My church is not currently holding Wednesday night Bible Study and in fact is planning to change the dynamic of Wednesday nights in the Fall. I'm still thinking about what I will do with my schedule... work on the free Wednesday nights or visit another church for Wednesday service only?
I've currently decided to visit a small Baptist church on Wednesday nights near the former home of a woman I was courting. I gave the pastor a copy of Hell's Best Kept Secret over a year ago. As with many Baptist churches, they are zealous and evangelistic. This is why I go. It's encouraging. The preaching is topical and only goes so deep, but the passion for the lost is deeper than many I've met. The atmosphere actually reminds me of my old church in other ways (although they just might be Independent Baptist). The funny phenomenon is that I am picking up on the little theological differences now more easily. I need to keep a spirit of grace and patience so as to not join the "word police" and critique everything that's said (verbally OR mentally). I'm so thankful to God and select people He placed in my life to encourage and convict me in my speech. I was reading through Proverbs not long ago in the mornings and it's interesting how often they speak of our words, mouths, tongue, speech, lips, etc. God knows how powerful words are on both ends of the spectrum. In sanctification, He teaches me this on a more practical level. Here's a good lesson I've learned through some pain, heartache, reaping, and sowing... just shut up! That's today's lesson.
Work is going alright, except somehow we went from a -2% in sales to a -13%. It seems I can't win. There were some factors involved that contributed, but that's nuts! Well, hopefully we'll balance out soon. Tomorrow I get to be in the manager's meeting on the remodeling coming to our store. We're becoming a "Lifestyle" store. It will look quite snazzy, we'll carry more, we'll have more employees, and sales go up. I'm somewhat excited about the meeting and to see the changes.
I'm also finishing up a booklet full of written sermons on the topic of marriage from preachers in the 17 and 1800's. It's pretty good. I find it interesting that they use the term "religion" as a synonym for Christianity, unlike today's Christian culture that likes to say, "not a religion, a relationship." The Bible uses "religion" a few times in a positive sense as well... at least in the NIV. I'm not saying one way is better than the other, but it's interesting to note as you read further back into Christian history. My goal is to finish that and move on to the next batch of literature from www.mountzion.org.
Recent prayer items:
-Grandpa is in the hospital for breathing issues, not saved, 72 yrs. old
-What role should I play in the church puppet evangelism ministry? They're looking for a leader...?
-Work: The physical drain and burdens of mgmt. responsibility
-Application to Moody for Spring
2 comments:
Wait, so it's wrong to be the word police? I mean, I really am getting into the knack of telling people exegetical truths to their exegesis theology. It may make some of them mad, but -- then they'll know what the Bible really says! Is that wrong??
--Also, I really digg your prayer requests section at the bottom. Helps me keep you in mind as the week progresses. We prayed for your grandpa last night after Christina's concert. Hope God is working with him :D!
See you soon :D
it's not wrong to lovingly correct people in a teaching sort of fashion.. I'm saying it's not good to form an assumption about someone just because they used a word, term, phrase, expression, or title that set off a theological red light in your mind.
You may be right or wrong in your estimation of what that person meant by what they said, but we must hold back until we are confident before pinning them down on something.
That's part of what I meant. Sometimes we can get into such a fuss over a word someone uses or a concept someone speaks of, but until we discuss it and see where they're coming from, we must reserve judgment. Until we know exactly what is meant from their perspective, all were doing is jumping to conclusions.
There is some discernemnt involved. I'm referring to things aren't obvious.
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