Accountable or Not Accountable, That is the Question.

Individuals must accept accountability for their actions. Trust is something that is easy to lose and very difficult to regain. In the long run all one has is their reputation. An individual is seen as reliable or not. If individuals will just do what they say they will do they will be head and shoulders above 99.9% of the people.

When we think of the leaders of GSMCOC do we see them as reliable? Can they be trusted to do what they say they will do? Do they accept accountability for their actions? Jesus told people to "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'. . ." I understand that to mean we are to live so that whatever we say will be accepted as the truth; our character and life will give affirmation to what we say. Others should be satisfied to take our statements at face value.

If I understand the discussions in the Men's meeting concerning getting men to participate in the assemblies some or many are not reliable, cannot be trusted to do what they have agreed to do and will not inform the responsible individuals. The lack of response to the sound equipment training supports that conclusion.

As individuals and as a congregation will we be accountable for our actions? We have no choice. If we do not we cannot be trusted. Can anyone believe what we say?

Faith First

Before one can come to God, before God can open their heart, as it he did Lydda's the individual must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him and wants to know the truth. That is pretty simplistic because if you did not believe he existed why would you want to do anything. 

 

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 

 

1 Cor. 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of

God. 

 

1 Cor. 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 

 

God will have to hide his eyes from my failures for me to make into Heaven. This is my reason for believing the only responsibility a congregation has is to facilitate, encourage, be cheerleaders for my efforts to accomplish my responsibilities. I forget her name but the one who got the award that Jesus had nothing to do with, she is perishing, she is not seeking, she does not believe God exists, there is nothing anyone can do for her until she decides to believe in something other than herself.

Bible Supported Prayer

 

Using the following verses:

 

Matthew 7:7  

    "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

 

2 Thes. 2:9-12   

    The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,  [10] and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  [11] Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,  [12] in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

The story of Job where God permitted Job's children to be killed as a test to Job. We can only imagine how Job's wife took those events.

 

I believe those verses and stories tells us that if we want to know how to be saved God will ensure that we find the way. If we do not, God just may use us as a test for someone he is attempting to strengthen. The key is asking, seeking, knocking, and loving truth.

 

 

Items with bible support:

 

Using the prayers of the apostles etc as examples.

 

For others as long as it does not violate their free will. God opening their heart will not happen unless that individual wants to know.

 

Ourselves if we love truth.

 

God to send someone seeking the kingdom of God to us.

 

Being used as instruments for him to accomplish his will.

 

The contents of the Lord's prayer as the relate to us.

 

God's will to be done and for him to help us accept whatever it is. Since all things work together for good for those who love the Lord why wouldn't be go along with his will.

 

We know he wants everyone to be saved. So we know he has already provided whatever needs to be done in that area. So praying for people whom we are willing to teach is a bible supported subject.

 

Having the boldness to keep teaching in the face of persecution.

 

James says we should pray without doubting. If we do not find support in the bible how can we not doubt. During the miraculous times that woman who touched the edge of his robe, Jesus said your faith has made you whole or something to that affect. Maybe praying with that kind of faith brings success.

 

Praying for our leaders both in the church and in the state so that we can live peaceable lives not so we can go on vacations but so we can teach about Jesus. Jesus' church spread like wildfire during and after WWII and during times of persecution.

 

That's probably enough to let you find something to challenge. Whatever we pray for we should look to see if the Bible supports it.

 

 

 

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

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Fix the Problem, Don't Affix Blame."
John G. Miller

Otter Creek Church of Christ

Ray,

 

Reference the Otter Creek church: what they are doing is why the Church of Christ must have a forthright, Bible supported, discussion of our Sunday ritual. Like the Pharisees of old the Church of Christ claims its traditions are commanded by God.

 

Nowhere does the Bible support the contention that Sunday a day to worship. The Bible does not command worship nor are specific acts designated as acts of worship.

 

The human author of Hebrews said we assemble to encourage each other to love and good works. Assuming the human author was inspired the Holy Spirit says we assembly to encourage each other to love and good works.

