Spiritually fed? What does that even mean?  Too often when we think about being fed spiritually, we refer to sitting through a sermon. Periodically we hear someone say, "My family and I are not being fed" or "I'm not being fed." This can often be code for, "The Pastor's sermons are not connecting with me." This is a passive, spoon-fed example of feeding.

    But there other ways that people become disconnected. Some find their spiritual food in small group activities, making personal connections in their church community, or finding a spiritual connection in music. So if someone who regularly attends a church is not being fed, chances are there is something more going on than just a boring sermon.

    In fact, I recently found myself feeling spiritually disconnected and not feeling fed. It was a gradual process, and it took me a while to realize it was happening. As I got more and more involved in New Creation the spirituality and “magic” began to disappear. It was like pulling back the curtain and discovering the truth behind the Wizard. The church is led by the Lord, but it is run by people. There are many more aspects to church than just listening to the sermon.

    It is a business, a non-profit business, but a business nonetheless. Strategies are developed, budgets are created, and marketing plans are needed. We start talking about things like “barriers to growth,” hospitality, communication, etc. For many volunteers it is a second job.

    With all of those challenges and pressures, it’s hard keep an eye on the spirit and to remember what the church is really about. Why is the church really here?

    Aside from the business side, for me, a typical Sunday morning involves:

• 8:30 – Arrive at New Creation and begin setup
• 9:00 – Musicians and Choir arrive and music sorting begins.
• 9:15 – Rehearsal starts.
• 10:00 – Worship Team gathers for prayer.
• 10:15 – The show begins.

    While struggling with the anxiety of public performance, I play guitar and run the PA equipment – a process of anticipating who is going to speak when, muting the right microphones at the right time, un-muting mics as needed, and making sure sound levels are acceptable. Often I need to anticipate the end of the sermon in time to send a text message to our bass player, alerting him to run back in from the youth trailer.

     Communion has become tossing back bread and juice in between strumming chords. On some Sundays, also I need to remember what I need to say during announcements. Then when it is all over, it’s time to shut down and pack up, assuming there isn’t a meeting after church. I rarely have the opportunity to meet people or say “hey” to friends. As one could imagine, it is hard to find a spiritual connection in there.

    On Wednesday evenings we have Men’s Bible Study. This is a wonderful fellowship, but lately I have been feeling a bit disconnected from that group too. Music rehearsal is also on Wednesday evenings. I have been trying to fit in the first hour of rehearsal and then rushing to Bible study. It’s hard to wind down and enjoy the time though. I have even missed a few studies because of special rehearsals or recording sessions.

    So where does that leave me? Well, as it turns out, there are a lot of ways to get spiritually fed. Lately I have relied on reading short devotional style books and attending the online church. You see, the online church is an amazing spiritual feast. Through Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail my online community prays for each other. Through podcasts and videos I can hear and watch a wide variety of sermons, in the comfort of my own chair whenever I want. Through Twitter I receive virtual announcements. Through Blogs I have my studies.

   It is important to remember, however, that the virtual world of the online church cannot meet all needs. It’s difficult to develop the close personal relationships that many desire. There are also fewer opportunities for local community service projects. For these, the more traditional, walled church has an advantage. It is also important to remember that the two churches are not mutually exclusive. I love my New Creation family. I remain committed to the vision and mission of New Creation. I remain committed to our community. I cannot even pull together the words to express my excitement of where the Lord is leading us. But while I remain focused on helping us follow the Lords plan for our neighborhood, I need to be spiritually fed by my other church.

    This leads me to imagine how New Creation can become part of the larger community; outside our four walls. There are so many opportunities, outside of the traditional church. How do we take the Word out into the streets, the bars, the coffee houses, and yes, the internet. How can we provide the spiritual food for others who hunger? We have been working on some ideas and hope we will see some new opportunities blossoming soon.

    Until then, are you searching for your spiritual food? Don’t get frustrated, there are many ways to get fed.

1.      If you haven’t been to church recently, stop on by and see what we offer. There is a lot of exciting stuff going on.

2.      Try out one of our Bible studies.

3.      Read a devotional; there are many books and online devotionals available.

4.      Listen to scripture and sermons online.

5.      Exchange scripture with a friend, or join us for the daily verse on Facebook or Twitter.

6.      Buy a desk calendar that offers a daily scripture.

7.      Listen to Christian music. There are several local radio stations, cable and satellite TV offers Christian music channels. Online you can check out Pandora, which offers both secular and Christian music.

    I’d love to chat further with anyone that is interested. If you have other ideas, or are still searching, let’s get together.