This week and next will be unusual for me. [I like unusual.] What that means for this place is that I MAY not be that active. It will depend on what you put on here, or if I have some brilliant thought that needs to be expressed (not likely).
This week is 4th of July week, so it’s a little disjointed, seeing that the 4th falls on a Wednesday. I am going to Nashville that day to participate in Summer Celebration at Lipscomb; it ends on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon Kedra and I are going on down to Alabama for a few days to see her folks.
So there you have it: two weeks of unusual for me. I like it.
What do you want to talk about? Remember, we recently buried a horse, so no digging in that area.
We could dive into the relationship of church and state, particularly as it shows up in what some call "Patriotic Christians." Or not.
How about discussing what hot dogs are made of?
We could talk about...
Or we could all just relax and drink some sweet tea.
About Me
- Allen
- Mitchell, Indiana, United States
- I love my family, and I enjoy what I do. I am in my 18th year with the Mitchell Church of Christ. I am an endurance athlete. The parallels between endurance athletics and ministry are remarkable. They are mutually beneficial.
The Holy Trinity
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10 comments:
to link back to last week, my comments we're concerning a 40 to whatever year old man. my concern is that we are going to re-live these peoples past/past sins. again we all have a past/we all have sinned. and by the way i once hit my hand so hard with a hammer that the hammer cussed! tw
Taffy and I were discussing last night as we sat and surveyed the group that had assembled at Allen's as to how different the church make up would be in a few years. It was really interesting to look at the number there who had not grown up in the CoC, not grown up in church in general, etc. The thought we had was how is that going to change or diverge the current basic church beliefs etc. For example we laughed that neither one of us had really dove into the other's past, we had just accepted each other for who they are. I think this is going to be a challenge for the leadership but also maybe a catalyst for revival as well.
Yesterday's SS class with Gary was great. Its seems we are really about to break the code and do some good things that God has placed on some people hearts.
Big Daddy, ask Taffy about his attendance last week.
RR
Ran early this morning and then went to Bedford to be with Neva’s Aunt’s family and speak at a grave side memorial. Now I am taking a little break from my Lipscomb lecture prep.
Been thinking.
Last night’s Doo Daa was really encouraging to me. There was a good crowd. I didn’t try to count, but I guess there were more than 100 people. Everyone seemed to have a nice time, and I like that. Bigg Daddy came out around 1 p.m. to start cooking his masterpiece. I appreciate him and Matthew cooking. There was a lot of good food. I really enjoyed “Gerald and the Dulcimer Girls” (Sherron F. and Teresa M.). It was really neat to hear them playing and singing. The last adults left around 10.45, and the last teens left at 2 this morning.
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In my class yesterday morning we talked about the authority of Scripture. I think we sometimes forget about that. There are a couple of interesting verses in 2 Peter 3 that help me to understand that Paul’s words are authoritative in my life and our church community.
2 Peter 3:2 — I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
2 Peter 3:15,16 — Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Interesting, don’t you think? I’m thinking that we need to explore the authority of Scripture for our lives. I am doing just a little reading in that area presently.
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What do you think our church family most needs to hear, be reminded of, be taught on Sundays?
OK, time to go back to work...
I find it quiet amazing of how many people actually wanted me to come back on the blog and talk. I would like to ask the stone casters a question. If you are having problems with what I wrote how do you feel about the Apostle Paul? I ask this question because if you went about rebuking me and casting stones at me for what I wrote, you must have a bunch of bricks in your closet ready to throw at him whenever you get the chance to meet him. After reading over what I wrote a hundred times or less, I wonder how many people actually got past the disappointed area because that is where 95% of the stone casting was cast at. Only 5% percent of those who responded knew what point I was trying to make. I'm not mad at those who cast stones at me even though I know who some of the stone casters are. Just like me, you had the right to say how you felt and you did. The different between you and I. I spoke using my name. You hid behind an anonymous name. My point was trying to get the church to do what God expects from us. Your point was too attack me. Mine was from the heart. Yours was out of anger and from within. This is not the first church that I have been too who voiced their opinion when it came to me telling them to lets get the ball running. Someone said the same week that I blogged, stop talking and put action into effect. A friend of mine told me a long time ago, if you want to get something done either do it yourself or push to get it done. Well I'm doing both and if people are having problems because I'm doing what the words says, and Im stepping on a few toes to get the ball running. Tough luck. I'm not changing for anyone.
