it to church, I'm at the deer lease, I'm out of town, and _____. Daily I breath in his air everyday and am surrounded by his beauty. Through nature and hunting I have come to a greater respect for him. I want 2012 to be year I continue to grow closer to him. I want to challenge you to make the same kind of resolution along with all of your other ones.

I am a blessed individual.

Muley,
You are so right, they do go hand in hand. I get inspired by God's handywork in being outdoors, but I believe God is picky and He does want to be worshiped a certain way. I think we should strive to follow the pattern of the New Testament the way the early church did and "not forsake the assembly"Heb 10:25 , and come together on the first day of the week to worship as the early church did.
My resolution is to read the Bible thru again this year. I bought the Chronological Study Bible in the NKJ version. It has alot of side note info on the cultures, politics, etc of the day. A few years ago I read The Narrative Bible (NIV) ,also in chronological order in one year. I'll tell you, it was one of the best things I have ever done for myself.
I challenge everyone to do the same. It will change your life.

[PSD Ryan]

Muley,
You are so right, they do go hand in hand. I get inspired by God's handywork in being outdoors, but I believe God is picky and He does want to be worshiped a certain way. I think we should strive to follow the pattern of the New Testament the way the early church did and "not forsake the assembly"Heb 10:25 , and come together on the first day of the week to worship as the early church did.

I gotta agree with this one, and I forget it myself sometimes. I also get some good "God time" in when I hunt, but throughout the bible, what is basically "church" is talked about. It's even in the commandments: "remember the sabbath and keep it holy". It talks about "when two or three are gathered in the Lord's name". There are many passages about it. We do get our God time being in nature, but it's not always about how we want it...is an hour or two a week too much to ask?

I don't think God is too picky though...my wife came from a megachurch where they basically put on a christian rock concert, then had a message from the pastor. When she started going to my church, she was a little thrown off by sitting in pews, singing hymns to organ music, and quite a bit of the pastor talking. As he put it to her...there's nothing wrong with either way. It's not how we worship, but what we worship that matters. But I do know God likes us to come together to do so, at least once a week. We should worship him every day either way.

[Deb]

I am not very saintly and constantly struggle to make meaningful deep friendships within the church. As I grew up mostly in a beer joint we don't have a lot in common. They find me raw, coarse and somewhat socially unacceptable. I find them boring and hypocritical (SP?). But as there are no perfect people there are no perfect churches. Even so, I don't miss much church. Here are a few things I am going to work on.
Gluttony
Unwholesome talk
More spiritual diciplines and less archery
Critical thoughts about others
Speaking harshly to my husband

[muley4x4]

Deb,

I would like to commit to spending daily time in the word. I would also like to take more time to pray than I have recently. I would also like to make a point to attend church more regularly than I have the past few years.

[muley4x4]

I have my own beliefs, and just like a told my mom last week when she was motivated to go to church, and tried to get me to...

I personally dont feel you have to go to church to worship/prey/say thanks/be close to god...

I dont like the path church's pastors/preachers/reverends have been heading. seems every time you look something bad has been done by one. Something I consider a HUGE sin.

When I hunt/am in the outdoors/with my family I feel I am closer to GOD than I could be sitting in a church with people I dont know or trust...

I also feel that I live my life as best I can and I dont feel I need to go to church on a weekly basis to ask forgiveness. If I do something wrong and I find out its wrong I should try not to do that again... If "you" have to go to church every week and ask forgiveness for the same ole sins I think "you" are doing it wrong.

just some of my thoughts. I will stop before I start to ramble.

This was the same problem I had when I was in college. Rather than sitting there and judging others I tried to focus on my myself. I realized that this wasn't the best thing I could have done. I think I realized that we are all human and we all make mistakes. Pastors included in that. I think that instead of turning our backs and talking about wrongs that other people are struggling with we need to lift them up. The church is a unit not just a individual or small group of elders. We are all the church.

My dad shares your beliefs. I do believe that you can worship outside of church. I do however think that God wants us to worship with other believers. My Dad does believe that God is lord and he believes that's all you need to reach and claim a place in heaven.

[Redneck Archer]

I agree, you don't HAVE to go to church to worship, pray, have your sins forgiven, etc. but I do think that going to church helps to strenghten your faith through guided worship/lessons/sermons and having that common bond with others.

As for the church pastors/reverends/whatever, they are sinners just like everyone else. Only one perfect man has ever walked this earth. And just like everyone else, some preachers commit some bad sins. The problem is that some churches are now condoning it, by allowing openly gay preachers, looking the other way in child molestation cases, etc. The church should confront anyone openly and unrepentantly living in sin, preacher or not.

Not sure what your church was/is like, but I go to a small church with maybe 100 members. I can honestly call them my church family. I know and trust everyone fairly well. We are a close group with a common bond. I'm sure it's a little harder to get that feeling in the megachurches, but it doesn't have to be a bunch of people you don't know or trust.

when I was kid I was told by the preacher/pastor I was going to hell, and smoking was a sin. this and that was a sin. (I was like 8 and didnt smoke) after the sermon you go outside, and 90% of the comunion (sp?) lit up a cigarette. so if its a sin, and they know it is yet they do it and then just say its ok and ask for forgiveness? dont seem right.

NOW, I know that is an extreme and maybe a bad example, BUT it fits my point.

we visited several other churches, and never "fit" in. Only church I fit in and enjoyed was the church in basic training. we went to a few church's as we are god parents of my wifes freinds son.

I am not from texas, and know very few people here, and trust less. I have been to churches, and its all a big sales pitch to get you to become a member and get you to "pay your dues".

I live in a 130-180k subdivision. common blue collar people who live mostly pay check to pay check, and do everything they can to keep the household afloat. down the street (I pass it every day) a pastor lives. 3.2 million dollar house 5 car or more garage with a guest house above it. I think its 8 bedrooms etc.

I am not one to judge. he can explain that at the pearly gates...

That is another part of my point. I have had bad experiences with bad people. If I was in the small town in northern michigan where I grew up where I knew everyone I may go to that church. But I am not, and I dont.

Instead of chasing down a church worth going to and spending time with people I dont know to find if I can trust them with my family. I choose to spend quality time with my family (the ones I feel who truely matter)...

[Deb]

when I was kid I was told by the preacher/pastor I was going to hell, and smoking was a sin. this and that was a sin. (I was like 8 and didnt smoke) after the sermon you go outside, and 90% of the comunion (sp?) lit up a cigarette. so if its a sin, and they know it is yet they do it and then just say its ok and ask for forgiveness? dont seem right.

RedneckArcher, I was about 5 when a preacher told me the same thing. He also told me a bit about what the demons were going to do to me when I got there. (They were going to pour molten metal into my eyes and ears and it was NEVER going to stop burning) He made it clear that my mom would be in hell with me because she went bowling on Wed. night instead of coming to church. That preacher made a devout pagan out of me.

[PSD Ryan]

It's sad that a preacher would say all that to anyone. Gods law and the punishment for sins needs to be talked about, but with the balance of equal part gospel and salvation. Churches should not use scare tactics to get people to come...people should want to go out of love for God.