I've gotten several comments on the last poem so I decided to post the story behind the inspiration.


I took notes in church this morning. I wrote a poem. The pastor said he saw something that made him wonder "what was wrong with the church." This statement reminded me of 2 IM conversations I had a while back.

These 2 conversations take place within a few minutes of each other, but are worlds a part. One, the earlier conversation, takes place between me and a head -strong, outspoken Christian. The second took place between me and a patient Athiest.

Which conversation made the biggest impact on me, do you think? Actually if it wasn't for both in so close a time period neither would have meant much. Together both meant a great deal, for better or worse.

The first conversation started ok. We asked each other how we were doing. I told him that I wasn't feeling well. He declared that God could heal me.
I told him that I was feeling better than I had been.
He reiterated God could heal me, adding "right now."
I told him I knew that, and that I'd prayed for healing and God would heal me in his own time.
He insisted I be healed right this second or be disregarded for my lack of faith.
After calling me a sinner and begging me to ask forgiveness, he disregarded me. Telling me I was a "waste of time" and that I should leave him "alone with his King." I closed the IM box and thought about what he said.

His mission was accomplished. I doubted my faith.

I looked at my buddy list to see if anyone else was online and I opened a window to someone else.
By this time it was late and I was tired, sick, and depressed.
The guy I was about to IM had a reputation for leaving his IM on when he wasn't at that computer. It never crossed my mind that I might go to bed even more depressed than before if he didn't answer. I just wanted someone to talk to.
God knew my sorrow and gave me joy. He was at his computer
We only talked for a short while. We talked about music and he said he hoped I felt better soon and I went to bed.

I went to bed feeling better than I had since I got sick and I slept well that night.

Jesus' followers in Corinth were the first to be called "Christians" or "little Christs." An over-zealous Christian vs. a kind Athiest, who is more like Christ?

At the time of these conversations I thought it a little strage, but nothing more. Since then they've come to my mind on more than one occation. Maybe now I've figured out why. It blows me away how these exchanges go about. What is wrong with the church?