 

What Otter Creek is doing is the future of the Church of Christ. What in the Bible suggests what they are doing is "sin?" Someone said to always be ready to give a reason for hope we have. I believe that means Bible supported reasons. When our grandchildren are our age the church will not be as it is today.

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

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it."
---Warren Buffett

Wrong Jungle! Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly effective People

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success. Leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.

 

You can quickly grasp the important difference between the two if you envision a group of producers cutting their way through the jungle with machetes.  They're the producers, the problem solvers. They're cutting through the undergrowth, clearing it out.

 

The managers are behind them, sharpening their machetes, writing policy and procedure manuals, holding muscle development programs bringing in improved technologies and setting up working schedules and compensation programs for machete wielders.

 

The leader is the one who climbs the tallest tree, surveys the entire situation, and yells, "Wrong jungle!"

 

But how do the busy, efficient producers and managers often respond? "Shut up! We're making progress."

 

As individuals, groups, and businesses, we're often so busy cutting through the undergrowth we don't even realize we're in the wrong jungle. And the rapidly changing environment in which we live makes effective leadership more critical than it has ever been---in every aspect of independent and interdependent life.

 

We're more in need of a vision or destination and a compass (a set of principles or directions) and less in need of a road map. We often don't know what the terrain ahead will be like or what we will need to go through it; much will depend on our judgment at the time. But an inner compass will always give us direction.

 

Effectiveness---often even survival---does not depend solely on how much effort we expend, but on whether or not the effort we expend is in the right jungle. And the metamorphosis taking place in most every industry and profession demands leadership first and management second.

 

In business, the market is changing so rapidly that many products and services that successfully met consumer tastes and needs a few years ago are obsolete today. Proactive powerful leadership must constantly monitor environmental change, particularly customer buying habits and motives, and provide the force necessary to organize resources in the right direction.

 

Efficient management without effective leadership is, as one individual has phrased it, "like straightening deck chairs on the Titanic." No management success can compensate for failure in leadership. But leadership is hard because we're often caught in a management paradigm.

 

I'm convinced that too often parents are also trapped in the management paradigm, thinking of control, efficiency, and rules instead of direction, purpose, and family feeling.

 

And leadership is even more lacking in our personal lives. We're into managing with efficiency, setting and achieving goals before we have even clarified our values.

 

 

We Buy Too Many Books - Abraham Maslow and John G. Miller

Abraham Maslow said:

 

" There is no teaching without learning. One requires the other."

 

John G Miller wrote: 

 

"We attend too many seminars. We take too many classes. We buy too many books. We play too many audios in our cars. It's all wasted if we're unclear on what learning really is. Learning is not attending, listening, or reading. Nor is it merely gaining knowledge. Learning is really about translating knowing what to do into doing what we know. It's about changing. 

 

If we have not changed we have not learned."

 

If those two are correct. When was the last time anyone learned from listening to a sermon or attending Bible class?

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

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, 1949

Providence of God

I'm reading a book put out by Ira North's wife in the mid 90s “Marching to Zion.” It is some of North's sermons. One of the chapters/sermons is "Look for the Providence of God." How do we differentiate the Providence of God from karma, good luck, bad luck, no luck at all? North mentions God sending problems to give us time to spiritually grow. Sometimes he blocks us from getting too far ahead and getting into trouble. At end of his sermon he thanks God for the mountains to stop us, for the mountains to strengthen us, for the mountains to humble us, for the mountains to mature us. He then thanks God for the mountain of debt in paying for their auditorium, for it has helped us to be liberal and taught us to depend on You. Thank You for the mountains and problems that we face in our child care program. It has taught us to love the humble and lowly. Thank You for the mountains you have given us in this television and radio ministry. He gives several more examples but my question is how do we recognize the providence of God or are we like Charlie Brown when he shot an arrow and drew a circle around it. Lucy asked him why he did that and he said “this way I never miss.” Are we drawing a circle around an event and calling it “the providence of God?” Is there such a thing “providence of God” or do we get it from our denominational friends?

