Frank Baron
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Registered: 11-2011
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If you're a Christian
is attending church still a part of your life?
If so, do you go every Sunday, or only on special event days - Easter, Christmas etc.?
--- You can observe a lot just by watching - Yogi Berra
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12/14/2011, 1:28 pm
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cbets57
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Registered: 03-2006
Location: La Crosse WI
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Re: If you're a Christian
I'm what I call a Christian Spiritualist. I believe Jesus existed, but am on the fence about some of the Christian teachings. My childhood was very structured Lutheran.
I am not a practicing church-goer, and organized religion has left somewhat of a bad taste in my mouth. Hence, I do my own worshipping and praying in the privacy of my own home.
Yet, there is still a degree of guilt I feel when "celebrating" Christmas/Easter and will often attend service to relieve self-hypocrisy. LOL My own issue I just can't seem to shake.
--- Cindy
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12/14/2011, 2:55 pm
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Frank Baron
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Re: If you're a Christian
I was born and raised Catholic but haven't attended church since my late teens. (Except for other folks' weddings, funerals, baptisms etc.)
About all I miss are some of the trappings of ritual: candles, chants, incense and so on. And I used to enjoy just slipping into an empty church for a few moments. The silence and patterns made by sunlight through stained glass were soothing to the spirit.
Luckily, I can evoke the same sense of inner harmony (and then some) when sitting in the woods or alongside a creek or river.
--- You can observe a lot just by watching - Yogi Berra
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12/14/2011, 4:37 pm
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KittyF
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Registered: 12-2011
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Re: If you're a Christian
quote: Frank Baron wrote:
Luckily, I can evoke the same sense of inner harmony (and then some) when sitting in the woods or alongside a creek or river.
I heartily agree with you on that. Do you remember the story about, I think, St. Francis of Assisi being scolded for his almost refusal one morning to join the other men of the cloth with their indoor "prayers to God"? He apologized later and said he'd gotten too carried away communing with Mother Nature (outdoors in the woods or wherever) -- which of course is indeed a form of prayer and adoration.
I tried to Google for details, but am not coming up with anything. Does this ring a bell with you? Briefly, St. Francis was so emerged in God's beautiful outdoors he totally forgot about "worshiping" indoors with the human beings.
This always made a great impression on me. Mother Nature rocks!
*_*
--- Anyone who likes cats can't be all bad.
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12/14/2011, 6:48 pm
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ChunkyC
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Re: If you're a Christian
I was brought up Catholic but ran away screaming when I was 15.
To answer Frank's question about church: I do not attend and have only been inside one perhaps once or twice since my teens and only as a guest at a wedding or at a funeral.
And yes, nature rocks big time!
--- "The first five days after the weekend are the toughest." - A. Nonny Mousse
http://floodsweattears.blogspot.ca/
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12/14/2011, 7:56 pm
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Frank Baron
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Re: If you're a Christian
Kitty, I don't recall hearing that particular story about St. Francis of Assisi but it wouldn't surprise me. He was my patron saint and I read a (church-approved) book or two about him. Although my Catholicism is quite thoroughly lapsed, I've been thinking about him a fair bit the last few years.
He was known as the patron saint for animals and was always depicted with birds and other fauna surrounding him. I like to think of him as Catholicism's Pagan saint. Anyway, he was my kind of people.
--- You can observe a lot just by watching - Yogi Berra
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12/16/2011, 1:07 pm
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Jena Grace
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Registered: 08-2006
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Re: If you're a Christian
I'm a Christian and pretty strong in my faith. However, after having "issues" with the Lutheran services, I've stopped attending. I do occasionally go to Catholic services but I'm not permitted to receive Communion. I'm up in the air now about what I'm going to do...and I've been up in the air for about 5 years now.
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12/18/2011, 12:11 pm
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KittyF
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Re: If you're a Christian
At WN some time ago, I posted my story about Orange Peel's amazing message to me regarding "church attendance," and with just the slightest bit of encouragement I'll tell it again. Orange Peel was an adorable kitten.
Or maybe I'd better not.
*_*
--- Anyone who likes cats can't be all bad.
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12/18/2011, 4:41 pm
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Frank Baron
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Re: If you're a Christian
You go girl! <--- encouragement
;)
--- You can observe a lot just by watching - Yogi Berra
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12/18/2011, 6:06 pm
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Frank Baron
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Re: If you're a Christian
Cindy, Chunk, Jena, I appreciate your responses. :)
--- You can observe a lot just by watching - Yogi Berra
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12/18/2011, 6:07 pm
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