Just to Name a Few: SECOND edition.

I had such warm, positive and encouraging responses from my first edition of the differences I have noticed since jumping the southern baptist ship and riding the Pentecostal roller coaster that I thought I'd name a few more! 

Again, let me state for the record this is MY OBSERVATIONS.  It is coming from a place of love and a whole whole lotta laughter.  I ADORE my Baptist raising and I LOVE my current Church family.  There are quite a few differences and I choose to let those bring me laughter, I know Jesus as my personal Savior and try to live a life pleasing to Him.  I stumble and fall and my gracious heavenly father shows mercy and compassion to me when I do.  Last time I checked squabling and picking sides over which denomination has it right isn't merciful, loving, or compassionate.  Find a church that preaches the bible and treats people as Jesus would treat them and start serving.  Whoop!  Glory!  I just preached on ya!  I guess thats what being married to a pentecostal man will do to a little southern baptist girl! 

Lets get started...

I am an only child.  I love every moment of it.  Wouldn't change it for the world. Growing up as a southern baptist I often heard "your my sister in Christ".  It was left at that.  When I was referred to it was always as my first name, a nickname, or if someone was having memory problems I turned into "Kim's daughter" or "Terry's little girl" or "Eddie and Prissy's grandbaby".

When I went off and married a crazy pentecostal I turned into a SISTER!  Huh?  What?  Confused!  I am now "sister Becky", or "sister Pruitt".  I still have a hard time answering to those names.  I ain't never had no sister (pardon the horrific grammar...I used it for added effect), I ain't never wanted no sister, I ain't no sister! 

I answer to a multitude of names like...
Ethan's mom
Allen's wife
Jerk
Snot head
Butt hole
Becky
Beck a roo
Punkin head
butt hole
butt head
butt hole (get my drift?)

anyway...what I'm saying is I have to remind myself that I'm now "sister Becky" or "sister Pruitt" when conversing with church folk.  Sidenote:  I actually heard someone call Ethan (who is a whopping 6 years old) Brother Ethan the other day.  I peed myself.

If you are the pianist in a baptist church COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!  Your job is ten times easier then if you're the pianist of a Pentecostal church.  I have actually seen my husbands fingers BLEEDING when the service was over because he played SO much.

Baptist Pianist plays..
-a few hymns and a choir special
-the taking up of the offering
-the benediction
-then go home and eat fried chicken

Pentecostal Pianist plays...
-before the service opens
-the 187 praise and worship choruses
-94 choir songs
-DURING the pastors sermon for added effect
-During the alter call which could last anywhere from 7 hours to 76 hours
-And as people exit the service.
All of that is just when the spirit DOESN'T move...you'll be working on your calluses if the spirit does move ;)

My hat goes off to all involved in the music department of a pentecostal church.  Nothing can be said about your work ethic!

If you have something you need to "take to the alter" and Lord knows we all do, you might get a little lonely in a baptist church.  Baptists often (at least in my experience) let you work it out with you and GOD.  Nobody gets involved except the Lord....which in my opinion is the only one who matters. 

If you plan on "taking it to the alter" in a pentecostal church be prepared for a meet and greet.  Because before, during and after you are "taking it up with the Lord" you will be touched, shoved, jumped on, yelled at, and danced on....by a lot of "brothers and sisters" it's OK we're just praying for you.  Don't be shy, we wanna hear all about your issues and be expected to testify on it at the end of the service.  Thanks, have a good day, and don't forget to leave money in the offering plate, the PM service starts in 10 minutes.

On Sunday mornings growing up it was never stressed to me to eat breakfast.  After all we'd be back home to eat lunch fairly soon.  In fact we'd be back at exactly 12:10. Baptists keep time quite well. 

Pentecostals need to eat a good hardy breakfast.  A powershake, something light and healthy that will produce a lot of energy and sustain you for VAST amounts of time.  There is no telling when you'll make it to the buffet for lunch...or if they will still be serving lunch when you get there.   So pack an energy bar for good measure, it takes a lot of work to jump them pews!

Of course there was quite a lot of changes to get used to when I made the big switch but one change that still gets me is prayer time. 

At a Baptist Church...
the pastor prays while the congregation SILENTLY and WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED pray.  Sometimes we let the pastor intercede on our behalf...again SILENTLY AND WITH ALL HEADS BOWED AND ALL EYES CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At a Pentecostal Church...
The pastor prays out loud, sister bertha prays out loud, brother ernest shouts a little bit, sister peggy sings a song she wrote on her way into church about what the Lord has brought her through this week, everybody is eyes wide open and looking around for someone to fall out, everyone is audibly praying and it ain't over till the last brother shouts AMEN! 

Well guys, that is all I can do for this installment of "Just to name a Few".  Again, these are things to LAUGH about.  I try and keep it light here at "Ups and Downs, Smiles and Frowns".