Soul of My Shoes: Lead by example, please

Very often, I feel that I need to be back in church and involved in a church family so that I get that constant reassurance and support that I need in order to maintain my faith. I have so many options as to where I could go and who I could go with but I can't seem to make it in every Sunday morning. I hate the feeling of missing out on something so satisfying but more than that I despise the attitude of most "churchy" people that are there to judge and gossip. For those of you out there reading this that are this way, please don't take offense just know and understand that this is my blog and it portrays how I feel.

Today people get so hung up in denominations and formal processes that I think they forget the REAL reason that we are all there in the first place.

I have listened to so many people talk about the attire of visitors or even members to the point that I want to turn to them and ask if they have any clue about witnessing. What I mean by this is, if the person isn't well off enough to buy a brand new suit but the Lord called them into the building are you going to judge him? At least he walked in to hear God's word! Respect is important and necessary when in the house of the Lord, but do you think that he cares? He wants to lead his sheep to the promise land, not be a judge in a fashion show. People that are constantly shoving religion and pious behaviour down other people's throats aren't leading them to Christ, they are turning them off.

I am always way more impressed by people that live by example not by smearing it all over everything that surrounds them on a daily basis. Some people get in church and "pray" for others in trouble. Now, let me stop here and state that I believe in the power of prayer, but these people are straight up gossiping. When I was young and my cousins were young, we used to pray to NOT get lifted up in prayer because that meant that our friend's grandparents and family members might know about that sin we committed and wouldn't let us hang out anymore. Grant it, we shouldn't have been participating in something bad but it just was a bit tough growing up in small town USA where everyone knew everything and gossip blazed like wild fire. I just wish that all Christians had a pure heart when in church and when witnessing.

We should talk about God on a daily basis to whomever will listen, but we should also understand that making the general oblivious public think that we are a part of a clique that is unforgiving and relentless isn't accomplishing anything. Maybe I am too soft to witness. Maybe God didn't bless me with this gift, but I feel that actions speak much louder than words for all situations in life. As my co-worker just commented, Jesus came so that we were freed from the bondage of "rules". Sin is sin, there is no doubt about that but this world was created by God for us and not all of it is horrible.

Personally, I believe that God has a sense of humor and if you don't believe me, just look around you. If you can't find it there look around me. My family is crazy and wonderful but for us to remain sane, we like God, have to smile and realize that life is short and no one gets out of it alive.

I love the Lord, always have and always will, but I definitely need to hit the recharge option on my church going battery and get my booty back on the pew on Sunday mornings. If anyone has any suggestions, they would be great. Big has a home church and we may end up going there, but then again, maybe we should branch out and find one together as a couple starting out. I am not sure. What would you guys suggest?

Please don't think that I hate church-goers because I love being around other Christians that can fellowship with me, but I just loathe those that are hindering all of the perfectly fantastic examples that are out there are our jobs or in our communities.