u/Unique-Ferret-612

Stay with family in Georgia working remote or move to Birmingham for in person role?

I'm currently working a 100k remote role, and I live in Augusta with family. I got a job offer for an in person role paying 130k, but I would have to move to Birmingham. My current company has had a layoff a year for the past fear years. I don't know if it's worst moving and risk getting laid off at the other company either. I know one person 45 minutes from there, but other than that I would not know anyone in the area.

My biggest worry with Birmingham is the crime. The job I was looking at would be in the Irondale area. I was looking at moving to a city for better dating opportunities and things to do, since Augusta can be really spread out and suburban. I'm not sure if Birmingham would be the improvement I'm looking for though.

If I move to Birmingham I would also have to pay rent, driving, and food expenses, which may negate the 30k extra. However, I don't know when I will get another job offer as well since interviews are hard to come by. I have been looking into moving to different cities, but idk if if Birmingham is the final answer. Or if it would be better to wait it out and apply somewhere like Nashville, Atlanta, or Charlotte. I have also considered moving across the country to SF or going big, but that would be a costly move.

It's also the lifestyle difference of working remote versus in person. For anyone that lives in the Birmingham, how has your experience been and would you recommend it? Would you take the in person role, stay remote in a job where management has done layoffs, or keep applying?

I'm currently working for a remote role that pays 100k. I got an offer for an in person role that pays 130k, but I would have to move to another state. The company I got the offer for is spinning off from a larger fortune 500 company next year, so I'm worried if they will lay off anyone in the future. My current remote job has had a layoff a year for the past 3 years. At least I'm remote and don't have to drive in.

I'm am still worried I will get laid off if I stay at my current role. At least at this role I can stay with family and keep applying for 1000 jobs for a year until I get 1 interview lol. Whereas, if I get let go at the other role then I'd be stuck in a new place, have to pay rent, and hope I could find something quick. A few people have told me to take it because I'd learn more or the higher salary would help for future jobs. However, from what I've seen it's hard to even get any responses on applications. I have 6 years of experience.

I don't know if it's worth leaving family to move to a different state. The other role pays more, but the upcoming spin off is what's worrying me. Along with the lifestyle difference of waking up earlier to drive in. Would you stay remote, take the in person role, or is the spin off a red flag?

I'm currently making about $103k in a fully remote role and living with family in Georgia, so I don't pay rent. I received an offer for a $130k onsite position in Birmingham, which would require me to move out to a different state and pay rent, groceries, gas/commuting costs, utilities, and other living expenses. I've been in tech for 6 years. My current role is working in cloud migrations, and the other role is a devops SRE role. I'm wondering how much of that extra 30k I'd actually keep after taxes and the additional cost of living?

My other worry is my current company has done a layoff a year, so I'm worried about the stability. The other company on Glassdoor has a 3.3 rating, so I'm not sure if the other company will be any better. I'm worried with the job market the way it is if I'll even get another interview? I've had about 3 job offers the past 3 years out of 200 or so applications. I denied those jobs, because they were all for smaller startupish companies owned by private equity firms. They didn't seem too stable. A few of them low balled me and only offered 70 to 80k and didn't even want to budge to 85k.

Would you leave a $100k+ remote job while living rent-free with family for a $130k in-person job? How much would you estimate I'd actually come out ahead each year after rent, food, gas, utilities, and commuting?

I've recently looked at going back to a Baptist church and I'm having a hard time deciding between an IFB or SBC church. I was a KJV only bible reader for a while, but recently I have looked into reading other versions like CSB, ESV, or NKJV for better understanding. I'm looking for a church with a conservative focus. I've considered Methodist or Episcopal, but they seem way too open theology wise. It seems like those denominations have no clear cut doctrine and they're always shifting their belief structure.

The last time I went to church was over 10 years ago, but I'm looking at going back for a better sense of community and to make sure I'm not misinterpreting the word. I'm worried about being left out or going to a church that is highly gossipy or cliquish.

I'm in the Augusta, GA area, so it shouldn't be hard to find either type of church. My main concerns are fitting in, commute, and focus on historical theology. At other times I looked at switching denominations to Orthodoxy or Anglican for focus on liturgy and historical theology focus. However, I'm so used to following teachings of scripture in the bible, and I think it would be hard to get used to a congregational government in the church or confession. Has anyone else had experiences in IFB or SBC churches and which would you recommend?

I grew up a SBC Baptist. I've been considering Orthodoxy for year. Many protestant churches especially non denominational feel like Mcdonalds churches where people just go to be seen and gossip. The liturgy, focus on church history, and Icons are the things I like about Orthodoxy. My main concern is the ethnocentrism and being left out if I'm not related to or the same ethnicity as the particular Orthodox church. Orthodox Christians say they will welcome anyone and that once I attend a liturgy, I will see how anything I had in a protestant church was soulless, prideful, or absent of church and apostolic history that makes Orthodoxy more mystical and soulful.

