The Age of Speed

In his book "The Age of Speed", Vince Poscente tells a story of how in 1991 he raced across a tightrope---and not in the metaphorical sense. He was an Olympic speed skier. France had the best team in the world so he went to France to train with them. In one of the exercises, the coach challenged each of the athletes to walk from one end of a tightrope to the other as fast as they could without falling. 

 

One after another, each started across the tightrope, believing they could win. And one after another, each failed. No one won the race because no one could stay on the rope. They'd hold their arms out to their sides, keep their eyes on the rope, and carefully place one foot in front of the other. They would concentrate their energy on going fast and not falling---but then they would fall, again and again.

 

After they were thoroughly bruised and humiliated the coach told them a secret: to go fast stop focusing on the rope, and start focusing on the destination. Find a clear point of focus on the opposite end of the rope and keep your eyes on that point.

 

One after another, they climbed to the starting point of the tightrope course, took a deep breath, paused for a moment, looked up to find a focus point at the end of the course. Each started racing across the rope, never taking their eyes off the target. Each got across the tightrope without falling---and with great speed. He said it was like magic. The balance they thought they couldn't grasp was effortless, the footwork that seemed clumsy and impossible was natural, their frustrations were gone and they could concentrate on speed. Once the target was clear and they stayed focus on it, the path and the process were simple---they were balanced and fast.

 

It occurred to me GSMCOC has no goal, no target, no focus. Our classes and our sermons are meandering time fillers with no real destination in view. A major goal of the assembly is to not be too long. GSMCOC needs to find a focus point at the end of the rope and never lose sight of it. That focus would be our authentic purpose. When we have our focus on our purpose, we can get from the beginning to end of any course with ease, balance, and speed.

 

Talking to Marc last week he mentioned the elders will be meeting once a month at the building on Sundays and other times if required and that they had not decided how they will organize. With 25% of the leadership in a different country, 25% in a different county, 25% in a different city and a preacher in a different county doesn't inspire confidence that Pigeon Forge will be affected.  It took 11 months to appoint elders I guess we couldn't handle too much change. We need an Activities Director.

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it."

 

---Mark Twain

 

 

If You Oppose Abortion, Don't have One

Do we want to give government the authority to punish woman asking for a legal medical procedure?

Texas law says your doctor must talk to you about certain things before you can have an abortion. After you get this information, your doctor must wait 24 hours before your abortion can be performed. The law also requires that you receive a sonogram from the doctor (or agent) who will be performing your abortion at least 24 hours before the abortion is to occur. If you live more than 100 miles away from the nearest abortion provider, you can waive this requirement, but you will still be required to have a sonogram by the doctor performing the abortion. It will need to occur at least 2 hours before the abortion, rather than 24 hours before.

Once you arrive at your doctor's office, and before your sonogram, you will be asked to sign a sonogram/abortion election form. This form certifies that you are aware of the law and its requirements. The doctor will also give you materials to read. One of those materials should be the Resource Directory listed on this webpage.

During your sonogram, the doctor is required to display the sonogram images and make the heart beat audible. You may decline to view the images and listen to the heartbeat. The doctor must also provide a verbal explanation of the sonogram results. Only women who certify on the sonogram/abortion election form one of the following criteria can decline to hear the verbal explanation:

·         the pregnancy is a result of a sexual assault, incest, or other violation of the Penal Code that has been reported to law enforcement authorities or that has not been reported because she reasonably believes that to do so would put her at risk of retaliation resulting in serious bodily injury;

·         the woman is a minor and obtaining an abortion in accordance with judicial bypass procedures under Chapter 33, Family Code; or

·         the fetus has an irreversible medical condition or abnormality, as medically documented in the woman's medical file.

These exceptions are evidence that the requirements of the law are intended to punish the patient since none of the criteria has anything to do with the claim the fetus is a human life.

During the 2003 session, the Texas Legislature passed the Woman's Right to Know Act (House Bill 15). Under this law:

·         A doctor who is to perform an abortion (or the doctor's agent) must tell the woman that benefits may be available to help with medical care before, during, and after childbirth.

·         The father is required to help support the child whether or not he has offered to pay for an abortion.