Aren't we claiming we recognize the providence of God when we claim something is God's will?

Last night on the television they had a story about that boy who was killed in a sledding accident on Sunday came on. They showed his mother and I thought of Ira North's comments. To a grieving mother his sermon comes across as simplistic, naive, and empty. Or do we claim only the good things, the things that work out the way we want them to work out as "God's Providence?"

We need to have bible support for what we believe or we are no different than the Pope claiming to be God's vicar on earth or the Muslim claiming to be a prophet. I find it easier to believe in miracles or in God's direct interaction with us than in what we call "the providence of God."

According to Ira North we should be thanking God for the debt of the building and for the increased utility bills and the leaks and the muddy parking lot after all they are God's mountains to teach us something.

What is the providence of God and how does that compare with our just trying to keep our heads above the water?

Pray in Jesus' name

1. Pray in Jesus' name. The Bible says, "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14). To pray in Jesus name does not mean that you tack His holy name in your wish list. It means that your prayers are consistent with what Jesus Himself would pray about a particular situation.

2. Pray according to the Word and the will of God. "Now this is confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). The Word and the will of God are synonymous. To pray for anything not promised in the Word of God is a waste of time, but not pray for what we know is God's desire is a surefire winner!

3. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess.5:16). Set aside a few minutes for concentrated prayer every day. Be very still, and get quiet before the Lord. Don't worry if you don't receive instant answers. Remember that Daniel prayed for twenty-one days for an answer to his prayer. Finally, an angel of the Lord appeared to Daniel and said, "We heard you praying the first day, but I was intercepted by the prince of Persia" (paraphrase of Dan. 10:13). Can you imagine that? One of Satan's archangels tried to prevent the angel of the Lord from bringing the answer to Daniel's prayer. But Daniel won the battle on his knees. What Daniel did on earth in prayer determined what happened in the heavenly realms, and eventually the answer came. So don't get discouraged. Pray until you get the answer. This is what you call "praying through."

4. Pray audibly, using simple, natural words. You don't have to impress God with your vocabulary or your spirituality. Do not feel that you must use religious phrases. Talk to God in your own language. He understands it.

5. Do not spend so much time asking God for the things, but, instead, confess that God's blessings are being poured out upon you. For most of your prayer, give thanks to God for the answer that you know, in faith, is coming.

6. Practice the attitude of putting everything in God's hands. Ask for the faith to do your best and to leave the results in the hands of a loving God. The Bible says, "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7).

7. Pray for people you dislike or who have mistreated you. Resentment blocks spiritual power because it separates us from God.

8. Practice the presence of God. You must put yourself in an atmosphere that allows you to focus on Him. The importance of experiencing God's presence cannot be overemphasized. The Bible says, "…for in him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). After he rediscovered God, Tolstoy expressed this fact in an unforgettable phrase: "To know god is to live."

9. Agree with another believer for the answer to your prayer. Find another believer and ask that person to join you in prayer for God's answer. The Bible says, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on the earth concerning anything that they shall ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:19-20).

10. Pray in faith, believing. Many people say, "My faith is weak." When I hear that statement, I remind them that it doesn't take great faith to believe in a God who never fails. The Bible commands, "Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22). The scripture also says, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you" (Matt. 17:20). Believe that God is hearing and answering your prayer, even as you speak it.

God's Word makes it very clear: prayerlessness is sin. Samuel said, "…far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you" (Sam. 12:23). At pivotal moments in your life, prayer should be your first choice, not your last chance. Remember, as powerful as God is, He does not answer prayer until you pray.

Based on Harold G. Taylor's Soul Winning

There is a crisis in the kingdom of God. Christians have lost their passion for the lost.

The task of Jesus is our task. His purpose is our purpose. Seeking the lost begins with the Christian.

A word of caution: churches must not confuse the task of the church with the mission of the church. The task of the church is to evangelize and equip. The mission is to glorify God by making men like God. Confusion will bog us down in methods, programs and the numbers game. Causing us to miss our real mission: The indwelling of God in men (Colossians 1:27).