Since we are not guaranteed about tomorrow what is the delay in getting the church started on doing God's work today? When Jesus told the disciples to go out and spread the word, did he set a day or time to teach them? Hey Peter, today I'm going to teach on this but in a few months, we are going to get the disciples ready to go out and bring the children of God into his present but right now, isn't the time or place. Tomorrow is not guaranteed and if you were to die today and God was to ask, Son/daughter why didn't you spread the word like I told you too? Who would the church point their finger at. I'm sure it wouldn't be at themselves because that would be admitting guilt and no one wants to go down alone. Someone asked Allen, how do you know Gino is doing what he is saying. Here is my job number 723-0244 ext 20. When you call there ask to speak to Guy, he is my boss and after you ask him what I talk about most of the time I am there, tell him to let you speak to every guy that I work with and when you ask them am I doing what I claim to be doing, they will answer for you. when you get done talking with them, you can call down to both the Los Angeles Mission and the Old Savannah City Mission and ask them as well. I want to see the unbelievers coming and getting saved. I was once in their shoes and it took me until I was 31 years old before I got saved. This world is getting worse and we need to start grabbing people now. Not next year or next month but now.
Too answer Newby question about how I say things and if I'm concern about people feelings. Newby. In this day and age I have found out that people want you to say what they want to hear and not the truth. Truth hurts and people get offended by the truth. You think the teachers and the scribes were throwing parties after Jesus called them hypocrites let alone bringing their darkness into the light? I don't think so. How many people defended the teachers for Jesus speaking the truth? Did he tell them what they wanted to hear? And to answer your second question, I am not new in the word. I study at least twice a week and I read the bible at least five to six days a week. I know that if you study and do what God tells you to do, even at times when we do not feel like it, God blesses you for it. Before I got saved, my life was on a roller coaster ride. I got tired of riding that roller coaster so I have dedicated my life to God and his word. I have my not so great days like anyone else but I still am happy on those days because there is now peace there. there is no hate or bitter when I have bad days so my bad days never last to long. normally when someone have a bad day, it can last up to days. mine last no longer than an hour and sometimes less than that. Since working at Liner Products. I can't really tell you the last time that I really had a bad day. one of the things that I tell people at work, Im greedy for the blessing I know the Lord has for me and I'm going to continue to do what God wants from me in order to get those blessing. I know that I will get my blessings in heaven but I want it both here and there. The only way I will get my blessings is dedicating my life to the Father and that I have done. I guess another reason I don't care what people say when they cast stones or say whatever they want to say about me. God is the one I need to be concern about and I'm no where near concern. I have no need to be. No I'm not saying I'm perfect because that is impossible to do. God tells us to walk in perfection and that is my main goal. I have one more question and this is for the person who said I could be a stumbling block for the things I say. How? I'm not taking the word of God and twisting it around. Show me in anything I wrote as a stumbling block and I will be happy to apologize. one more thing before I go. For those who are using the name anonymous when talking down toward me. Thanks.
that is one of my main goal. correction on the walking in perfection.
