Going to Church is like Dieting

Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

Today I went to church at the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church. A few years ago my sister, Betsy, suggested I go to this church, but at that time I wasn't ready to start going to church at that time. I made a promise to myself last week, Easter, that I would go to church every week this year. I thought it was fitting to go to the church my sister recommended this week. As I was there I realized that going to church was the same as trying to diet.

Inside the sanctuary

When I dieted I found out that I sometimes strayed. I had a Big Mac at McDonalds, I often ate ice cream, sometimes I would eat a big meal with my friends, sometimes I would pig out at the Korean Buffet with my students. Even if I went off my diet I returned to it. I was able to go back and still show progress. I lost weight even if did not continue on my diet all the time. If I stopped running for some time, it would not be hard to start again. I enjoyed the exercise, and I enjoyed the dieting. When I took a break, I always came back.

Me in 1979 in Gatlinburg, TN

I stopped going to church in 2001 when I left my family. I tried to keep going to church, but it didn't feel right without going with my children. My kids went to church with their mom and I didn't want to get in the way of that. I stopped going to church, I haven't gone for over a decade. I went to church today and it felt like I had not stopped going. This was a new church, I had never been to before. There were about 300 people in the congregation. A variety of ages with as many people older than me as younger. Most of the people were white, but there were many Asians, a few blacks, and many Hispanics. There were 3 ministers and they had a very good sermon that held my interest.

My sister in 1983 that has inspired me to go back to church

Luke 24:36-43

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

View from my father's grave

 The title of the message today was, "Body of Evidence". We need to remember that Jesus didn't die on the cross. He fulfilled the prophesies of the old testament and did what he was required to do. Then he came back and let his disciples know that He was really Him and gave them their assignments on what they needed to get done. He told them to let everyone know what they had seen over the past 3 years. We need to remember the same thing, to keep spreading the word. 
I don't know where I will go to church next week, but I think I will enjoy this year of experiencing different churches. Last night I talked to a guy that goes to church in one of the California Missions, so I may do that sometime.