First, give the church a clear reason for its existence. Churches often lose their reason for existence. Christians have substituted so many human purposes and trite traditions that their function has been blurred.

Second, convince the church that men are lost. The first century church believed that the world was lying in the power of the evil one.

Third, be a role model for outreach. Live a life of imitation. Paul was supremely aware of his example.

Fourth, the church should be on a wartime basis. The early church understood the race with catastrophe. They were no peacetime army. They were out to win the ultimate battle for the undying souls of men.

Fifth, the church must understand outreach is not optional. Soul winning must be its passion.

Sixth, encourage evangelism as a lifestyle. The early church lived as "exiles and strangers" in a hostile environment. The church is under fire. There is a war going on. Believers are not paranoid --- there really are people out to destroy the church.

Seventh, empower others to win. God gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry… Training soul winners is a priority matter.

Eighth, recruit every Christian to be involved in evangelism at some level. To capture the spirit and the work of the first century church, Christians must be soul winners.

Ninth, focus on the harvest. Prospects are all around us: mates of members; visitors at services; children on the Bible school roll; Vacation Bible school Contacts; senior citizens in the community, newcomers to town, benevolence contacts; radio and television contacts; prospects from a religious census of the community; those at the local jail; the youth taught at summer camp; those contacted through hospitals and nursing homes; and those who attend our gospel meetings.

What you hear is a potential spiritual explosion. The need has never been greater and the multitudes have never been more accessible. It is a poor time for God's evangelists to develop evangelistic laryngitis.
It is time we get on with the Great Commission. We must view the whole world as needing Christ. We must start at home and reach out to all the nations of men. God's people must not fail the Lord who sends them, nor the world who needs them

Spies on Pigeon Forge

In Numbers chapters 13 & 14 is the account of God, through Moses, sending men to spy out the land of Canaan to see what the land was like, whether the people were strong or weak, few or many, good or bad.

So twelve men went up and spied out the land.

When they returned they reported to Moses and to the entire congregation.

Ten of the spies said "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And that compared to the people who lived their Israel seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."

Then the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron and said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!" And they said to one another, "Let us choose another leader and go back to Egypt."

Then Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "If the Lord delights in us, he will give the land to us, only do not rebel against the Lord and do not fear the people of the land. The Lord is with us; do not fear them."

And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

The men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord. Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive.

When we look at Pigeon Forge what do we see? Are we as one of the ten or are we as Joshua and Caleb?

For Your Cogitation, a Now What?

Many of Al’s sermons this year have been to encourage the members of GSMCOC to become more active in evangelism. Remember when he challenged the congregation to read the Bible at the beginning of 2008? While I have read the statistics he quoted it appears to me group activities offer encouragement for individuals to engage in individual activities. So, while people may not attend because of the preacher, this was not true for the Billy Graham Crusades, having an activity for the individuals to invite people to just might be worth the effort.

I have the complete series entitled Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons or at least I did before termites discovered them and found some of the books quite tasty. A side issue is termites prefer old paper (prior to 1940s) more than the newer paper. In the history and description of the meeting, meetings among the congregations in Nashville are mentioned. Various groups are identified such as finance, publicity, usher arrangements, song preparations, selecting a preacher, selecting a song leader. They even mention establishing an office in Room 234 of the Maxwell house. There was a fair amount of intra-congregational activities.

100,000 blotters (whatever they are) were distributed as well as 65,000 personal invitation cards were sent out. Pages of the telephone book were assigned to various people with the intent that everyone in Nashville having a telephone was to be called and personally invited to attend. The first night on March 28th, 1922 between 6,000 and 8,000 people attended with another 2,000 to 3,000 were turned away. I do not know the population of Nashville at the time so I cannot compute the effectiveness of the efforts.

Hundreds if not thousands of people were involved in preparations for and conducting the series. The picture I get is a lot of people were involved. This would give them something to talk to their neighbors and friends about and something to invite those neighbors and friends to attend.

