Suggestions church Sunday nights Dallas

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Jay

Amen, and there is nothing better than being in a church service.

Oh, I can think of MANY things better than being in a church service. Puttering around the house, sitting in the doctors waiting room, watching the hour hand move on the clock while waiting for your "delayed" flight to arrive, etc.

Yes, I am being sarcastic because I cannot stand (most) church services. I get heart palpitations and sweaty palms from the song service alone.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Oh, I can think of MANY things better than being in a church service. Puttering around the house, sitting in the doctors waiting room, watching the hour hand move on the clock while waiting for your "delayed" flight to arrive, etc.

Yes, I am being sarcastic because I cannot stand (most) church services. I get heart palpitations and sweaty palms from the song service alone.

That is what the altar is there for. Or was that because you were standing at the altar that you had palpitations and sweaty palms. (tic)

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Jay

That is what the altar is there for. Or was that because you were standing at the altar that you had palpitations and sweaty palms. (tic)

Naw, I'm actually very comfortable there as long as no one else is watching.
(A very important lesson I learned from my UPC days was to never let anyone see you pray. There is a specific reason for this as it relates to other people, but a second reason which amounts to nothing more than the fact that I consider it a very private thing.)

I have a long list of very bad associations with -church-. If you bit into the tastiest looking piece of fried chicken and discovered it was hollowed out and filled with live leeches I can guarantee that you would not eat fried chicken again. Now imagine actually doing it a few times thinking "ok, this can't happen again" and having the same thing happen each time.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Naw, I'm actually very comfortable there as long as no one else is watching.
(A very important lesson I learned from my UPC days was to never let anyone see you pray. There is a specific reason for this as it relates to other people, but a second reason which amounts to nothing more than the fact that I consider it a very private thing.)

I have a long list of very bad associations with -church-. If you bit into the tastiest looking piece of fried chicken and discovered it was hollowed out and filled with live leeches I can guarantee that you would not eat fried chicken again. Now imagine actually doing it a few times thinking "ok, this can't happen again" and having the same thing happen each time.

That is too bad. I lived through some less than pleasant experiences in church myself. I learned that people are still human no matter how much I may love and respect them. And for that reason I do not let them get to me.

As far as prayer, I try to have myself under the blood before I go to church. They do not need to hear me confess every mistake that I have made during the day. I have also learned to ignore people who may or may not be listening. If they are, I hope that they are blessed, and if they are not, I hope that they are also in prayer. Outside of that, let them listen.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Oh, I can think of MANY things better than being in a church service. Puttering around the house, sitting in the doctors waiting room, watching the hour hand move on the clock while waiting for your "delayed" flight to arrive, etc.

Yes, I am being sarcastic because I cannot stand (most) church services. I get heart palpitations and sweaty palms from the song service alone.

I have much the same experience in most church services. I'm generally ok where I attend right now, unless something unexpected happens or something just somehow hits a trigger right. I've left more than once in the middle of a full blown panic attack. Fun.....

Originally Posted by Jay

That is what the altar is there for. Or was that because you were standing at the altar that you had palpitations and sweaty palms. (tic)

When having anyone lay hands on you to pray is one of the triggers, the altar is the place to avoid.

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I have a long list of very bad associations with -church-. If you bit into the tastiest looking piece of fried chicken and discovered it was hollowed out and filled with live leeches I can guarantee that you would not eat fried chicken again. Now imagine actually doing it a few times thinking "ok, this can't happen again" and having the same thing happen each time.

You said this really well. Even where I attend now, over a year into this, I still have moments when I wonder when it's going to turn out to be just like the other churches. I realize that I just happened on some of the really rare places, but when you do it more than once you start wondering.... When those places leave you with trauma to work through, it starts creating a circular sort of situation. Trauma leads to reactions that are out of line which leads to reactions from others around you which leads to more trauma.... I'm really glad my pastor now is very solid and just doesn't feed the circle at all. It's allowing me to finally heal and start getting my feet under myself a little.

[Dordrecht]

When in church I sit up front.
That way I don't see any thing that bothers me.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

When in church I sit up front.
That way I don't see any thing that bothers me.

Being up front triggers panic attacks. I need a clear path between me and the exit in order to feel safe. Yes, I realize how completely unbelievable this sounds to those of you who don't have this kind of experience/response in church. Oh well. I've finally started sitting with a friend..on the inside so I'd have to crawl over her to get out. That's safe cuz anyone else would have to crawl over her to get to me. lol The brain is a messed up organ sometimes.

[OnTheFritz]

Originally Posted by Dagwood

Correct, I go to ALC.

Garland is my hometown, not where I live at the moment. But, I had visited North Cities back in 2000 for a little while during the summer months and had nothing but good to speak of it.

I hope you (as well as others, both locally and on here) will hear even more good things about ALC. There's no doubt in my mind God's will has been and is being done...

ALC sounds great! I may just have to start going there.

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by OnTheFritz

ALC sounds great! I may just have to start going there.

Well, by all means, brotha...c'mon! Actually, I believe I know your twin who goes there...

[Steve Epley]

50 years I have been in the church I have no complaints the church is my Mother. I have a wonderful Mother.