#honestly this is applicable across several denominations

[the-end-of-the-chase]

[bangtan-spells]

Yoongi Scenario: Wild Rose.

Request: Hi I'd like to request a fluffy scenario with yoongi in the 19th century where he's a noble and he threw a party but got bored quickly so he went outside to the garden and he sees y/n and they start talking

Genre: Fluff / 19th Century AU.

Yoongi knew what he had to do when he wanted to slip out of anything. In today’s case he was doing everything humanly possible to run away from the more than boring conversations that surrounded him. Sometimes parties although denominated as such weren’t what they seemed, for the nobility a party could be a long list of things, but more often than not it was only an occasion to flaunt wealth and successful trades or setting marriage arrangements. Yoongi’s head threatened him with ache at the thought of the latter, he had managed to slip out of those too, but he wouldn’t taunt his luck too much.

Soon he was slipping out of the party, no longer noticed by the group of men speaking about politics, he let his glass of champagne at a random table, one of the dozens that were disposed at the perimeter of the great hall. His father sure had a taste for opulence, the hall could host hundreds of guests at its full capacity and the paints on the walls, the intricate works of porcelain, the hangings, the ornate lamps and the most flamboyant floral and food arrangements didn’t have anything to envy those of the royal family. 

Although Yoongi’s taste not being as outrageous he couldn’t deny the beauty that held such parties; they were like spells that held everyone together for one night and after they ended they had the power of change lives. Yoongi had seen it, good men stripped from their lands for a conversation gone bad, unexpected marriages for the sake of two households, men rising in glory because they knew exactly what to say. He amused himself with it more often than not, but tonight he didn’t want to hear the word parliament one more time.

If his father had a taste for luxurious interiors, his mother had it for luscious outdoors. Their castle was well known for its outstanding gardens, as his mother liked to collect the most beautiful flowers that there were, even bringing some from across the world. Yoongi fancied the comfort of his chambers more than anything but he liked the peace nature brought, so he understood his mother and her love for it.

The hall had three ways to the exterior, one that went directly to the front of the castle although it wasn’t its main entrance, but it assured the guests a more complacent path to their carriages when the party ended. The second consisted in a balcony that had a gracious view on the extent of the lands and not far away lake, and the third lead directly to a font that lead to the gardens. Yoongi decided for the third, knowing that no one would be outside at this point of the party. Only that he was mistaken.

By the font he saw a girl who was fairly entertained by the water plants on it. Yoongi thought about going back, since encountering with someone else would go against his purposes, but this girl seemed familiar to Yoongi but right at the moment he couldn’t remember her name and that did strange things to his curiosity.

You were grazing the water softly, leaned a little bit more than necessary into the font. Almost like a child he dared to say, although your body begged to differ. The sleeves of your peach gown started at your shoulders leaving part of your chest exposed, the line of your body stretched at your waist gracefully without being constricted to not being able to breathe, the gown had gold and black applications making it more appealing to the eye. Yoongi saw your gloves laying indifferently also by the side of the font, as if losing them or wearing them meant nothing to you.

-Are you having fun staring my lord?- you said without lifting your gaze from the water.

Yoongi was astounded, looking behind his shoulder for a second as if you could be talking to someone else, he hadn’t even registered when he had started to stare, or when you had found him out.

-Aren’t you too far from the fun?- he answered with a question, trying to evade explaining himself.

You sat upright, now Yoongi seeing the elaborated necklace that hung over your chest, a piece of jewelry so finely crafted it could only belong to a high noble lady, but why he couldn’t remember your name?

-If you consider that over there fun, my lord, then consider this conversation finished- you sentenced as you moved your hands a little to dry them, proceeding to grab your gloves only to stash them in some sort of secret pocket hidden between the pleats of your skirt.

