I tried a new church today

And I liked it. It's about the size of the church I grew up at (150-200ish people), which I like: one, probably because I'm used to it, and two, because that size is small enough that people know you're new and greet you, but big enough to have things going on. The sermon was good, the music was a nice blend of old and new, and there was a lot of prayer (pretty much between each song). The demographics were nice - there were old people and people my age and families and all that.

And, while this is perhaps shallow, it looked like a church. I'm sorry, I know that where you worship isn't what matters, it's your heart that does, but to me, a church that looks like a church is easier to worship in. I find my concentration is better, I feel more respectful, and I just plain feel more comfortable. The church I've been going to looks like a church, but you feel an overwhelming sense of 'this is a big church.' The church I've gone to the last couple weeks is folding chairs in a school gym. And while I've worshiped in both of these places, a small church that looks like a church is just so much better for me.

Anyway...so I had been all sad because I'm church hunting but don't know where to go because I have no friends around who I can ask to let me visit their church with them. Where does one look? Just in the phone book? Or down the street? There are too many churches around here for that. But then I opened the Bible I had in college and out fell a scrap of paper with this church's name and number on it. Apparently way back then I was thinking of looking for a church home and Stupid Dummy Boyhead Guy Friend's roommate Plaid recommended his. So I stumbled across this paper from 4 years ago, and decided, hey, why not? Plaid might not be there anymore, but I have such great respect for him (seriously the greatest guy I know), I should check it out. Well, turns out he's still there! I turned around during the cheesy greeting time, and there he was standing at the back of the sanctuary. So I zoomed back there, and he was all surprised, but then we sat together and he told me all about Sunday school and Bible studies (he told me there was a women's one, but seeing as he doesn't go to it too often he doesn't know too much about it) and all that. Then after the service Plaid introduced me to some people, who were all very friendly, and some more came and introduced themselves (one of whom was a woman who somewhat knew about the women's Bible study). He told me to come again, and of course I told him I will.

You have no idea how nice it was to see a familiar face. Praise the LORD.