·         Government and private agencies can counsel the woman in preventing pregnancy, or refer her to a doctor for medications or devices to prevent pregnancy, including emergency contraception for victims of rape and incest.

·         The woman has the right to look at printed information. If she chooses to see the material the law describes, the doctor (or the doctor's agent) shall give her a copy at leas 24 hours before the abortion is scheduled. The doctor (or agent) may instead mail her the materials, with delivery restricted to her, at least 72 hours before the abortion is scheduled.

As much as you oppose abortion do you really want to give government this authority? I do not. If you oppose abortion as I do, don't have one but give others the privilege to decide for themselves.

Was the Creation the Beginning or Was The Beginning the time God Created the Heavens and Earth

Everyone believes what they choose to believe I know I do. The problem often is a distance between what people believe and what truth is. Folks, as convinced as we believe Genesis 1:1 can be translated:

 

• As a statement that the cosmos had an absolute beginning (In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth).
• As a statement describing the condition of the world when God began creating (When in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...).

 

They say that by the 2nd century the first translation had become the dominant one. I wonder what was believed before Genesis was written and up to the second century.

 

Those same folks claim modern scholars believe that the second is closer to the original meaning. At least both beliefs accept that God created the heavens and earth. 

Woolly Mammoths

While there is absolute truth I do not believe what is taught as truth is necessarily truth or even remains truth. The church at one time persecuted scientists who differed with the church's view of truth relative to the universe. Recently I read a book "Frozen in Time" by Michael Oard. The subject was Woolly mammoths, the Ice Age, and the Bible.

 

During the Middle Ages it was thought woolly mammoth remains were prehistoric giants. Historians at the time taught they were actually elephants that died during the military campaign led by Chinghiz Kan others taught they were elephants that had run away from Hannibal's army as it crossed the Swiss Alps. Some taught that if they looked upon a carcass they would die. It was thought the giant animals lived underground and tunneled forward and backward. They concluded the remains found along riverbanks were of animals that came near the surface to smell the air or see the light and immediately died. During the 15^th century a Chinese emperor wrote a book in which he supported the belief the carcasses were the remains of five-ton rodents who lived beneath the earth's surface. The "freshness" of some meat from the carcasses encouraged their belief the animals were still living underground and that they died upon viewing the light. Today we do not agree their truth was truth.

 

Some folks believe the Ice Age was around 2000 BC during a time we think Abraham lived.

 

Concerning my question earlier on the meaning of the word day, Sunday you said you believe it is a 24-hour day since all other places it is translated a 24-hour day. Seems reasonable but do we need to allow for the translator's preconceived idea influencing his translation? As I mentioned I do not understand Hebrew and have no idea as to the variety of English meanings the original word has.

 

When God said "let the dry land appear" does it suggest land already existed underneath the seas? David wrote in Psalm 104 "The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them." Could David be suggesting God used natural activity to shape the dry land? Natural could suggest a very long period of time. Does it matter? Only to the extent of how we react to those who believe differently than we believe. Like those folks in the Middle Ages we can only go with what is known at the time and change as new information comes available. 

 

Evening and morning defining a day is more like the Jews than our way of figuring a day.

List of Prohibited Books

GSMCOC has reinstated the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (List of Prohibited Books) maintained by the Catholic Church from 1559 until 1966.

The aim of the list was to protect the faith and morals of the faithful by preventing the reading of immoral or works containing theological errors. The various editions of the Index also contained the rules of the Church relating to the reading, selling and pre-emptive censorship of books, including translations of the Bible into the "common tongues". To avoid future situations rules should be made available to all members of GSMCOC.

Canon law still recommends that works concerning sacred Scripture, theology, canon law, church history, and any writings which specially concern religion or good morals, be submitted to the judgment of the local Ordinary an officer of a church or civic authority who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute laws.

Such officers are found in hierarchically organized churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system. In the Episcopal Church, an ordinary is a diocesan bishop. In Eastern Christianity, a corresponding officer is called a hierarch "president of sacred rites, high-priest." With such a list in place the GSMCOC ordinary needs to be identified.

