"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" but should we be flattered by it all? Or should we be ashamed of ourselves?
Children Learn What They Live
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live the hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
By Dorothy Law Nolte
This video runs parallel with this lesson and I hope you'll take a look.
Did You Know?
There have been
divorces in the U.S.
so far this year.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
so far this year.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Funny Random Thoughts
Stolen from a friend...who stole from a friend.
1. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
2. More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.
3. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
4. I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?
5. Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.
6. That's enough, Nickelback.
7. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
8. Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?
9. Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.
10. There is a great need for sarcasm font.
11. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first saw it.
12. I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.
13. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
14. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
15. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
16. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.
17. A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.
18. LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".
19. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
20. Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.
21. Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".
22. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?
23. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!
24. Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"
25. While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.
26. MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
27. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
28. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
29. Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!
30. Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?
31. If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.
32. Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....
33. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.
34. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.
35. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
36. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
37. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.
38. I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'
39. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Crap!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
40. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
41. When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.
42. I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.
43. Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...
44. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.
45. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
46. It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.
47. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
48. Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.
49. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...
50. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?
51. I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.
52. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.
1. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
2. More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.
3. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
4. I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?
5. Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.
6. That's enough, Nickelback.
7. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
8. Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?
9. Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.
10. There is a great need for sarcasm font.
11. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first saw it.
12. I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.
13. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
14. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
15. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
16. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.
17. A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.
18. LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".
19. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
20. Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.
21. Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".
22. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?
23. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!
24. Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"
25. While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.
26. MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
27. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
28. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
29. Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!
30. Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?
31. If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.
32. Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....
33. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.
34. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.
35. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
36. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
37. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.
38. I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'
39. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Crap!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
40. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
41. When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.
42. I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.
43. Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...
44. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.
45. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
46. It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.
47. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
48. Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.
49. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...
50. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?
51. I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.
52. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Ant and the Grasshopper
THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER
This one is a little different... Two Different Versions!
Two Different Morals!
OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long,
building his house and laying up
supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and
plays the summer away.
Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!
MODERN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his
house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and
plays the summer away.
Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and
demands to know why the ant should be
allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the
shivering grasshopper next to a video of the
ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is
stunned by the sharp contrast.
How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor
grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody
cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'
Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant 's house
where the news stations film the group
singing, 'We shall overcome.' Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray
to God for the grasshopper's sake.
Nancy Pelosi & John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Larry King that
the ant has gotten rich off the back
of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to
make him pay his fair share.
Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act
retroactive to the beginning of the summer.
The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green
bugs and, having nothing left to pay
his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.
The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of
the ant's food while the government
house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles
around him because he doesn't maintain it.
The ant has disappeared in the snow.
The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the
house, now abandoned, is taken over by a
gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.
This one is a little different... Two Different Versions!
Two Different Morals!
OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long,
building his house and laying up
supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and
plays the summer away.
Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!
MODERN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his
house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and
plays the summer away.
Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and
demands to know why the ant should be
allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the
shivering grasshopper next to a video of the
ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is
stunned by the sharp contrast.
How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor
grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody
cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'
Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant 's house
where the news stations film the group
singing, 'We shall overcome.' Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray
to God for the grasshopper's sake.
Nancy Pelosi & John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Larry King that
the ant has gotten rich off the back
of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to
make him pay his fair share.
Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act
retroactive to the beginning of the summer.
The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green
bugs and, having nothing left to pay
his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.
The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of
the ant's food while the government
house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles
around him because he doesn't maintain it.
The ant has disappeared in the snow.
The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the
house, now abandoned, is taken over by a
gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.
Church sponsored Social Meals, Part I
This is a blog by a friend in Myspace World. I "met" him in a Myspace forum for Church of Christ members. Please read it, think about it, and then see my other post (Part II) to see my reply to it.
I encourage you all to think about this issue (and others like it), read what you can on issues such as this, and then post your thoughts either here or at the other post.
_____________________________________________________________________
Church-Sponsored Social Meals
by (took name out)
As I begin this short article, it needs to be noted what this issues is not. The issue is not “eating in the building.” Those who say that this is the issue are either ignorant of the arguments, or being deliberately dishonest. No one denies that Christians may eat in the building. Thus, I call on those who have represented the position as opposition to “eating in the building” to repent.
Further, the issue is not regarding meals for the purpose of benevolence to needy saints such as you see in Acts 6.
The issue is not eating food that is incidental to the purpose for which the church has assembled. The church may be assembled and a child may eat cheerios, a baby my take a bottle, a diabetic may eat something to maintain their internal milieu, there is no opposition to this. Yet the fact that something may happen incidentally to the an authorized purpose, this does not provide authority for the church to provide for, or assemble for this purpose.
The opposition is to the church coming together for, or making provision for, a common meal for social purposes. The issue is a matter of purpose, not incidentals.
