Comments on: Where my head is on the whole church thing. http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/ The Life and Times of Geof F. Morris Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:03:05 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jeff http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-2/#comment-9772 Jeff Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:48:28 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9772 I felt vaguely offended by your spirituality/religion remark for about a minute, until I realized that it's pretty much "orthogonal" to me. I realized I had nothing to be offended <em>about</em>. :) <blockquote>I think that religion is a search for the divine.</blockquote> For me, I'm not sure religion was really a search for <em>anything</em>. I didn't seek it out looking for something. It was simply what I was supposed to do. I knock that a lot, but I should give it more credit than I do. Before you're able to figure things out for yourself, there are much worse reasons for doing things. At some point though, you have to grow out of that. Maybe that's a matter of figuring out what you're searching for. That never happened for me, and I was past 30 before I started really figuring out that I wasn't really searching for <em>anything</em> (at least not in that department). I felt vaguely offended by your spirituality/religion remark for about a minute, until I realized that it’s pretty much “orthogonal” to me. I realized I had nothing to be offended about. :)

I think that religion is a search for the divine.

For me, I’m not sure religion was really a search for anything. I didn’t seek it out looking for something. It was simply what I was supposed to do. I knock that a lot, but I should give it more credit than I do. Before you’re able to figure things out for yourself, there are much worse reasons for doing things.

At some point though, you have to grow out of that. Maybe that’s a matter of figuring out what you’re searching for. That never happened for me, and I was past 30 before I started really figuring out that I wasn’t really searching for anything (at least not in that department).

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-2/#comment-9770 Geof F. Morris Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:07:28 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9770 I hear you, John. :) I hear you, John. :)

]]> By: John Wilson http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-2/#comment-9769 John Wilson Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:13:16 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9769 It's hard to get back in the habit of going to church when you fall out of it. Even harder when you don't have a strong connection to a local church. One thing jumps out at me: you need to learn how to embrace no. It was impossible for me until I started having kids, but I'm starting to get good at it. You are a scheduling mo-fo. Look at your schedule, and carve out big blocks of time where you have scheduled nothing. And I don't mean, scheduled overflow times, where you get in the habit of using your blank times to catch up on whatever it is you are working on at the moment. I mean, schedule empty blocks of time where you can put the pencil down, take a moment to meditate, and do whatever strikes your fancy. If you can't do this you need to start saying no to nearly everything until you can. It's hard. I started doing this two years ago, and I still need to work hard on it. Next time you go to a church, embrace no. Say things like "I'm sorry but I'm working on reducing my time commitments and simply can't take on another project." "Hey God, I know that's something I could do but just because I can do something doesn't mean I should. Please let me know if this is the right ministry opportunity for me." It’s hard to get back in the habit of going to church when you fall out of it. Even harder when you don’t have a strong connection to a local church.

One thing jumps out at me: you need to learn how to embrace no. It was impossible for me until I started having kids, but I’m starting to get good at it.

You are a scheduling mo-fo. Look at your schedule, and carve out big blocks of time where you have scheduled nothing. And I don’t mean, scheduled overflow times, where you get in the habit of using your blank times to catch up on whatever it is you are working on at the moment. I mean, schedule empty blocks of time where you can put the pencil down, take a moment to meditate, and do whatever strikes your fancy.

If you can’t do this you need to start saying no to nearly everything until you can. It’s hard. I started doing this two years ago, and I still need to work hard on it.

Next time you go to a church, embrace no. Say things like “I’m sorry but I’m working on reducing my time commitments and simply can’t take on another project.” “Hey God, I know that’s something I could do but just because I can do something doesn’t mean I should. Please let me know if this is the right ministry opportunity for me.”

]]> By: Laurs http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-2/#comment-9761 Laurs Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:59:26 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9761 I'm glad you have lots of people who care enough about you to write here :) And let me tell you.. if it wasn't for Dan I wouldn't go to church half the time. Depression stuff .. it SUCKS. And there's not much else out there harder than going back to church after not being there.. But I hope you're able to go somewhere today. I don't have any words of wisdom.. just lettin you know you make complete sense brother! L I’m glad you have lots of people who care enough about you to write here :) And let me tell you.. if it wasn’t for Dan I wouldn’t go to church half the time. Depression stuff .. it SUCKS. And there’s not much else out there harder than going back to church after not being there.. But I hope you’re able to go somewhere today.

I don’t have any words of wisdom.. just lettin you know you make complete sense brother!

L

]]> By: Rick http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-2/#comment-9760 Rick Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:38:12 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9760 Phoebe and I can totally come pick you up this morning. Phoebe and I can totally come pick you up this morning.

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9759 Geof F. Morris Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:36:37 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9759 Mark: That's a fair point. However, I didn't really fit in my last church other than as someone who served a lot. Mark: That’s a fair point. However, I didn’t really fit in my last church other than as someone who served a lot.

