I missed Church today

[aReformedPatriot]

I missed the morning service because I fell asleep. I keep a third shift schedule and so I was just going to stay up till noon. Well 7am rolled around and I couldnt keep my eyes open anymore. Then I woke up this afternoon, went grocery shoping and made it back by 522 which my friend usually goes at 530. No problem I thought, and then I see an instant message on my computer: "I'm waiting until 5:20, if you haven't answered me back I'm going to go ahead and leave" because of her needing to leave early today. So I missed her by 2 stinkin' minutes.

Thats most dissapointing. So what am I doing through my church hour? Reading CF and watching Rambo. :sigh:

[MrJim]

:D...watching rambo...eat things that make a billy goat puke...^_^

[arunma]

Sorry to hear that dude. Earlier in the Spring when I woke up too late for church, I also spent the time on CF. And I was still able to make it to Sunday school!

[California Dreamin']

I didn't go June 25, I was way too tired.

[Sweet Pea]

:eek: You could have watch church on TV or online instead of Rambo. shame Mark ;) :P Working 3rd shift is hard, I bet and trying to keep a normal schedule. :)

[Sword-In-Hand]

shame shame. you just lost your salvation...:P

hey it happens. the point is you wanted to go. most people who miss are like, "eh, no biggie." i used to work 3rds and its hard to do. alot of times i didnt make it for the morning services because i couldn't pay attention.

but you'll be fine. at least you went to a Christian place.:)

[California Dreamin']

I normally work 5:30 pm-1 am, sometimes earlier Saturday and Sunday. Like yesterday I worked 12:45-8:15 pm and today 3:00-10:30 pm. It's 1 am now and I am still online. I was too tired to do anything but came home and got online and here I am.

My church has services 9:15 and 11 am, and I went 11 am, but now until September, it's only one at 10 am... so I couldn't nap between church and work.

[arunma]

shame shame. you just lost your salvation...:P

hey it happens. the point is you wanted to go. most people who miss are like, "eh, no biggie." i used to work 3rds and its hard to do. alot of times i didnt make it for the morning services because i couldn't pay attention.

but you'll be fine. at least you went to a Christian place.:)

Yeah, one of my friends from Bible study last Spring also worked nights. He'd come to Bible study in the evening, and then head straight for work. This doesn't seem so bad, except that he would somehow make it for church at 9:45 AM on the Lord's Day. I'm still trying to figure out how he pulls that off.

[DeaconDean]

Friend I would beat myself up over that. I work third also. 10pm to 6am. Been on third for 7 years now. Maybe three or four times a year I'm actually able to work Saturday night, get off at 6 am and stay up until 10:30 am when it is time to leave for Sunday morning service. One reason I don't try to go in the am is I told my Pastor, how would it sound if you said lets have a moment of silence for prayer and you heard a big snoxxxxx coming from the back and look up and see it is me sleeping? My church knows and understands that I'm required to work on Saturday nights. As long as I can make it Sunday night and Wednesday night, I feel good in that.

[aReformedPatriot]

shame shame. you just lost your salvation...:P

hey it happens. the point is you wanted to go. most people who miss are like, "eh, no biggie." i used to work 3rds and its hard to do. alot of times i didnt make it for the morning services because i couldn't pay attention.

but you'll be fine. at least you went to a Christian place.:)

Drat... I'm always bustin out those mortal sins and losing my justification before the throne. I wish grace was more effective in dealing with my sin.... :cry:

Ideally, I would prefer church be at night. But thats only because I am more aware then. I love nights!! For years I thought it would be awesome to plant a night church in NYC--the city that never sleeps.

[arunma]

Drat... I'm always bustin out those mortal sins and losing my justification before the throne. I wish grace was more effective in dealing with my sin.... :cry:

Ideally, I would prefer church be at night. But thats only because I am more aware then. I love nights!! For years I thought it would be awesome to plant a night church in NYC--the city that never sleeps.

Actually, I think that this would be an excellent idea. It would work especially well on a college campus. The average bed time, after all, is about 2 am. I think that church at 9 pm would be ideal for people our age. In fact, my church has a Wednesday night service for college students at 9 pm, and it's always packed. Unfortunately it's only every other week, and it isn't a substitute for the "real" service on the Lord's Day. Oh well. But anyway, I think you're on to something. Church at night would be a great idea.