Within civic governance, notably in the southern United States, the role of the county ordinary historically involved the discharge of certain, often legal or legally related, tasks falling to city or county authorities, such as licensing marriages and adjudicating claims against an authority. 

Favorite Thing?

Recently I read an article in a magazine about a woman who for five years has survived stage IV cancer and is thriving. The article said

"Just four days before undergoing a life-or-death surgery to remove the cancer that has spread to her lungs, Edith is doing one of her very favorite things. She attends a 7:30 a.m. service at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, down the street from her home north of San Diego. There she sits in the same place as always, next to the stained-glass window portraying Jesus in the Olive Garden."

While other religious organizations have their buildings open other than Sunday / Wednesday we lock our buildings and install security alarm systems.  People unfamiliar with such systems will hesitate to enter the building out of concern of triggering the alarm.

Ira North made comments that would cause one to believe he spent time at the church building but I do not know how much. Based on his writings he did not think too much of empty buildings sitting idle.  

Granted few members live close enough to make it an easy thing to stop by the building  for a 7:20 a.m. service but that is another issue. For those who want to they cannot so our multi-million dollar edifice sits empty. But at least we "pray for the sick" or at least we tell God we are.

I can only imagine the comfort Edith experiences and I wonder if any of the "sick of our congregation" would consider it one of their favorite things to do. When you are dying or think you are dying it just might become one.

 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

 "Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise."

---George Washington

Living the Way We Pray

I knelt to pray when day was done
And prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone,
Lift from each saddened heart the pain
And let the sick be well again."

 
And then I woke another day
And carelessly went on my way,
The whole day long I did not try
To wipe a tear from any eye.
I did not try to share the load
Of any brother on the road.
I did not even go to see
The sick man just next door to me.

Yet once again when day was done
I prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone."

But as I prayed, into my ear
there came a voice that whispered clear,
"Pause now, my son, before you pray.
Whom have you tried to bless today?
Gods sweetest blessing always go
by hands that serve him here below."

And then I hid my face and cried,
"Forgive me, God, I have not tried,
But let me live another day
and I will live the way I pray."

 

Fwd: Keep Your Pinkie in the Air Please

Are our assemblies formal because we dress up or do we dress up because our assemblies are formal? Who decided we should dress up when we go to church? Nowhere does the bible command or even insinuate that we should dress up. In fact doesn't requiring or at least expecting formal attire for the assemblies smack of putting the material over the spiritual?

 

Did Jesus dress too shabbily to be permitted in our pulpits? In some congregations if the preacher preached without a coat and tie he would join the ranks of the unemployed. Some congregations have the audacity to require coats and ties before one can serve communion. They call it appropriate attire. Appropriate to whom?

 

One of the most twisted, unbiblical and illogical lines of reasoning ever invented goes something like this: "We should dress up for church because we should wear our best for God." That statement embodies everything that is wrong with our assemblies. It localizes God, limits worship to a place, disregards Christianity as a way of life, misses the purpose of the assembly, alienates the less fortunate, misleads our children, formalizes the occasion and emphasizes externals.

 

Being immodest, inconsiderate and insensitive are always going to be wrong whether one is at the assembly or the mall. To establish appropriateness beyond that is to create a criterion for judging and ostracizing. James said:

 

"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.  For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' while you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there,' or, 'Sit down at my feet,' have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"

 

For the sake of trying to "look good" and "put our best foot forward" we have developed a formalism in our assemblies that alienates the disadvantaged, attracts our social equals, and places a burden on those who need love but end up worrying about being accepted. James continued:

 

"Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?"

 

Maybe we have a shortage of those "rich in faith" because we have an abundance of those "rich in attire." Our culture says "clothes makes the man" but God does not say clothes makes the Christian.

 

If we have formal assemblies because we wear formal clothes we should change our clothes. If we wear formal clothes because our assemblies are formal we should change our assemblies.

 

"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty."

 

That is the big difference from the liberty to make laws.

 

"For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

 

Those first Christians kept no rituals, acts, traditions or obligations---except to help each other grow in love. The author of Hebrews tells us

 

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

 

We assemble to encourage each other to love and good works. Paul tells us

 

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

 

Worship is to present our bodies as living sacrifice. The bible does not even suggest that we assemble to worship God.

