No Dentist No Visit

On Wednesday night one of the reasons folks gave for wanting to go to heaven was they did not want to go to Hell. What do you suppose God thinks of that? The only reason your children want to come to your house is they do not want to go to the dentist. No dentist, no visit.

 

How much of our vision of heaven in influenced by what we see around us in this world?

 

It was enough for David to know that: goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalms 23:6). Did he need more details? Did he need gold streets or pearly gates or was it enough to know: … in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. David was satisfied with looking forward to relationship with God not possible here (Psalm 16:11).

 

Abraham was: looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10). Was Abraham expecting a literal city; a walled, fortified Jerusalem here or was he looking forward to the security which comes from knowing there is nowhere else he'd rather be.

 

The OT tells us Abraham and other patriarchs admitted they were aliens and strangers on earth. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. A better country is a different kind of country one with a spiritual country without walls and fortifications and houses and streets. Not even golden streets (Hebrews 11:13-16).

 

Since we like to speculate do you suppose David or Abraham would wait for the next bus to heaven? Do you suppose Christians in countries where they have no access to clean water, where they do not have enough food to feed their children, would wait for the next bus to heaven? Our culture has corrupted the church and we would prefer to stay here and if it were possible we would accept all the benefits of heaven even if God were not there. As with those folks who want to go to heaven because they do not want to go to hell does anyone want God? Did Jesus die just to provide us a better place to live?

 

No reply is necessary.

Promoting Attendance

In his book Radical, David Platt includes a story about when he was in Sudan. 

"Imagine being in Sudan. You walk into a thatched hut with a small group of Sudanese church leaders, and you sit down to teach them God's Word. As soon as you start, you lose eye contact with all of them. No one is looking at you, and you hardly see their eyes the rest of the time. The reason is they're writing down every word they hear. They come up to you afterward and say, 'Teacher we are going to take everything we have learned from God's Word, translate it into our languages, and teach it in our tribes.' They were not listening to receive but to reproduce.

On a typical Sunday in the assembly of the church some people have their Bibles open, while others don't have a Bible with them. A few people are taking notes but for the most part they are passively sitting in the audience. While some are probably disengaged, others are intently focused on what the preacher is saying, listening to God's Word to hear how it applies to their lives. Few are listening to reproduce."

What if instead of asking "What can I get out of this?" the church asked "How can I listen to his Word so that I am equipped to teach others?"

If those same folks came to GSMCOC when they returned to their tribes would those tribes know more about Al, his family, his work, the things he has done or Jesus?

People have a responsibility to attend but those "leading" in the assembly have a responsibility to provide reasons for them to attend.

When I was on a project for IBM as the Project Manager I was charged to the customer at the rate of $200-$300 an hour. Folks on the project were charged at $50 to $200 an hour. As you would expect the customer did not tolerate time being wasted. I am very aware of how important it is for meetings to stay on topic. If I were to have given a presentation to a customer and talk about myself and tell as many off topic stories as we hear in our assemblies I would have been fired.

 

James 3:1  Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Do we believe James?

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


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

"UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? It's the Post Office that's always having problems."

 

 —President Barack Obama, attempting to make the case for government-run healthcare, while simultaneously undercutting his own argument.

Heaven and Hell

 

On the subjects of Heaven and Hell, are we sure the bible teaches that God created mankind, gave them a relatively short lifespan, at least relative to eternity which has always been and always will be, and if during that short lifespan they do not do things the way he wants them done he will torture them beginning at the point they die forever and beyond?

Young folks today are not buying it.

We tend to take what we read in Revelation as literal fact or worse selectively as literal fact. Those who take John's mention of a "thousand year reign" as literal fact are not likely to agree with others who take as literal fact that only 144,000 will be taken up into heaven. Nor are they likely to accept that John's picture of pearly gates and golden streets is to be taken literally; but they might be happy to believe that those who are thrown into the (literal) lake of fire (literally) will be tormented day and night for ever.

We pick and choose from the possible literal interpretations.

Unless I am mistaken, and obviously I can be, Revelation was written to seven churches in Asia or whomever that phrase refers and that at least some of those folks understood precisely what John was writing about whereas we do not.

Does speculating about Heaven or Hell serve any more of a purpose than speculating about which team will win the game today or which candidate will be the next president? What can excite Christians more than the idea of spending eternity with God, wherever?

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


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

 

 

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."

 

 —Marion Barry, former mayor of Washington, D.C.

