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Post by Anonymous one on Apr 9, 2006 13:19:32 GMT -5
Are professing folks sort of expected to attend a fellowship meeting when on vacation? I never did. But sometimes a worker would say something like "Did you get to a Sunday morning meeting while you were away?" When I was younger , I let this bother me. The older I got the less I cared what they thought about things. Workers are quick to provide you with a phone number of a meeting in an area. Sometimes you might have to drive hundreds of miles out of your way to find a meeting. And with gas nearly $ 3.00 per gallon, that doesn't set well!  |
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Post by Greg Lee unplugged on Apr 9, 2006 14:17:14 GMT -5
Drive hundreds of miles to get to a workers' fellowship meeting? Where do you vacation? Saharan desert? Siberia?
If you are in the workers' church, why would you not want to get to a meeting? Have you no zeal?
The workers' Sunday morning meeting should be the highlight of your week, outshining even the best day of any vacation.
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Post by guest101 on Apr 9, 2006 15:57:38 GMT -5
It often is one of the highlights of a vacaction- and what I remember yrs after more than all the attractions we went to. Can still picture alot of the folks in my mind.
We never drove a 100 miles out of our way to do it either, and there have been lots of times we have missed.
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Post by hey on Apr 9, 2006 16:48:03 GMT -5
There are places in southern US where you may drive over 100 miles between Sunday morning meetings. Mississippi, Western TN, KY, Louisiana, Arkansas, WVA, etc.. Strange people in a meeting puts a strain on everyone IMHO. Elder doesn't know if you are professing or not. Or if you partake of the emblems. Speaking before a group of strange people.
I was once praying in a strange meeting and I lost my thought and stopped. Felt stupid. But I was young in those days and shy.
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Post by Greg Lee unplugged on Apr 9, 2006 17:14:59 GMT -5
There are places in southern US where you may drive over 100 miles between Sunday morning meetings. Mississippi, Western TN, KY, Louisiana, Arkansas, WVA, etc.. "Hey" did you write the first post? If so, where did you vacation in those states? |
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Post by Wlas Kotek on Apr 9, 2006 17:33:44 GMT -5
Annonymous one, you need to have a vacation in Europe. Over there gas is round about $7-8 dollars a gallon !
Feel any better ?
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Post by LaContessa on Apr 9, 2006 17:48:10 GMT -5
We have a timeshare in Cozumel. No meeting remotely close. 3 years ago, my husband and I were shopping in the grocery store for our weeks supplies and ran into a widowed man and his 4 children from our area. In our conversation, we both agreed it would be nice to get together for some quiet fellowship on Sunday morning. It was so very special and their kids still talk about it. Our worship on that Sunday was memorable. There was no expectation, just a great desire on both our parts.
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Post by bowhunter on Apr 9, 2006 19:32:06 GMT -5
My family took an annual Texas winter vacation for several years.We stayed with un proff.relatives and never made any attempt at meeting.Only one time we found out there was a special meeting in a nearby town.
We attended both meetings and enjoyed it except for not being aquainted w/anyone except for a young man I knew from a harvest crew in Neb.We never felt guilty and no one asked.
Our summer vacations were focused on conventions around the country,we usually went to one as a family and when we were old enuff to drive we went on our own here and there.
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Post by jxr on Apr 10, 2006 6:26:19 GMT -5
Drive hundreds of miles to get to a workers' fellowship meeting? Where do you vacation? Saharan desert? Siberia? If you are in the workers' church, why would you not want to get to a meeting? Have you no zeal? The workers' Sunday morning meeting should be the highlight of your week, outshining even the best day of any vacation. Exactly! A true believer will arrange their itinery to take advantage of all that free accommodation that would otherwise go begging. I mean, how better to get to a meeting than for the locals to take you there? |
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Post by ex-teenager on Apr 10, 2006 6:59:38 GMT -5
Are professing folks sort of expected to attend a fellowship meeting when on vacation? I never did. But sometimes a worker would say something like "Did you get to a Sunday morning meeting while you were away?" When I was younger , I let this bother me. The older I got the less I cared what they thought about things. Workers are quick to provide you with a phone number of a meeting in an area. Sometimes you might have to drive hundreds of miles out of your way to find a meeting. And with gas nearly $ 3.00 per gallon, that doesn't set well! First of gas here is $7.00 a gallon -- (converted using xe.com) so be thankful its so cheap in your part.. but then our cars are more efficent generally! We wouldnt generally go to a meeting when we are away, though this year we did, only three people normally at the meeting... no expectation to attend we WANTED to attend! Once we had an informal Bible study whilst away, again no 'you must get to a meeting'... wouldnt expect that to happen! |
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Post by guest5 on Apr 10, 2006 7:08:24 GMT -5
Sounds like Greg Lee has put on his "worker's hat" again.
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Post by attender on Apr 10, 2006 7:30:55 GMT -5
We have several times not been anywhere near a meeting, so just went to the local church - whatever that was.
It has always reminded us what we haveescaped from - such pompous, pretentious piety
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Post by Escaped on Apr 10, 2006 10:23:21 GMT -5
It has always reminded us what we haveescaped from - such pompous, pretentious piety[/quote]
Right! No pompous, pretentious piety around here.
