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Wow...when I was in Houston, I went to church with my parents and 5 of my 6 older brothers (the Sunday before his brain surgery. Dad had asked all of us to go with him to church; it meant a lot to him. One of my oldest brothers is not a Christian (or so he claims). When we walked into that big church, he noticed a huge bookstore in the center, plus escalators, etc. He said to me, "Wow, I wonder what Jesus would think of this version of His Father's House?" knowing full well what he meant, it made me think...are we turning our churches into businesses or are they truly our Father's House? I didn't feel comfortable in the church the rest of the day, but I tried to focus ONLY on God's Word, the praise and worship going on, and on being in my earthly father's presence. I can't help but think back to the sermon on the mount...Jesus stood on a mountain top, under God's great big blue sky, and while there may have been musicians (I don't know), I doubt there were venders selling stuff to the 5,000 who joined Him to hear HIS words! LoveLeigh 2:16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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My husband was just telling me about something he heard on the radio about a church in the process of spending a couple of billions,,,,,,,,,,,,,,thats right, billions of dollars to build a new church. in the center of the church, there will be a gigantic fountain area for people to mingle around and fellowship. He was saddened about this because we have millions of families homeless, millions of children sick, hungry and naked, and so many empty buildings left empty. He has a prison ministry where hundreds of inmates attend each service, they are litterly begging for bibles. My husband said he was goin to write to the church and see if they would donate a few hundred dollars to purchase bibles for the inmates. I laughed, because why would they donate any money and take away from their beautiful building? The so called Church has totally lost the point here. |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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For sure. If I had it my way, I'd do as (catholics know him as Saint) Francis of Assici did. If I were in charge of building a church, I'd build a modest rock church in the middle of a magnificant meadow, surrounded by God's beautiful handiwork, and worship and fellowship there. I admire Francis so much because he so yearned and worked hard to live his life as Christ did. He gave up his riches and became as a servant, working for his keep, all in the name of God.
LoveLeigh |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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| sounds beautiful Leigh. I remember when I was little, sometimes they would have church services outside, then a dinner would follow. People would sit under trees on blankets and they didn't nee a fountain to fellowship, the creek did just fine. |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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Interesting thoughts Leigh! |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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| AMEN!!! I pray for your husbands prison ministry. I pray that the church he contacts will send more than just a few hundred dollars...I hope that they will see the hypocrisy of what it is they do; they think they are making their church better for those who don't believe; what they are doing is turning those who don't believe away because they SEE the hypocrisy. So many Christians have become like Pharisees. No wonder the road is narrow and the gate small... |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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amen. God says we are to be good stewadrs of our money. My pastor has been in the prison ministry for more than 20 years. a few in our church has bought boxes of bibles every now and then, but its not just a one time thing, its constantly and we don't expect the same people to step up over and over.
But thats what ususlly happens. |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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| regarding the same people stepping up...like it was written, "the road is narrow", and "the gate small"...makes you think about how it seems like it's always the same people who volunteer at church to do the same thing over and over again because no one else will offer... |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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| been there, done that Leigh, my husband is worse than me, thats why he gets what I call burn out |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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Is it the church building that attracts people and gets all the oohs and aahhs
or -----------------The God of the church that gets all the,praise and glory ?????? |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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| EXACTLY!!! |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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| good question sister |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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I mentioned something like this to my husband, and he said, "Joey, if it gets them in the door, it doesn't matter".
I thought about it for a long time. During my lifetime Church has changed dramatically. We're able to get informed via so many different ways. I grew up gowing to a tiny little Church that is no longer there in my hometown.
Now... there are Churches every three blocks or so.
It makes me wonder.... people say that Christianity less and less. If it is, why are all of those parking lots so full?
I finally just decided this.... people are people. No one is the same. Perhaps that is why Jesus needs so many of us to be fishers of men. |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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I agree with you Joey, But in my town or the towns around me, The church parking lots are almost empty....but they think they need bigger and better churches. This makes no sence to me. In my hometown alone there are at least on huge empty building on every other block. Empty buildings that are large enough to remolde and make wonderful churches, homeless shelters or whatever.
My heart is saddened when the focus is on how much money can be spent on yet another building when the church they already have isn't even half full.
I see to many other needs that aren't being met. Jesus himself said we were to care for the orphans and widows. To feed the hungry and take care of the sick.
I think the church is suppose to grow in nimber, not in buildings. We need to get our priorties straight. |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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Joey, Fishers of Men, that's exactly right, no matter how big the church or parking lot is, it's up to us as individuals, and to reach out - pay it forward, if you will. Paul met people where they were...we need to all be more like Paul; perhaps going to church, for those who are called to do so, should be going to where the sinners are on Sunday mornings...
LoveLeigh |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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Leigh, you should have dropped by. Just kidding. My father-in-law lives in Houston and we live about 80 miles east. There are many,many churches there just like you described. For way too many churches/pastors, it's all about the #s and the $. They build churches to "look" real nice to attract $. I know some pastors like that. I can't help but think of the 34th ch of Ezekiel when I see this. They better get back on track before it's too late. Not a clear picture of the NT church is it?
BTW do you remember what the message was about?
You are right about the multitude, no one sold them anything....they GAVE.
A great read Leigh. Wished it could have been better for you though. Blessings to you my friend.
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| November 05, 2009 |
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Thanks, Tim! My brother, Tim McBroom, lives there in Houston!
Anyway, in regards to your question "BTW do you remember what the message was about?" are you talking about the day we were there? It was about giving; it was near Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the shout out to Ezekial 34...just read it and the following stood out to me perhaps in defense of some of the churches who are trying to attract PEOPLE, not money: Ezekial 34:11'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. |
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| November 05, 2009 |
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Leigh, I was thinking of 2-10, but that was the down side too. Pastors just need to be careful what they feed the flock,cause God will hold them accountable. Yes, you did pick up on the up side of it. That's where we would like to be. Absolutely a great chapter.
I was only curious bout the message, no big deal. Blessings my sister.
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| November 06, 2009 |
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AMEN & AMEN!!! |
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| November 06, 2009 |
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I'll have a Joyce Meyers book and a Joel Osteen, please....lol |
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| November 12, 2009 |
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| This was a good blog. |
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| November 12, 2009 |
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Thank you, Joey!
LoveLeigh |
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