Moving on

Everyone knows this is my sounding board of sorts, and it has finally hit me that it's time to move on.
Not out of town or a new place to live, but with the things I've been holding onto for the last month or so.
Has it been a grudge?
Don't know.
What I do know is that I'm feeling like it's time , we have a great new body, doing great new things, and it just feels right!
I looked around Sunday, and to see the things that are happening are to say the least, an astonishing thing.
It's time to stop looking back, quit second guessing and move on, it's gonna be a fun ride!!

Right or Wrong?

Everyone knows that I am a new Christian, if not, you know now! And since I started my new walk I've been trying to learn as much about Religion as possible, mostly by watching, listening
and reading.
The coolest thing that I have come across lately is my Seventh Day, Baptist, Lutheran, and other non-denominational friends (along with those who are not church going individuals), like to get into debates now and again,(usually on Friday's) about religious topics.
We have debated, what meats are clean, alcohol consumption, What part of the mortal being will get into heaven etc...
And let me tell you it gets heated from time to time!
If you have ever talked religion in a mixed group you will understand what I mean when I say HEATED.
One of the great things about our little get together is that, not only do you get to know others around you at work more intimately, you also get different viewpoints on how they are taught or convicted in their beliefs.
So who's right and who's wrong?
Is there a right and wrong?
I don't think it really matters!
In the end we all walk away with our own opinions, and some new ones, most backed by our interpretation of the Bible, some back by how we are taught, but we never leave angry! And we always look forward to the next debate, when we can share our beliefs with each other, Right OR Wrong!

Love Ya!!

Where's Pudge
That's the question of the day!
Remember Men's & Women's Group tonight! YEEE HAAA!!!

Laughter!

I read every night, Always the Bible, secondly anything of interest.
Last night I was reading small portions of the book NightLight.
The topic was laughter, the book stated that as children we laugh over 200 times a day!
But as adults only as many as 4 times a day!!!
So being the all wondering person that I am, I went to the bible for reference.
I know "Jesus Wept", But did he ever laugh? Dont know!
Is life so tough that we can't laugh?
So what I'm going to do today is try to make as many people laugh as possible,
And hopefully anyone with a good clean Joke, or a funny experience, will leave it for all to read!!
Love Ya

Question God?

The past couple of weeks have been a very tough time for me.
There have been many emotions, Hurt feelings, Confusion, Anger, Sadness.
And it has made me wonder if I'm doing the right thing, with the path I have chosen.
The Bible says we do not have the authority to question God, And rightly so, Who are we to
question the works of our father?
After a long week of work and meetings, and everyday stress that we all go thru, I wasn't very Motivated for Sunday Worship.
But once I got there, and started seeing the works of our GOD around me it all changed!
There were the usual faces, But then I started noticing what was going on around me.
The complete worship team was warming up!
The children were in a class!
Some old Friends were walking in the door!
NEW VISITORS WERE COMING IN TO WORSHIP!
What was going on?
Our Preacher gave a sermon about renewal, It all fell into place.
Do not question our God!
Just sit back and watch him work!
God was at work with his people Sunday and I'm glad I was there to see it!
Thank you Father!

Fellowship

This morning I'm taking advantage of an opportunity to get away.
I'm noy going far, about 7 miles down the road.
This afternoon and evening I'm getting away again!
Not a long trip, But some prime time to spend with other Brothers and Sisters in the church.
Golfing, Dinner, Star Wars movie tonight, sounds like a pretty good Saturday!
But when you add some of your Christian friends into the mix, I't all of a sudden turns into a GREAT DAY!!
Let's all remember how important fellowship is!
Seek out a brother or sister today, and I hope you get the same excitement as I have.
I bet you will!

Share some Good Music!!

I've Been getting fired up about christian music lately!
I'm trying to explore other groups or solo's.
I really like Casting Crowns and I've got a couple of worship cd's.
Who do you like?





Ps.. Our Brother and Sister Yearsin our out of town for thier daughters colledge graduation,
remember safe travel in our prayers.

Love Ya!

Prayer Requests?

Our Church had an organizational meeting tonight and I ask for Prayers for all of the members in attendance, for those who couldn't be with us tonight, and for all that stepped forward to take on tasks that may take them in new and challenging directions with the church.
It was a good night!
Doyou have prayer requests?

Love Ya!

Somebody Show Me!!

I had a conversation with a fellow Christian Brother today and explain what had happened at our church.
He is a very devout Christian, someone who had ministered to me when I had first started at work, as a matter of fact he was responsible for hiring me.
I have much respect for him.
Here though is my problem or situation that I encountered when talking with him today.
He is a traditional church of Christ member, and anyone who knows our situation at church can understand where I'm about to go with this.
Why is it that people can tell you, what you can't do during a church service but they can't tell you why?
You can't play music because they didn't do it in the first century! O.K.
You can't clap hands because they didn't do it in the early church! O.K.
So who said that anything that is done in a church service today was done in the New Testament service of worship?
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.
But did the early church have service in a church building?
Did someone sing two songs, did they read scripture, did someone pray?
Did they pass around communion in metal holders, and then take up a tithe,
did their preacher get up and give a sermon on Jesus or Moses.
My whole point is this, Why can people tell you what not to do, But they can't show you what God said you should do!
maybe I'm missing the whole story?
I don't think I've read anything that says church service should be in this systematic order?
Church should be about helping others to see the way to the father, ministering to unbelievers as well as the Brothers and Sisters in our church family and other believers.
You need to believe that Christ is the son of God , you need to be baptized, you need to congregate, and share communion with God.
So to end my point, most churches do these things, but then they add what they want?
Does God want us to clutter our worship with these things that we add?
I don't know.
But don't tell me that the clutter in your church service is any better than the clutter in my church service!
All worship has been changed by man since the disciples went from city to city preaching the gospel of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.
But as long as it is led by the Holy Spirit does that make it wrong?
Someone please correct me with what the Bible says, NOT an opinion of what they believe!