Heaven

First congratulations on the quick thinking to come up with the term "insightful." 

The list of "things" you read that are not in Heaven such as lust, arguments, coveting etc leads me to believe we will not have free will. Angels have free will and they do not sin and as far as I understand those who don't sin have never sinned but could at any time.  We cannot say that about us. We are beings that have sinned but are given to understand we will change to beings that do not. Doesn't that require that practice start in this phase of eternity and if it does not will we be in Heaven?

 Allowing free will will exist in Heaven what will cause people claiming to be Christian who are prejudiced, argumentative, selfish etc to change or won't they be in Heaven? You said there will be no temptation. James says temptation comes from within. What will cause folks to change? Having our sins forgiven does not change the desire for sinful things. What will cause us to change.

You said our favorite people will be in Heaven and asked who our favorite people are? I forget the specific words you used but a paraphrase would be our favorite people are those with whom we share the same faith. That may be who should be our favorite people but each individual has to answer for themselves. If that is a pre-requisite then those folks whose favorite people are not people with whom they share a faith will not be there. They will be elsewhere with their favorite people.  As when Paul told the Romans the spirit is witness with our spirit that we are children of God the spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God only IF we are children of God. 

Folks mention the valuable things in Heaven. If Christians understood the human cost to mining gold they should not want any amount of it. Same with diamonds and many other items considered precious.

There are people who believe animals will be in Heaven. That requires animals having souls. Would the pit-bull breed be allowed in Heaven?  What criteria must be met for an animal to enter Heaven?

The problem with dreaming of Heaven is it facilitates folks in believing whatever they believe is correct and the facts are we know nothing.  What we want makes no difference. And what could be more important to a Christian than being with God?

I used to think the way you mentioned i.e. not wanting to go to Heaven now because I wanted to watch my grandchilren graduate, get married etc. The one day it dawned on me those are all meaningless compared with Heaven. Is a Christian who does not crave being with God a Christian? If a Christian dreams about anything other than being with God and Jesus a Christian? Just how much of our treasure is stored up in Heaven and how much is stored up here? 

You asked great questions but I doubt if many caught their significance

 

God involving himself in our lives

Concerning the stories last night of the men who survived heart attacks and accidents and you said God had given them additional days.

Recently I read an article about Thomas Jefferson concerning his attitude towards and his treatment of his slaves. He is credited with pioneering the monetizing of slaves. He wrote to one of his plantation managers:

"A child raised every 2 years is of more profit then (sic) the crop of the best laboring man, in this, as in all other cases, providence has made our duties and interests coincide perfectly."

Do you suppose the mothers and fathers of those children agreed with Jefferson? If you accept Jefferson's statement doesn't that mean God put those children in a situation where they would be beaten if they did not work as Jefferson liked and/or sold to other masters thus separating them from their parents.

As folks do today anything that goes well is providence.

The founding of the United States is a great example.

In the most recent edition of the Magnolia Messenger, Cecil May responded to a reader's question concerning our obligation to governments with which we strongly disagree and honoring government. As I do to you from time to time I wrote Cecil May an email. I told him I imagined the person asking the question had President Obama in mind and asked if he would have given a different answer to Thomas Jefferson with King George in mind? I mentioned I have never noticed Bible support for armed rebellion and violent overthrow of the government as appropriate responses.

CM responded:

 "I have thought about the armed rebellion idea, especially as it relates to our Revolutionary War. I have not found a biblical way yet to justify in my own mind Christians being a part of such a thing, though as a practical matter I might find myself in a situation where I would very much want to. I am not saying there is not a biblical way to justify it. Maybe there is. I have not found it yet. However, I definitely do not think we are anywhere near to that situation now."

I told him I agree with him and since I do not see any Bible support for such actions I do not consider the United States ever was a Christian nation. We ignored Jesus' thoughts on the subject as we did Paul's and violated many biblical principles.

 

We know that God wanting something to happen will not make it happen. God wants everyone to be saved and we know that will not happen.

No amount of observations of white swans can allow the conclusion that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion. ---Karl Popper

 

Giving God credit for things he does not do encourages folks to blame God for things he did not do.

 

 

If you want to read the questions and Cecil Mays' response go to

 

http://www.magnoliamessenger.com/Past%20Issues/files/2012-07.pdf

 

and scan down to page 3.

 

I will not leave you alone, again.

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


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

 

 

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."

 

 —Marion Barry, former mayor of Washington, D.C.