The results are identified as: “the results of this meeting cannot be measured by any of us during this life. It is believed that the remote results will be far greater than the immediate. While there were two hundred baptisms at the auditorium and the local church houses and some twenty-five restorations, nevertheless it is thought that the influences of this combined effort of forty or more churches of Christ cooperating in a great missionary undertaking will be felt among the churches all over the land and for many years to come. … It is believed that the big scale on which the meeting was planned, advertised, and carried out will help us to see the great interests of the kingdom in a bigger way that ever before and encourage and inspire us too put forth greater efforts to extend its borders than have ever been done in the past. … At the last meeting it was announced that all expenses had been met.” At least J.E. Acuff and Wayne Burton considered it “the greatest meeting conducted by the churches of Christ since New Testament times.”

My point for all of this is that a major group activity encouraged individuals to perform individual acts of evangelism. The sermons are in print eighty-eight years later.

It may not be an activity on such a scale but we need a group activity that is larger than our congregation to encourage and inspire our members to become involved in evangelism. But first we need to get buy-in to the idea that what Al has been saying is relevant to us as GSMCOC. We are a small group. It will take everyone buying in or at least all the men and women who attend the Men’s / Ladies’ Meetings no matter how sporadic.

The Willing-to-Serve summaries identify:

17 -Greet Visitors; hand out bulletins;
21 -Grade Lessons for Bible Correspondence courses;
10 -Lead a Bible Study in the home;
13 -Study with New Converts;
16 -Distribute Literature in neighborhoods, motels, restaurants.

What we need are plans for these people to get involved, leaders to lead and followers to follow. Now what?

What are we trying to do?

What is our ultimate goal? The pamphlet we passed out at our Grand Opening reads "Becoming a member of the church of Christ is the same as becoming a Christian." Is that the goal? It also reads "When one is baptized by immersion . . . ". Isn't that redundant? When you have a chance read the Church Membership portion of the pamphlet. It is not my intent to wordsmith but our words reflect our beliefs and our beliefs motivate us or not. Can we find in the NT how to become a Christian or how to become a member of the church of Christ? On Pentecost, the Philippian jailer and others asked what they had to do to have their sins forgiven. Do we enable people to think they are saved while never believing themselves lost? Saved from what? Am I being nitpicky?

My questions on the subject of prayer are centered on understanding what we do.

My questions on the subject of prayer are centered on understanding what we do.

Abraham and Sarah thought they had the solution so with Hagar they made a major error. Imagine the world without the descendants of Ishmael. Remember Hezekiah? He did not want to die. God gave him fifteen additional years and Hezekiah gave the world Manasseh. Imagine a 12-year-old king. One of the worst in Judah's history.

Similar to the Pharisees we have rules that are not in the Bible. Have you ever wondered why the writers of the NT never ended a prayer "in Jesus' name?" How about never praying for the sick or safety or other secular items. Their prayers were focused on God and strength to spread the good news.

How did the congregations support themselves before Paul's instructions to the church in Corinth. The example we use as a command for giving money on Sundays was for a specific purpose and destined to help the poor in a far away place. We use that example to collect a fund we use for other purposes and primarily for our own use.

We have our minds set and nothing will change that. We cannot use the Bible to support much of what we believe much like denominations and other religious groups but we condemn them for the same attitude we have.

Prayer is just one area where what we say what we practice and what we see do not match up. This will be my last comment on the subject.

Prayers? Why?

My questions concerning prayer are centered on knowing why we do things. When it comes to religion we appear to have our minds set. Have you ever wondered why Paul as well as others did not end their prayers with an "in Jesus' name?" Have you ever wondered why we have no record of Paul or others praying for the sick? Or how about the example we use for our weekly contribution was a collection to be taken to Jerusalem specifically to help the poor while we use it for whatever we like spending it primarily on ourselves and say we are commanded to do so? Our preachers concentrate on talking to the saved but call themselves evangelists. We do not have time to read the scriptures in our assemblies.