 

Support for much of how we "do church" and what we teach today comes from a time when priests kept the laity dependent upon them.

 

If we do not have bible support for everything we do we are no different than any other "religious" group, i.e. Christian, Jew, Muslims, Hindus, Moonies, Heaven's Gate etc.

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

[shouting to several prisoners]
Barney Fife: "Now here at the Rock we have two rules. Memorize them until you can say them in your sleep. Rule number one: obey all rules. Rule number two: no writing on the walls."

Rightly Handling the Word of Truth

 

Paul told Timothy: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth", i.e. learn to distinguish between the laws and commands God gave to people in other ages and the laws he expects us to keep t. That was good advice then and it is today. We have failed. We take the bible as "God said it, I believe it" and misapply what God said and what he meant.

 

We are not commanded to build an ark of gopher wood simply because God once told Noah to do so. This was once a command of God, it does not apply to any other people and God never intended for it to be so. It is included as part of the Old Testament simply to provide historic information of God's dealings with man before the Christian Age began.

 

There are many examples such as when the Israelites were commanded to place blood on the door posts of their houses, or to offer animal sacrifices as burnt offerings to God. "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer apply to me at its appointed time.' And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil. It is a regular burnt offering, which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord." Even the casual observer understands these commands are recorded merely to provide historical information of God dealt with people before Jesus came; "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

 

Christians must understand which parts of the bible are historical records of laws and events in past ages and which directly to us to be kept in this, the Christian Age.

 

   

 

 

Re: Newsline Article - Church Growth

 

I understand the bible has many examples of individuals and congregations helping missionaries whom God had told to go leaving them without option if they were to obey. I believe some of those churches in the NT sent Paul and others after God told them he wanted Paul et al to go.

 

Folks say the "great commission" was meant for us but then say we can send. Did Jesus give the apostles the option to go or to send? Surely anyone can help anyone anytime to do something they want to do even though God has not instructed them to do it.

 

We already use the collection for the "poor saints in Jerusalem" as motivation to contribute to our own comforts and rummage sales are sinful. Others agree the bible says to baptize but it really means pour or sprinkle or whatever is convenient.  If we keep the bible in context our responsibilities as well as our options remain clear.

 

 

 

During the interview the father said he had discussed possibility and probability with his son to no avail and when asked said he would not try that again.

 

Following the interview with the father, the interviewer spoke with a mother of different children. Unknown to the interviewer the mother had majored in statistics in college in China, her home country.

 

Since the shooting she says she has been focused on a rule of statistics she learned in college, which she calls the "large number certainty theorem" and explained how it applies. "We know that many people have guns, and we know that a certain number of people have disordered minds or bad intentions, and we also know that this is a huge country. In other words, the base is big. So, you know, mathematically, something somewhere will happen with certainty."

 

Fortunately the father of the 10-year-old did not discuss that theorem with his son.

 

 

 

The "helping us" is where I get off track. We are doing God's bidding why shouldn't he help us, if he can, without being asked? Why wouldn't he? 

 

Jesus said he healed some people to show other folks he had the power to forgive sin. He did one thing that was easily verified to support folks believing another that could not be verified. That was then but today nothing? Are we sure we are not missing something? Are we sure we are as "correct" as we say we are? I doubt it and I wonder and I think of Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica and his comments about folks not loving truth and God sending a delusion. 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

[shouting to several prisoners]
Barney Fife: "Now here at the Rock we have two rules. Memorize them until you can say them in your sleep. Rule number one: obey all rules. Rule number two: no writing on the walls."

On Mon, Dec 31, 2012 at 7:25 AM, <abehel@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

People have mental assent but without action there is no real belief.   The situation with the father and son illustrates the deep desire of a parent to accomplish something

positive by using a process that undermines the very purpose of the action.   I deal with trauma, acute stress and anxiety, and PTSD almost every day.   His intent was good

and would have worked with some children, but without knowing a lot of background information about the father and the son and their previous revlationship, it is hard to say

what effect his approach will have long-term, or whether he should have used an entirely different approach.  I would have suggested that all the children as a group, along with

their parents and teachers meet at a neutral place first for an activity, followed by the entire group arriving at their "new school" with parents, teachers, and security officers

present when they went inside to their "new" classroom".    It will be hard for the children to ever go back to their old school.   I know the point of your comment was about

trust, and not a therapeutic approach...just rambling thoughts of mine.

