Merry Christmas to all.
If you get a chance to listen to an acceppla group called Haven, they have an outstanding Christmas album. I here a part of one song on the Hugh Hewitt show, ordered it. This morning I listened to it. The vocals are excellent. They are from southern California. A few years ago, Bill Geist reported on CBS Sunday morning that there are over one thousand acceppella groups thr0ughout the country. This is a very good one.
Happy New Year!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
2 types of leaders
I've been thinking about leaders these days. There are two types. One is the cattle driver. Cattle are driven not lead. They do not follow well but scatter when on their own.
The second is a shepherd. Sheep are lead not driven. Sheep will scatter when driven but follow the trustworthy shepherd. In scripture, humans are compared to sheep not cattle.
Consider some of the leaders I have worked with both in secular and sacred work, it is a lesson few realize. The best results come from a leader who leads by example, not one who barks orders.
The second is a shepherd. Sheep are lead not driven. Sheep will scatter when driven but follow the trustworthy shepherd. In scripture, humans are compared to sheep not cattle.
Consider some of the leaders I have worked with both in secular and sacred work, it is a lesson few realize. The best results come from a leader who leads by example, not one who barks orders.
Monday, November 30, 2009
my favorite time of the year
Went to see Mannheim Steamroller last night. Good performance though Chip Davis was not there. We saw them a few years ago and as the leader, he made the show. They have a 25th edition album out of their best - worth having.
There is an accapella group who did a funny version of the 12 Days of Christmas about 10 years ago. Well some Hollywood guy saw it and they have just released their 2nd Christmas album. They are good whether serious or funny. They are called Straight No Chaser. They started at Indiana U., went their separate ways, and now have reunited. It is worth listening to.
There is an accapella group who did a funny version of the 12 Days of Christmas about 10 years ago. Well some Hollywood guy saw it and they have just released their 2nd Christmas album. They are good whether serious or funny. They are called Straight No Chaser. They started at Indiana U., went their separate ways, and now have reunited. It is worth listening to.
Monday, October 19, 2009
labeling
It is so easy to label someone isn't it? This past week, radio host Rush Limbaugh was labeled a racist because someone read something that someone said that Rush said, yet no source can be found. Of course that never happens in the church, right?
Today, we use the word liberal as someone we do not agree with. The first one to say "liberal" has successfully labeled another person. This poisons the well of discussion because now everything the labeled person says is suspect. It is meant by the labelor to cause this to happen so people will not listen to his point of view. Other words that have become useless by bad use are conservative, legalist, traditionalist, and progressive. With all the baggage found in these words, the only reason people use these labels is to raise questions of those labeled.
A friend and I were talking about this once. He said that he just wanted to be Biblical and go wherever that led. For some this is a good thought; wanting to study the Bible and realize that we might see things differently from our previous understandings and traditions. Others find this frightening for the same reasons.
I doubt that this will change but it is a sad state of affairs that good people now have to live with false labels all for the sake of maintaining control.
Today, we use the word liberal as someone we do not agree with. The first one to say "liberal" has successfully labeled another person. This poisons the well of discussion because now everything the labeled person says is suspect. It is meant by the labelor to cause this to happen so people will not listen to his point of view. Other words that have become useless by bad use are conservative, legalist, traditionalist, and progressive. With all the baggage found in these words, the only reason people use these labels is to raise questions of those labeled.
A friend and I were talking about this once. He said that he just wanted to be Biblical and go wherever that led. For some this is a good thought; wanting to study the Bible and realize that we might see things differently from our previous understandings and traditions. Others find this frightening for the same reasons.
I doubt that this will change but it is a sad state of affairs that good people now have to live with false labels all for the sake of maintaining control.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Power
Richard Horsley said this in his book, The Liberation of Christmas: "But biblical texts suggest that people in positions of relative power and privilege (kings, princes, priests, scribes, Pharisees) tend not to test their own prejudices and horizons but to use their power to impose them on others" (p. 148).
When I read that I thought that he could have included preachers and elders. Traditions and traditional views often become laws that cannot be broken because that will cause one to lose his soul. So only certain views are accepted and others rejected because those in power have the control, even though good brethren disagree on various texts. There can be no disagreement. Long gone are the days in which various views are found in brotherhood papers. Only those views that the editors accept are acceptable.