More Questions on Prayer

I am fast coming to the conclusion we have no clue as to praying. In Charles Hodge's book "Prayer: the Voice of Faith" he compares Elijah's prayer for it not to rain to our prayers. Imagine, Elijah praying that it not rain and us praying for someone to "regain a portion of health." Hodge thinks it is comparable.

A few questions for your cogitation:

1. Do you know of any situation in the Bible where God answered a prayer that was not necessary for the fulfillment of his "plan?"
2. Do you know of any situation where God answered a prayer that was meant only for the appeasement of one individual?
3. Do you now of any occasion where Jesus healed someone and Jesus did not benefit from the healing such as verifying he was from God?
4. What is the purpose of God or Jesus to heal one of us?

On one occasion Jesus told his followers,"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." On another occasion Jesus said "whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."

1. Who answers our prayers Jesus or God?
2. To whom should we pray.
3. Does it make a difference?
4. How do you explain the two comments?
5. If we do not know who will be answering how do we know whom we should address?

Like us Hodge keeps saying "we believe in prayer" but it just may be ignorance talking.

Sip Test vs a CLT (central location test)

In today's The Mountain Press there is an article about the Tennessee Shindig and their hiring a producer to create a new show. They say they are told by the visitors that they have the best talent in the area so they have decided to build on that. Have you been to the Tennessee Shindig? If so do you think they have better talent than the other shows? For a show that has changed format almost every year it seems they do not fully understand what they want to do with all that "talent." I remembered Al's pride that the GSMCOC visitors are expressing fact when they compliment him and GSMCOC. Delusional may fit us too.

In his book "Blink: The power of thinking without thinking" Malcolm Gladwell has an account of New Coke. It provides insight into how the best and brightest minds with the best research and fact based analysis can often bamboozle themselves into a most disastrous course of action.

Remember the history? - The Pepsi Challenge, Pepsi tastes better, Coke responds with New Coke and then kaboom.

• Pepsi gaining market share
• The Pepsi Challenge - the majority of tasters preferred Pepsi
• Additional market research shows a preference for Pepsi - tastes must have changed
• New Coke under development
• New Coke - sweeter and more like Pepsi starts to perform better in taste tests
• Launch New Coke
• Major crisis launches the return of Classic Coke

The story is a good illustration of how complicated it is to find out what people really think.

Gladwell's insights:

• Taste tests don't tell the real story - there is always a bias for sweetness in a sip. (People knew that.)
• Drinking a whole bottle or can is a more accurate comparison - sweetness can get overpowering. (People knew that as well.)
• Home use tests over time will give you better information. (Most people knew that.)
• The entire principle of a blind taste test was ridiculous - in the real world no one drinks Coca-Cola blind!
• Pepsi's success in the blind taste tests never translated to much in the real world.
• The error was in attributing the loss of market share to the product, as opposed to the good things Pepsi was doing with branding.
• All of the unconscious associations and emotions we have of the brand, the image and the packaging were lost to "the guys in white lab coats."

Different does not mean better though individuals may think it is i.e. a sip versus drinking a whole bottle; listening to one or two sermons versus a steady diet of self promotion. I heard some comments from visitors that Al is telling more stories than before. GSMCOC is no different than any non-growing congregation in that refusing to think permits us to convince ourselves everything is going well. Look at what happened to Coke when they were wrong.

Did Jesus Take My Place on the Cross? Did I have a Place?

When I say Jesus took my place on the cross am I saying I could have done what Jesus did for me but I do not have to because he did me a favor by taking my place? Utah gives the option of execution by firing squad for prisoners who opt for it. It seems they take literally that without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins and therefore permit the condemned to shed his own blood.

I have always understood Jesus did something I could not do. On the other hand, his going to Hell seems to allow for him taking my place because that is something I could have or would have done if it were not for his sacrifice.

Discovering What You Already Have - - - Major W. Ian Thomas

If you are a Christian, I have no blessing to offer you, because you have them all in Jesus Christ. All you can do is begin to discover the blessings in Him that you already have but have not yet possessed in experience.