 

Some commands are specific and some have generic applications.   I believe God never intended to say that everyone was to leave their homes and travel the world to

preach.   Plenty of Scriptures in Acts and the Epistles speak of churches sending Paul and contributing to his ministry.   I believe that satisfies the generic meaning of

the passage for those who will do better to stay home and support others.   To my knowledge, though, I can't remember a time when the churches of Christ have ever

had more than 500 foreign missionaries in the field.   That doesn't mean no one was "going" as Christians seem to exist in many countries where we have never sent

and 'American" missionary.   We are not the only Christians charged with the mission of sharing Christ witht he world.

 

What do I believe God will do when we pray for spiritual growth?   I believe when Christians pray for spiritual growth and they stay in the word the Holy Spirit does what

he came to do...He "helps us".  

 

Al

-----Original Message-----
From: John Jenkins
Sent: Dec 30, 2012 9:10 PM
To: abehel@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Newsline Article - Church Growth

When Jesus told the disciples to "go in to all the world" did they have the option to go or to send?

 

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

 

I do not understand they had a choice. Jesus was not speaking to anyone other than those eleven and he was telling them to go. They had no option if they were to obey. If we accept that he was speaking to us we also would have no option but to go.

 

Recently I heard an interview of a father of two children who had survived the school shooting in Connecticut one of the children, a boy I believe 10 or so, cries  lot and refuses to go to school. The father and boy have worked up to going to the school the boy should be attending and walking the halls, holding hands. The boy keeps the keys to the car in his pocket so his father cannot leave without him. When the father attempts to get the boy to "trust" him the boy says, "Last Friday if you had told me I would be safe you would have been wrong." That statement along with the fact the boy keeps the car keys in his pocket while he and his father are walking the halls of the school indicates he does not believe his father and worse does not trust his father. My guess is their relationship is changed forever.

 

Church growth may be hampered by the fact most members 1) do not believe what they are told by preachers/teachers; 2) to not believe one has to be a member of the Church of Christ to be saved; and 3) do not believe assembling with others is necessary nor is reading/studying the  bible necessary. As I mentioned before when in one of your classes you said we want to go to Heaven because that is where our favorite people are and I said no, your favorite people are there each individual has to answer that question for themselves. It appears most people claiming to be Christian do not believe the "company position" on a number of subjects.

 

In your Newsline article when you say church growth depends on prayer what specifically do you expect God to do?

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

[shouting to several prisoners]
Barney Fife: "Now here at the Rock we have two rules. Memorize them until you can say them in your sleep. Rule number one: obey all rules. Rule number two: no writing on the walls."

Newsline Article - Church Growth

When Jesus told the disciples to "go in to all the world" did they have the option to go or to send?

 

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

 

I do not understand they had a choice. Jesus was not speaking to anyone other than those eleven and he was telling them to go. They had no option if they were to obey. If we accept that he was speaking to us we also would have no option but to go.

 

Recently I heard an interview of a father of two children who had survived the school shooting in Connecticut one of the children, a boy I believe 10 or so, cries  lot and refuses to go to school. The father and boy have worked up to going to the school the boy should be attending and walking the halls, holding hands. The boy keeps the keys to the car in his pocket so his father cannot leave without him. When the father attempts to get the boy to "trust" him the boy says, "Last Friday if you had told me I would be safe you would have been wrong." That statement along with the fact the boy keeps the car keys in his pocket while he and his father are walking the halls of the school indicates he does not believe his father and worse does not trust his father. My guess is their relationship is changed forever.

 

Church growth may be hampered by the fact most members 1) do not believe what they are told by preachers/teachers; 2) to not believe one has to be a member of the Church of Christ to be saved; and 3) do not believe assembling with others is necessary nor is reading/studying the  bible necessary. As I mentioned before when in one of your classes you said we want to go to Heaven because that is where our favorite people are and I said no, your favorite people are there each individual has to answer that question for themselves. It appears most people claiming to be Christian do not believe the "company position" on a number of subjects.