.. ..
We oppose the practice of church sponsored social meals on the very same basis as our opposition for mechanical instruments of music in worship to God. There is no precept, approved example or necessary inference which authorizes the practice of the church making provision for such meals. This was commonly understood among brethren before the 1950’s and 1960’s . Brother B.C. Goodpasture wrote the following in the gospel advocate.
There is a difference between spiritual progress and religious hurrah, but some people seem not to know it. When a church gets caught up in the hurrah of church sponsored youth camps, banquets, ball games and institutionalism, it would be good to remember Paul’s statement, “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17)....
(Goodpasture, Gospel Advocate 8-1-1935). ....
Brother Goodpasture further noted twenty some years later.
It is not the mission of the church to furnish amusement to the world, or even its own members. For the church to turn aside from its divine work to furnish amusement and recreation is to pervert its mission. If the church will discharge its duty in preaching the gospel, edifying its members, and helping the worthy poor, it will not have the time or the desire to amuse and entertain” (Goodpasture, Gospel Advocate, 1948, p.484).....
There are numerous other quotes throughout the brotherhood periodicals prior to the 1950’s and 1960’s decrying the practice. The reason is because there is no precept, approved example, or necessary implication to provide authority for such.
Another issue in regard to this is noted in 1 Corinthians 11:22,34. Note at the outset that is not our sole opposition to the practice of church sponsored social meals. We noted about that the opposition is primarily one of a simple lack of authority. This fact is then underscored by Paul’s condemnation of the practice. In 1 Corinthians 11 and beginning in verse 17 Paul deals with an issue that had arisen in the church in Corinth. The church there had perverted the Lord’s supper in such a way as to shift the focus from the memorial of which it was instituted, to a common meal. Paul provided the solution. Common meals are to be eaten at home. In other words, The church has an obligation to make provision for the spiritual supper, the home is to make provision for common meals. Paul notes “ What, do you not have houses to eat and drink in or do you despise the church of the living God and shame those who have nothing.” (1 Corinthians 11:22). In the same context Pal noted “ if anyone is hungry let him eat at home…” ( 1 Corinthians 11:34). Consider this question, If Paul wanted to say “eat common meals at home” what better way could he have said it?
.. ..
I have dealt with this issue very briefly in this article. If you would like to study the position I believe to be biblical in more depth, I encourage you to read the Garner-Jones debate at www.garnerjonesdebate.wordpress.com
I encourage you all to think about this issue (and others like it), read what you can on issues such as this, and then post your thoughts either here or at the other post.
_____________________________________________________________________
Church-Sponsored Social Meals
by (took name out)
As I begin this short article, it needs to be noted what this issues is not. The issue is not “eating in the building.” Those who say that this is the issue are either ignorant of the arguments, or being deliberately dishonest. No one denies that Christians may eat in the building. Thus, I call on those who have represented the position as opposition to “eating in the building” to repent.
Further, the issue is not regarding meals for the purpose of benevolence to needy saints such as you see in Acts 6.
The issue is not eating food that is incidental to the purpose for which the church has assembled. The church may be assembled and a child may eat cheerios, a baby my take a bottle, a diabetic may eat something to maintain their internal milieu, there is no opposition to this. Yet the fact that something may happen incidentally to the an authorized purpose, this does not provide authority for the church to provide for, or assemble for this purpose.
The opposition is to the church coming together for, or making provision for, a common meal for social purposes. The issue is a matter of purpose, not incidentals.
.. ..
We oppose the practice of church sponsored social meals on the very same basis as our opposition for mechanical instruments of music in worship to God. There is no precept, approved example or necessary inference which authorizes the practice of the church making provision for such meals. This was commonly understood among brethren before the 1950’s and 1960’s . Brother B.C. Goodpasture wrote the following in the gospel advocate.
There is a difference between spiritual progress and religious hurrah, but some people seem not to know it. When a church gets caught up in the hurrah of church sponsored youth camps, banquets, ball games and institutionalism, it would be good to remember Paul’s statement, “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17)....
(Goodpasture, Gospel Advocate 8-1-1935). ....
Brother Goodpasture further noted twenty some years later.
It is not the mission of the church to furnish amusement to the world, or even its own members. For the church to turn aside from its divine work to furnish amusement and recreation is to pervert its mission. If the church will discharge its duty in preaching the gospel, edifying its members, and helping the worthy poor, it will not have the time or the desire to amuse and entertain” (Goodpasture, Gospel Advocate, 1948, p.484).....
There are numerous other quotes throughout the brotherhood periodicals prior to the 1950’s and 1960’s decrying the practice. The reason is because there is no precept, approved example, or necessary implication to provide authority for such.
