Cody the only prohibited groups are if there is ANYTHING in background that would possibly be an issue in our shooting group for youth where we are so very strict all the rest, have at it, that was the only way we could get coverage with insurance for it, all that apply are told in writing and verbally 1 on 1 what will disqualify them so should not be any surprise or embarrassment to anyone, the adult LTC classes are open to any that can meet state rules. We have a review board for all adult and youth. We even go to the school and meet with teachers. You will not see and pointed toe boots at all here no flashy anything, many wear overalls with nice shirt, I bet there are 8-10 cowboy churches under an hour here some very large, none like ours.
In response to the OP, for most of my life, I have attended an established church regularly. As a child, I regularly attended what is now an Evangelical Covenant Church. I served as a youth minister for a Grace Brethren Church in California. Later, I was secretary-treasurer and a deacon in another Grace Brethren Church in California. I was a deacon at a Church of Christ in Texas and simultaneously filled in as an interim pastor for a Christian Church in the same city until they were able to find a full-time pastor. Moving to Maine, I was a member of, and deacon in an American Baptist Church for several years, leaving after a new pastor became caught up on the wrong side of a local political fight. Currently, I attend an independent church while we are staying at our camp or elsewhere up north. Although the church is non-denominational and unaffiliated, I would describe the pastor's theology as being Adventist in nature, although he disagrees. Curiously, or perhaps not, I identify as Anabaptist but have not lived near enough to an Anabaptist church to attend since leaving California in 1983. Consequently, the churches that I have attended vary widely. The church that I grew up in is Evangelical or Pietist in nature. But, the theology of my home church never made sense to me, I realized later because it was initially part of a small denomination known as Covenant Churches, which later merged with another denomination to become the Evangelical Covenant Church, but the pastor we had for most of my childhood was Lutheran. Moving to California, I found that every type of church imaginable was within driving distance so I spent some time reading the Bible and trying to decide which made the most sense to me, and I came across the Anabaptist Church. Although the Grace Brethren Church was a little more liberal than I would have liked, the specific churches that I attended were not, so that worked. Moving to Texas, we had only a few churches in the city that I lived in. As I remember, there was a Church of Christ, a Christian Church, a Southern Baptist Church, a Catholic Church, and a Reorganized Mormon Church. Initially, I began attending the Christian Church, mostly because most everyone there was involved in the volunteer ambulance service, including the pastor, who later became head of the State EMS Division of the Texas Department of Health. When he left, the church closed for a time, which is when I began attending the Church of Christ and became a member there. They later restarted the Christian Church, which is when I helped out behind the pulpit off and on for about a year. When I moved nearer to Hidalgo County, my wife and I attended a Southern Baptist Church, which fit the definition of a mega-church. In Maine, I chose the American Baptist Church mostly because my wife and I both liked the pastor, whom we are still friends with, although he has moved to Pennsylvania. There are large differences between Evangelical-Pietist, Anabaptist, Restorationist, Baptist, and Adventist, but I am really not confused. I identify with the more conservative of the Anabaptist churches, stopping short of dressing funny and giving up electricity. But I don't feel as if I have to accept everything that I hear from behind the pulpit in order to fellowship with a congregation, so long as those things are not salvational. In fact, in my current church, seeing as the congregation is so small, we often go out to eat after church or have dinner at the pastor's house, where I might argue the points of his sermon with him, as there is much we disagree on.
Sorry, Ken, but, basically, when anything "cowboy" is talked about, I get into somewhat of a frenzy concerning the word "cowboy". I know the difference between a rodeo cowboy, like I was, a ranch cowboy and a nightclub cowboy. I also forgot to say that my wife likes watching John Hagee's service from San Antonio, Tx, on her computer and I like watching Joyce Meyer Ministers on tv. I like John Hagee, but sometimes...…….well, if you have ever hear of him, you know what I'm talking about.
I frequently listen to random Anabaptist sermons online, and another church sends me weekly audio CDs, which I usually listen to, although perhaps not as attentively as I might in church, given that I am working at the same time. I have listened to Hagee and know of Meyer, but I don't follow either of them.
Where I live I guess the Ranch type would be correct, usually older than the Rodeo and Beer Joint bunch. Just rural ranch cow people.
Some of these responses remind my of why I quit attending church services over 15 years ago. While I haven't lost my faith, I have lost all patience at all the pettiness of the various supposedly Christian sects. Still arguing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin
When I was a Sophomore in high school, I attended services one Sunday evening with my girlfriend at her church. I remember because she told me to bring a school book, so I could get Monday's homework done, and I took a Latin book. Sure enough, all the teenagers sat in the back and did their homework! I guess you could say it was an educational experience. lol I tried to do some work, but couldn't. At a younger age, I'd have gotten "the look" from my parents if I were that rude, and the feeling was already ingrained by that time.