For Your Cogitation

Al,

 

As you probably know Groupthink is a term coined by a social psychologist Irving Janis.  

 

Eight symptoms of groupthink:

 

1. Illusion of invulnerability –Creates excessive optimism that encourages taking extreme risks.
2. Collective rationalization – Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions.
3. Belief in inherent morality – Members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.
4. Stereotyped views of out-groups – Negative views of "enemy" make effective responses to conflict seem unnecessary.
5. Direct pressure on dissenters – Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group's views.
6. Self-censorship – Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed.
7. Illusion of unanimity – The majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous.
8. Self-appointed 'mindguards' – Members protect the group and the leader from information that is problematic or contradictory to the group's cohesiveness, view, and/or decisions.

 

Groupthink can lead to the demise of governments, corporations, and groups of all sort.

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


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

 

 

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."

 

 —Marion Barry, former mayor of Washington, D.C.

Not Worth Copying. . .

Jesus did not believe this example was worth following:

Exodus 12:8-12

    They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.  In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover.  For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 

How Obama Made His Millions

Anyone who believes a government employee or elect official made his millions just like everyone else has a screw loose. Remember how congress can act on insider information? Remember lobbyists who just might give financial advice to a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend who will inform Obama? Whitewash it as you like all politicians including Obama are dishonest, unethical, immoral, will take care of themselves first,those who give them money and last and least the voter if convenient. Naive citizens are stupid citizens.

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


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

 
"It is enough the people know there was an election. Those who cast the vote decide nothing, those who count the vote decide everything." 
 
---Joseph Stalin

Syndromes that Take Hold of Executive’s Behavior

In his book Why Smart Executives Fail Sydney Finkelstein identifies seven habits of unsuccessful people:

 

They see themselves and their companies as dominating their environment;

 

They identify so completely with their company that there is no clear boundary between their personal interests and their corporation's interests;

 

They think they have all the answers;

 

They ruthlessly eliminate anyone who is not 100 percent behind them;

 

They are consummate company spokespersons, obsessed with the company image;

 

They underestimate major obstacles;

 

They stubbornly rely on what worked for them in the past.

 

Finkelstein discovered four destructive patterns of behavior that set it, without anyone noticing them well before the business goes under.

 

            Flawed executive mind-sets that throw off a company's perception of reality;

 

Delusional attitudes that keep this inaccurate reality in place;

 

Breakdowns in communications systems developed to handle potential urgent information;

 

Leadership qualities that keep a companies executives from correcting their course.

 

Long before there are obvious danger signs, several of these syndromes can take hold of executive's behavior.  While the business might appear outwardly healthy, the inner mechanisms are breaking down.

 

The folks around Sadaam Hussein did not tell him the truth out of concern he would kill them. The folks around Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley would not try to dissuade them from some action out of concern he would fire them after all Michael and Elvis were their meal ticket. Do the folks around Al Behel not tell him the truth out of concern they will hurt his feelings?

 

People in the public after years of doing what they do get to the point where they believe "their audience" actually cares what they think on any given subject. "Their audience" is only interested in what the individual does, sings, tells jokes, preach, teach etc.

 

There is a woman at the Smoky Mountain Opry, who for some reason, thinks the audience cares how much she loves and appreciates her husband. Anita Bryant thought people cared what she believed about God. James Rogers thinks people care about his family. As does Al Behel.

 

There are plenty of examples of people who once they stop taking advice go down hill quickly.

 

Sunday evening Al mentioned that a woman told him that morning he should preach more bible. When he told the story he laughed after all as he explained he had used 40 or so verses in his morning sermon. He has used that number before so I do not believe him. He did talk on John 17 so my guess is he is including every verse in his count. I am not sure why he tells us that story unless he is looking for validation that he uses plenty of bible verses in his talks. Eventually you will be able to listen to the sermon on the Internet and judge for yourself. Linda is behind some weeks. As for me, I heard it and he spent the first ten minutes as well as periodically during his presentation talking about himself and how great he is and how he knows everyone and how all success if because of his involvement. You have heard it all before. He repeatedly refers to the church as an audience (spectators and listeners to a performance). I understand preachers have to be egotistical just to do what they do but at some point reality will set in. At some point Al's friends will be honest with him.

 

Years ago when Herman suggested the men discuss the quality of Al's sermons and the entire meeting agreed with the exception of Dan and Bud who detonated the meeting Howard in his way talked to Al. Al accepted the comments but made clear to Howard that Al would have to be himself stories and all. If and when we have elders my guess is they will have their work cutout for them.  