Slightly off topic, but why is it that evangelical churches don't have services every day of the week? In Catholic and many Protestant churches, there is a service every day. When I was taking my brother on college visits the other week and came to the Lutheran school, I almost wished I'd gone there for the simple fact that they have chapel every day. So if you do plant a church, consider this too!

[aReformedPatriot]

Actually, I think that this would be an excellent idea. It would work especially well on a college campus. The average bed time, after all, is about 2 am. I think that church at 9 pm would be ideal for people our age. In fact, my church has a Wednesday night service for college students at 9 pm, and it's always packed. Unfortunately it's only every other week, and it isn't a substitute for the "real" service on the Lord's Day. Oh well. But anyway, I think you're on to something. Church at night would be a great idea.

Slightly off topic, but why is it that evangelical churches don't have services every day of the week? In Catholic and many Protestant churches, there is a service every day. When I was taking my brother on college visits the other week and came to the Lutheran school, I almost wished I'd gone there for the simple fact that they have chapel every day. So if you do plant a church, consider this too!

At my first bible college, I once had chapel every day: madatory attendance. Trust me, its not as glamourus as one would think. However, the preaching wasnt very good in terms of content and I was bit more immature in my walk then. I really like the idea of a short sermon (5-8 minutes), some worship, and quiet prayer from 1230-200pm open to all who would come. These days, on every monday I have a mandatory chapel. I dont much enjoy going to it either though. Mainly because I always feel like my worship is jaded by the fact that if I skip i'll get a $10 fine. lol

[Sword-In-Hand]

At my first bible college, I once had chapel every day: madatory attendance. Trust me, its not as glamourus as one would think. However, the preaching wasnt very good in terms of content and I was bit more immature in my walk then. I really like the idea of a short sermon (5-8 minutes), some worship, and quiet prayer from 1230-200pm open to all who would come. These days, on every monday I have a mandatory chapel. I dont much enjoy going to it either though. Mainly because I always feel like my worship is jaded by the fact that if I skip i'll get a $10 fine. lol

Until I moved to Maine, I thought every church had Sunday night services. Boy was I in the dark. The church we go to now doesn't have Sunday night services, so I'd just have to deal with it if I ever worked 3rds again. Having now gone to a church with only two services a week instead of three, I can see where it's beneficial. In Kentucky, Sunday was my busiest day, church in the am, sunday school, morning worship, services let out at one, have to be back at the church by three for either drama or music practice until 5:30, then discipleship class at six, then play music at seven, message at around 7:30, get out around nine. That was a typical Sunday for me and it was definitely not a day of rest. Now though I feel like I have time to come home, take a good ole Baptist nap, and not have to worry about waking up two hours later.

I do like your idea though. I hate getting up early, since I usually stay up late at nights writing (its 2:30 am right now), so a night church would be awesome for me. however, i don't see that happening soon, so mornings it is for me....sigh.

[arunma]

At my first bible college, I once had chapel every day: madatory attendance. Trust me, its not as glamourus as one would think. However, the preaching wasnt very good in terms of content and I was bit more immature in my walk then. I really like the idea of a short sermon (5-8 minutes), some worship, and quiet prayer from 1230-200pm open to all who would come. These days, on every monday I have a mandatory chapel. I dont much enjoy going to it either though. Mainly because I always feel like my worship is jaded by the fact that if I skip i'll get a $10 fine. lol

Personally I've never understood the idea of "compulsory worship" (which I think is a misnomer). When Christ said that we would worship him in spirit and truth, I'm fairly certain that this omitted the idea of forced church services. At the college I'm referring to, chapel is purely optional. The tourguide even pointed out that most people use the time to go to the gym or to take a nap. I have no problem with this, since it doesn't make sense for anyone to go to church against his or her will.

Besides that, your college is a seminary, isn't it? If so, then I would hope that students wouldn't need the threat of a ten dollar fine to worship God.