]]> By: Jason http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9758 Jason Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:49:56 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9758 I too hope to see the 'Victory! I went to Church!' post (though, knowing you it'll be sans-exclamation points. ;-) ). Mark Spencer (Internet Monk) has a lot to say about church culture and burning out those people who are most attached to it... I have to say I agree with his critiques, but I'm not sure of the best way to respond to them, aside from guarding my own time (and my families). --Jason I too hope to see the ‘Victory! I went to Church!’ post (though, knowing you it’ll be sans-exclamation points. ;-) ).

Mark Spencer (Internet Monk) has a lot to say about church culture and burning out those people who are most attached to it… I have to say I agree with his critiques, but I’m not sure of the best way to respond to them, aside from guarding my own time (and my families).

–Jason

]]> By: Mark Covington http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9757 Mark Covington Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:16:38 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9757 I believe the problem here is your inability to say "no." It doesn't have to be a negative thing when it is said and as a pastor I always honor that. Perhaps you should talk to your pastor and tell him that right now you need to be IN church and not busy AT church. I am praying for you. Mark I believe the problem here is your inability to say “no.” It doesn’t have to be a negative thing when it is said and as a pastor I always honor that. Perhaps you should talk to your pastor and tell him that right now you need to be IN church and not busy AT church. I am praying for you.

Mark

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9756 Geof F. Morris Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:49:49 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9756 Amy: Perhaps I should define what I mean by being religious. :) I think that religion is a search for the divine. I don't think that religion always ends with a belief in the divine---plenty of people practice religion and then find that they have no faith in the divine. Me personally, I don't understand and can't really relate to that, but I think that it's certainly a possible outcome of the search. I'm aware that I'm using religious in a way that is not standard. But, well, it's my blog, and I'm allowed to be as malleable as I want, right? ;) [I am not surprised to hear this from you *at all*.] Amy: Perhaps I should define what I mean by being religious. :) I think that religion is a search for the divine. I don’t think that religion always ends with a belief in the divine—plenty of people practice religion and then find that they have no faith in the divine. Me personally, I don’t understand and can’t really relate to that, but I think that it’s certainly a possible outcome of the search.

I’m aware that I’m using religious in a way that is not standard. But, well, it’s my blog, and I’m allowed to be as malleable as I want, right? ;)

[I am not surprised to hear this from you *at all*.]

]]> By: Amy http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9755 Amy Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:42:20 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9755 'being spiritual but not religious is kinda like being intelligent but uneducated' Not really sure how to respond to that. It bothers me, though I haven't been able to pin down why. However, if your beliefs are such that church services suitably fulfill them, then you need to go. I know it's weird to hear that coming from me, but it's true. If this is your path, then put on your shoes and walk it with gladness. Or coffee until gladness kicks in. :) ‘being spiritual but not religious is kinda like being intelligent but uneducated’

Not really sure how to respond to that. It bothers me, though I haven’t been able to pin down why.

However, if your beliefs are such that church services suitably fulfill them, then you need to go. I know it’s weird to hear that coming from me, but it’s true. If this is your path, then put on your shoes and walk it with gladness. Or coffee until gladness kicks in. :)

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9754 Geof F. Morris Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:02:07 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9754 I was chasing a girl! Better yet, an Episcopalian working at an EPC church. Fish out of water. Anything Reformed is a no-go for me, really, even though I have friends at Sojourn Huntsville. [Hi, EA.] I was chasing a girl! Better yet, an Episcopalian working at an EPC church. Fish out of water.

Anything Reformed is a no-go for me, really, even though I have friends at Sojourn Huntsville. [Hi, EA.]

]]> By: Mike Escutia http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9753 Mike Escutia Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:59:23 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9753 Geof at a Presbyterian church? Who'd a thunk it? ;) Okay, how about Sojourn Church [http://sojournhuntsville.org/]? Or one of the churches listed here: http://churchsearch2.9marks.org/viewState.php?code=AL Geof at a Presbyterian church? Who’d a thunk it? ;)

Okay, how about Sojourn Church [http://sojournhuntsville.org/]? Or one of the churches listed here: http://churchsearch2.9marks.org/viewState.php?code=AL

]]> By: Jeremy http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9752 Jeremy Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:52:13 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9752 Geof - I really do hope to hear that you made it to church even if you don't feel like it. And looking forward to your post about it - the good, the bad and the ugly. Jeremy G. Geof – I really do hope to hear that you made it to church even if you don’t feel like it.
And looking forward to your post about it – the good, the bad and the ugly.
Jeremy G.

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9751 Geof F. Morris Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:50:42 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9751 Central is the last place I was at, Mike. ;) Central is the last place I was at, Mike. ;)

]]> By: Mike Escutia http://gfmorris.com/2009/04/18/where-my-head-is-on-the-whole-church-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-9750 Mike Escutia Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:46:39 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/?p=5709#comment-9750 Doooooooo it. :) I just did a quick search and found an EPC church in Huntsville, if that helps. http://www.centralpresb.org/ [Hey, you never said anything about sticking to Methodist churches... ;) ] Doooooooo it. :)

I just did a quick search and found an EPC church in Huntsville, if that helps. http://www.centralpresb.org/

[Hey, you never said anything about sticking to Methodist churches... ;) ]

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