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


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

 
"It is enough the people know there was an election. Those who cast the vote decide nothing, those who count the vote decide everything." 
 
---Joseph Stalin

Maybe the Church Needs a Tea-Party

 

 

 

Do you, as I do, wonder why we are just hearing about Agenda 21 and how Obama is turning the United States over to the United Nations? I suspect the Tea-Party.

The term Sustainable Development was first introduced to the world in the 1987 (25 years ago) and was first offered as official UN policy in 1992 (20 years ago) at the Earth Summit.

More than 178 nations adopted Agenda 21 as official policy at the Earth Summit. President George H.W. Bush signed the document for the United States. In signing, each nation pledge to adopt the goals of Agenda 21. In 1995 (17 years ago), President Bill Clinton, in compliance with Agenda 21, signed Executive Order #12858 to create the President's Council on Sustainable Development in order to "harmonize" US environmental policy with UN directives as outlined in Agenda 21. Clinton didn't even go through congress but no complaints? The Executive Order directed all agencies of the Federal Government to work with state and local community governments in a joint effort "reinvent" government using the guidelines outlined in Agenda 21. No reporting by the media and no complaining by Republicans? As a result, Sustainable Development is now emerging as government policy in every town, county and state in the nation. Clinton is more responsible than Obama.

Warnings concerning the fact that the path the world is on is not sustainable have been ignored since the 1950s. Unsustainable and across borders means a higher authority has to be involved to work out compromises. Our way of life is not sustainable. We cannot blame it on Obama. He did not cause the mess. Fair chance republicans and their unfettered support of corporations allowed those corporations to pollute and destroy the environment leaving the taxpayers to clean up their mess. Time to stop pointing fingers and work together and that will require compromises and that is something the Tea-Party cannot do. That makes them part of the problem.

People do not like being told what they are doing will lead to mutual destruction. Like the church. What the church is doing is not working, it is unsustainable. Things have to change. Church people don't like that. Maybe the church needs a Tea-Party movement.

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

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

 

"It is enough the people know there was an election. Those who cast the vote decide nothing, those who count the vote decide everything."  

 

---Joseph Stalin

Freedom Brings Destruction

 

Freedom of individuals leads to destruction. Here is why: Picture a pasture---a commons---on which all herdsmen are free to graze their herds. Such an arrangement works reasonably satisfactorily for centuries because tribal wars, poaching, and disease keep the numbers of both man and beast well below the carrying capacity of the land. But during an era of peace and prosperity the herds multiply, the inherent logic of the commons generates tragedy. Each herdsman acting rationally in his own self-interest will add to his herd. He alone will profit from an additional animal, whereas the environmental impact will be shared by all. What's one more cow? Overgrazed, grass eventually gives way to dust. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit. In a world that is limited, freedom in a commons brings ruin too all.

 

There are resources we share with each other and with the world, air and water being examples and so the tragedy of the commons still obtains. It explains the depletion of fisheries and aquifers. It explains the pollution of skies and seas. Technology may delay the tragedy---by increasing crop yields or fuel efficiency---but so long as the human population continues to grow it cannot in the long run avert it.  Which do we want more environmental health or economic growth. Long term we cannot have both. In a world that is limited, freedom in a commons brings ruin too all.

Does God Protect Christians and Turn His Back on Whales?

While Christians believe mankind's sin has brought pain and suffering into the world, they believe they are immune, if only they pray for safety and protection.

 

Christians delude themselves when they believe God will help them.

 

Places in the oceans are named "Garbage Patches" where for thousands of miles you can see items thought to have been disposed of correctly float. Televisions, shoes, toothpaste tubes, refrigerators, fishing nets and on and on. Consider what happens to a juvenile humpback with a loop of netting snared around its fin: A the whale grows. the nylon line will carve through flesh and bone until the animal dies---slowly, painfully---from its infected wounds. With animals that are entangled, you can see the weight loss, their bones coming through. When you see animals that have been entangled for a long time there are parasites.

 

If God will not protect the whale, and innocent member of his creation, how egotistical are Christians to believe God will protect them, as members of the human species that has generally rejected him?

Joseph Had What He Needed Inside Himself

Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers at the age of seveneen. Can you imagine how easy it would have been for him to languish in self-pity as a servent of Potiphar, to focuse on the weaknesses of his brothers and his captors and on all he didn't have? But Joseph was proactive. He worked on be on what he could do.Within a short period of time, he was running Potiphar's household. He was in charge of all that Potiphar had because the trust was so high.

