Keith_Landry's Blog

Hi Keith,

Nice meeting u Sunday at the Home Show. No, u do not have to go to church to worship God. I believe alot of hipocrites go to church. If every person that walked through the doors of any type of church came out of church and continued practicing what they preach in the church then this world would be a better place. My neighbor works for a very large Baptist Congregation, he just bought a used newer car and after the services he got in his car to leave, someone had backed into his car and dented it, did they leave their name and number or wait till he showed up, oh hell no, but they just came from Sunday Service. The dent costed him $500 out of his pocket. Does this restore my faith in people that go to church, oh hell no........

Keith,
Great question. One in fact that I had to answer for my husband the first time last year when he gave his heart to God. (Lasted only a few weeks) He said " I love God but I'm not into going to church, do I have to go to church to worship? Can't I just talk to God my way?. My answer "Sure you can...but without fellowship it will be hard for you. His work took it's toll on his religion because the only people he ever had contact with were unsaved (and drinkers). He just couldn't do it. Fell back into sin.
Over a month ago now he returned to God only this time he did go for the first time to church with me. He attends often and the men he has met uplift him. That my friend is my response. No, you do not have to go to church to worship...but you'd sure better go somewhere to be with people who can keep you from falling or pick you up when you do.

No, look how many different countries do not have buildings to worship in, but yet still gather and follow God's Word. In the Bible, Jesus stated you can tear down the temple and within three days Jesus could rebuild it again. What Jesus was referring to is His dying and rising again on the 3rd day. Our bodies are the Temple of God and worship begins there. If you go into Church follow the footsteps of being, what's defined in man's eyes as a good Christian, then you walk out and pass by a poor person in the streets and look the other way, or in today's time, close a door in a co-workers face or belittle someone for wrongful gain, what have you learned? Did you take God with you when you left the Church, or did you leave God behind? Is God one that you visit only one to two times a week when your fellow man dictates you to? Or do you talk to God everyday and be thankful for yet one more morning, and day that has been granted to you. Prayer is for building your self esteem, building the strength you need to believe in yourself, to help your family, and others around you each day. We do this 24/7. Faith is believing in the good of others around you, and having the faith to believe in something you cannot see or touch and having faith that good will come out in everyone around us. We do this 24/7. Love is not just loving your spouse and family, but having the love of doing what's right to make a good positive difference is someone's life, love is being able to forgive someone when they make a mistake or fall short of what we expect. We do this 24/7 as well. Look at all the

Oh Lord..YSBRobin..you hit this one on the nail indeed. For me Keith, I used to go to church every Sunday for the sake of my children but I teach them, as YSBrobin just said..its all in the Bible and your body is your temple. What amazes me the most living here in Florida is for crying out loud you can find 10 to 15 so called churces in one strip. I think that's a joke. It is sad how anyone now a days can called themselves PReachers, Pastors what have you and even worst they are feeding on our youngs. For me, I tried to tell my now 18 year old daughter to watch herself of the schemers and shyster in these ministries actually robbing the poor to benefit themselves and if you think about it I have to agree with Ory here..its more corporations and business then churches..personally I don't trust them. Until I find somewhere that I feel comfortable and trustworthy I will continue to pray in my back by my waterfall and/or in my bedroom. JDarwin I think you are a very honorable person to share your thoughts so honestly ..and pray that you will have a changing experience..God is everywhere and sees everything..don't ever doubt that..I guess you will know when your time is here. God Bless all of You.

Gorilla, This topic is important to me and I would like to Blog about it and have it posted on my site in a couple of days. I really enjoyed reading what you have written. I would like to ask you if you would consider adding to my post when I complete it. It really won't be too much different, or if at all, than what I have already written. I just know sometimes Blogs disappear, and from time to time I'd like to add something similiar to my page. Basically because I'm not sure where they go once they disappear...lol. Normally I do not copy sayings unless there is a problem I need to tackle, and yes I copied everything on the last one, but then if I only copied certain ones, then one particular person would have ranted and raved if I did that and call me unfair. So the best thing was to post everything and not leave one thing out. That is why I am asking you on this one. In today's time of man made religion, it is nice to see some one have a similiar intake on it as well. Some people just have no ability or want to change their perception, and/or what I call their inner self, I suppose that's why that will lead many people down the wrong endless path. Anyway, thank you.

signal12....forgive me for saying, but you are just toooooo cute...lol. I know I have to be careful or people will think I'm trying to pick you up...lol. If you ever get the chance, watch Shepherd's Chapel, usually comes on very early in the am. Or you can look it up on line. I like the older of the two in the way he teaches from the Bible. Get's one thinking.... ugh! Now you're getting me to feel I need help for my thinking problem..lol

I believe in what your saying didaskalos, the problem is, is that so many people are close minded today, and even many Pastor's, Preachers, whatever their title may be are teaching individuals to be the same. As an example, we know children are impressionable at an young age. My child goes to a private school, and I went to the Church service they offered and allowed my child to go to Sunday school to see what it was like. I was saddened to find yet another batch of "religious" individuals working so hard to lead our children down the wrong path. How is it man can make an assumption and teach what is not clear in the Bible? Why would a teacher state to the children that animals have no souls? Man himself, does not see a soul, so therefore how can he teach who has one and who doesn't. For one thing, you can't do that to children, they are not old enough to understand something like that, they love their animals and to tell them that they are of no importance to God, what right do they have in doing that? The Bible also states not to teach in away that will make people become discouraged either. And not to represent one's self in a way that will cause harm in someone making the choice to believe in God or not. In the Bible, it tells us that in time, all animals will live side by side with us and no one will be harmed. Yes we know what that is saying, but the problem I have, is man's interpretation of the Bible. As Gorilla stated, you cannot change one's beliefs, however I am really beginning to believe one's perception can not be changed either if one can not think for the

The church I attend, doesn't pass the offering plate, but rather has a collection box in the back of the worship center. Visitors are thus, never pressured to give anything. Those who are ministry partners of the church give as they, the individuals, feel directed to do so by God. The pastor doesn't know who gives or what they give. It isn't about money, it is primarily about connecting with God and secondly about connecting with other believers and reaching out with the love of Jesus to those who have yet to believe.

Truth and truth claims are important, however. Jesus, while being VERY Inclusive (reaching out to all = "the Scope") was aslo VERY Exclusive (claiming to be the unique way of salvation = "the Means" - John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.")

To expose an error or to critique a religion is to maintain intellectual honesty. It is not mean-spirited or wrong to shed light onto a subject. It is not unkind, if you are at the beach to let others know that there is a shark in the water and that sharks can, and sometimes do, bite humans causing injury and possibly death. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

cont'd
negativity, therefore creating an unnecessary feeding frenzy. So, instead of pointing out the wrong of others, share the positive teachings and reinforcement needed to ensure everyone creates a Temple of Worhsip within themselves, therefore, by example when they go out, seeds of solid trees that will not fall will be planted, not weeds that can be picked and thrown away or burned. The Bible shows, Jesus as our only one and true Teacher. When one becomes a teacher in today's world, one should really re-read the Bible and stick to God's Word in teaching. Look at the Book of Job, how often does that relate in today's times? We are supposed to support each other and lift each other up, especially in hard times, look around this Blog site and how sad is it that no one takes the blame for what has been done wrong, but yet many point the finger of blame to everyone else while at the same time belittling someone for the bad choices they may have made? Yes, I do believe, the way to True Everlasting Life is only through Jesus, and looking to God everyday, 24/7, but yet even still, this perception cannot be contained within four walls either.

didaskalos, thank you for your patience and restating it a little differently for me, I clearly understand what you were stating now and I completely agree.