Another issue in regard to this is noted in 1 Corinthians 11:22,34. Note at the outset that is not our sole opposition to the practice of church sponsored social meals. We noted about that the opposition is primarily one of a simple lack of authority. This fact is then underscored by Paul’s condemnation of the practice. In 1 Corinthians 11 and beginning in verse 17 Paul deals with an issue that had arisen in the church in Corinth. The church there had perverted the Lord’s supper in such a way as to shift the focus from the memorial of which it was instituted, to a common meal. Paul provided the solution. Common meals are to be eaten at home. In other words, The church has an obligation to make provision for the spiritual supper, the home is to make provision for common meals. Paul notes “ What, do you not have houses to eat and drink in or do you despise the church of the living God and shame those who have nothing.” (1 Corinthians 11:22). In the same context Pal noted “ if anyone is hungry let him eat at home…” ( 1 Corinthians 11:34). Consider this question, If Paul wanted to say “eat common meals at home” what better way could he have said it?
.. ..
I have dealt with this issue very briefly in this article. If you would like to study the position I believe to be biblical in more depth, I encourage you to read the Garner-Jones debate at www.garnerjonesdebate.wordpress.com
Church sponsored Social Meals, Part II
MY THOUGHTS AND REPLY:
I can't help but think that you believe YOU and what you do or don't do, is what gets you into heaven. In fact, it seems that you put this "rule" as equal to having faith in Christ as to what saves you. When you do that, surely you can see that this is never God's intention.
I suggest a closer look at Galatians and what Paul is trying to tell them then...I believe it would be the same speech he'd have to give you and others who think this way, the same exact speech and yet you have it at your fingertips and supposedly live by its teachings.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
YIKES! No law- NONE should be at the level of the fact that Christ came and died for us!
I LOVE verse 17 of the same chapter: But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
What about 3:2-3 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
and v. 5 He therefore that ministereth so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore taht ministereth to you in the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
I'll admit for a CoCer to actually swallow this and accept it is HARD. It has been for me. I just wasn't raised this way. But I think we've gotten it wrong. I love Galatians....it has helped me TRULY realize that I'm free in Christ!!!!! CoC has made me believe for far too long that I had to do things just right or it's over and done with. No wonder I felt I could never say that I KNEW FOR CERTAIN I was going to heaven....there was always that "what if" factor.
We say we're free in Christ but don't live it b/c we truly don't believe it. The folks of Galantians struggled with the same thing and Paul came to teach them them differently.
I believe you love God with all your heart but I also think you and I need to study more and come to understand the absolute brilliance of what Grace means.
CoC is VERY guilty of downplaying grace for fear people won't be baptized. BUT grace is what it's all about. We can't forget that vital part of God's gift to us! Or it was all in vain.
I love you. I am still working on this myself. I still thank God for His grace and then pick up my burdens and wonder if I've done enough. I hate that I'm finding it hard to shake that mentality. It's soooo much to carry.
I hope you pick up the Word and read through Galatians with new eyes.
I can't help but think that you believe YOU and what you do or don't do, is what gets you into heaven. In fact, it seems that you put this "rule" as equal to having faith in Christ as to what saves you. When you do that, surely you can see that this is never God's intention.
I suggest a closer look at Galatians and what Paul is trying to tell them then...I believe it would be the same speech he'd have to give you and others who think this way, the same exact speech and yet you have it at your fingertips and supposedly live by its teachings.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
YIKES! No law- NONE should be at the level of the fact that Christ came and died for us!
I LOVE verse 17 of the same chapter: But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
What about 3:2-3 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
and v. 5 He therefore that ministereth so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore taht ministereth to you in the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
I'll admit for a CoCer to actually swallow this and accept it is HARD. It has been for me. I just wasn't raised this way. But I think we've gotten it wrong. I love Galatians....it has helped me TRULY realize that I'm free in Christ!!!!! CoC has made me believe for far too long that I had to do things just right or it's over and done with. No wonder I felt I could never say that I KNEW FOR CERTAIN I was going to heaven....there was always that "what if" factor.
We say we're free in Christ but don't live it b/c we truly don't believe it. The folks of Galantians struggled with the same thing and Paul came to teach them them differently.
I believe you love God with all your heart but I also think you and I need to study more and come to understand the absolute brilliance of what Grace means.
CoC is VERY guilty of downplaying grace for fear people won't be baptized. BUT grace is what it's all about. We can't forget that vital part of God's gift to us! Or it was all in vain.
I love you. I am still working on this myself. I still thank God for His grace and then pick up my burdens and wonder if I've done enough. I hate that I'm finding it hard to shake that mentality. It's soooo much to carry.
I hope you pick up the Word and read through Galatians with new eyes.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Growing So Big
I'm sorry, but had to show off an adorable pic of my girls. :)
Savannah, age 4.5
Kylei, age 6
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