-Do all dresses have those?-

You looked down at your hidden pocket and gave him a half smile. -I had them made of course, I find it a little unfair how men can have pockets everywhere and we can’t-

Yoongi walked to you, but even if this was his home and he should feel comfortable he did it slowly and carefully, as if he did a brisk move you’d run away, and Yoongi certainly didn’t want this conversation to be finished.

-You seem to be very practical, lady…-

You scoffed but a little smile appeared on your lips. -Lady Y/N, and don’t ever call a woman practical, what sort of flattery is that, lord Yoongi? or I should say lord Min?-

Yoongi was impressed by you knowing his name, but then again you were at his castle, it would be foolish to go to someone’s party without knowing their names. -You can speak to me informally, just Yoongi- he said calmly, he figured you were the type to do so anyways. -And I didn’t know you were expecting flattery lady Y/N-

You mimicked the lopsided smile, like giving it to him that he had caught you. -You can speak informally to me as well, call me Y/N, if you wish-

Yoongi looked at you, the fine dress and jewelry, soft looking skin with a hint here and there of those paints women used on their faces, not too much, as your looks were polished but without it being overbearing, your hair was half up half down and it was shiny like it had been brushed a thousand times, and yet you had a few stray locks framing your face that moved around every time you did.

You were a fine noble lady, but yet, you moved and spoke with such easiness that were most common in girls that didn’t care about their status, like a peasant girl or like a queen.

-So what made a host run away from his party?- you asked as you circled the font, eyeing all the greens around and the several paths that would conduct to different parts of the garden.

Yoongi moved with you, seeing everything you saw, following your steps with curiosity. -Boredom I guess, what made a lady come alone outside?-

-Alone- you giggled. -Why men are always baffled when a lady is alone?- Yoongi didn’t have an answer, honestly he didn’t know why. You smiled at him letting you know you were once again playing. -I like gardens and flowers, and I’ve always heard how yours are magnificent-

Yoongi stopped walking when you did so, he had the words at the tip of his tongue, you were beautiful and without any doubt unique, he wanted to keep speaking with you, but he had come out to be by himself, but then he was pretty much always by himself. He saw you staring at anything but him, and Yoongi knew that he wanted your eyes on him one more time.

-How would you like me showing you? These are my gardens after all-

You put your hands behind your back, like a good girl who had been granted a prize. Yoongi just stared, amused, surprised.

-Are you this way with everyone?- he asked as he started to walk.

Yoongi had no idea of course, that this wasn’t your first time seeing him and that beyond anything else you were thrilled that he had at last noticed you. You had seen him in parties and one or twice around town. But until now you couldn’t have the chance to speak directly to him, now that you finally had one your intention was to make this boy to never forget you. That didn’t mean that you weren’t being authentic, you were showing yourself as you were, only that you were throwing a little bit more to the mix, flirtatious smiles and looks, just enough to pique his interest, those weren’t for everyone.

-I show myself as I am- you explained. -Of course certain things depend on the person I have before me, don’t you think?- he nodded. -How about you? Do you show yourself as you are?-

You wanted to know his answer, despite you having some sort in infatuation for him you were aware that you didn’t truly know him, Yoongi seemed to be aloof, quiet, a gentleman since you had never heard a scandal about him, and foremost you were almost certain that this noble boy was a dreamer, just like you.

-I guess I do, although I rarely show myself- he said honestly.

Yoongi led you through one of the paths you had near, the gardens were truly beautiful, just as the rumors had promised it to be. In mid spring you saw dozens of flowers in plain bloom, although you knew there could be hundreds or thousands of flowers around the entire garden. Every section of the garden had little bird fonts that were empty at night but you could imagine them being full with life in the morning, there were ornamental statues that celebrated art, some of them were animals, some of them were beautiful women or men with musical instruments in their hands. You couldn’t see all the details, but the moon shine gave you enough clarity to admire the beauty, it enhanced somehow the magnificence of the flowers. Roses, tulips, carnations there was a vast selection of them.