Im through venting, with love.

What's in a Name?

Do we really need a name for the churches we attend?
Our church family is starting new, I mean brand new, from scratch, no money no building,just committed members trying to do our best to bring others to a relationship with the Father.
So one of the first things we need to do is pick a name!
But why?
Is it because we need to be known for the church we attend?
Is it because we think that a name makes the church more Holy?
Is it becuase we want our church to signify what it believes by the name?
Does the name really matter to god?
Or is it we that it matters to?

Confused?

Today was not a good day, the church that my family attends was attacked by evil!
We have split and are going our separate ways.
I know that nobody reads this so it doesn't matter what I write
But today I lost a lot of friends and people that I use to consider family.
If you are reading Please pray for my church.

Prayer Request

This was brought to me by a GREAT Brother in Christ.



From: Lyle, Leah Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 1:59 PMTo: Neptune-TallasseeSubject: Special Prayer Request

To All:
I have a dear sweet friend that I grew up with in Selma who has a very sick little boy. They desperately need your prayers!!!!!!!! Her name is Alison Missildine Deason and her son's name is Parker, age 3. She has another son, Reid, age 7 and a husband, Mark.
The moved from Selma last summer to Kingsport, TN. Parker was having nosebleeds and rashes while in Selma, just before the move, but the Selma and Montgomery doctors told them he had allergies and contact dermatitis. Mark was offered a job in TN so this was the reason for the move. Alison took Parker to a pediatrician immediately after the move, and before the week was over they found themselves in the hematologist's office doing a bone marrow test. He has JMML, a very rare form of leukemia. It only affects 1% of all childhood leukemia's. The only known cure is a bone marrow transplant, and even after that, the survival rate is only 25%. He has been at St. Jude Hospital in Memphis for about 8 months now. He did have a bone marrow transplant in December and was doing ok. Mid April had been 100 days after transplant when they were going to finally let him go home. He had to have a final marrow test before they would release him, but bad news came too quickly. He started getting sick again and found his bone marrow had dropped to 43% among other things. They had already packed to go home. The entire family was so excited, especially Parker. The live about 500 miles away from Memphis, and Parker's brother and dad have been flying a lot to be there with them. Now the doctors have said he has relapsed. They are just devastated. Alison is waiting to hear if Parker will need another transplant. Everyone here was so gracious to me when I lost my baby, and I know you don't know Parker or Alison, but could you please find it in your heart to say a very special prayer for the Deason Family. No one knows what GOD has in store for Parker or his family, but I know it would mean a lot to them to know that people are praying. I have never asked for a prayer like this before, but Alison was one of my dearest friends while growing up and I know she would do the same for me.

Here is a link for the website that has been provided for them. She keeps a journal of his ups and downs. You can sign the guestbook if you like or send her a personal e-mail for encouragement.

http://www3.caringbridge.org/tn/parkerdeason/index.htm

Thank You So Much and God Bless,
Leah

Are WE Listening?

It's a funny thing Listening, all we have to do is give someone our undivided attention.
But all so often we hear what we want to hear, and really miss what the person is trying to say!
I took an unscientific poll at work the easiest question to ask but the hardest question it seemed to answer.
I asked a few co-workers why they didn't go to church, simple enough.
The answers that I got didn't really surprise me. Here are a few.

"Church is a fashion show"
" I'm too busy on the weekends"
"Church people aren't very friendly to newcomers"
"What you see people do at church, and what you see them do out of church, are two different things"

Isn't it up to us to set examples as Christians?
Why is that so hard?
Who got you into church?
A family member, Your parents, A friend?
Who have you helped get into Heaven?

A Heart Like Jesus?

As Christians we are supposed to strive to walk in the path of our lord.
Showing compassion to those who are in need.
Ministering to the sick, being servants to the weak.
Just read the books of the gospel, It's all right there in black,white and red.
So why is it that so many Christians go thru life without giving the helping hand that we are
REQUIRED to give?
Is it because we are selfish? Could it be that we don't have enough time to help others?
Or could it be that we don't get anything in return for our efforts?
Jesus gave without selfishness! He gave out of love!
And the only thing that he hoped for his deeds was that he could turn others to God.
Where are our hearts like Jesus?

What about Church?

I'm really struggling with why more people don't go to church?
Is it because there isn't enough time in the week to do everything that we need to do, and that makes Sunday a busy day?
Is it because Sunday is a big sports day?
Or is it because as a whole in society that most people think that " we don't need to go to church to get to heaven"?
As Christians why are we not reaching out to more people, Is it because we are selfish?
Do we think that since we "have our ticket" we'll be ok? Do we have the"I got mine, you get yours" attitude?
Why don't you go to church?

It's time to tell our story.

There are alot of miracles that are mistaken for coincidence every day.
A phone call from someone you had been thinking about, Seeing a long lost friend when you had just been wandering what had ever happened to them.
I don't believe in coincidence, I believe that everything happens for a reason.
Sometimes good, sometimes bad.
We have a small mens group on Wednesday night and the opening question this past week,was to tell about a "Godincedence" that had happened during the week.
Do you have a "Godincedence" that you would like to share?
Do you have a prayer request?
This is the place to share it.
You know you aren't reading this by accident! It was planned.