Study finds fewer women are attending church

Study finds fewer women are attending church

I found this article in the Wichita Eagle of Saturday, Sept. 3rd; it was written by Helen T. Gray of the McClatchy News Papers of Kansas City.

The article had many interesting facts in it, some that have been in my thoughts for a long time now. Growing up I found that the women were the backbone of the church. The pastor was always a man, the directors, deacons and other “high position” jobs were men.

Ms. Gray went on to say: “Women have been the ones to organize the Vacation Bible School, the church rummage sale, the hospitality dimensions of congregations’ life, etc.” “(Today) “They simply do not have the energy to sustain these patterns while working full time, rearing children, etc.”

I totally agree with her.  The world has changed but the church has not evolved with it.

Personally I would enjoy a group of women who got together for bible study, book club; topical study or whatever was decided. Yet, it would have to be in the evenings when most women are doing laundry, fixing supper for their families, cleaning and shuffling their children to soccer, cheer camp or whatever activity they are in. So again that leaves the women trying to find time to go to them and join in.

Traditionally if a woman stops going to church then the husband and children don’t go. Thus the decline in attendance at most churches. Why would they want to go to church if all they were doing was being ask to babysit, teach, attend meetings (most of which are during weekdays while most women work).

As I recall the churches of Jesus day were gatherings in the home where they broke bread and let Jesus or the elders teach. Women of the Bible taught us a lot; like Esther or Ruth for instance. I believe that women can teach and have opinions and observations the same as men. It doesn’t have to always be ONE person who teaches while the others listen. We can learn from each other and discuss what the topic is. The bible is always right; this is a given in my life; yet sometimes it is through talking about it that the true interpretation comes out for others.

Personally I have found that I don’t have to attend church to feel that God is the “all-knowing, all-powerful and perfect Creator of the universe who still rules the world today” (Barnes study).

 As a young child I found and accepted Christ as my Savior and nothing has deterred me from that (except for a period of questioning all things in my teen years).

Most church services today are for about 2 hours at the most – one half hour being for singing or praising (usually standing up when that is the last thing I want to do that early); 15 to 30 minutes of communion, collecting the tithes and announcements. The pastor may speak for 30 to 45 minutes at the most.

Please don’t think I am against all church gatherings, they are very important to help teach people about Christ and help them learn who Christ is and to accept him as their Savior. That is what Jesus taught us to do. I just think the church needs to minister in different ways.

Anyway, I found the article interesting and thought you might also.

Here is the article, copy and paste into your header to read it.

 http://www.kansas.com/2011/09/03/2000348/study-finds-fewer-women-are-attending.html

God still performs Miracles

My sister’s best friend, Brenda, had an emergency hysterectomy in March.  It was VERY invasive and included reorganizing a lot of organs. Her bladder had connected to her fallopian tube and they had to cut and resection the bowl to the rectum. She had a lot of pain and problems after the surgery.

The biopsy reports came back as Endometrial Cancer which is an estrogen fed type cancer. They did not know going in that it was cancer and did not remove all her female organs. They wanted to go back in immediately and clean it all out. However, her son was getting ready to graduate high school and her daughter was getting married shortly. She refused to have the surgery until after the special events.

 The oncologist agreed she would wait until after the wedding but she had to be in the hospital for surgery on the following Monday after her daughter’s wedding.

The doctor tried vaginally to remove the uterus but it didn’t work so they did robotic surgery. They filled her abdomen with gas and basically moved the table so that she was standing on her head! They did 4 biopsies on her lymph nodes, took the ovaries and fallopian tubes and did an abdominal cavity flush.

She just got the results of the lab work yesterday and she is CANCER FREE. Praise the Lord he is still listening to our prayers and answering them.

Sometimes we forget that God is there to help us. We need to ask for what we need. I see a lot of shows that almost make a mockery of praying. But prayer is real. You talk to your spouse and your friends. Talk to God, he really listens and he does have time for you.

I don’t think my Mom and I could have made it through the year of losing both my sister in Feb 2010 and then my dad in September 2010 had it not been for him. He is my comfort and my light in time of heartache and trouble. He lifts me up on the wings of Angels when I cannot bare my burden alone.

I don’t “get down on my knees” to pray to him – I talk to him when driving to work, to a friend’s house or even sitting at my desk at work. I need HIS guidance in everything I do. Without him I am nothing, with him I can do all things.  I have seen too many Miracles that he has preformed to even think that there is not a supreme being that cares for each of us.

I ask him to come into my heart as a young girl and even thought I turned away from him for a period during my 18-20’s, He never left my side. That still small voice would talk to me and tell me he was there – waiting for me. I rededicated my life to Him and He is my life. All one has to do is believe that God sent his Son to died for our sins, tell Him you believe and ask him to come into your heart and guide your life.

He gives me peace that withstands all human understanding.

