A Question

I see that I finally have been getting some comments on my blog. A question for anybody who knows, how did we get the TR and why is the TR so good? I'm still researching the KJV.

Also, is a side hug with a girl wrong?

Anyway, more on my life. We have a new guy at work now, he said that he's a preacher at a Baptist church outside the city. I've never known a preacher who worked a regular job. Is it wrong for a preacher to work a regular job? Shouldn't he be visiting church members and studying the Bible and that sort of thing?

Shelby and I are going to Chile's tomorrow night. And then there's a church activity. And Saturday there's going to be a car wash for the youth group to go on some sort of missions trip to New Mexico, so Shelby is making me go to that. I was hoping to do some reading on Saturday morning.

The KJB Sermon

Well, the sermon the KJB was okay. However, I'm not sure about some of the stuff that the speaker said. I need to keep reading the Sam Gipp book I guess. He talked about the KJB being the most used version of God over the past several hundred years, but I don't think that makes sense. But then he talked about the KJB being right because it uses the Received Text, which is something that I read in Gipp's book too. So I need to look that up. I think I need to figure out what I believe, and not just believe something just because it's what I've always been taught.

And Shelby called me last night. She said she wanted to apologize for being so harsh about the book. She said that she talked with her pastor, and she realized that this is the only life I've ever known. So she understands a little bit of why I'm using the book as my guide. But I decided not to use it anyway.

Church, Shelby, and The Family

Ok, so I went to my home church Sunday night. Dad has revival services going on this week, so I'm stuck coming every night. We have a special speaker. I'd say who, but that would give away who I am. The sermons have been pretty good so far. The preacher is going to preach on the KJB tonight, so I'm looking forward to that anyway. I'm bringing a pen and paper.

Shelby finished reading the book. She said that she thought it was a joke at first. She couldn't believe that "somebody put those kind of restrictions on grown people dating." She told me that I should just forget the book. We talked about that for a while this afternoon. The book is called Dating With A Purpose. I thought the book had some great ideas for dating, but Shelby doesn't like it. So I don't know what to do now.

I had dinner with the family before church last night, they were all being really nice. I guess they're trying to keep me going to church here. Or maybe they really miss me. I know I miss them, I just don't know how to talk to them anymore. How do I tell the family that I'm struggling with things that Dad has taught for so long?

Anyway, gotta go to church.

Shelby's Family

Shelby's parents are really nice people. They live in a town about 20 miles outside the city. I rode in a separate car than Shelby did. She thought it was weird that I wouldn't ride with her. I'm still trying to break myself of these habits. I can ride alone in a car with girls and not start doing something I'm not supposed to do. I know that. So why is it that I feel weird if I do it? And I'm still worried about people seeing me go to the movies, or riding alone in a car with her. Shelby's parents used to be church planters. They settled into the town they're in now about 5 years ago, and they're working in a church there, but her dad has a secular job now. He works as a consultant for a marketing firm. I have no idea what that means. But her mom is teaching in a public school. I don't get why a Christian would want to work in a public school. Shelby and I talked about that for a while. She said that her mom feels like God called her to work there, and that she's being a light for the students and teachers. She even is the sponsor for a Bible Club at the school. I didn't know that public schools allowed Bible clubs. Shelby has a younger brother, and he's supposed to graduate school this year. Kind of a goofy kid. But we had a good time. I guess it was mostly because I got to be with Shelby. And on a weeknight too. I really like her. In another month, I'll be able to tell her that I like her. I'm still trying to follow that book on dating that I read. Sometimes it's hard, because that's not how Shelby does it. I don't understand why she doesn't do it that way. She promised that she would read the book for me this week, and Saturday she's going to tell me what she thinks about it.

Work

Work is still going good. We were supposed to work today, but it rained, so we can't get started on this house we're putting up. So I thought I would do some more reading. I finished the book by James White, and it was interesting. Has anybody else ever read him? Is he any good? Do you agree or disagree with his stuff? Oh, and to the person who linked to my post yesterday, thanks. I appreciate what you had to say. Anyway, James White seems to talk alot about the King James Bible, and I'm not sure why it's always about saying that the KJB isn't right. The book by Sam Gipp is really long and boring. And sometiems I get lost reading it.