-This is espectacular- you said as you saw a beautiful peony from up close. -I think I had never seen so many flowers together-

Yoongi nodded. -Here we have the ones that can survive together at plain air, my mother keeps the more special specimens and the ones with special needs in the greenhouse-

-Your mother is the one behind this?-

He nodded again. -She loves her flowers, and she loves these gardens, and she gets deep involved in the creation of it, although she cannot do much herself-

You frowned a little at that, but Yoongi speed up the pace a little bit so you couldn’t see his face, something had happened with his mother, you wondered what but now you were a bit nervous to ask.

Keeping on with the walk you kept enjoying the gardens, you wished you could have gardens like this at your castle, but sadly the lands that your family had were invested in stables, archeries, and courtyards, not much space for vast gardens and beautiful sculptures.

-You even have wild roses here- the remark made him stop, you were leaning to see them better. Wild roses weren’t much common around, but here they looked to grown spontaneously. -They keep growing, and mother doesn’t want to cut them-

You understood, who would want to do that? You looked at his eyes who was staring back at yours. -Why do I think I have seen you before? Like I know you-

-Perhaps we know each other and you forgot about me, how rude my lord-

Yoongi chuckled amused by that, he seemed to be interested in you, attentive of what you had to say. But you wanted to hear about him too.

-So what are you interested about? Your father sure has some politics to do, your mother has these beautiful gardens, what about you?- it took him some time, Yoongi looked up at the sky, the night was free of clouds so you could admire the moon and stars fully and then he looked back at you.

-I don’t know… I’ve always, I’ve wanted to travel and see you know, everything out there but…- he shook his head. -My mother is ill, I have to marry in a couple of years, I have to take over this castle and these lands… I want to see the world but I barely leave these gardens-

You kept silent for a moment, you had slowed down your pace so much that you had almost stopped walking. He sounded sad, a dreamer just like you had suspected, but he was lost.

-Yoongi I..-

-I apologize, that was inappropriate- he said more seriously this time. -We should go back-

You knew you had, you had been absent enough time but you didn’t want this moment with him to end like this. So you stood there trying to think something clever to say, or a smart remark, or anything, but instead you smelled something.

-Oh my…- you opened your eyes wide looking around trying to spot the source of the smell. Yoongi looked at you confused and more so when you took his hand and started to run.

-Wait, Y/N, what is the matter?- he ran after you, until you halted in front of a few white flowers, round on their petals, but they were moving, and they were so fragrant  -What are these?-

You smiled brightly at him and at that moment Yoongi could only see you, the disheveled hairs due to the little run and the rosy cheeks of the same tone the wild roses you had left behind -Wait for it, you’ll see-

Yoongi teared his eyes from you and stared at the same direction as you, he saw in complete awe as the two white bulbs spread right before his eyes, letting out a sweet fragrance that now flooded everything. It was a beautiful scene, only at the end he noticed he was still holding your hand.

-These are moon flowers- you said quietly, like the flowers could hear you and be shied away of this spectacle. -They bloom only at night, it happens fast and they leave behind the sweetest of smells, aren’t they beautiful?-

-They are- he assured. Wanting to let go of your hand because he felt self conscious, but still not wanting to end the contact with your skin, it was improper of him and of you, but Yoongi didn’t care at the moment.

-You have such beautiful and wonderful things just before you and you don’t realize- you said a bit more quietly, the rosy tone one your cheeks intensifying as you pulled your hand away from his. 

You looked around, breathing in deeply and then gazing at him. Yoongi’s handsome face, his expression so focused on you that managed to make your heart race, you didn’t know what you had done tonight, something crazy you were sure but you had gotten what you wanted, and as you felt yourself trembling a little before speaking you figured you had realized much more than you had intended. -I hope after tonight, you don’t forget that-

Yoongi stared down at your hands now separated, and then at you. He didn’t know if he was imagining things or if this whole walk through the gardens was just a dream, all he could register was the sweet fragrance of strange flowers that only bloomed at night, and the eyes of a girl that shone like stars, if he could assure something was the memory of you in his mind. -I will not forget-

[pastorlaytonspen]

Can I Attend A Church I Don’t Completely Agree With?