Read blogs by various brethren and you will see that many do not accept the traditional line. People have left churches because they have been criticized for questioning traditions or looking at texts in other ways.
What is forgotten is that Jesus is Lord and He alone has all authority. It is time for us to come to grips with this before we destroy ourselves through bitterness and anger.
When I read that I thought that he could have included preachers and elders. Traditions and traditional views often become laws that cannot be broken because that will cause one to lose his soul. So only certain views are accepted and others rejected because those in power have the control, even though good brethren disagree on various texts. There can be no disagreement. Long gone are the days in which various views are found in brotherhood papers. Only those views that the editors accept are acceptable.
Read blogs by various brethren and you will see that many do not accept the traditional line. People have left churches because they have been criticized for questioning traditions or looking at texts in other ways.
What is forgotten is that Jesus is Lord and He alone has all authority. It is time for us to come to grips with this before we destroy ourselves through bitterness and anger.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
hidden people and history
If you get a chance, take a look at Patrick Mead's series on hidden people and hidden history. It is a really fascinating series. Patrick has two sites, http://patrickmead.net and http://patrickmead.net/tentpegs Both are worth reading.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Caesar worship
In recent studies, it is becoming clearer that Caesar worship or the Imperial Cult started much earlier than thought. It began with the first Caesar, Augustus, espeically in the Middle East. He was worshipped because he brought peace through his armies to the Roman world. Even the mighty Parthians returned the standards of three defeated generals to Augustus around 26 B.C. Herod the Great built at least three temples and two cities in honor of Caesar Augustus and appears to have been involved in the worship of the Emperor; not surprising since he really wasn't a Jew.
Jesus was declared Lord by His resurrection and part of Paul's message was that Jesus is Lord. This Lord brought true peace, the shalom of God, to people. Eventually this would lead to a conflict between Caesar and the followers of Jesus. Such conflicts continue today throughout the world. Dictators fear Christians and want churches closed and Christians silenced. In the old Soviet Union, many were surprised when the Berlin Wall came down and communism collasped, that one of the first things that happened was the reopening of churches. The opposition to communism was often led by believers in Christ.
There is always a danger in elevating anyone to the role of lord. One of the Herods died a horrible death when that happened to him (Acts 12). Today we need to be careful in how we view our political leaders (and dare we say our church leaders as well?). In the past, we have honored famous leaders. I have been to the Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials as well as Mt. Rushmore. These men are remembered for their leadership but we do not, or should not, worship them. In the U.S., all political leaders are just citizens of the country. They are not to be seen as something special even though they hold an important office.
Unfortunately, these politicians have, to quote the words of that famous American philosopher...
"Dirty Harry," they have become legends in their own minds. George Orwell also captured the current attitude in his book, Animal Farm, where he said that all are equal, there are just some who are more equal than others.
There is only one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No one else can make that claim, nor should we make that claim of anyone. Of course, saying such could bring conflict with the elites, but it doesn't change the truth - Jesus is Lord.
Jesus was declared Lord by His resurrection and part of Paul's message was that Jesus is Lord. This Lord brought true peace, the shalom of God, to people. Eventually this would lead to a conflict between Caesar and the followers of Jesus. Such conflicts continue today throughout the world. Dictators fear Christians and want churches closed and Christians silenced. In the old Soviet Union, many were surprised when the Berlin Wall came down and communism collasped, that one of the first things that happened was the reopening of churches. The opposition to communism was often led by believers in Christ.
There is always a danger in elevating anyone to the role of lord. One of the Herods died a horrible death when that happened to him (Acts 12). Today we need to be careful in how we view our political leaders (and dare we say our church leaders as well?). In the past, we have honored famous leaders. I have been to the Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials as well as Mt. Rushmore. These men are remembered for their leadership but we do not, or should not, worship them. In the U.S., all political leaders are just citizens of the country. They are not to be seen as something special even though they hold an important office.
Unfortunately, these politicians have, to quote the words of that famous American philosopher...
"Dirty Harry," they have become legends in their own minds. George Orwell also captured the current attitude in his book, Animal Farm, where he said that all are equal, there are just some who are more equal than others.
There is only one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No one else can make that claim, nor should we make that claim of anyone. Of course, saying such could bring conflict with the elites, but it doesn't change the truth - Jesus is Lord.