Anyway, after Shelby gets off work this afternoon, we're going to go over to her parents house for dinner. I'm really nervous about meeting them. Normally, I'd have met them by now but I guess I'm not in my normal world anymore.

Dad's upset that I haven't been coming to Sunday night services. I kind of feel bad, but I'm having more fun at Shelby's church. I think the whole family, and the church, is kind of disappointed in me. Maybe I'll go to Sunday Night services at our church this week.

Bought a new CD

Went to the Christian bookstore the other day, and I got a CD by a group called Third Day. Shelby really likes them, and she recommended them to me. They have a song on the CD called Cry Out To Jesus. I found the song on YouTube. It's kind of rocky, not like Christian music should be. Or like I think it should be. I still havent' decided on the music issue.

Oh yeah, I found a book on the King James Controversy by James White. I've never heard of this guy before. I need to look him up online, since almost everybody is online now. I'm going to try to read the book this week. And I found my Sam Gipp Answers book about the Bible. So I'm going to try to understand the KJB issue some more.

So I've been thinking

I hope none of you five people who are reading this blog think that I'm losing my faith over these questions, but I have a lot of questions. About God, and the Bible. Please bear with me as I try to figure out some of these questions.

Is the KJB really the only translation we can use? Some of the words are really old and don't make sense to me. Shelby's pastor said that there are newer translations that are better than the KJB. I don't know. Maybe he's right. But maybe he's wrong. What about the new versions that take the blood out of the Bible? I need to find my books. And maybe I'll go to the Christian bookstore this week.

Shelby's Church

Shelby's church was kinda neat. Definitely not like mine. I felt out of place in my suit and tie. Most folks were wearing khakis or jeans and polo shirts. The preacher didn't use the KJB. And they used a projection screen to show the Bible verses. But I kept using my Bible to see what it really said. His version sometimes said the same thing as mine. Their music was different too, I never heard those songs before. And they used drums. That was definitely different, but I liked it. I'm going to have to get some of those songs to listen to. I liked some of them. The service was really great. I didnt' tell the pastor my last name though, he might know who my dad is. Shelby was part of the group that got up to lead us when we sang. She called it a praise team. I don't know what that means. But the service was really great. Everybody made me feel welcome, even though I'm sure I looked out of place. In our chruch, it would be like somebody had come in jeans and a t-shirt. Weird. I plan to go back next Sunday night.

Shelby

Shelby is really attractive, funny, and a great person to hang out with. She goes to church, but it's a non-denominational church. Dad always said that people who go to those churches are probably not saved, or are liberal Christians. But I don't know if he's right. I might visit her church next Sunday evening with her. She got upset with me the other night, she said that I didn't ask her for her opinion about what we should do on our date. That kind of confused me, because the book I read out at college about dating, the man who wrote it said that the guy should always take charge and coordinate the date and what we do on the date. He said that we should have every detail planned out, and even have notes on what we should talk about. That way we don't get off-topic and wind up having sex. I don't understand why she got so upset, but next time I'll ask her what we should do. Since our next date is next Sunday evening, we'll have to work on that for the next date. I dont' think I'm going to ask her to come to my church.

My Date

So my date with Shelby went pretty good I think. We saw Iron Man in the movie house. It was pretty cool, but I was really nervous. I dont' know if she noticed or not. I was nervous number one because I was on a date with a pretty girl. And number two, because I didn't want to be seen going into the movies, especially with a girl wearing pants. Somebody else might have seen us. But I don't think anybody saw us, and dad didn't say anything in church tonight. I guess I wasn't sure what to expect on a normal date. We watched the movie, shared a bucket of popcorn. She put her head on my shoulder halfway through the movie. Kinda surprised me, like I didn't know what to do. So I just sat there for a while. Afte rthe movie, we went to Wendy's and got something to eat. Shelby is really funny, besides being really pretty. We had a pretty good time. I asked her out again afterwards, and she said yes. So next Saturday evening we're going to do something. I haven't figured out what yet.

Church and Me

I've still been going to church on Sundays and Wedsnedays. Ok, so it's only been a couple weeks since my last post. I'm sorry, I promised to post more. But I've been busy at work. So here's a quick update on what's been going on in my life since last I wrote.