However, I think with any denomination people are still people and there may be cliques. That along with my anxiety has kept me goin from church and keeping to the sola scriptura. I also think strong beliefs carry on to me from Protestantism and the reformation that make it hard for me to switch to Orthodoxy even with my strong interest in it. For example, the American individualistic ideals that carry over from the protestant reformation, that all I need is my Bible and God, and that any church structure can be corrupt or misinterpret the word of God from the Bible.

From my research into Orthodoxy, the Apostolic traditions of the Orthodox church existed hundreds of years before the Bible. So, it's not possible to have the whole teachings and understanding of Christianity and Jesus without the Sacraments, Eucharist, and Liturgy that came from the Orthodox church. This along with the Saints teachings, liturgy, and and stronger historical references make me want to switch to Orthodoxy. But, my worries are I won't fit due to ethnic differences or the practices will seem to strict or different to what I am used to with Baptist theology. Lastly, an Orthodox church would be a 35 minute drive from where. But, there are multiple Baptist, Methodist, or Episcopal churches within a 10 minute drive.

I also like the Jay Dyer podcasts and he presented some strong arguments for Orthodoxy, and it made me feel like sola scriptura is almost completely invalid since Protestantism was created so many centuries after the Orthodox church, and it's devoid of the Sacraments, Eucharist, or Liturgy.

I also had an Ex that was Greek. I visited an Orthodox church once. But, her Mom was condescending and said oh Baptists they're really strict right. When I was thinking that the Orthodox church would be even more strict. That relationship later ended. Afterwards, I regretted it because I never dated another woman again that was an Orthodox Christian, or even knew what it was, which makes is even more sad. It made me worry if I went fully in and became Orthodox if I would ever find a partner into it or who is okay with it.

Has anyone left Orthodox Christianity from a Baptist church or vice versa, and what was your experience like? I asked this question on the Orthodox thread and got very good answers. However, I'm uncertain if certain people are biased, so I'm trying to get opposing opinions as well in regards to what type of church to attend.

I current read the KJV version Bible, but I'm looking for a version that is more easily understandable. I'm looking for a Bible that leans more towards a Baptist teaching or leaning. I was set on the ESV, but from what I have read others have said that the ESV study bible is more slanted towards a reformed, Presbyterian, or Calvinist theological focus. However, most people tend to recommend the ESV more than any other version. Which version would you recommend between the CSB Study Bible, ESV Study Bible, or CSB Spurgeon Bible?

I recently got remotivated again to go back to a Baptist church after turning away for a few years. I was fully focused on college and work. As I got older I realized that there has to more to life than just working and money. I would read the Bible on my own. I'm wanting more of a sense of community, but at the same time I'm worried of not fitting into a church or being left out.

Decisions between different Christian faiths or denominations

I grew up a Baptist. I was on the fence about leaving and switching to Orthodox Christianity because some Protestant churches have become very liberal or don't have a strong historical theological focus. However, I don't know if that would be good for me since I've always had a heavy focus on Sola Scriptura. The church structure would be different too. I have heard mixed ideas on if the Orthodox church is the true original church or not? Has anyone else had the same choice between Orthodox Christianity or Baptist, and what made you stay Baptist or convert to the Baptist faith?

I have been reading the bible by myself for years since about 2016. I was Baptized in 2002, but I have not been to a church since the 2000s. I'm also uncertain whether to go the SBC or IFB route? I'm sure both will be fine though, but which would you recommend. I have noticed that some Baptist churches don't fall under either banner, so I don't know if these churches are legit? With some churches I'm concerned of going out of fear of being left out or gossip, so I think that's what is making me stay home as well. My main worry is attending a Baptist church where they have devotional praise bands and it feeling more like a non denominational church.

Bible Choice

For Bible recommendations, I used to be a KJV onlyist. I'm trying to focus more on understanding the Bible fully. I have been looking into the CSB Study Bible, CSB Spurgeon Bible, or ESV Study Bible. I'm unsure which one better aligns with Baptist fundamentals? Which of these would you recommend? I was set on the ESV, but it seems like that one is more slated to reformed Calivinist or Presbyterian theology.

I've been reading KJV and I've been a KJV onlyist. I definitely do not like the NIV. I thought of switching to the ESV version for a more readable text. My main worry is the argument that the KJV is more original and that it's based off the Textus Receptus texts instead of the dead sea scroll texts of the ESV.

I thought of the NKJV as well, but I didn't notice much difference between the KJV and NKJV. The ESV did seem somewhat more readable which I liked, but I did not like that some words were replaced like expanse for firmament. Some youtubers stated that certain verses from the KJV are missing in the ESV.

I have a strong sola scriptura focus and lean more towards Baptist teachings. Should I stay with with the KJV or switch to the ESV?