I love what you said about it taking all of eternity to know God. Wow. That’s what I’m talking about.

I’m glad you have found something like this that works for you. I’m jealous. I would hope I could find or create something similar someday.

Thanks for commenting!

“most every church I have been to seems to believe they have contained God.”

To me it is so incredibly beyond words that it takes all of eternity to know God…any less and God wouldn’t be God. Religion is so small.

“I have yet to find any one church that allows the freedom my faith needs to breathe.”

Me neither, although God has brought a handfull of families living the kingdom of god and so excited about it they desire to share what they are experiencing and realizing…no agenda, no services, no programs…just life, freedom and love boundlessly shared.

“I thoroughly trust in His forgiveness for the shortcomings of my humanity. Beyond that, I don’t claim to know much, and that’s OK with me.”

Beautiful.

Rick

I like what you said about trying to “capture the wind by closing the windows”. Good point!

I agree that prayer requests are manipulated in many ways, not just as gossip. Good observation. It really is an interesting phenomenon.

I was angry, bitter and hurt for a season. I’m not perfect, nowhere near it, but I have come a long way in healing. In this process of leaving church, God has been nothing but gracious and kind and patient with me. As hard as it may be, I realize He would like me to extend that same grace towards people whom I disagree with about matters of faith. I’m still learning, but that’s my desire.

Thanks again. Lily.

Thanks for this letter, in fact, I registered just to let you know. I’m going through a time right now in my life where some of those things just really “match up” with what I’m trying to say. I’m going to have to give “The Church is like a box; God is like wind.” a big thumbs up too, beautiful quote. I like the observation about gossip in prayer requests, sometimes they also seem to be a vessel for showing people your accomplishments. It’s weird. Anyways, props on a compassionate letter where it’s so easy to be angry and attacking. I enjoyed it.

Thanks,
Stefan

Tim – Thanks for the compliment. I love the spiritual imagery of wind.

I love this line. Love it!

I wonder if there is a possibilty for the church to be like the wind. I am reminded at the day of pentecost, which many cite as the foundational event for the church, that one of the spiritual phenomena was “the sound of a violent wind.”

Thanks for submitting your letter!