The moment you are redeemed and the moment the Lord Jesus is come to indwell your redeemed humanity, God has given you the plenitude of heaven. You will never be wealthier than the day you were redeemed, but you can live in self-imposed poverty for the rest of your life if want do.

What we want to do is to discover how to explore and enjoy all that God has already given you if you are saved. It will be the Devil's business to prevent it.

Where, O Where has Oral Gone Now...

When I lived in Springfield Ohio Oral Roberts held a tent meeting for about a week. A group of teenage boys used to go watch him heal people. I used to watch him on television while my mother was fixing lunch on Sundays. One time a woman with a migraine headache was being healed. At that time Oral's technique was to hit the person in the forehead with his open hand and yell "Be Healed!". The healed person would fall back and the helpers would catch them and lay them on the floor. After a few minutes to collect themselves they would stand up and talk with Oral. Considering the migraine I can still see that woman as Oral hit her in the head. Ouch... It apparently worked because she said she did not have a migraine anymore. We may not believe he healed anyone but a lot of people do.

 

Now is the time we determine how we will treat other religious groups. If we believe Oral to be in Hell I imagine we should be making more of an effort to counteract his influence. If we do not believe Oral is in Hell then maybe we should "fellowship" those followers. Realizing the Father is all wise we have to wrestle with the fact that based on what we believe the Bible teaches Oral deserves an eternity roasting on the fires of Hell. I have to admit it is difficult putting him on the same level as Hitler or Al Capone or any of the obvious bad guys. But apparently that is where we will find Mother Teresa.

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

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

Re: Strategy, Target, Purpose

Someone said "It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit. It seems to me the church should epitomize that attitude. Instead we insist on honoring the reverends as well as reverends in training as we will to night in our Christmas party. We're even going to honor the janitor. Amazing.

Concerning the question about what a 38 year old Christian man would do on this day or any given day during AD 56? And what would he do to fill his day on the first day of the week? I'm not sure he would have done anything differently than we do today. Then it would have been easier for a pagan and a Christian to recognize each other. Today, Pagans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Latter Day Saints, etc pretty much look alike. According to our definition of Christians they are all pagans and difficult to identify.

Billy Graham had the right idea though he probably thought all those politicians cared what he thought. Remember all those pictures in the paper with the caption identifying Graham as the "spiritual advisor?" Politicians used him to convince the voters they were Christian. Obama tried that with Rick Warren but he did not take as well as Billy Graham.

I am convinced if we can ever accept that Sunday is not worship and that the purpose of assembling is to encourage each other to love and good works we just might leave the service and go about doing good works. As it is most leave the service feeling tired, bewildered, frustrated, and wondering why they were there. But for the church to admit that would put most preachers out of work and that will not happen in our life time.

And no, until we recognize there is a problem we have no reason to correct anything. Alcoholics, drug addicts and pedophiles can attest to that. As a child I sat close to the TV to watch it and I could not read what the teacher wrote on the blackboard. I played second base and would miss ground balls hit directly at me. I lost it around the pitcher's mound. One day the coach told me that when I had the requisite physical I should have my eyes examined. I believe he was being sarcastic. I did and I have worn glasses ever since. My parents did not associate my actions with the inability to see and neither did I. Congregations do not associate the lack of growth with the lack of leadership. When you read what God did to "equip the body" you can easily see that GSMCOC as well as the average congregation have no one equipping them. To say that in a meeting will start an argument and bring forth much denying especially by . . .

Did that answer what you were asking?

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

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

On Sat, Dec 5, 2009 at 8:21 AM, Ray & Martha <arandm@charter.net> wrote:

Some good thoughts that are disturbing. I think we have tried to get this point across with the men before and you told me it won't happen til some one or three people want it to happen. Thanks for not giving up. However, can I refer to this "email that I received" in the men's meeting? I'm not sure this week would be the right time though.

