I'm not attending a church currently although I wish I were. I really miss church. The only churches around here are all apostate...all mainstream Protestant churches and several Catholic Churches. The last church I belonged to was a United Methodist Church, which I grew up in. Although the people there were wonderful, the sermons and Pastors (we went through Pastors like crazy) not so much. I left when they started doing Rick Warren's 40 days Purpose Driven nonsense and haven't been back since. And have no intention of ever doing so.
It's hard for me to find a good church as I am severely hearing impaired and cannot hear what is being preached/taught. When I was attending my old church I went with my parents or one of my kids (they were my ears) but then my parents and I had a falling out and my kids don't like church so I don't go.
I really hate being a Lone Ranger Christian. Hebrews said for us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is and this makes me feel incredibly guilty and sad and frustrated but what else can I do?
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Post by wateredseeds on Jul 22, 2011 13:07:00 GMT -5
babydoll,
Depending on your theology, you could find an online church. I know Mike Hoggard streams his services. Though I'm assembly of God so that wouldn't really be for me. But you could find a church to be a part of. Even if you can't meet in person, you can still attend.
You aren't forsaking, you're here aren't you? We have to remember that in bible times they didn't have "churches" like we have today. They were most likely meeting at each others houses. If you are fellowshipping with other christians somewhere, you are fulfilling that verse. I think here qualifies.
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is condemnation before investigation. ~ Edmund Spenser
Thanks guys you're absolutely right! We're all 'assembling' on here, aren't we! Cool!
I would love to hear Mike Hoggard's sermons but they're not Closed Captioned. I emailed him a while back ago about this and have yet to 'hear' back from him.
My theology? Well I definetly don't believe in nor follow the UMC theology, that's for sure...thank GOD. Once I started studying the Bible on my own I realized just how apostate the UMC has become. John Wesley would be thoroughly shocked! Just one of the many reasons why I left the UMC.
Although I still miss the people there.
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
I long for when we'll all meet face to face! What a wonderful day that will be.
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is condemnation before investigation. ~ Edmund Spenser
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 22, 2011 14:10:12 GMT -5
Baydoll, at my church in Hawaii (gosh, how I miss it!) we had several members who were deaf. The husband of one had a ministry to the deaf, and he'd sign the services.
But as was pointed out, we are in a sense assembling here; on Saturday nights we even have live fellowship via chat, and you don't have to be able to hear for that. If someone wanted to, we could probably do a communion service too; everyone could just get their own bread and juice/wine, and all partake at the same time.
As for Mike Hoggard, here's his address: info@visitbethelchurch.com
He's home from Kenya, and very responsive to those who write him. Why don't we all send him a note (you too, lurkers!) and ask him to have his messages close captioned?
I long for when we'll all meet face to face! What a wonderful day that will be.
Me too, me too!!!
Amen!!!
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Baydoll, at my church in Hawaii (gosh, how I miss it!) we had several members who were deaf. The husband of one had a ministry to the deaf, and he'd sign the services.
But as was pointed out, we are in a sense assembling here; on Saturday nights we even have live fellowship via chat, and you don't have to be able to hear for that. If someone wanted to, we could probably do a communion service too; everyone could just get their own bread and juice/wine, and all partake at the same time.
As for Mike Hoggard, here's his address: info@visitbethelchurch.com
He's home from Kenya, and very responsive to those who write him. Why don't we all send him a note (you too, lurkers!) and ask him to have his messages close captioned?
You know, I don't get this...it's not only those of us who are deaf that are missing out but also the elderly who are hard of hearing. And many of the elderly are. Very few churches have any sort of program or anything to help the hearing impaired during the service.
What a wonderful idea! I would definetly like to have a communion service here....that's the other thing I really miss.
I'll write Mike Hoggard again, maybe my email didn't get through for some reason. I hope he responds, I really would like to be able to follow his sermons.
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Post by wateredseeds on Jul 22, 2011 14:43:40 GMT -5
babydoll,
When did you send him an email? Mike has responded to 2 of my emails personally. Usually it takes at least a couple of days though. He's busy. And actually it's very hard for him to respond to everyone. He gets THOUSANDS.
Sometime last month. I'm going to try writing him again. What email did you use?
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
He didn't answer mine either, I assumed it was because he was gone to Kenya.
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is condemnation before investigation. ~ Edmund Spenser
The poor man is probably busy.... I will try again and let you guys know if he responds.
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Are Hoggard's sermons all podcasts or does he have videos too? The reason I'm asking is because if they're all podcasts, then perhaps he could also post a transcript of each of his sermons. This is something else I could mention to him.
Pastor JD's sermons are on Youtube (I love Pastor JD!!!) and they're Closed Caption although Youtube's CC have much to be desired, lol. But Pastor JD articulates his words clearly so that I am able to lip read and understand for the most part what he's saying.
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 23, 2011 9:23:00 GMT -5
I've always had Mike get back to me when I asked a question, even if it was in the evening from his iPad! Sometimes I get an acknowledgment of something I sent for his Watchman update, and sometimes not...I guess it depends on how busy he is on any given day. (He always acknowledges donations, no matter how small.) I think that for something like this, the church addy is better than the Watchman one, because someone goes through them all right away: info@visitbethelchurch.com
He does videos, and then he usually does an audio-only a day later, but he's been "off" since he site was hacked into again.