 

Then the day when Joseph was caught in a difficult situation and refused to compromise his integrity. As a result he was imprisoned for thirteen years. But again he was proactive. He worked on the inner circle, on being instead of having, and soon he was running the prison and eventually the entire nation of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh.

 

It would have been much easier to blame other people, conditioning, or conditions for his situation. But Joseph was responsible to control his life and to powerfully influence his circumstances by working on be on what he was.

 

Jospeh didn't need God to do what he did and neither do we.

God Not Involved

Christians thank God for their "blessings" including jobs, houses, health, etc. If God is responsible then for one who is unemployed, homeless, or sick to ask "Why?" is a logical response since apparenly God has selected them to not bless. Christians need to understand God is not blessing them.  

Beliefs that make us feel comfortable.

 

While Jesus is all about others, his followers, for the most part, are all about themselves.

 

While the bible may be true our understanding of the contents may not be. At some point we have to decide if we are going to believe what people say the bible says or even what we read it to say or our observations and our experiences.

 

My observations and experiences tell me God does not heal anyone, he does not protect anyone, he does not send visitors to GSMCOC, he does not provide ready recollections. In general he is not involved in his creation today as he was during OT times and not involved with his church today as he was during the 1^st century.

 

We pray for safety. Are we so self absorbed that we believe God will protect us, but not protect the innocent of the world or his kingdom? He will protect us but permit a little girl or boy to be raped, abused, killed? He will protect us but permit kittens to be used as baseballs by some perverted boys? He will protect us but let Christians throughout the world be murdered, raped, tortured?

 

We believe God provides us with things necessary for life such as food, clothing, shelter while at the same time Christians world wide starve to death and die because they have no access to clean water? We thank him for food but I do not recollect ever hearing a prayer of thanksgiving for air. We have food not because of God's benevolence but despite his efforts. Remember how as mankinds punishment God made it more difficult to grow food?

Send or Go

 

Sunday night following Gary's presentation where he seemed to be suggesting congregations should become more involved in mission work either domestic or foreign Al immediately shot him down when he clarified that sending is as good as going and put the focus on himself and his magical experiences.

 

Al has said that before as he must because he is not going anywhere. He would be a perfect self-supporting missionary. He could practice is profession and missionary on the side without having to spend anytime studying. But he prefers to be a local keynote speaker and fund raiser.

 

When Jesus told his eleven apostles to "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." Did they have a choice to go or send? Of course not, Jesus wanted them to go. We become confused when we believe Jesus was speaking to us and that the authors of the books and letter were thinking of us. The Bible was written for us but not to us. The Bible tells us what Jesus did and said and to whom he said it and he was not speaking to us by proxy. We do not have to go anywhere. We can if we like but Jesus did not tell us to go.   

 

If we can change "go" to "send" we can change "immerse" to "sprinkle or pour" when Jesus said to his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

 

We believe because we want to believe; we believe what we want to believe; we believe what makes us comfortable.  

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

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

 

 "How much is enough? and How do I know what I want?"  

 

---Henry David Thoreau, 1854

Cost Rico Presentation

Gary,

If this is not the email you prefer let me know.

Great presentation tonight. . . . .and points.

In his book "Walden" published in 1854, Henry David Thoreau poses two intensely practical questions that must come to dominate our thinking if we're to make necessary changes: How much is enough? and How do I know what I want?

In the advanced consumer society in which we live, How much is enough? is...the most deeply subversive question you can pose. We've been carefully trained to know that the answer is always: More.... I know it is subversive because I have posed it to various Christians and the reaction has generally been quite harsh.

Our culture has corrupted us as individuals as well as the church. Look at us, individually and as the church we are deep in debt.  Over $70,000 of the congregation's annual mortgage payment is allocated to sitting idle. In his book Balance in the chapter Overbuilt Underused, Ira North said if you drive by a million dollar building on Monday morning at 11 o'clock and it is empty that congregation is in trouble. I believed him when he said it and I believe  him now and I believe we are.

 Notice the invitation song this evening? "Living below in this old sinful world, hardly a comfort can afford. . . . We see ourselves as requiring assistance not providing assistance. We are victims.

Again, great presentation and excellent suggestions  I believe how we respond is critical with our individual eternal destination in the balance.

