There are a lot of posts so I'll try and reply to them all. The first one should paint a clearer picture of what happened:
Quote: (11-12-2014 10:49 AM)TheWastelander Wrote:
How long have you been going to that church? What volunteer stuff did you want to do? What was the group?
I've been going for two years and earlier this year became a "full" member. Initially I helped run their sound and taught them how to use the grouping function on the board. Before I became a member I wanted to sing with the praise band since I'm a trained singer. At the time I wasn't a member and got the "Sure lets work it in, send me an email!" sent an email and never heard back. Did it three times over three weeks never heard anything back. I gave up and then it hit me that maybe i should become a member. So I became a member.
When I became a member earlier this year it was when I was in a bad place from a bad breakup with a live in girlfriend (also posted on this forum
![[Image: tongue.gif]](https://rooshvforum.network/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
). I wrote the whole experience in my testimony with the disclaimer that what I went through wasn't pretty. In it I wrote about some of the hard red pill lessons we all know about here on this forum and tied it into what I remember from scripture. The head pastor decided to withhold my membership until he had time for "discipleship" which honestly was really embarrassing and at the same time really helpful. I re-read the new and old testament and he really helped me fire up the spiritual side of which was dead at that point. There's a sort of feeling of "being saved" which honestly is just me feeling normal again and able to feel emotions in a relationship.
I figured being honest about my life during the whole membership process was what caused this.
Fast forward to day, I wanted to host a bible study at my house, cook dinner for them all, and have another more senior member "lead" the group so to speak. I used to go to another group, but being carless makes travel around town more difficult unless I want to take public transit. A friend of mine told me to talk to the more senior member about hosting it in my neighborhood.
I contacted him. We met and discussed Jesus stuff
![[Image: angel.gif]](http://www.rooshvforum.network/images/smilies/angel.gif)
He loved my apartment and felt that we would make a great dynamic for the group.
We initially planned to start a week later. I got a text from him saying that since the head pastor was traveling so we'll have to wait another week. Ok cool. The next week, I contacted the senior member again and he said it'll have to wait another week.
One more week passes and the associate pastor who helps organize these things told my friend that they're going to shelve starting a study in my neighborhood indefinitely. Mind you during these past three weeks, the head pastor is pushing during his sermons about starting these groups in people's houses since the church grew a lot since september. If you're familiar with Boston, Allston is a very dense neighborhood and is the only place unrepresented with a study.
I ended up giving up and went back to running sound which by the way any two bit monkey can do now that I showed them how to run the groups. Four buttons need to be touched. I felt underutilized and decided to visit another church which was the same denomination of my home church growing up.
Quote: (11-12-2014 09:04 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:
If it is none of those things. Have you ever tried to figure out if you are clairvoyant to any degree? Any of these vibes actually come out true like you felt before it happened?
As much as I take my intuitive insights with a heaping helping of Morton's Salt, I have had a ton of clairvoyant "visions" if you will that affect my life directly which came true.
Off the top of my head without getting too personal, I was driving along a boulevard that runs parallel to a side street for parking. I was planning on making a right turn to get to my gym. I saw a car in the side of my vision and immediately something said to me, "she's going to run the stop sign". So instead of clearing the intersection immediately, I slowed down and sure enough the car blasted right through the stop sign as I sat on the horn. I would have been t-boned if I had went into the intersection.
I have a lot more of these that will fill up a ton of posts. So it's hard for me to just "swallow" what my gut is telling me. I end up getting nervous and shut down which is what happened with this group.
Quote: (11-12-2014 09:18 AM)Dr. Howard Wrote:
You are probably reading the situation correctly but I would advise acting differently and use the situation to practice your social group dynamics.
I tend to 'take over' any group that I'm in, which works well in work environment because I speak up, identify the tasks, ask who's going to get it done. It keeps things marching along. In a more social setting, especially with women or women-like men sometimes they just want to talk to feel important and resent someone taking a "ok, shut up unless you are moving the group forward" approach.
Church has been a good practice space for me to manage this because:
1. You're never going to be kicked out of the group
2. Because everyone has to be on their 'best' behavior, silent politics and chick like behavior are stronger.
3. People are continually joining the group and are a roll of the dice in terms of personality. You can recruit these people to your cause as they come in.
Don't bail on the group, just sit back and observe for a while.
Ha! You sound like me Doc. I do the same thing. I don't really care to "lead" a group, but I'll take up the reigns if people are dragging their feet. I've done that a lot during set up and break down. Not surprisingly, I could tell people were not thrilled with me strong arming the band during set up. Hey if you're going to dilly dally when we go live in 30 minutes i'm going to start pushing especially when the guy who is supposed to be running it isn't getting the band ready for sound check.
I honestly just wanted to find my niche in this group which I have struggled to do so. I've been a passive participant for a long time and I'd like to devote more of my personal time to a group that really helped me through a dark spot. Just showing up isn't enough for me. The worst part was there were people who I know for a fact enjoyed debating with me and respected my perspective. So while not everyone is giving me these vibes, the ones I am getting this feeling from are the power brokers of the group (head pastors).
Side note, not too long ago apparently some guy was "excommunicated" for some weird stuff. He was supposedly an intense individual like myself from what my one friend said. I was getting the impression that this guy pissed in the well and I'm paying the piper for it.
There is a shining light on all of this that I left out. A few weeks ago after being fed up with the group I went to another church that is the same denomination of my home church growing up. I came in before the service and was greeted by the pastor before the service started while I was sitting in a pew. After the first hymn finished and he came up to me again and asked me if I would like to join the choir
![[Image: huh.gif]](http://www.rooshvforum.network/images/smilies/huh.gif)
. I met with the organist and a week later I was in the choir. Still not a member yet, but hell I freaking missed being apart of a choir. It's nice to be singing again.
Obviously I shouldn't expect others to just
place me in a niche. I need to find and make it for myself. However this was just too easy and I don't feel like an outsider with these people.
The posts here are great and are really helping gents. I appreciate the insights.