Sunday Go To Church

So last Sunday I finally decided to start looking for a church here in Ellensburg, WA. I won't mention what church I went to in case by some distant chance someone from that church should somehow end up reading this post (I know: a one in several million chance, but nonetheless). However, if I know you personally and you want to know a great church in Ellensburg to avoid, let me know.

Anyhow, I walked in the "foyer" and was greeted by a bulletin-bearing woman who gave me that fakey-church-smile and said, "Hi! Are you with the college group?"

"Ummm, I go to Central but I'm not really with any particular gr..." I started,

"Oh well! They're sitting right up at the front there on the right side, dearie!" she continued in her saccharine-but-not-listening-at-all-to-what-I'm-saying voice.

So, I politely went to the "area" for "the college group."

Now, I've seen some homely people on the CWU campus. I've even seen a few people that might be described as "ugly." However, this "college group" must have assembled every single homely-to-ugly personage on the CWU campus. I ended up sitting next to one of those people, who, even utilizing all my rationalization, sympathy, and ability to "look past the outside", quite simply, disgusted me. I know, it's terrible to say. But it's true. His wiping his nose on his sleeve really drove this disgust home. Grand slam. I was revolted.

So, after enduring a few minutes of typical "we're contemporary but there are also a majority of people in this room over 60 years old" worship, I settled in to hopefully hear a good sermon. He started off OK, but then he got to his scripture: "Let's all stand to read the scriptures."

Oh, I stood up all right. I stood up and headed for the nearest exit. There's nothing that rubs me the wrong way like pastors/people who, in their public appearances, ask others to "stand with me" to read the scriptures. I get it: you're showing (to all of us) how much you "respect" the Bible. But tell me, when you are studying at home, do you stand everytime you start to read the Bible? No? Then making a public show "stand to read the scriptures" is nothing short of hypocritical and a grand show of "look how spiritual I must be!"

Well, one down. Dozens to go.