 

 

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

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

  "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"  

 

---Mike Tyson

Abilene Paradox

Many years ago when I was in school I took a series of psychology courses. One of the experiments we studied was how individuals function differently in groups than they function as individuals.

 

Individuals were placed in a room under the guise of completing a job application. Smoke was introduced through the vents. Without exception the individuals left the room and reported the smoke to the person who brought them into the room.

 

At another time different people were placed in a room in groups also under the guise of completing a job application. Smoke was again introduced into the room. In the majority of situations no one reported the smoke. Researchers concluded when the individuals in a group saw the smoke, they looked at the other individuals and since the others were doing nothing it was interpreted as not a problem.

 

On a hot afternoon in Coleman, Texas, the story goes; a family is comfortably playing dominoes on a porch, until the father-in-law suggests they take a trip to Abilene, fifty-three miles north, for dinner. The wife says, "Sounds like a great idea." The husband, despite having reservations because the drive is long and hot, thinks that his preferences must be out of step with the group and says, "Sounds good to me. I just hope your mother wants to go." The mother-in-law then says, of course I want to go. I haven't been to Abilene in a long time." The drive is hot, dusty and long. When they arrive at the cafeteria, the food is bad. They arrive back home four hours later, exhausted. One of them dishonestly says, "It was a great trip, wasn't it?"

 

The mother-in-law says that, actually, she would rather have stayed home, but went along since the other three were so enthusiastic." The husband says, "I didn't want to go. I only went to satisfy the rest of you." The wife says, "I just went along to keep you happy. I would have to be crazy to want to go out in the heat like that." The father-in-law says that he only suggested it because he thought the others might be bored.

 

The group sits back, perplexed that they together decided to take a trip which none of them wanted. They each would have preferred to sit comfortably, but did not admit to it when they still had time to enjoy the afternoon.

 

This is a benign but dramatic illustration of the consequences of groupthink. Every member of the group agreed to do something they didn't want to do because they thought the others were committed to doing it. The result was that no one came away happy.

We, the men of GSMCOC, have shown we cannot discuss sensitive personnel issues. Until we are able, groupthink will rule.

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

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

  "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"  

 

---Mike Tyson

Fodder for Small Group Study

Individual Christians are isolated. First, congregations are isolated from other congregations, each being autonomous. If there is association between congregations it is limited and is due to the leadership of each thinking alike. (When we all think alike, someone is not thinking).

Second, Christians are isolated within each congregation. Christians apparently believe the bible is best studied alone. That is presuming there is study. Research shows the majority of Christians spend little time in study and even less reading the bible.  

 

Third, for many congregations the preacher is the primary source from which the members receive instruction in the bible. This limits those Christians to one individual's understanding and ideas. Lecture is the vehicle for conveying information but not for teaching.

 

Isolated Christians reject challenges to what they believe; anything that threatens their level of comfort.      

 

If I were to tell you our understanding of Heaven and Hell is erroneous my guess is you would disagree. If I were to tell you our understanding of what Paul said about women is not correct, my guess is you would disagree. If I were to tell you instrumental music is irrelevant you would most likely disagree. If I were to tell what we do on Sunday has nothing to do with worship you would disagree and if I said Paul told us what worship is and Hebrews tells us what purpose the assemblies serve and that they are separate you would disagree. If I were to tell you the Bible was written for us but not to us, my guess is you would disagree. If I were to tell you much of what Jesus said to his disciples/apostles does not include us you would disagree. If I were to tell you Satan has no more influence on us today than the influence Michael and Gabriel have you would disagree.

 

Those just might be fodder for a small group study.

 

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

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

  "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"  

 

---Mike Tyson

Give What is Needed

James 2:15-17   

    If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

What is the difference between saying "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving the things needed and saying "I am praying for you", without giving the things needed?

 

Peter had no cash but he gave what he had.

 

Acts 3:6   

    But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" 

 

Anything less than was is needed is not enough. The question is "What is needed?" not "What can I afford? 

Parts of the Bible Christians Believe But Are Not True

Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin, yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith?  "Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

When we look around at Christians and children dieing because they have no food, no water, no shelter we know what we say Jesus said is not true so what did he really say and what did he mean?

Parts of the Bible Christians Do Not Believe

What is retirement if not treasure?

 

 "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

Christians lay up treasure, for a time they will not have to work, while the world around them is suffering.

