Ending and Beginning

The old year has ended and the new year begun. And along with that transition of time there has been a transition of life which is probablly just as natural. For as time progresses from one period to another, things change in both the physical and spiritual rhelms of life. So for me the change from one spiritual congregation to another seemed natural. For I had grown to a point where the change was neccessary in order for growth to continue. And in both the physical and spiritual rhelms, growth always means change, even though in both rhelms it can at times be painful. Never the less, life without growth is not real life, but just existence. And I choose to live, not just exist and maintain the staus quo.

When I first started going to Spirit and Truth Worship Center, a non-denominational, non-affiliated congregation, I was seeking a charasmatic community that embraced the kind of lively worship I enjoyed. The rock style music and boisterous singing and display of praise really excited me. I have to admit it was some what intoxicating and appealed to me emotionally.

But as I spent more personal time studying the Word of God and growing in my knowledge of The Word, the more I felt detatched from what I was experiencing on Sunday mornings. After the charasmatic singing and praising God was over, there came messages that did not seem to be based on scripture. In fact in some cases the message seemed to be contradictory to scripture. And this began to make me feel uncomfortable.

I examined myself and my feelings and motives to make sure that I was not just be selfish and arrogant. I compared what was said and done at STWC with what I read in the Bible and in the seminary text books and comentaries I was reading. And I can to the conclussion that my discomfort was truly the Holy Spirit convicting me that what I was experiencing at STWC was not of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was not what I needed to be hearing and not where I need to be. I needed to be nourished with the Bread of Life, The Word of God, and I was going hungry. I needed to leave STWC and find a place where I could be properly fed.

Having made that change, I believe I have found a good spiritual home where I can continue to grow in God's Word and be led by the Holy Spirit. I believe that the emphasis of my new pastor on not becoming the best you can be by your own efforts, but giving over to the Holy Spirit so that you can be comformed to the likeness of Christ is just what I have been needing. I am looking forword to a year of spiritual growth and developement that will make me a better servant of my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

Praise be to God. Amen.