Monday, July 20, 2009
old guys
Tom Watson tied for first in the British Open Golf Tourament and lost in a play-off at 59. Good for the old guy! As one, it is good to see that life can be lived beyond what society thinks is good. Both Moses and Abraham accomplished much in their "old" age. Now I know that some people will go quietly into old age and others will go kicking and screaming into old age. Either way, accept the fact that we are getting older and enjoy it. Ignore what the youth culture thinks about it. Growing up, we were told never to trust anyone over 30. Those people are now over 60 - maybe we should listen to their advice because they really haven't contributed much to the health of society.
The more one enjoys life, even with its difficulties, the more we are blessed by life through God in Christ. He has blessed us with life and we should be thankful for it.
The more one enjoys life, even with its difficulties, the more we are blessed by life through God in Christ. He has blessed us with life and we should be thankful for it.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Nietzscheans
Nietzsche's will to power has been the dominating philosophy of the past one hundred years. It is selfish and arrogant. You might have heard about what a U.S. Senator said to a Army General today. The General began to answer Senator Barbara Boxer's question by saying, "Ma'am..." She interrupted him and stated that she wanted to be addressed as Senator. Understand that the word "ma'am" is a term of respect in the military but Boxer implied that the General was showing disrepect. Many who heard this think that it might be the other way around.
Imagine what she might have said if someone told her that Jesus is Lord and she isn't?
Imagine what she might have said if someone told her that Jesus is Lord and she isn't?
Monday, June 8, 2009
be careful what you say
In Acts 12, one of the Herod's spoke and was praised by the people of Tyre and Si don as a god speaking. He accepted their praise and died a horrible death.
Voltaire stated that his books would become famous while the Bible would become a museum piece. Few have heard of him and his house was bought and used by a Bible society to send out Bibles.
Either the owner or ship's captain said before the maiden voyage of the Titanic that even God could not sink it. It sunk.
A few days ago the editor of Newsweek said that Obama was like God. If I were the President, I would disavow that idea immediately. Paul and Barnabas were thought to be gods in Acts 13 but quickly ran into the audience to show that they were merely men.
As for Newsweek, there appears to be a death wish to a once important weekly. I would encourage the editor to rethink his statement before he sinks with his weekly.
Voltaire stated that his books would become famous while the Bible would become a museum piece. Few have heard of him and his house was bought and used by a Bible society to send out Bibles.
Either the owner or ship's captain said before the maiden voyage of the Titanic that even God could not sink it. It sunk.
A few days ago the editor of Newsweek said that Obama was like God. If I were the President, I would disavow that idea immediately. Paul and Barnabas were thought to be gods in Acts 13 but quickly ran into the audience to show that they were merely men.
As for Newsweek, there appears to be a death wish to a once important weekly. I would encourage the editor to rethink his statement before he sinks with his weekly.
Monday, February 23, 2009
American idol and politics
In the March 2009 issue of "First Things," George Weigel, a Catholic scholar, as an extremely good article on the recent election. Among the things he said was that it appears Americans voted for an American idol candidate; we having become so interested in "reality" television. Of course, some of this was a reaction to the previous administration. Polished, well dressed, speaks with clarity, these are what many wanted, not someone who stumbled through words and was from, of all places, Texas.
Of course, I read ads for preachers and of late many want the same style, able to speak well, exciting, communicates to all........an American idol as our preacher. Wow! I just can't wait to see where that all leads.
Of course, I read ads for preachers and of late many want the same style, able to speak well, exciting, communicates to all........an American idol as our preacher. Wow! I just can't wait to see where that all leads.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
abortion
Michael Novak had an interesting comment about the President signing an executive order approving of tax payer money paying for abortions overseas. Those funds go to countries who value children and they wonder why Americans want to kill them. They do not see things the way secularists see them and look at us in a negative light. So much for trying to make an improvement on America's status overseas. It gives "the ugly American" a whole new meaning.
Frederica Mathewes-Green offers another view on abortion. She comments on the changing views on abortion, but not what many think. While the boomers are growing older, it is the younger generation that will soon be in control. And they will see that the 49 millions abortions were their brothers and sisters, and that they might have been aborted; they then find common ground with those babies. She goes on to comment that that generation might not to well on the boomers, seeing them as murderers.
Both authors make interesting comments that secularists, and some religionists, might not like. We are getting change but maybe not the kind we wanted. Even several theologians who were supportive of the new President have been disappointed with his recent decision.