No doubting

 

 

It is evident God does not answer prayers for physical. When have you experienced or observed God restoring a severed limb; an individual with stage 4 cancer that does not respond to chemotherapy? Of course he apparently does very well with the flu, sprained ankles, broken arms, cancers that are often cured. If God heals he is very selective. Luke tells the story of a woman who had been suffering for twelve years:

 

Luke 8:43-56

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.  She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!" But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me." And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

   

Unless James is referring only to praying for wisdom anyone who asks God for something is required to expect not hope, not sure that God can but expected.

 

James 1:5-8   

    If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 

Could it be that God does not answer prayers due to out lack of expecting, our lack of faith? When was the last time you asked God and expected not hoped, not sure that God can but expected?

 

 

 

Maasai

 

The Maasai originated in Ethiopia sometime during the seventeenth century. During the nineteenth century the Maasai began a southern migration attacking and absorbing other tribes along the way in order to gain more land for cattle-grazing.

 

Cattle are an integral part of Maasai life. So much so that cattle are treated with the same respect accorded to family members, and in most cases, they are used as currency.

 

In the "The African Paradox" there is this story told by Kasi Koonyi of how the Maasai became herdsmen with cattle. "In the beginning, when there was only forest, Ngai (God) gave us bushmen to hunt for us. But then the animals moved away, too far to be hunted. The Maasai prayed to Ngai to give us an animal that wouldn't move away, and He said 'Wait seven days.'"

 

Koonyi takes a hide strap and holds one end of it skyward, to demonstrate a ramp sweeping down to Earth. "cattle came down from heaven, and everyone said, 'Look at that! Our God is so kind; he sent us such a beautiful beast. It has milk, beautiful horns, and different colors. Not like the wildebeest or buffalo, with only one color.'"

 

The Maasai claim all the cattle are meant for them, and kick the bushmen out of their bomas (pastures).  When the bushmen ask Ngai (God) for their own cattle to feed themselves, He refused, but offered them the bow and arrow. "That's why they still hunt in the forests instead of herding like we Maasai."

 

Koonyi explains the Maasai figured out how to burn trees to create savannas for their herds (apparently without Ngai's help); the fires also smoke out malarial mosquitoes. "When humans were mere hunter-gatherers, we weren't much different from any other animal. Then we were chosen by God to become pastoralists, with divine dominion over the best animals, and our blessings grew."

 

The Maasai have faith; atheists have faith; we have faith; a strong conviction. Without Bible support how is the Christian's faith different than theirs?

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

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

  " The great obstacle to progress is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge"  

 

---Daniel Boorstin

Dreaming or Hallucinating?

The other night at Cracker Barrel Rick mentioned he will be repeating his "Dreaming about Heaven" class. At the Book of the Month meeting a few nights ago I mentioned no-one wants God; Muslims are looking forward to their 72 virgins; Christians are looking forward to their mansions, streets of gold, gates of pearl; seeing friends and family ;others have their interests. Why do Christians want to go to Heaven?

If we could have everything about Heaven — forgiveness, fellowship, absence of sin and pain and death, etc. — but God is not there, would we still want to go there?

What are Christians looking for and hoping for in Heaven? Is it the rest of Heaven? Is it to be free from troubles and tribulations? Is it the peace of Heaven? Is it the joy of Heaven? Is it associating with family and friends? Did Jesus die just to give us a better place to live? All those things are to be found there but that is not the thing to look forward to in Heaven. It is the face of God; to stand in the very presence of God.

What else is there to dream about?  

Before we dream about Heaven we might want to cogitate upon what we really believe. We may not practice philosophical universalism we do practice functional universalism. If everyone in Pigeon Forge not associated with GSMCOC is going to Hell shouldn't we be doing something?   Before we dream about Heaven we just might want see if the Bible supports our view of us being there. Are we sheep or goats?

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

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

 

"Except for a small amount that's been incinerated every bit of plastic manufactured in the world for the last 50 years or so still remains. It's somewhere in the environment."  

 

---Dr. Anthony Andrady

Maasai Blessed by God

 

The Maasai originated in Ethiopia sometime during the seventeenth century. During the nineteenth century the Maasai began a southern migration attacking and absorbing other tribes along the way in order to gain more land for cattle-grazing.

Cattle are an integral part of Maasai life. So much so that cattle are treated with the same respect accorded to family members, and in most cases, they are used as currency.

