Thanks everyone. I appreciate all of the well wishes and kind words. Even though I am hooking up with a particular denomination, doesn't mean that hold to all of their doctrinal distinctives. But that's okay. Most of them don't even know where the Southern Baptist stand on certain issues. But I didn't allow my differences to hold me back from going forward. I am there for ONE reason. There are several people who go there who believe in the second work of grace, as i firmly believe, but they still are able to go and worship freely. They have even been invited to sing. Someone even recorded it on a little camera recorder. Perhaps I will post it after I have listened to it.
But I asked my friend, who first invited me (Lonnie), just how he can worship in a church that is plain about their stance on Cessationism. He gave me some good wisdom. I hung on to it. There ARE people who attend there that genuinely love Jesus. And it would be very selfish of me not to go be with them when they meet. No one seems to care about the other one's personal beliefs.
I was using that as an excuse for a LOOOONG time to just NOT GO ANYWHERE! Because, well, frankly, I am content to stay at home by myself on Sunday morning. And to make my unsocial-ability okay with my conscience, I would tell myself: "Oh.....they got it all wrong!" or here is my well worn one: "I need to stay home with my mother, who is bedridden with a stomach tube etc etc". But it dawned on me that I could go to Wal Mart for an hour, or even metal detecting for an hour, and never have to worry about momma's well being. Because I always take necessary steps to insure her safety. Another one that I used was: "Oh boy!!!! Them Baptist shore do like their alliterated sermons. If I hear one more of them,.......I will pull my hair out!!!" I used that one alot.
But truth be told......no matter what name they got on the door, as long as there are people there who I know love Jesus......then there is where I need to be. (Also being frank when I say that I wish that a Calvary Chapel would set up shop in this town......or better yet.....a CMA congregation. I would not let the door bump me in the tail as I said my farewells and changed memberships) Well, I see more eye to eye with CMA and Calvary Chapel distinctives. Anyway....hey......THANKS for the kind words. Now, I can start praying for my fellow members and the pastor.