Frederica Mathewes-Green offers another view on abortion. She comments on the changing views on abortion, but not what many think. While the boomers are growing older, it is the younger generation that will soon be in control. And they will see that the 49 millions abortions were their brothers and sisters, and that they might have been aborted; they then find common ground with those babies. She goes on to comment that that generation might not to well on the boomers, seeing them as murderers.
Both authors make interesting comments that secularists, and some religionists, might not like. We are getting change but maybe not the kind we wanted. Even several theologians who were supportive of the new President have been disappointed with his recent decision.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Facing Our Failure
FACING OUR FAILURE
“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them” (2 John 9-10).
After more than thirty years of preaching and observing people, I have often asked myself why people think the way they do. I have stirred up people by some of the things I have said and have been surprised by the reactions. I have taught texts in which there are more than one point of view that are held by brothers and sisters in Christ, yet only one view is allowed to be taught in a certain place, and if that view is not taught, then the person teaching it is teaching falsely. In fact, the above text is one, which we will look at below.
We in churches of Christ started as a unity movement and developed ways in which we could attain that. We will speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. We have matters of faith that we see as extremely important, even affecting salvation, matters of opinion where we should agree to disagree, and matters of inference that we understand in some way comes from scripture. Over the years, matters of faith have expanded and matters of opinion have often become matters of faith, at least for some. This becomes very challenging for teachers in particular as to how to work in such atmospheres.
Many issues fall into the above discussion. Divorce and remarriage, singing during the Lord’s Supper, clapping, praying to Jesus, choirs, instrumental music, lifting up hands, women serving as deaf translators in an assembly, children’s worship, celebrating holidays, singing with a piano at home, an elder whose wife has died remains an elder or should he resign, meeting in small groups, the Holy Spirit, Bible translations, and offering an invitation after each sermon have been talked and debated. Many preachers who continue to fellowship each other are often in disagreement, having differing points of view on any number of the above. The problem is that when a preacher holds one point of view, and emphasizes it, the impression left to those in the pew is that this is the only way we can look at it. Those members then enforce this particular view as the only way to see it and anything else is false teaching. “Why such a dogmatic stand?” is a question I have asked myself over the years.
When I attended Sunset (1), the instructors sometimes disagreed with each other on texts and issues, yet not once did they ever label or criticized their fellow instructors as false teachers. My view when I left school was that we can disagree and still have fellowship. It did not take long for me to realize that there are those who see that there can be no disagreement, and if there is, someone is wrong. This has led to very bad attitudes, divisiveness, name calling, and distrust. Again, I have asked myself why such extreme reactions?
Well I’m not the only one who has asked these questions. Todd Deaver is the son and grandson of well known preachers in conservative churches of Christ. He has written a new book called Facing Our Failure (2). In the book, subtitled “The fellowship dilemma in conservative Churches of Christ, he points out that while we have attempted to draw lines of fellowship, we have not been consistent in so doing. We have divided into salvation issues and non-salvation issues, yet, according to Todd, when asked to identify which is which, there is often different lists of what must be believed and what isn’t in that category. With 257 footnotes, he certainly documents his case. If you are interested in the subject of the extent of fellowship, this book is worth reading. His goal in this book is to challenge our thinking about how and why we draw lines. We have just not been consistent in our emphasis on fellowship, and based on our current way of examining issues, we will never be. “Brethren, we are in plain self-contradiction…Unless we are willing to live in religious self-contradiction, we must take our theology back to the drawing board…I realize what the reader is being asked to do is not easy. It is incredibly hard to let go of a belief system that has become integral to our identity. We cling to it all the more tenaciously because we’ve been warned, repeatedly and emphatically, that our very salvation depends on it. Giving up our traditional approach to fellowship, we were taught, is nothing short of apostasy. That’s why the sole purpose of this book has been to destabilize the tradition view” (3).
He is a brave young man and is paying a price for challenging the traditional views. He has not offered a solution at this time because he wants us to debate our interpretative methods first. Others have written about this but are often attacked because of their solutions without dealing with the problem. Todd has decided to hold off on the solution (which I eagerly await in a future book) and debate how we determine fellowship. Pray for him in his quest, and again, the book is worth reading.
