Comments on: In The Garden

By: Bobby Anderson

Bobby Anderson — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:25:26 +0000

Doug, Thanks for sharing the picture of your parents and brothers Dennis and Tom. It brought back great memories! Hope all is well.

By: Pam Holsen

Pam Holsen — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:49:33 +0000

My father at age 93 still recites the Norwegian table prayer, first in Norwegian of course and then in English. It’s a treasure to hear him say it. Some grandchildren may attempt it but none of us can speak Norwegian which we regret? My father always took his children, nieces and nephews every Easter to sunrise services and out for pancakes after church while all the other aunts and uncles went to church later. Loving memories with cousins who still talk about it. Thanks for your blog. I enjoy reading it.

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:52:16 +0000

@ Blaise, I have remained in the same religious denomination my entire life. Although many of my family members and my husband are part of the same denomination, and it is a “family tradition” to attend a Baptist church, the more important family tradition is the desire to grow in our faith and in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is important for me to attend a church where the Bible is preached and where God’s Word is more important than any book of catechism, theologian’s words, liturgy, or ritual. I encourage you to find a church that encourages you to place your relationship with Christ above all else. Not just a place where you live your faith on Sunday and put it on the back burner the rest of the week. Christ desires above all a deep and meaningful relationship with each of his sheep. I pray for you on your spiritual journey.

By: Janie isham

Janie isham — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:46:00 +0000

I enjoyed your story.As a proud member of FLC in Volga, I too have had a special place in my heart for this beautiful paintimg.Gods love and work is still alive and well in your old home church! God bless you!

By: congruent triangles

congruent triangles — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:46:09 +0000

Thanks for your ability to stand up and allow messages to be heard and the klnowledge of when to take it offline for another place of discussion. You have reminded me of the importance of paiteince.

By: Jeni

Jeni — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:37:19 +0000

Blaise, in my lifetime I have gone from non-demoninational (SIC) to Catholic to now Presbyterian. My family that I grew up in, religion was not discussed. No amosity toward any religion, but religion was not important. Our goal in life was to surviving day to day.

I left the Catholic church because I disgreed with the philosphy/attitude, but mostly I left because I was not growing spiritually.

There are many many books about different religions and philosphies such as Buddhism. The libraries have them, or bookstores.

Try visiting with churches in the community that you might be interested in. Many have web-sites that provides information about the basic beliefs and philosphies. Visiting churches does not mean you have to join it, nor do you have to abandon your current church. For a while, I was Presbyterian on one day, and Catholic on another day (i.e. I attended services for both.) In fact, attending several services at a different church is highly recommended before you make a decision. Make sure you visit/interview the pastor as well.

Best wishes with your spiritual growth.

By: Sweeps

Sweeps — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:58:01 +0000

To Blaise Pascal: I’ve been a lifelong ALC/LCA/ELCA Lutheran and intend to stay there, but I switched to a much smaller church after a conflict in the larger church I belonged to. If I hadn’t had the option to switch to another ELCA, I would have attended Episcopal. Both churches are very liturgical, and I find I really need the comfort of a standard liturgy, and I’m also welcome at the Lord’s Table without any questions asked, just for what I believe.

By: GMAX9

GMAX9 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:10:55 +0000

Confirmed Methodist, parents switched to 1st Reformed shortly thereafter and made me change, too. Eventually changed to Catholic for family unity when my oldest child made his 1st communion. Still consider myself Catholic but rarely attend church since the divorce. One thing I found interesting – when I married my spouse he didn’t attend church so tried to get him to convert to Methodist but he stated he’d “rather be a bad Catholic than a good anything else”.

I believe the most important thing is to worship, not necessarily where you do it. Many times I’ve gotten more from a solitary ride in the country on a beautiful Sunday morning than I ever would have in church. Works for me but might not for others.

By: kawalski

kawalski — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:41:50 +0000

to Blaise: from catholic to methodist, reason: marriage. still go to church on sundays, use the same bible, sing the same songs, still baptize babies. just don’t knell anymore and for my old knees, that’s a good thing.
Doug, remember that picture in a lot of relatives homes. lots of different religions.

By: Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:29:08 +0000

I’m still a member of the same religious denomination that I was confirmed in. I’m considering a change. Just curious if anyone in Doug’s blog audience has transitioned from one denomination to another. And I’m not talking changing from “X” to “Free X”. I mean a real change in theology, as in from Lutheran to something else.

If you have made a change, what were your reasons?

And if you haven’t changed your religious affiliation, why not? Have you seriously looked at other religions and decided that yours was better, or are you simply maintaining a family tradition?

Please respect my use of an alias. I don’t want to burn any bridges in case I stay in my current faith. And I chose the name for a reason: It seems to me that there’s a tendency for people to use Pascal’s Wager as a reason to belong to a Christian church.