What is amazing to me is it is there for any and everyone to do. It is so simple that people just can’t believe it. I am glad I am one that does. I hope you do too, or will think about it, believe me it is worth it.

That isn’t to say I won’t have troubles or problems along the way. We live in a sin filled world. But the creator of the universe is ever present and there for you. He doesn’t always answer prayers the way WE want, because He knows the whole story and what is best for us.   Thanks for listening.  Just think about it.

Update on Casey's new home

Casey just wrote that she got her new house - YEAH !!!! I am so happy for her. They will be living in Park City pretty close to the Cracker Barrel. It will be an easy commute to her job and Jeremy's.

Jeremy will have a two car garage so he is happy about that. He can work on his cars at home now. The house is a two bedroom, one bath. But much better than an apartment! Nice kitchen, better than mine. lol

My kids are getting all settled so that makes me happy. Jen has been in her new apartment for a year now and loves it. It is in a beautiful area with water on two sides. They painted an "accent" wall for her when she renewed her lease. 


Well, that is my update.

 

June 14, 2011 - I'm BACK.....

I don't seem to get on and post as often as I used too. I don't scrapbook anymore - haven't since January of 2010. Yes I still have all my stuff and I have recently bought new digital papers etc to do some more on the pc with my scrapbooking.

For Father's Day, since I no longer have dad; Shutterfly was offering an 8 x 8 photo book for your dad. Well, I took the chance and made myself a book of dad. One that is beautiful when it came back. I can look at that and remember a lot of the special things to me about him. I added my sister and her family to it also. Since we lost Caroline before dad. It is just special and I am so glad I was able to do it and it is something I will enjoy for the rest of my life.

I read the story I had posted before this one about being "green", I still laugh when I read that because it is so true. I am old enough to remember most of that. The 'now' generation think they have it all figured out - with all the gadgets and all. Don't get me wrong - I am a gadget nerd and wonder how we ever lived without them. Yet, what we are doing today in our "throw away" world is destroying it. No, I am not a 'tree hugger' as the expression goes. 

It just amazes me when I see how far we have come. Yet, it is bibical. The bible said men's knowledge would increase and it has. The computers that once took up a whole floor of a business is now on a small tablet you can carry in your hand. I think it is great. Yet, I wonder how it will destroy our world as we know it today.

Indentity theft is so much easier if they can hack our computers or our banks or the doctor's office. They can get everything they need to know to make a whole new YOU. Then use that to destroy you. Kind of scary isn't it?

On the home front, we have a new puppy - Nicky is a mess. She is a wild thing! Oh to cage up some of that energy and bottle it for when I need it. lol   She is sure cute though and Buster has finally accepted her and they play all the time. He is good with her. She is 3 months old now and he is almost 6 yrs old. He was so lonely after we lost Sparky we had to get him a buddy to play with.

Casey is trying to buy a house - hopefully it will be hers very soon. We are so excited for her. She and Jeremy will be moving in shortly we hope. They are moving to Park City; Jennifer and Brenton are in Maize. We are almost in Haysville, so we cover all corners of Wichita. 

During our tornado scare last Thursday Jennifer drove through some water and an SUV coming the other way threw water on her. Drowned out her engine. Her car is in the shop now getting a new engine. She is driving her dad's truck, yes, you read that correctly!

Mom is doing good. She is going to see Caroline's grave next week. We haven't gotten to see it yet. Dad never did. We had a memorial service for her but not a graveside service. Long story but that is what had to happen. It is important for her to go. She is driving to Doni's in Neosho then they are going from there to St Louis. I wish I could have gone. 

I am looking forward to retirement so I can do things like that. Don't know when that will be! Soon I hope.

That is it for today! Have a wonderful week and I will attempt to get back on more often now. 

They didn’t have the green thing back then.

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she
should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren’t good for
the environment.  The woman apologized to him and explained, “We
didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today.  The former generation
did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right, that generation didn’t have the green thing in its day.

Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer
bottles to the store.  The store sent them back to the plant to be
washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles
over and over.  So they really were recycled.

But they didn’t have the green thing back in that customer's day.

In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn’t have an
escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the
grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every
time they had to go two blocks.

But she was right. They didn’t have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby’s diapers because they didn’t have the
throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy
gobbling machine burning up 220 volts – wind
and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down
clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right, they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.

Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every
room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a hankerchief, not a
screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended
and stirred by hand because they didn’t have electric machines to do
everything for you.
When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a
wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble
wrap.

Back then, they didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut
the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They
exercised by working so they didn’t need to go to a health club to run
on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she’s right, they didn’t have the green thing back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a
cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They
refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and
they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the
whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn’t have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their
bikes to school or rode the school bus instead of turning their moms
into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room,
not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they
didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from
satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza
joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old
folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?