Before I respond, I want you to consider a question I was going to pose to you before I ever opened the computer this morning.

What would a 38 year old Christian man do on this day or any given day during AD 56? And what would he do to fill his day on the first day of the week?


If we don't think we are sick will we go to the doctor or take some measure to help us get over what ever causes us to be sick?

Jesus, Peter and Paul stated their own mission,with purpose, knowing that they were the exmple at that time. Group activities are not addressed here.If group activities are what we are supposed to be about, they must be organized and led by dedicated, competent, rightly passionate, Godly and humble Christiian people who understand and seek to follow the great commandment. It starts with me, the individual or you the individual. And we must function as part of the body and not as the whole body.

I do not recall scripture identifying as leaders or great teachers those who sought recognition or "credit" for any worthwhile service or those who didn't consider sacrifice for His cause an honor. I suspect ther are some great leaders who were never menntioned in scripture but have their name etched in the "book of life".
RAY

----- Original Message -----

From: John Jenkins

To: Ray Slate

Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 4:32 PM

Subject: Strategy, Target, Purpose

In case you need some help sleeping, you can read this.

Developing Our Strategy

Who is Our Target?

No congregation can reach everyone. A radio station cannot appeal to everyone's taste in music. A station that alternated its format between classical, heavy metal, country, rap, reggae, and southern gospel would alienate everyone. No one would listen to that station.

Jesus had a target: "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 15:24

Paul had a target and Peter had a target: "On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised…" Galatians 2:7

A missionary must understand the culture of the people he intends to evangelize. Imagine a photographer shooting pictures without taking time to focus? What hunter would stand on the top of a hill and shoot randomly into the valley without taking aim at something?

Without a target, our efforts may be just wishful thinking.

Developing a Clear Target

Who can we reach?

The New Testament shows the Gospel spread through relationships. Andrew told his brother, Peter; Philip contacted Nathaniel; Matthew held a dinner party for other Tax Collectors; the woman told everyone in her village.

What kinds of people already attend? We'll reach those to whom we relate. We'll attract who we are, not who we want.

A successful fisherman is able to "read" the lake, or stream, or river, etc and figure out where fish are; he knows the time of day they like to eat; he knows the bait or lure to use depending on the type of fish; he knows when to change bait as temperature changes; he knows how deep to drop the line into the water; he knows when to move to a new location. He catches fish on their terms.

If we are to reach people we need to:

· Know what we are fishing for;

· Go where the fish are biting;

· Learn to think like a fish;

· Catch fish on their terms;

· Understand and adapt to their culture;

The longer you are a believer, the less you think like an unbeliever.

Our Biblical Purpose

A clear target only develops when we have three things in place.

1. We know our Biblical purpose;

2. We define whom in our community we are best equipped to reach;

3. We decide a strategy to reach those individuals.

It's going to take some time to come up with some clear answers to #2 and #3 but how about the Great Commandment and the Great Commission as an easily stated purpose that is Biblical and unique to us.

Great Commandment:

Matthew 22:37-40

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19-20

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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Planning with Purpose

Few churches are planning with purpose and precision. Most are devoted to simply maintaining existing programs and serving the present membership. Challenge and change are not in their vocabulary.

We must rise above mediocrity to excellence. Comfortable pews seldom stay filled. Every church must set long-range and short-range goals. In charting the future we must ask:

1. What do we want to accomplish? (A statement of purpose)

2. When do we want to accomplish it? (Long-range and short-range goals)

3. How do we want to accomplish our goals (Workable plans to achieve our goals)

4. Who will lead? (This involves assignment, responsibility and accountability)

5. How much will it cost? (This should only be asked after everything else has been considered)

Our Goals Must Become Our Eyes by which we see the Future

Dreams die first – then churches.

Why Strategic Planning is Important in Evangelism

Unless there is planning and strategy nothing happens. Think about the new Christians in your congregation. How did they come to Christ? Congregations should develop strategic plans.

Strategic planning helps us toward our goal, helps us devise means and develop grids to measure effectiveness.