[aReformedPatriot]

Personally I've never understood the idea of "compulsory worship" (which I think is a misnomer). When Christ said that we would worship him in spirit and truth, I'm fairly certain that this omitted the idea of forced church services. At the college I'm referring to, chapel is purely optional. The tourguide even pointed out that most people use the time to go to the gym or to take a nap. I have no problem with this, since it doesn't make sense for anyone to go to church against his or her will.

Besides that, your college is a seminary, isn't it? If so, then I would hope that students wouldn't need the threat of a ten dollar fine to worship God.

At the Seminary level chapel is every tuesday and thursday. We have some excellent theologians come through: D.A. Carson, Grudem, Sproul, etc. I usually only goto Seminary chapels on convocation or when one of the big whigs come down because they are in the morning. Its the same with Boyce Weds. morning chapel. Monday Night Chapel, or 'Dorm Meeting' as its called, is required. 2 Semesters ago one needed to only show up for the announcements then you could go. Now one has to stay for the entire thing. About this time of night (930-1030) I am working on homework or something. I almost constantly forget about it and show up late. I would hope most are freely worshipping and I think they do. I feel however, that if I dont have the option to leave without incurring a fine, then my presence is compulsory rather than because I want to be there. Maybe I am just strange.

I always dread going, but afterwards having prayed and praised the Lord, I leave edified (amazing how that works). That being said, they only make me come, they dont force me to worship as they know that any such worship would be false. If I had the option? I probably would skip it altogether to be honest. Or I would leave after the initial worship.

Edit: Now at my previous school they had the eye in the sky! Its a camera and security scans the whole audience every day. If your caught sleeping they take a picture of you and stick it in your mailbox with a warning. 3 times is a skip. 15 skips (i think) you fail all your courses for the semester! Now that was stupid.

[trinityisunity]

I am a distance education student so I have my own worship/chapel time every morning. I have praise time and prayer time and this really helps me to get through the day. Sometimes my wife is back from dropping the kids at school and she joins in the worship time. I love it and I do believe it has brought me closer to our Lord and God.

[trinityisunity]

I missed the morning service because I fell asleep. I keep a third shift schedule and so I was just going to stay up till noon. Well 7am rolled around and I couldnt keep my eyes open anymore. Then I woke up this afternoon, went grocery shoping and made it back by 522 which my friend usually goes at 530. No problem I thought, and then I see an instant message on my computer: "I'm waiting until 5:20, if you haven't answered me back I'm going to go ahead and leave" because of her needing to leave early today. So I missed her by 2 stinkin' minutes.

Thats most dissapointing. So what am I doing through my church hour? Reading CF and watching Rambo. :sigh:




"The war is over John."
"Derrrr,he drew first blood!"

[aReformedPatriot]

I am a distance education student so I have my own worship/chapel time every morning. I have praise time and prayer time and this really helps me to get through the day. Sometimes my wife is back from dropping the kids at school and she joins in the worship time. I love it and I do believe it has brought me closer to our Lord and God.

Thats fun and encouraging to hear people do this on their own. :D

[California Dreamin']

I went to a Baptist university last year and there was chapel... and it wasn't like a church service at all and it was pretty bad.

[Erinwilcox]

Actually, I think that this would be an excellent idea. It would work especially well on a college campus. The average bed time, after all, is about 2 am. I think that church at 9 pm would be ideal for people our age. In fact, my church has a Wednesday night service for college students at 9 pm, and it's always packed. Unfortunately it's only every other week, and it isn't a substitute for the "real" service on the Lord's Day. Oh well. But anyway, I think you're on to something. Church at night would be a great idea.

Slightly off topic, but why is it that evangelical churches don't have services every day of the week? In Catholic and many Protestant churches, there is a service every day. When I was taking my brother on college visits the other week and came to the Lutheran school, I almost wished I'd gone there for the simple fact that they have chapel every day. So if you do plant a church, consider this too!

I would LOVE to have a service every day--or rather evening, since I work mornings or have classes. It would be a much better use of my time than watching TV at night and would be a good source of fellowship and encouragement. We do have prayer meeting every Wednesday...whenever I have to miss, it throws my week off since I have an entire WEEK to go without fellowship and church instead of three days. :cry:

[AJ]

And the backsliding begins... :P