The house on a hill

So, I went y'all. I went to this church and it was lovely, it was really really nice. The people were so loving, open, friendly and approachable, it was a a refreshing and promising experience.

When I arrived out of the train station I tried to figure out where I should be going and most people couldn't help me. Then I met this old lady on the way who pointed me in the right direction of the church I was looking for, and said, to me "Yes, its up there, up on that hill. When you get to the top you will see a church but it's not that one, turn in and keep going and you will see it." She told me she was going to the same place as me, but was going to get a bus up that hill instead. I was so happy to be on the right track, and started walking up the hill. It was ok at first but then it turned into the steepest hill I've ever walked up - seriously, I couldn't believe it! Then the wind started blowing grit into my eyes and it was hot and I was exhausted and it was taking ages but I just kept going because I knew it couldn't be long now, I knew I was in the right place. So I kept on going and the hill got flatter. I saw the church the old lady had told me wasn't the one I was looking for so went past it until I got to my destination, and it was worth it.

When I got to the church everyone I encountered acknowledged and greeted me. I went to the bathroom and met a really friendly woman who decided to take me under her wing and get my details and introduce me to another girl who invited me to a worship team music thing this evening.

I listened to the pastor preach a message about God's grace. He said that God would not necessarily deliver us from every thorn in the flesh, and that ultimately such experiences are not designed to defeat us, but to shape our characters. As God is in control there is only a limit to how much circumstances and the enemy are allowed to affect us, and so in the extent that they do challenge us we should recognize that God's grace is in effect. I liked the way the pastor took the time to explain the underlying Greek interpretations of various words to expand upon their meanings, and seemed to share what he already understood with the congregation.

He also made some interesting comments about how leaders should follow the leader-servant model, whereby they serve God first, the church second, and themselves last. He said this model is basically the world's model turned upside down. I found this pretty interesting.

So far so good I guess ....................