I grew up in a Baptist church.  I went to a Baptist college.  I spent 17 years as a Baptist pastor.  Yet, here I am attending an Assembly of God church.  Is that ok?  

Some people would read that and immediately quit reading.  To them going to a church of another denomination is just under being in a strip club.  But I wonder if this really is something we should push off so quickly or is it an issue that requires a bit more thought.  I’ll begin with my experience today.  

I’ve been attending this same church for almost two months.  Many songs were the same as my former church and I really enjoyed the variety of styles and the freedom of expression.  The series the pastor was on was nothing controversial across Bible-believing denominations.  I enjoyed it.  He may have used a few more experience illustrations than former pastors I had but he mainly stuck to the Bible and even went into the Greek.  However, following Easter, the pastor began a series on the Holy Spirit.  I knew we would disagree on this.  Inside I was all tensed up and ready to find everything that was wrong, forcing me to a different church.  This was not the case.  The main emphasis throughout the series has been to look to God, spend time with God and realize that we serve the same powerful God today who was there in Acts.  Those are things with which all Bible-believing Christians can agree.  

Were there points of disagreement?  Certainly. He has mentioned several times about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  I believe one gets the whole Holy Spirit at salvation.  He interprets it a little differently.  Though much of what the pastor said I did agree with.  I agree that we need to be controlled by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).  We must not allow the world, lusts and sin to control our hearts and lives but allow the Holy Spirit to do this.  The pastor here may think that means some special baptism. I believe it simply means surrender to Him.  It’s not a really big deal to me as long as you are giving yourself over to God.

Another aspect of disagreement is that of speaking in tongues.  My slightly more liberal Baptist view and the churches more conservative Assembly of God application probably helps on this one.  Today in service a lady “spoke in tongues” and another lady “interpreted”.  This is not the norm in this church.  Anytime I have seen a tongues display in other churches, it was a bunch of people all speaking at the same time.  It was chaotic and confusing to me.  This was different.  Putting aside whether woman should do this or not, another matter of disagreement, it was done in an orderly way.  The pastor stopped what he was about to do and the lady spoke.  Then another lady in the balcony interpreted.  The lady who interpreted said nothing that opposed the Bible.  It was mostly statements of glory to God

Could it have been staged?  Possibly. I don’t know and I have gathered that these people love the Lord so I wouldn’t think so.  It could be a learned behavior.  It was the topic of the series and been talked about and they have been surrounded by it so it is natural for the mind to jump into it.  I think much of what is called “speaking in tongues” is simply a learned way of worship.  It could be a learned reaction to an encounter, much like lifting hands when singing or shouting for your driver at a race.  

 My belief is that speaking in tongues is a language on earth which someone who has not studied it speaks that language through the Holy Spirit’s power so one who speaks that language can understand God’s Word in their own tongue (Acts 2).  I do not believe every believer is supposed to speak in tongues and I believe it is more a rarity today because there is less of a need for it.  Many Baptists would say it is completely non-existent today.  Could that lady have been speaking a known language or tongue?  Perhaps.  I would not know.  I would simply say that if a church had speaking in another tongue or language then the way this church did it today would be the orderly way to do it (1 Corinthians 14).  

(For more on tongues:  https://www.gotquestions.org/praying-in-tongues.html)

 So after today, should I still gather for worship with these people? Are our differences enough to separate us?  My answer at this point would be, “It’s up to them”.  Honestly, why should I leave?  Because I don’t completely agree with every person on every point of Biblical interpretation?  Really? Let’s look at the main points of difference:

 1)  Speaking in Tongues.  We basically covered this. Perhaps if it was a chaotic, non-edifying self-promotion, then I would need to go elsewhere, but it is not.  And I gave my view on speaking in tongues.  I pastored at a church for 17 years where most would have said that this gift is has been eradicated since the completion of the Bible.  Should I have left there?  It honestly was never an issue and when it came up, I discerned whether it was a time to be quiet or to present various options.  

