Where has the time gone?

Note: I'm going to try to keep this post short and stay around 500 words, rather than get all rambly and type 3,000. Though, I must say, I reserve the right to change my mind before this post is finished.

So, Elizabeth and I recently started going back to church. Whoa. I know, I never would have thought there would come a time in my life when I wasn't going to church. But, hey, things happen.

Thinks, like, oh, getting caught up in messy drama at church. Yeah, that can kind of put a damper on things. It's hard for me to believe that has been nearly three years ago.

Quick catch up for those that haven't heard the story (though if you're reading this blog, chances are you have) or have forgotten: was going to a church and actively helping out with the youth group before some things happened that caused me to say enough is enough and bail out. Long story short, there were a lot of hurt feelings all the way around, and it was very difficult for me to even want to step foot back in a church.

Then, in December '08, I lost my job and took a new one over in Texas. Found a tremendous church there. Had a Sunday night service I fell in love with. And a few young couples that I got to know. Loved the pastor. Loved the worship. Things were moving in the right direction. I was beginning to get a peace about things again. Then, bam! Lose my job and have to leave Texas. Another setback.

For those who don't know, my spiritual background is one who was raised in the Baptist church. I can't remember not going to church, honestly. Now, I went to a lot of churches through the years, but I was always in some church. Got baptized when I was around 8 or 9, because I knew that's what I was supposed to do. After all, I was raised in the church. At the time, though, I didn't really understand what I was doing and never had a life-changing experience into a relationship with God. Growing up, I was a good kid (mostly) and always was in church, but it wasn't until I was 16 and on a church mission trip that I was saved.

Flash forward to June 2009: Elizabeth and I move back to Alexandria, the site of all of my spiritual pain from a few years ago, and honestly I again just lost the desire to go to church. And once you get out of a routine of going to church on Sundays, it's so easy to continue to sleep in and not think a thing about it. So that's what we did. We just were lazy on Sundays and didn't go to church.

That changed a few weeks ago, though. After a challenge from my father-in-law, who finally said enough is enough and that it was time to get back in church, we decided to visit the church that Elizabeth grew up in over in Pineville. The church, which recently went through a messy split with its former pastor and lost a lot of members, was getting a new pastor and there was some excitement coming down the pipe.

So, we've been visiting, and it's been good to be back in the house of the Lord. I really like the pastor. He's a first-time pastor, after making a mid-life career change and serving as an associate at a bigger church in Alexandria for the past few years. I like his vision, and I like his heart. I think he's going to get things turned around, and pretty quickly, too.

I'm having to make some adjustments, though. The church is still pretty small, and it's made up of a mostly older congregation. While I was raised in traditional Baptist churches, I've been spoiled in my college years with a great worship experience at Common Ground, and my previous church also had wonderful praise music. It's been an adjustment going back to the traditional hymns, though not necessarily a bad one. I'm just not used to it.

This past weekend, while visiting friends in Ruston, I was able to attend Temple Baptist Church's 10:10 Gathering, and that was a wonderful experience. Talk about my kind of service. Man, that was nice. But that doesn't mean that's the only way to worship and experience God. Who knows what the future holds at this church -- or even if that's the place that Elizabeth and I are supposed to be, though I feel we are being called to be there at this time and place. I'm still reticent to jump right back in with both feet, as I did at my previous church, and I really want to take my time to visit and learn before really starting to serve again. But, my personality is to be one who is either involved or not, so I'm sure I will get involved in some way, shape or form. I have such a passion for teenagers that I'm sure the youth could use me in some capacity.

For now, though, it's just nice to once again be able to walk in a church and feel at home. It's nice to see the same faces week after week and begin to build relationships. It's nice to feel wanted and loved. I can honestly say I'm happy to once again be going to church on Sundays. And it just makes me think, why did I wait this long to start again?