In the "The African Paradox" there is this story told by Kasi Koonyi of how the Maasai became herdsmen with cattle. "In the beginning, when there was only forest, Ngai (God) gave us bushmen to hunt for us. But then the animals moved away, too far to be hunted. The Maasai prayed to Ngai to give us an animal that wouldn't move away, and He said 'Wait seven days.'"

Koonyi takes a hide strap and holds one end of it skyward, to demonstrate a ramp sweeping down to Earth. "cattle came down from heaven, and everyone said, 'Look at that! Our God is so kind; he sent us such a beautiful beast. It has milk, beautiful horns, and different colors. Not like the wildebeest or buffalo, with only one color.'"

The Maasai claim all the cattle are meant for them, and kick the bushmen out of their bomas.  When the bushmen ask Ngai for their own cattle to feed themselves, He refused, but offered them the bow and arrow. "That's why they still hunt in the forests instead of herding like we Maasai."

Koonyi explains the Maasai figured out how to burn trees to create savannas for their herds; the fires also smoke out malarial mosquitoes. "When humans were mere hunter-gatherers, we weren't much different from any other animal. Then we were chosen by God to become pastoralists, with divine dominion over the best animals, and our blessings grew."

 

Good is the Enemy of Great

 

In a recent Newsline you write "Too long we have accepted mediocrity in our spiritual lives. We have accepted shallow attempts at prayer, casual efforts at worship and service, we have generally come to expect nothing spectacular from God and that is what we receive."

 

In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins writes:

"Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.  The vast majority of companies never become great, precisely because the vast majority become quite good---and that is the main problem."

 

I will presume the same can be said concerning the activities you write about.

 

People Need Truth

People are ready to believe anything if it brings them a little hope. When the subject is alternative medicines that is one thing but when the subject is religion people need truth.

Christian Nation?

To call the United States a Christian nation seems to ignore that disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. The term has been changed to refer to anyone who believes Jesus exists. During the first century the difference between followers of Jesus and followers of other things was obvious. Today many if not most people in the United States admit to having heard about Jesus and of that group some consider themselves followers. Today evangelism mostly concerns how to do church. As for this nation being a Christian nation it has never been a follower of Jesus. 

 

Would God's people perform genocide on Native Americans, believe owning human beings is acceptable, kill innocent civilians under the guise of saving lives? No, Christian and the United States have nothing in common.   

In God We Trust

 

 

Interest in adding "In God we trust" to our money began during the Civil war at least part to declare that God was on the Union side. In 1956 Congress passed a joint resolution to replace the existing motto with "In God we trust" partly motivated by a desire to differentiate between communism and Western capitalistic democracies. Neither action was because we actually trust in God. One was to tell the Confederates God was on the side of the Union the other to tell the communists God was on the side of the capitalists.

 

The phrase appears to have originated in the Star-Spangled-Banner written during the War of 1812 which most people do not realize since we do not sing all the verses. I guess events would be about 7 or 8 minutes longer if we sang all verses. The fourth stanza:

 

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

 

I have always thought it a bit odd that God would be on the side of the Colonies since we were rejecting his instructions to obey the government and give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar? Is it biblical to overthrow the government, violently or otherwise, especially one that is not violating any of his laws and precepts? 

 

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

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

 

“There are three types of people when it comes to the future: those who will watch what happens, those who will make it happen, and those who will wonder what happened. Which will you be?”  

 ―   George Barna

 

Blame God or Not Blame God

Hi Al,

Today for the second time recently you mentioned wondering why people blame God when bad things happen to them. After all we believe Satan is the real culprit.  It is a reasonable conclusion based on what they are taught and what they hear.

First so you know where I am coming from, I do not believe God blesses or curses anyone today. I do not believe he answers prayers for physical things today. I base my beliefs on what I find and do not find in the New Testament and as well as my personal experiences and observations and the ramifications of such beliefs.  He did in the Old Testament as well as in the first century. During those periods reasons existed for him to involve himself in the physical realm which do not exist today.

But if it is true that he does bless people the question of why me is a logical question. During most assemblies we are taught God blesses people. In the prayers we hear people thank God for their jobs, for their families, for their houses, for their vacations, for their health, etc. If that is correct why shouldn’t those whom God has not blessed with those items wonder why God is picking on them?  If God chooses others why shouldn’t we blame God for not choosing us?

There is no need to respond to this email. This is a suggestion for a future presentation either sermon or class on the subject.

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

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

 

“There are three types of people when it comes to the future: those who will watch what happens, those who will make it happen, and those who will wonder what happened. Which will you be?”  

 ―   George Barna