tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183263500164049344.post7962739212179354601..comments2023-09-28T10:51:06.218-04:00Comments on ANNIE B. JONES: 4/52 :: seeking. Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899277351488775904noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183263500164049344.post-10800932890256262132015-02-22T18:58:52.328-05:002015-02-22T18:58:52.328-05:00It's interesting how we so quickly make assump...It's interesting how we so quickly make assumptions about what we don't know, isn't it? If I'm honest with myself, I really don't know anything about the Anglican Church, and even if I did, who am I to judge? I think it's wonderful that you finally found a place that you feel is right for you guys, whether it's just for a season or it's for the rest of your life. I think Christians get way too caught up on titles and denominations, and we miss the whole point of why God came - to love and save people. I hope you continue to have peace in your new church home.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11795443293603098407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183263500164049344.post-56739455866815679522015-02-12T00:49:30.980-05:002015-02-12T00:49:30.980-05:00I believe that questioning and searching is the jo...I believe that questioning and searching is the job of the faithful. It's easy to stay in a church you grew up in, one in which you have a long and storied history. Comfortable, safe, familiar. But maybe that's not what God wants from us. Maybe He wants us to risk, question, learn something new, do something new. Our floundering brings us closer to God.<br /><br />I had a slightly different experience than you. I grew up Catholic and after high school attended a liberal, faithless college. I searched for years trying to find something that fit. Ultimately, I returned to the Catholic church when our eldest son was born. It was what I never knew I always wanted.<br /><br />I can say all those years of guessing and searching and trying things out made me so confident in my faith. I believe the same will happen for you. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05924624946575053220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183263500164049344.post-81568420787872532842015-02-02T19:52:44.562-05:002015-02-02T19:52:44.562-05:00I say again...you're not alone! Love this.I say again...you're not alone! Love this. Leslie https://www.blogger.com/profile/04674419665362959932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183263500164049344.post-82349613026907607822015-01-27T21:21:41.960-05:002015-01-27T21:21:41.960-05:00Hmm. This is good. Currently my husband and I are ...Hmm. This is good. Currently my husband and I are attending a church that is far more conservative than either of us would prefer. But the newly married class we go to? Heaven. We are part of an incredible community of believers in the exact stage as us. We have met some of our best friends there. <br /><br />And so our current predicament has brought me to this thought: Church, or the church you are currently attending, doesn't always have to check all your boxes. It just needs to be a place that you experience the community of Christ and get to worship God. That's it. It won't be perfect until we get to heaven.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12273332040445112648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183263500164049344.post-16830854012067709452015-01-27T18:10:22.017-05:002015-01-27T18:10:22.017-05:00Annie, I can relate to this so much. The Spirit ha...Annie, I can relate to this so much. The Spirit has been stretching Hunter and I more than I would have anticipated these past years in Athens. Especially now that we have Grady...our son, who we pass on our friendship and hope in Jesus. We ask a lot of questions about our upbringing and what we were taught and if we will teach him the same things. It is so comforting to know we aren't the only ones searching. I think searching is incredibly Biblical and beautiful. Thank you for your thoughts...Ashley Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11009698753480603790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183263500164049344.post-72165135639821333922015-01-27T12:21:58.982-05:002015-01-27T12:21:58.982-05:00Thanks for writing this, Annie. It makes me feel g...Thanks for writing this, Annie. It makes me feel good to know that there are intelligent, faithful Christians who still don't have the whole denomination thing figured out.<br /><br />My husband and I recently moved to Durham, NC so I can attend divinity school. I grew up in the Reformed Church in America (Calvin Calvin Calvin!) and husband grew up in a Pentecostal church, and both of us were left with questions and not sure we should be members of either denomination. (I haven't sworn off the RCA or anything; I would just need more time to wrestle with some theological things before becoming a member.)<br /><br />I've always been one for understanding a church's theology and using facts and reason for making (sometimes over-thought) decisions. So after a summer of hopping from one church to the next, I don't understand our landing on a church whose theology is still pretty unknown to me and just "feels" right. But it does and we're going with it and I think it's okay for now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183263500164049344.post-76589829133010408112015-01-27T11:55:46.323-05:002015-01-27T11:55:46.323-05:00Annie, I think I've told you this before, but ...Annie, I think I've told you this before, but in case I haven't--your thoughts on faith and religion and finding your own way have been one of the greatest comforts as I've had my own faith journey over the past several years. I don't love labels either, but sometimes in specifics, there is a lot of universality. Does that make sense? Your specific story feels so close to mine--worrying about history, and culture, and women's roles, and family, and tradition, and blood, and what in the world my parents will think. I know all of that so intimately, so it's nice to know that someone else (in a different place, from a different denomination) is experiencing it too. Thanks for being brave enough to share. Brittanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15882610343505172301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183263500164049344.post-44683737017397074922015-01-27T10:20:32.010-05:002015-01-27T10:20:32.010-05:00I really love your posts. I think we would be good...I really love your posts. I think we would be good real life friends. Alissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15877538844705936415noreply@blogger.com