 

In your Newsline article when you say church growth depends on prayer what specifically do you expect God to do?

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

[shouting to several prisoners]
Barney Fife: "Now here at the Rock we have two rules. Memorize them until you can say them in your sleep. Rule number one: obey all rules. Rule number two: no writing on the walls."

Was Luke Inspired or Just a Reliable Historian?

The longer one is a believer the less they think like an unbeliever. They take things for granted without question. Those they are trying to influence may not be so trusting.  It seems to me what is scripture and who is inspired are subjects worth investigation.

In your class you mentioned folks thinking the bible difficult to read and to understand. The way the church studies the bible makes it appear to be a very large book. It is smaller than Tolstoy's War and Peace and can be read in less than 80 hours. If the reader is a slow reader say 120 hours or 160 hours or they can listen to it. People read novels but get bored reading the bible. One of the responsibilities of the group is to encourage the individual.

Christian Chronicle has a story:

"Three teens who attend the Concord Road Church of Christ decided to memorize 100 Bible verses each as part of Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes. Jacob Sees, Daniel Stetzinger and Alex Windon challenged the congregation to join them. With the enthusiastic support of the church's six elders, 116 Concord Road members accepted the challenge."

I suspect if the leaders of GSMCOC had shown any interest in the Book of the Month idea more folks would be involved. It takes a few minutes a day and two hours a month to meet with others and talk about what they read. It surely cannot be they do not have the time. Of course they could be too busy. Imagine being too busy to read a book thought to be inspired by their God. We may have too many bibles. If we had less we might see it as important.

The reason for this email: Do you have any idea why Luke is thought to be inspired by anything other than an interest in supporting his friend Theophilus?

Luke:  Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled^[a] among us, ² just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. ³ With this in mind about, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Acts: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote all that Jesus began to do and to teach ² until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

 

John Jenkins

865-803-8179  cell

Gatlinburg, TN

 

 

 

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com

Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

  

[shouting to several prisoners]

 

 

Barney Fife: "Now here at the Rock we have two rules. Memorize them until you can say them in your sleep. Rule number one: obey all rules. Rule number two: no writing on the walls."

 

 

 

 

All Scripture...

Nice class. My comments address context not application.

 

The English Standard version of Paul's first letter to Timothy reads:

 

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

 

Paul first refers to Timothy's familiarity with the sacred writings then explains that all scripture is breathed by God etc... Unless the sacred writings are a subset of all scripture the "all scripture" were in existence during Timothy's youth therefore eliminating the possibility of our New Testament being included. Do you suppose the author's of the various books and letters knew or considered they were contributing to what would be come the Bible?

 

Paul says those sacred writings are able to make Timothy wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. I wonder how many agree with Paul's categorization of those sacred writings. I would think folks would think only the New Testament would do that.

 

 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

[shouting to several prisoners]
Barney Fife: "Now here at the Rock we have two rules. Memorize them until you can say them in your sleep. Rule number one: obey all rules. Rule number two: no writing on the walls."

Security in the Classroom

Our Constitution prohibits government from controlling the media although; Abraham Lincoln did close various newspapers critical of his administration. Congress let him violate the Constitution. Do we want to throw the Constitution under the bus?

These shootings cannot be prevented because we do not understand what security requires. I am interested in hearing how the security measures in place in Sevier County schools would have prevented the Newtown shooting. The fact of the matter is they will not. Our security only annoys those who feel compelled to go along with it.

Security requires multiple armed guards inside and outside all school buildings positioned far enough apart so they cannot be neutralized as a group with weapons in hand ready to be fired. Attack dogs would help especially if they were permitted to run loose at least outside the buildings. Security requires guards be placed on the roof of every school building as well as on the perimeter. Security requires the protected live in a prison. Security requires we lockup every person who looks like a threat, remember the internment of anyone who looked Japanese at the beginning of our participation in WWII? How do you lockup all those who look like Timothy McVeigh? Regardless, we are not ready to do that. We live in a free society and citizens have the right to own and carry weapons. Imagine if the principal as well as the teachers at Newtown had been trained and armed.