Now back to my question as to why people become so dogmatic in their views. The light came on when Todd discussed 2 John 9-10. In churches of Christ, there are two views to the meaning of “the teaching of Christ.” The first view is that John is writing with concerns about those teaching that Christ did not come in the flesh, an early but developing form of Gnosticism (4). The teaching of Christ is that He came in the flesh and that if one did not believe that, there should be no fellowship. This is my view.
The second view is that “the teaching of Christ” is the entire New Testament so that any disagreement with any interpretation of the New Testament is false teaching. In essence, we have to be right on each and ever issue or interpretation, or we will not be saved. “Our salvation depends on it. Why? Because if we teach error regarding the boundaries of fellowship, we have gone beyond the doctrine of Christ and forfeited our salvation” (5). We have developed a legalistic system that requires flawless obedience in every issue. This view affects everything we say and do. That is why if there are two views to an issue, and only one can be right, and I have position or authority, then I can state that I am right and you are wrong; I am saved, since my salvation depends on my rightness, and you are lost because you do not agree with me.
While many of the preachers Todd quotes disagree and would be in fellowship with each other, there are those in local churches who do not hear or see that, and draw tight lines of fellowship because they do not read widely or listen to others who disagree. One will be lost if one does not hold the “right” view of a text. That is why this is legalism. How one sees God in all this plays a role in our understanding. Some view God as the Judge who will follow the law flawlessly and so must we. In reality, we have made our interpretation our god; we bow down to the rightness or wrongness of our views. There is no grace in this system, grace defined as God giving us what we need out of His love, not what we deserve.
We all like to be right in our understanding of scripture, but as we continue to study, we realize that our salvation depends not on my interpretation but in the work of Christ on the cross. Jesus came in the flesh, died, and was bodily resurrected from the dead. Based on that, I walk with Him in the light of His word, humbly learning how to live and believe in my life. I am not perfect and must humbly learn as I continue to study (see Philippians 3:12-14). May God bless us in our walk!
George B. Mearns
(1) That is, the Sunset School of Preaching, now Sunset International Bible Institute.
(2) Self-published, 2008. It can be ordered through eBay.
(3) Facing Our Failure, p. 108.
(4) John writes to churches in Asia Minor in the last quarter of the first century. It is here that Gnostic teaching began to develop and John in all of his books was dealing with it in one way or another.
(5) op. cit., p. 85.
“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them” (2 John 9-10).
After more than thirty years of preaching and observing people, I have often asked myself why people think the way they do. I have stirred up people by some of the things I have said and have been surprised by the reactions. I have taught texts in which there are more than one point of view that are held by brothers and sisters in Christ, yet only one view is allowed to be taught in a certain place, and if that view is not taught, then the person teaching it is teaching falsely. In fact, the above text is one, which we will look at below.
We in churches of Christ started as a unity movement and developed ways in which we could attain that. We will speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. We have matters of faith that we see as extremely important, even affecting salvation, matters of opinion where we should agree to disagree, and matters of inference that we understand in some way comes from scripture. Over the years, matters of faith have expanded and matters of opinion have often become matters of faith, at least for some. This becomes very challenging for teachers in particular as to how to work in such atmospheres.
Many issues fall into the above discussion. Divorce and remarriage, singing during the Lord’s Supper, clapping, praying to Jesus, choirs, instrumental music, lifting up hands, women serving as deaf translators in an assembly, children’s worship, celebrating holidays, singing with a piano at home, an elder whose wife has died remains an elder or should he resign, meeting in small groups, the Holy Spirit, Bible translations, and offering an invitation after each sermon have been talked and debated. Many preachers who continue to fellowship each other are often in disagreement, having differing points of view on any number of the above. The problem is that when a preacher holds one point of view, and emphasizes it, the impression left to those in the pew is that this is the only way we can look at it. Those members then enforce this particular view as the only way to see it and anything else is false teaching. “Why such a dogmatic stand?” is a question I have asked myself over the years.
When I attended Sunset (1), the instructors sometimes disagreed with each other on texts and issues, yet not once did they ever label or criticized their fellow instructors as false teachers. My view when I left school was that we can disagree and still have fellowship. It did not take long for me to realize that there are those who see that there can be no disagreement, and if there is, someone is wrong. This has led to very bad attitudes, divisiveness, name calling, and distrust. Again, I have asked myself why such extreme reactions?