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Post by botany on Apr 11, 2006 16:23:41 GMT -5
With regards to criticism of not wanting to drive many miles (someplace that is just way too far away...), I wonder if workers expect someone to drive that distance -- while on vacation and/or on a regular basis? My reason for bringing this up is that for those of us who actually punch a clock for our money, it is (was) a big deal to consider whether or not to use that much gas. I wonder how realistic workers are in their views when it comes to finances and what they expect of the friends (in this case with driving around to Sunday/Wednesday meetings and gospel meetings). andy  |
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Post by botany on Apr 11, 2006 16:29:15 GMT -5
Regarding gas prices in Europe VS United States: I think part of the problem with the U.S. is that it is so big. There is still "plenty" of room to sprawl, and so people sprawl... they build suburbs, build their quaint home in the country, etc... All leaving no choice but to travel long distances. Add to that the problem of an automobile industry that is stupidly lax on improving gas mileage over the years, (quite stagnant for over 20 years!) and it is easy to see why people care complaining here in the U.S. Well, if vehicles here were more gasoline efficient, then we wouldn't really have quite the problem, would we? If vehicles in Europe are a more efficient as Teenager says, and what I suspect are shorter driving distances (I personally don't know, it's hear-say from people who have been to Europe) then I wonder if the "monthly" gas bill comes out to be roughly the same?? I dunno... andy |
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Post by ClayRandall on Apr 11, 2006 20:51:43 GMT -5
I see nothing wrong with taking the time away from your vacation to go to meeting. It is a gift from God that I am able to have enough money to go away for some relaxation and fun, and it seems perfectly reasonable for me to spend some time honoring and worshipping God.
And I'm not talking about some lame silent prayer as you speed down the slope of a roller coaster, or sitting on the beach sipping a drink - but rather a worship service of active, focused attention on God.
This was one thing I learned from my professing parents. We always went to meeting even when we were on vacation.
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Post by ugh on Apr 11, 2006 21:21:57 GMT -5
when I was a kid, convention was our vacation. we never went anywhere else. no beaches, no national parks, no sightseeing. nada. just to convention with those hard benches and longwinded sermons about how wonderful the way is... yada yada yada
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towit
Senior Member
. . .with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right. . .
Posts: 295
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Post by towit on Apr 11, 2006 21:52:19 GMT -5
I see nothing wrong with taking the time away from your vacation to go to meeting. It is a gift from God that I am able to have enough money to go away for some relaxation and fun, and it seems perfectly reasonable for me to spend some time honoring and worshipping God. And I'm not talking about some lame silent prayer as you speed down the slope of a roller coaster, or sitting on the beach sipping a drink - but rather a worship service of active, focused attention on God. This was one thing I learned from my professing parents. We always went to meeting even when we were on vacation. Hey Clay, Very nice post. It sounds as if you have nice, God fearing parents as well. I'm not sure if I have mentioned this story to you or not, but I had a project late last year in which I and another fellow had to stay late and work on getting a computer network moved over to a new system. The network had to be switched overnight- and it absolutely had to be up and running by the next morning. He and I were the only two working on the project. He had flown down from New York, I had never met him, so as we worked through the night, we began talking and getting acquainted with each other. I discovered he was Catholic, and me, not knowing anything about Catholicism, I began asking him questions. And, much to my surprise, he answered them with good and thoughtful answers. But, what really impressed me was this: he was already planning on attending Mass the following morning (a Friday). He said he hadn't missed a mass in over 16 years. So, even though he was now in a strange city and a big morning ahead of us regarding work- he was going to Mass. Some on this site like to ridicule the 2x2s for their zeal regarding getting to meeting. I have to tell you- that man's zeal and his obvious love for Mass (and yes- Jesus) made an impression on me. Its not "work's based" if it is something that you love to do. Sincerely, towit |
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Post by hi there on Apr 12, 2006 16:05:40 GMT -5
Towit, there has to be a balance between love and zeal. Too much zeal in ANY church without love can lead to self righteousness. Church services have their place but many Christians (professing or otherwise) put too much emphasis on getting together instead of worshipping the one they should be worshipping. God spoke to Zaccheus in a tree, Moses in the desert, Elijah in a cave, etc.. Too much emphasis on getting to church/meeting.
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towit
Senior Member
. . .with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right. . .
Posts: 295
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Post by towit on Apr 12, 2006 16:25:34 GMT -5
Towit, there has to be a balance between love and zeal. Too much zeal in ANY church without love can lead to self righteousness. Church services have their place but many Christians (professing or otherwise) put too much emphasis on getting together instead of worshipping the one they should be worshipping. God spoke to Zaccheus in a tree, Moses in the desert, Elijah in a cave, etc.. Too much emphasis on getting to church/meeting. Hi, I don't disagree with you for the most part. However, I don't think you can have too much zeal for Jesus. I also don't think that if a person has that geniuine love for Jesus that it will lead to self-righteousness, I think that it will lead that person to take off their "crown" and say- "Thou art worthy!" to Him. I also think that that love for Him will behoove us to want to attend fellowship with fellow believers that also love Him. Remember that communion is held in meetings in which we partake of the Body of Christ and do in remembrance of Him. Anyway- just my opinions. I thank you for yours. Sincerely, towit PS - I don't disagree with you regarding that simply going to meetings/church without our focus being on Christ- can definetely lead to self-righteous thoughts. |
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