I know a woman who teaches in the California prison system. She was trained in hand to hand self defense as well as how to fire a weapon effectively (i.e. to kill). The doors of her classrooms have windows so guards can keep watch and there is a yellow line that separates her from her students. She is instructed to never cross that yellow line and that my friend is security in the class room. Are we ready?

Shema

 

I was doing a little investigation into a comment Rick said Wednesday night, about that one God stuff. We have a tendency to take verses out of context so they mean something we want them to mean instead of letting them mean what God wants them to mean. Jewish folks say the Shema every night and every morning "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One" They believe if someone extends the recitation of the last word "one" that Hashem, the one God, will extend their life. We think that is ridiculous there is nothing in the bible that supports that belief. Then look at our beliefs. Christians have to question every thing we believe to make sure the bible as well as reality supports those beliefs. If the bible says something that reality does not support we have to either change our belief or understand why.. 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected."

---Steve Jobs

Intellectual Assent is Not Enough

James 2:19

 

    You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 

James is speaking to the individual he was referring to in verse 18 "But someone will say,'" You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.'"

 

This is to say, "You contend that faith, apart from works---the mere intellectual assent of the mind---is sufficient to save. Basic among other things to be saved one must believe God is one. The individual believes and that is good. But remember the demons believe and shudder. No one argues that demons are saved so one may believe and yet not be saved.  

 

Believing includes more than intellectual acceptance to the truthfulness of a proposition.

Acceptance of the doctrine of the One True God is a fundamental premise or genuine religion, mere lip service will not suffice. If the simple exercise of belief is sufficient, then those who subscribe to the basic premise of religion should be saved. James say "No."

 

To believe that God is one is a basic doctrine of the bible but it is not enough.

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

 

Also

We also have:

 

http://pray4theusa.com

 

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/

 

http://nationaldayofprayer.org/

 

and we have Pray for the World: http://www.febc.org/pray-aw?gclid=COiHxra-lbQCFQGvnQodXi8ARQ

 

Almighty God,

We make our earnest prayer

- that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection,

- that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government;

- and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States of America at large.

And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all

- to do justice,

- to love mercy and

- to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of The Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.

Grant our supplication, we beseech thee, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Amen

 

---George Washington

 

And then there is  PRAYER AND FOOTBALL

But can they still throw the "hail Mary?"

• The University of Tennessee endorses nonsectarian prayer before football games and says it will continue the practice.

• The University of Georgia stopped praying before football games in 1989.

• The University of Mississippi ended the practice many years ago.

• The University of Alabama doesn't pray before football games.

Now we compate the Tennessee football program with prayer and other colleges playing for championships without prayer.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

It appears Richard's idea is not catching on with our pastor and elders in waiting. 

 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected."

---Steve Jobs

Pray for Our Country, or is it Nation?

 

 

As I do others, even those who church of Christ folks believe are going to hell for their efforts, I applaud Richard and David for a new idea but it reminds me of the rich man and Lazarus story where the rich man:

 

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

 

What specifically do we expect God to do? He has established His church, the members of which are failing miserably except in the areas of architecture and rhetoric at which we excel. As did the rich man’s family the world has the bible, the prophets, apostles, AND Christians.

 

Christians prayed that God ensure the best man be elected and argue with his choice. History shows the church does best when persecuted but we spend our time praying for safety and security which God has never provided.

 

We now have:

 

prayforournation.com

prayforournation.org

prayforournation.net transfers you to a Billy Graham site

 

prayforourcountry.us

prayforourcountry.com

prayforourcountry.net

 

Imagine this, those who claim to follow Jesus cannot even agree on how we should pray for our country or is it nation? We each need our own website. Which do you suppose is greater God’s disgust or Satan’s sarcasm? 

 

Jesus prayed “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.” If God is not going to answer Jesus’ prayer what makes us think he will pay any more attention to us?

 

The bible says pray but not ignorantly or just wishful thinking. It may be time for the Church of Christ to find ways to work with “others of like precious faith” although different.

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

“That is why you develop a brain, so you can think about more than one thing at a time.”
―    Bill Clinton