It is the season, where it rains everyday here in Florida.
Seeing how I have got this attraction to water, I simply love it!! It does
drive the humidity way up, but that is the price we pay to live in this State.
Right now as I am writing, we are getting a rain storm. I have this skylight in
my room, and it has the tendency to make it sound greater, than it really is.
However, the rain is pounding, as the thunder rolls!! I love it!!
I have been writing about some, of the churches, that I have
been visiting, in search of a home church. I don’t think, that I have included
them all, and if I didn’t, it is sad to say, but I didn’t count them worthy of
mentioning. I am hard core, on what I am looking for in a church, and I have no
guilt about it.
There is this one church that I have wanted to visit. They are
just up the street, from where I live. I have ridden past them a couple
Sundays, and went somewhere else. The way that I found them was on the
internet. The way that that described the church, was a multi-cultured, Holy Spirit
led, group of believers. I thought this
might be what I was looking for, as least it sounded like, what I was looking
for in order to worship.
I really like the influence of other cultures when I worship
Father. Honestly, I don’t like the way that a bunch of white folks only
worship. The Heaven that I plan to go to one day is a multi-cultural Heaven,
and I like to worship in that kind of environment. The other attraction that
drew me to this church was the fact that mentioned Holy Spirit. If Holy Spirit
is not the major part, of a worship service to me personally, it is just a
waste of time. If Holy Spirit doesn’t show up, and have His way, you might as
well have stayed in the bed!!
Ok. Let me tell you about this church. It is in a fairly small
building. I walked in the front door, and this young lady escorted me into the
next room, which was the sanctuary. She took me to the fourth row of chairs
setting together, and told me that it was my choice. I went about four, or five
deep, and set down, between two people.
The folks there were very friendly. They handed me a card to
fill out, because it was my first time. I didn’t mind doing this, but I would
not give out my phone number. I was setting there looking around, because I
wanted to see the other people there. When it was over, I guess the
multi-culture part, was the white girl setting with the pastor’s son. Besides
myself, and her all these folks were black.
I can say that honestly, the only time that I see the color of a
person is when I am looking for the color. I have come a long way from my
roots. I have this problem now, and it is that I really love people. Jesus came
into my heart, and gave me the love to give to others!!
Anyway, I was shocked at the reaction of these people, because
they just loved on me!! I am a glutton for affection, and I returned their love
with all of mine. I love to be hugged, and I love to hug others. Jesus has
changed everything for me, and I am drawn to those, that show any love for me.
The music was provided by four people. A keyboard player, a
guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer. They did a fantastic job on the music.
They played very lively music, the kind that I prefer to lead myself into a
place of worship. I love a God that is alive, and that is why I like lively
music. I can’t tell you how long they played, or how many songs, that they
played. They could have played a lot more, and I would not have been offended.
The pastor brought a message that did what I thought it was
supposed to do. It informed me of the ways of Father, and it also convicted me,
of the things, that I was doing wrong. If I don’t walk away with some level of
conviction, something is wrong. I am so imperfect in my walk, that if a
preacher doesn’t hit a nerve on me, then he is really not much of a preacher. I
might be a strange one, but I need all the correction, that I can get in my
walk!!
When it was all over, I need to back up for a minute. This man
of God was very informative, as well as entertaining in his sermon. He
presented himself, as an imperfect being, but he was called to preach. He was
humble, as well as bold. His message was awesome, because he was real. Now,
When it was almost over, he gave an alter call, and several folks responded.
I quickly realized that these people didn’t come to receive
salvation, but a touch from Holy Spirit. The man of God went to each one, and
laying his hands on them. He prayed for them. Some of them fell out in the
Spirit, and some did not.
I have to tell you this. There was this one girl, who was
praising the Lord in such a way, that I had done purposed in my heart, that she
would go out. The preacher approached her, and as soon as he touched her, she
fell out in the Spirit!! She stayed down for a few minutes, before she got back
up. Once she got up, I was looking at her. I knew that Holy Spirit was not
finished with this lady, and she feel back out!! This is the kind of worship
service that I need to be a part of. I
need a visitation of Holy Spirit. I need to feel His presence from start to
finish. This is what I believe that a church service should be like. The
building that we go inside is church, and what happens inside is pure worship!!
That is where we connect to the One that matters. The only One that makes a
difference!! Our Father, the Son which is Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.
I have run out of space writing this blog. I could tell you
something that was very cool. Although,
it might come up later, but not in this post. Then again, why not?
After the service was over I simply walked out the door. My
bicycle was around the corner, and I unlocked it, and started home. I chose a
direction to go that really made no sense at the time. It was up the street,
and around a block instead of straight home.
When I got back around to the church I realized why I had went
that way. The preacher was looking for me, because I had not given him the
opportunity to speak with me. He started yelling, and waving me back toward
him. I rode up to him, and parked my bike. He immediately stuck his hand out,
and as reach for his hand, it changed into a shaking embrace.
I was very impressed on two different levels. The first one was
the fact that I didn’t think, that I ever moved that fast. The second is the care that this man showed
toward me. I realized in his sermon that he really loves the flock underneath
his care. I didn’t even think that it would be extended in my direction. He
talked to me like I had been attending that church for years. I already was
well pleased with the events of that Sunday, and I had already planned to visit
the next Sunday.
……..Much Love
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