-Went to a movie theater. Traveled out of town to do it though. People might see me. Although I guess if they do, I could ask them why they're at the movies. But they'd still go and tell dad that they saw me there. It doesn't matter that I'm a grown man.

-Bought a CD. Lynnyrd Skynnyrd. I like the song Sweet Home Alabama. My first CD of non-Christian music. I turned it up loud in the car after I first bought it, but I don't play it really loud unless my windows are up normally. I might drive past somebody I know, and they'd get the wrong impression about me. Does it make me a bad person to listen to that kind of music? I remember when I was younger, if I heard one of the other kids in church talking about -bad music-, I'd think that their parents were bad Christians. But I don't know anymore. I'm listening to it, and I dont' think I'm a bad person.

-I asked a girl out last night. And no, she doesnt' go to my church. She works at a restaurant where me and my coworkers go. She's pretty. I don't know if she's a Christian or not. I think we'll go to the movies. Her name is Shelby.

So that's what's up right now. We'll talk more later.

Going To Church

I went to church this morning, like usual. Dad didn't say much to me, I guess he's still upset that I moved out. My older brother was a little terse when he talked to me though. Mom was nice to me, but she's always nice to everybody. She asked me how I was doing, and how my apartment was, and if I had everything I needed. I told her I did. Dad's sermon today had to do with the Prodigal Son. I can't help feeling like it was aimed at me. Funny, I don't feel like I'm a prodigal son. I have questions, lots of them, and dad hasn't answered them for me. Maybe I'll ask some of these questions in a future posting. I'm thinking about checking out some other churches one of these days. I didn't go to church tonight, that felt weird. I've been in church for every service as long as I can remember. Except for when I was sick. I think I might get cable or satellite next month.

What do you think about that?

So I went to work yesterday, and a song was playing on the radio of my co-worker. It was a country station. I'm not familiar yet with these singers, but I think the name was Montgomery. Anyway, I don't remember much about the song, but I remember part of the lyrics where it said "I don't give a darn what other people think, what do you think about that?" It feels weird actually typing the word darn out. We weren't allowed to use that word at home. I wonder what mom would say if she knew I wrote that word on my blog? I love my parents and my brothers and sisters, but I feel like sometimes being IFB is something I shouldn't be. Or maybe I'm just not thinking straight. When I was at Bible college, I know some of the guys listened to this kind of music. Maybe it's not necessarily wrong. Is it right? Is it wrong? What does the Bible say about music? I've heard all the sermons about music, but most of it seems to have something to do with the beat of the music. I really don't understand what the beat has to do with it. Anyway, my post was mostly about the song's lyrics. The singers seemed to really be into not caring what other people thought in regards to what they did. Sometimes I wish I felt like that. Well, I gotta go to bed. Work comes early tomorrow. I know I haven't posted since my first post, but I'll become more frequent, I promise.

Trapped Between Worlds

Maybe you're wondering why I chose this name. Trapped Between Worlds, what does that mean? Well, I mean it like it says. I'm trapped between worlds. Allow me to intorduce myself.

My name is "Mark." It's what I'll go by here, for reasons to be explained here. I'm a son of an IFB pastor. If you don't know what that means, my dad is an Independte Fundamental Baptist preacher. I still live near my family, and I go to my dad's church. But I always feel like I'm missing out on something. Something doesn't feel right to me, but I can't put my finger on it. I feel like if I were to reveal who I was, it could hurt my family. Maybe it would hurt my dad's ministry, because he's pretty wlel-known all over the nation. And also, I'm tired of being known as "Dr. So-and-so's son." Do you have any idea how old that gets? I hate it. I hate being "the preacher's kid." I hate being known only for whose son I am, when I still don't even feel like I know who I am. I guess this blog is mostly going to be about my own thoughts and mind as I'm thinking about these issues.


*disclaimer* Mark does not exist in real life, but his struggles do. His struggles are faced by many young people every year who decide to step away from IFBism, even for a short time. The struggles written about here are carefully compiled from the author's own experience, and his notes from talking with others who have gone through the same things.