@Lon Tanner I envy you for your forebearance and understanding, compassion for, those who do not share your views. I wish I were like that; I'm not, unfortunately. Frank
During an interview prior to being hired at the Boise Rescue Mission, I was asked which denomination I was linked to and what church did I belong to. The questions are extremely valid because the first gives an indication about which direction one will teach and council whilst the other does essentially the same but denotes a degree of commitment. As I wrote, both questions are valid but questions that receive negative answers when they are presented to this personage. The beginning of the debacle lays squarely on my certifications and ordination which denotes that I am a Baptist but I later declared myself as non-denominational. I used to be a member of a Southern Baptist church in Atlanta but here’s the rub. By being accepted as a member of a church, one voluntarily places himself under the authority of the sect and whomever the heads of that sect might be. (Pastors, elders, deacons etc. ) May I repeat that? The underlying decree is that by becoming a member of a church organization one not only commits to that body but places himself under the authority, mentorship, and spiritual guidance of that body, which is where the question lies: Who do I trust to be that authority and mentor? Is there anyone who can fit that bill in such a way that I will submit to that authority? At this time the answer is, unequivocally.......no. I can easily go to church and worship with the body of Christ but so far as committing to and falling under the authority of that body, well, it just isn’t in the books for me at this present time. Spiritually, I fall under only one authority for whom I do readily submit....Jesus Christ which, pretty much takes out the middle man.............
When we 1st thought of our outdoor approach at our church some of the members balked as not traditional, so why not try it? We went from a small turn out to 3 Sunday services full and a Wed also with weeknight and Sat activities regular so the results speak for them selves, we would not care any if a student studied in service their choice but they came. I know when growing up I would have love to been involved in a church as we have now but ours was just a ho hum old fashioned regular thing. NOT ANYMORE!
My Wife and I were both raised in the Lutheran church. We were members of, and married in the United Presbyterian church. Over the years, God led us out of and into another 8 churches. They were Presbyterian, Christian Missionary Alliance, a mix of Full Gospel, Spirit filled & Evangelical churches. We were members of the Episcopal church, and have been members of a small, rural Presbyterian 1 mile from our house, for the past twelve years. We were blessed by the "decent & orderly" nature of the Presbyterians, the "Focus on Missions", by the CMA, the Liturgy & "Smells & Bells" of the Episcopalians. The full Gospel churches introduced us to "Worshipping in the Spirit, Speaking in Tongues, and Healing". It was interesting to hear about speaking in tongues in the Presbyterian church, and later to experience it ourselves, in other churches. I remember once, a Pastor laid the open Bible on the piano, and began playing in the Spirit. We also experienced "Prophesies and Interpretations" in the services. We also experienced "Dancing in the Spirit" in the Episcopalian church. These have been exciting and blessed times, as we have seen God at work in each church. We feel like we received a more rounded "equipping of the saints". God was faithful in leading us into and out off these churches, for various reasons. Some just became full of division and exploded. A few just went away. As members of the BOC (Body of Christ) we sometimes lose sight of the World wide nature of Christ's Body. I think of the verse: "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you"!
Know what breed of cattle they raise? Angus, Brangus, Hereford, Limousinm, Texas Longhorn or what? I've been to Stockyards, Auction Yards and Feed Lots. I've seen Pen Rides bring cattle to the auction ring to sell and have been inside an auction area seeing beef cattle sold.
Which brings me to an important point @Joe Riley. The Baptist church as a whole (and all of it’s sects) and nearly every other denomination is pretty split when it comes to the “supernatural” gifts of the Holy Spirit. As ensampled in the thread “Do You Believe in Prophecy”, there’s a wide range of what people define as secular and spiritual prophesy and whether or not they believe it has any validity. Those whole range of gifts spanning from speaking in tongues to healing hangs in constant debate unless one goes to a full spirit church. My goodness, most denominations even call for a specific translation of the Bible. Once, many years ago I was asked to read a scripture in a Bible study and when the lead saw that I was using a Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible she stopped me cold and said that that rendition wasn’t allowed in the study nor the church.......so I got up and left and never went back. I also used to own a 1611 KJV and the pastor was horrified when I brought it to church and one pastor recently admonished me in front of the congregation for having a Scoffield KJV simply because he didn’t agree with one of the notations at the bottom of a page. No, to me it’s a matter of accepting the Bible as a whole and having the ability and willingness to study what is written in order to discern what a particular scripture is saying without taking it out of context. I won’t pick out any particular scripture to define who I am which is what most churches will do even to the point of printing it in their doctrinal statement. I’m a Jesus Christ believing, Holy Spirit gifted child of God and if I find a church which is that simplistic and without the interior politics and fandangles, I might reconsider my stance. By the bye, Great Post @Joe Riley!!
Our Tues and Sat sales here are some great eating at the sale many go just for the food available there. Tues is the day for the real ranchers, Sat for the hobby farmers as we refer to them.