Well I’m not the only one who has asked these questions. Todd Deaver is the son and grandson of well known preachers in conservative churches of Christ. He has written a new book called Facing Our Failure (2). In the book, subtitled “The fellowship dilemma in conservative Churches of Christ, he points out that while we have attempted to draw lines of fellowship, we have not been consistent in so doing. We have divided into salvation issues and non-salvation issues, yet, according to Todd, when asked to identify which is which, there is often different lists of what must be believed and what isn’t in that category. With 257 footnotes, he certainly documents his case. If you are interested in the subject of the extent of fellowship, this book is worth reading. His goal in this book is to challenge our thinking about how and why we draw lines. We have just not been consistent in our emphasis on fellowship, and based on our current way of examining issues, we will never be. “Brethren, we are in plain self-contradiction…Unless we are willing to live in religious self-contradiction, we must take our theology back to the drawing board…I realize what the reader is being asked to do is not easy. It is incredibly hard to let go of a belief system that has become integral to our identity. We cling to it all the more tenaciously because we’ve been warned, repeatedly and emphatically, that our very salvation depends on it. Giving up our traditional approach to fellowship, we were taught, is nothing short of apostasy. That’s why the sole purpose of this book has been to destabilize the tradition view” (3).
He is a brave young man and is paying a price for challenging the traditional views. He has not offered a solution at this time because he wants us to debate our interpretative methods first. Others have written about this but are often attacked because of their solutions without dealing with the problem. Todd has decided to hold off on the solution (which I eagerly await in a future book) and debate how we determine fellowship. Pray for him in his quest, and again, the book is worth reading.
Now back to my question as to why people become so dogmatic in their views. The light came on when Todd discussed 2 John 9-10. In churches of Christ, there are two views to the meaning of “the teaching of Christ.” The first view is that John is writing with concerns about those teaching that Christ did not come in the flesh, an early but developing form of Gnosticism (4). The teaching of Christ is that He came in the flesh and that if one did not believe that, there should be no fellowship. This is my view.
The second view is that “the teaching of Christ” is the entire New Testament so that any disagreement with any interpretation of the New Testament is false teaching. In essence, we have to be right on each and ever issue or interpretation, or we will not be saved. “Our salvation depends on it. Why? Because if we teach error regarding the boundaries of fellowship, we have gone beyond the doctrine of Christ and forfeited our salvation” (5). We have developed a legalistic system that requires flawless obedience in every issue. This view affects everything we say and do. That is why if there are two views to an issue, and only one can be right, and I have position or authority, then I can state that I am right and you are wrong; I am saved, since my salvation depends on my rightness, and you are lost because you do not agree with me.
While many of the preachers Todd quotes disagree and would be in fellowship with each other, there are those in local churches who do not hear or see that, and draw tight lines of fellowship because they do not read widely or listen to others who disagree. One will be lost if one does not hold the “right” view of a text. That is why this is legalism. How one sees God in all this plays a role in our understanding. Some view God as the Judge who will follow the law flawlessly and so must we. In reality, we have made our interpretation our god; we bow down to the rightness or wrongness of our views. There is no grace in this system, grace defined as God giving us what we need out of His love, not what we deserve.
We all like to be right in our understanding of scripture, but as we continue to study, we realize that our salvation depends not on my interpretation but in the work of Christ on the cross. Jesus came in the flesh, died, and was bodily resurrected from the dead. Based on that, I walk with Him in the light of His word, humbly learning how to live and believe in my life. I am not perfect and must humbly learn as I continue to study (see Philippians 3:12-14). May God bless us in our walk!
George B. Mearns
(1) That is, the Sunset School of Preaching, now Sunset International Bible Institute.
(2) Self-published, 2008. It can be ordered through eBay.
(3) Facing Our Failure, p. 108.
(4) John writes to churches in Asia Minor in the last quarter of the first century. It is here that Gnostic teaching began to develop and John in all of his books was dealing with it in one way or another.
(5) op. cit., p. 85.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
presidents
We were talking last night about being thankful for our nation. One member commented that not in very many places in this world can one see three former presidents, one current, and one future gathered together to eat lunch and discuss issues. We might not agree with them on everything, or very much, but still, we have a easy transition every four or eight years. So we pray for our leaders that God's wisdom will be learned and followed, and we are thankful for our peaceful political change.
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