church, children's ministry, etc.

We visited a church for the second time since we have been here and WHOA! Last week we pretty much liked it but the pastor was not there last week. It was a guest speaker. I still had my reservations last week, but Eric really liked it. Everyone kept saying, "You have to come back next week and hear pastor. He is the best!"

Today we felt the Holy Spirit in this church until the pastor spoke. It was crazy! Eric and I both felt this weirdness like something was wrong. Then on top of that he was teaching on the whole book of Revelation in one lesson but he wasn't even teaching the scripture. We left early. We could not get out of there fast enough. We will be visiting other churches. Eric had never felt that weirdness so strongly before anywhere.

I am kind of glad that we are going to visit other churches. That was part of my reservation is that I didn't want to jump in and join the first church that we liked. We are very vulnerable right now spiritually because we are so hungry for fellowship and God's word.

The other weird thing is the worship leader writes worship songs and apparently they are published because they had CLI#(I think that is what it is called) at the bottom of the screen and they are some great songs, but EVERY single song we sang last week was by him and this week it was following suit, but then there was a different name, but it was the youth pastor. This church does not sing any songs outside of the ones they have written, in this past two weeks anyway. Is that weird or is it just me?

We try not to be critical of churches, but we do have high standards, especially when our children are involved. We DO NOT like churches that have video games for the children to entertain them while we are in the service. We believe that children's little spirit's are just as able to worship God as we are and can pray even better than we can pray. Children's ministry should be providing an atmosphere of worship, prayer and teaching for the children. If not, then they should be with us in the service. My boys LOVE to worship God and I want that to be nurtured in whatever church environment we are in to confirm what we are doing/teaching at home. Am I being unrealistic in my desires/expectations?

One of the things that the pastor said today is that our government is the beast. HUH? God set government in place. We believe that we need to make a difference in the government by raising godly children and being a light in this dark world. Not be in rebellion against our government. Like I said, it was a weird sermon. I am just glad that Eric and I are on the same page.

Please tell me if you think we are way out there because I kept asking Eric today, "Is it us?" We need to be held accountable if we are the ones in the wrong with our expectations, etc. Please share your opinions. I do value any input.