Are you ready to challenge...your own cohorts?

[knollwood]

hasset - I also think about that. How can one be a christian and a democrat? A lot of things that the democrats currently stand for is totally against christian values.

mndapa - It is interesting that you brought up today's clergy and what they preach. Our pastor is not afraid to talk about the current issues and preach the truth. We are going through the 10 commandments right now and talking about their relevance in today's world. Just last Sunday he brought up how Obama just made the month of June - gay/lesbian month. On Sunday evening in our Bible study we were just talking about Israel and current events in relation to the end times.

When we first moved to the Brainerd lakes area about 10 years ago, we also visited many churches and prayed for God's guidance. I agree that you need to visit a new church at least 3 times before making a decision. I also agree that attending church is not required for salvation - just an important part of growing together in the faith and supporting each other.

"If you have accepted Christ, you are already part of THE CHURCH" AMEN!!

[hasset]

Knowllwood, As a pastor's daughter, you must have heard it all!

When I was a kid, my church gathered up a group of people to go to Mississippi to help get the black people registered to vote and to stand guard when they did vote. It split my church in half. The people who left eventually came back. The next big split was when the church basement was remodeled and people had big fights over how to do the kitchen. I think they needed your church's agenda.

The church you go to must be a big prize. Current events is such a big part of what churches should be talking about. The church may be the only place to hear about issues such as gay/lesbian stuff, abortion, etc.

I always remember hearing someone speak about abortion. The person had been a nurse at an abortion clinic and she said a poor little baby was born alive even though all chopped up and it cried. I get nauseated just thinking about it. The nurse quit the clinic and went on a speaking tour to try to stop the ugly practice. I couldn't have an abortion even if I had been raped by the ugliest, meanest, dirtiest person in the world. No one chooses his parents and neither does the baby from a rape. One baby is just like another.