Thanks for thinking of us FS but I have to tell ya the title rubbed me the wrong way. 

As a Christian I think we should focus on God not ourselves.  It's not about our souls but all about God who feeds our souls.  So I would say Focus on God and when we do, the soul takes care of itself. 

Maybe it's just me getting into semantics... we do need to take care of our spiritual self like we do our physical and emotional self.  We eat, drink and rest for our physical body and we do things to help us with our emotional self yet we do seem to starve outselves when it comes to the spiritual and that's why we're in the mess we're in. 

Spiritually speaking, as a culture, we look bad, we act bad and we feel bad.  We need to check out the diet.  A nice spiritual diet would perk us up a whole lot....doncha think? 

"but without a personal relationship

with God, churchgoing is empty. Focus on what your soul hungers and thirsts for:  to relate to God."

I understand what you're saying, and I agree that we do need to take care of our spiritual self, which is what the piece is saying too.  It also says that without a personal relationship with God our soul cannot be fed because just going to church to warm the seat makes no sense if there is no sense of fulfillment because the spirit, the soul is empty.  So yes, we have to focus on ourselves, and in doing so it will bring us closer to God.  We are a mess as a people, God knows that, but he in his infinite ways always brings us back to look at ourselves so that we too can see that we are a mess and most of us will do something about it, and some of us will do nothing. That's what I get from it anyway.

This was lovely Donna.

I understand. 

I'm just very sensitive about this subject especially lately.  I've been bombarded even in the churches with the "all about me mentality."  We've been going to diff churches here every week to check them out and get the feel of the spiritual climate down here.  In one church statement they said something like "we're all about serving people."  I would have felt much better about this church if they said "we're all about serving God."  If we put things in the right perspective everything else falls into place better. 

If we have our vertical right (our relationship with God) our horizontal works out (our relationship with others).  Jesus said to seek God and his righteousness first and all things will be good for us. 

But yes, I agree that we do have to examine our lives to see where we are but that to me is not where the focus is supposed to be. 

Just my two cents! 

I understand too. I agree with you on the vertical/horizontal as well!lol!  I have been there where you are, looking for a church home, didn't find one, so I dont go right now, at least that's my excuse!lol!  But seriously, if I'm not getting what I want out of it, then what is the use of going?  I do what I want on my own terms.  Then if I do crave fellowship with others, I get somewhere.  I know it must be more difficult for you since you were so involved in your church at your previous home. It is not easy feeling out of sorts by that.  Here in Florida churches are different aren't they?  I'm not sure if it is because its' more laid back or what but not everyone is on the same page and so how can someone who is lost or seeking find what they are looking for if the guides are themselves a mess with no cohesiveness? I think it is best to take what you like out of one or two, and leave the rest alone, if and when you do find one.  I hope you do.

Thx Kelly! I've been thinking about you, I hope all is well!

I know what you mean but it's not so much about getting as giving.  We are to go to church to worship God and help others in their worship.  The whole purpose for church wasn't about us but about sharing God's love with others and to worship him corporately as one body in Christ.  In a nutshell.......Church is about worship and edification of the body. 

Don't give up Forever.  Keep praying that God will lead you to a good church home.  It's very important that the church focuses on God and his word, not the culture or the world around us. There's so much to learn about God.  I'm still learning about him every day.  The more I learn, the more I hunger to know more.  That's what's called thirsting and feasting on righteousness.  It's very important for your spiritual health as well as being obedient to God who wishes we meet together on a regular basis. 

Back home it was like a big huge family.  Sure we had some that just did the Sunday thing and went home but many of us were involved with each other's families and did so much stuff in the community.  We grew in so many ways spiritually, emotionally and socially as we fellowshipped in the name of Christ.  He was always a big part of everything we did.  Here, it's as though he's forgotten in the name of religiosity. 

It sure is diff than up North....that's for sure.  To me it's not taken as serious as they should be.  It's like go in, sit down, have your sermon, go home.  More habit than love for God.   Come back Wed night for prayer meeting and go home until Sunday.   I'm actually been mulling over something to blog about this soon....stay tuned! 

Thanks.  well we're actually looking to be where we are most needed.  We want to be put to work and there is alot of work to do. We've even considered going into a bad church and work as missionaries somehow.  It's just a matter of being where God is leading us.  Right now we've found 2-3 in our immediate area that look promising.  The one I'd really love to be part of is too far away. It's in Clairmont.  I've heard of another in Ocala that is supposed to be really good as well, but too far since there are too many right around our vicinity. 

On my last trip, and I did pass by your area too, I noticed quite a few churches in Ocala.  It is way too far for me too.

You described that correctly (people's attitude in church)!  I understand some people dont want to be forced to do anything but it does make me wonder just how much indifference is too much. Even I realised that I was becoming indifferent and had to come to terms with that.  many  people get complacent, haha, Brad will be happy, I'm using this reasoning.

I love a good fillet of sole with a bit of butter.

Ohhhhh, S-O-U-L. Good music.

That sounds good to me because I'm hungry right now!lol!