One more thing before I'm off to get my beauty sleep. How come people think adultery and Sexual Immorality are the same when they aren't? I use to think they were the same until a few weeks ago when a thought came to mind.If Jesus said the only way that a husband is to leave his wife other than sexual immorality he causes here to commit adultery. How can a husband cause his wife to commit adultery is she has already committed adultery? that didnt make since So I went back and done some researching. In the book of Leviticus it speaks on sexual immorality and it has to do with sexual relationship with someone related to you or your husband/wife. See committing adultery to me would be an easy way out for a divorce and since God is against divorce, Jesus made it close to impossible for a husband to divorce his wife cause I don't see someone going up to their husband with the idea, hey I know how to get my husband to divorce me. I will sleep with his brother. but now on the other foot, if she went out and slept with half the neighborhood to get her husband to leave her, that would be so easy. Just a change in the blog. Laughing but serious
Yes it time for me to go to bed. Let me correct what I just wrote. If Jesus says, But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Does anybody hear the crickets?
Gino, buddy, man I wish I had your ability to preach to others. It sounds like you're being very effective where you work. Just be careful. Do you remember Allen's lesson from a few weeks ago with the little pink horn? Don't ruin the good you've done by blowing your horn. You sounded like you were comparing yourself to Paul in the one entry. I think if you really get into understanding Paul, he really hammered on many of the Jews who where Pharisees, members of the Sanhedrin, etc.. becuase they chose to ignore the prophesy vs. facts. He treated the members of the new churches with love and compassion, even when correcting them.
Please don't assume that you are the only one doing anything at Mitchell. There are many good things going on, you just may not know it. That's the way it's supposed to be. God knows about it and that's all that matters.
Also, in defense of Allen. Gino, do you know what he does on a weekly basis for this church? Do you know how hard he works on his lessons every week? Do you know how much time he spends in prayer and meditation every week?
I don't have the same background as you. I grew up in Churches of Christ. Beleive me, I've been in some stagnant churches. This one is not. But, Allen is the hardest working preacher I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He cares more deeply about every one than most of you knows. I am also happy to call him my friend. Gino, please refrain from personal attacks in the future, it's not productive when it's not done in the right manner. Blog's, e-mails, group setting and letters are not the right avenue for differences of opinion or correction. One on one conversations are.
If you disagree, give me a call.
I really hesitated to add an entry, but since everybody else is either out of town or scared away, I figured maybe Gino would be the only one that saw this anyway. :P
Brent
I do hear crickets, Brent. Must be vacation week. Just got back from camping, last week. Ask Todd about how we hiked almost a mile straight up a rocky hillside in scorching heat to see Daniel Boone's ancestral outhouse!
Donna
Cherp, cherp.....
Amen Brent!
I really pondered a long time before writing this, but it finally came out that I had to do this.
Gino, we all love you as a brother in Christ. Dont forget that. However, I have to wonder what the point of your most recent diatribe was. It has been weeks since the episode and I can find no post by anyone else who has brought this back up. So really what is the intent?
I truly admire your outgoing and evangelic approach. However, recognize that is not everyone's thing. God has given everyone talents that are different and it takes all of these to make a church work. Dont be critical of those who do not have the same talent as you.
You also seem bent on the fact that in your opinion the church is not doing God's will or spreading his word or doing enough. How much do you really know that is going on?
Can you tell anyone what the challenge and project is of Gary's Sunday a.m. class? Can you tell anyone what Landon Young did last week in the name of Jesus? Can you tell me what Michelle's project and ministry is? Can you tell me what MCoC's impact is on Winterfest, SMBC, IMPACT, MHS, etc. How many lives did MCoC touch last week, last year through the food pantry? How much do you know about the Bryantsville Hunger project? How much do you know about the impact that MCoC has had on the student body at MHS? Can you tell us what the seed was that started a revial at Purdue last year? For the most part, I doubt that you can answer many of these. And in your defense, I doubt that many posting can either. Why? Because these are not bragged about or made huge public displays. It is people going about God's work.
God doesnt expect us to get front page head lines or take out an add everytime we do something.
A simple suggestion, when you post before hitting the "send" button, re read your post and ask; "How does this glorify God?" If God is not the primary focus, dont hit "send".
Hang in there!
RR
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