 2) Baptism of the Spirit.  I talked of this.  It seems more about surrender to God, which we can all agree is important.  

 3) Women Pastors.  I haven’t really encountered it much here in two months, but I would assume we disagree. Typically the Assembly of God church endorses women pastors and Baptist churches do not.  Biblically, I think that God has reserved that place for a man. However, many churches put the term ‘pastor’ in front of every conceivable position.  I think the main idea is for men to step up and take the lead. Currently, that’s happening in this church.  If that changed then I may have to reconsider, but I’m good with the men stepping up and being godly leaders in this church.

 4) Election.  I’m sure we both agree that Jesus is the only way, but may not agree on whether God chose us or we chose Him.  Not even all Baptists agree on this one.

 In fact, there are other points I’m certain I would disagree with some people in this church and the one I was in:  end times, single pastors, alcohol consumption, tattoos, age of the earth, politics, etc.   There will always be points of disagreement.  What we need is discernment and a diligent seeking of the Scriptures for ourselves, much like the Bereans (Acts 17:11).

  I think we separate far too easily.  Neither you nor I will ever find a gathering of believers that we completely agree with on everything.  The New Testament talks over and over again about unity and different parts of the body coming together.  I honestly think we separate more based on one’s personality being more or less emotional than our own then we do on actual issues.  Or we’re more concerned if someone believes Jesus will come back before or after the Tribulation or whether they believe in the millennium then whether they love the Lord.  What is more important?  I have just a few things that are more important:

 1) Love of God.  Does this assembly of believers truly love the Lord?  Do they worship Him and talk of Him outside this building?  Is He more important than their culture, their family and their lives? (Luke 14:26, Matthew 22:37)

 2) Love of others.  Do they care for each other?  Do they help those in need?  Is this a church that actively helps others or just talks about those who need help? Will they help the repentant sinner or make him an example?  (John 13:34, 2 Corinthians 2:7-8, James 1:27)

 3) Stick to the Scripture.  I’m not saying, “Do they agree with you?”  Certainly on salvation and who Jesus is and the authority of the Bible; but on the lesser areas, do they encourage discussion and desire for everyone to truly dig into the Scriptures.  (Acts 17:11, Psalm 119)

 4) Do they detest sin.  This ties into the previous one.  There are things to discuss and we must be compassionate, but if one is unrepentant of sin do they tolerate it?  Is fornication ok in their congregation?  Are they conforming to the world or being transformed by God?  (Psalm 97:10, James 1:27)

 I guess I say all of that to say, “Why not gather with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who love God and others and seek to follow His Word?”  We may not agree on all areas….if we did then should ask if we are truly being stretched and growing.  But we do agree that “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to God the Father except through Him.” (John 14:6)

 I want to end with a note about my last church and this church.  I am thankful for both churches accepting me as I am and loving me enough to take me further.  I’m thankful for both churches that allowing me to grow in Christ with my questions and thoughts and differences.  I’m thankful that both churches (even the Baptist one) have allowed me to be openly expressive in worship through lifting my hands.  I am thankful I could get to know some very brilliant people in each denomination, whom I can respect and hear their opinions and know that they aren’t just coming to that conclusion because they grew up that way or someone said so, but because they diligently searched the Scriptures.  I’m thankful that each church has been so giving to me and many others.  Their hearts beating for others is lived out, not just talked about.  And I’m thankful they truly love the Lord.  That is what is most important.  It will change their lives and many others.  Thank-you both for being two groups of believers in Jesus Christ, though you differ in some areas of theology; you can both still worship together as one body glorifying the same God.  I look forward to the day when I can introduce you to one another as we sing in unison, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!”

 Be immersed in a Bible-believing church so that you can call them family and friends.

 “Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His Name together.”  Psalm 34:3