What a week this has been! It has been long and tiring! Really has been a bit of a bummer, downer, whatever you want to call it.
First, I didn't sleep well Sunday night and woke up Monday morning with a headache, sore throat, sniffels and a general over all blaaahhh feeling. Then I missed Bible Study on Monday night because of leaving work late and the rain. Had to sit on Hwy 97 about a half a mile east on IH-37 for 30 minutes as there was a flood of water across the road. Amy and I have lived here for almost twenty years and this is the first time I have seen this section of road flood so quickly, if at all. Didn't get home until about 7:15 pm.
Second, besides still having the blaaahhh feeling, we didn't get to do visitation on Tuesday night because Robert had to go to work. He left a message for me about having to go to work and he really thought Satan has "been working" on him. Guess we just have to redouble our efforts to not let Satan have as much influence on what we do.
Third, I got to church late on Wednesday night becuase we didn't get through with court until about 6:30 pm and still had things to do to close out court. Didn't leave the office until about 7:15 pm and got to church about 7:45 pm. The great concert made up for the day, though.
Fourth, had to leave for work early Thursday morning (6:45 am) to finish putting Wednesday to bed before I started Thursday's agenda. So, I missed our usual Thursday morning Chamber-of-Commerce, theological-discussion at Sally's.
Just not fun being away from brethern when you are so used to the fellowship. Kind of leaves you out of sorts.
And Friday hasn't gone too well so far either. Sometimes the day is just not yours. You know what they about "the best laid plans of mice and men"...
Or was it some lawyer named Murphy?
Hope you have had a better week than mine and I hope you have a great weekend.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Oh...Now I Get It!
One of these days I'll figure all this out.
I haven't blogged in a while but I have had a few blogs 'in edit'. I finished one the other day and published it. However, I did not see it on the main blog. I looked and looked and looked...couldn't find it. I checked the manage blog window several times, it showed I published but the words were not out there. Finally it dawned on me...it publishes on the date the blog was put into edit! Duh!
So, I have one dated 2/21/07 if you care to check it out. Kind of makes you want to kick yourself.
I haven't blogged in a while but I have had a few blogs 'in edit'. I finished one the other day and published it. However, I did not see it on the main blog. I looked and looked and looked...couldn't find it. I checked the manage blog window several times, it showed I published but the words were not out there. Finally it dawned on me...it publishes on the date the blog was put into edit! Duh!
So, I have one dated 2/21/07 if you care to check it out. Kind of makes you want to kick yourself.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
What's in a Name?
I've been thinking about the name that we have on the front of our building..."Church of Christ".
Several years ago Amy and I attended the first Shepherd's Conference held at the Northside congregations building. I can't remember his name, but the closing speaker spoke about the name on the sign in front of the building. He spoke about the bold statement that it made to the community. He said it told everybody that we were a church of Christ. By using that phrase we were telling all who drove by that we were directly identifying with the individual whose teachings we follow. Up front, there was not a question about who we are and what we are all about. By making that identification, we take a definite stand. There should not be any question about what goes on with this group of people and what we believe.
The same thing goes for us as individuals. When we hear someone's name, what thoughts come to mind? What do other's think of that individual? What images appear for us to consider? Are they pleasant thoughts or those that make us think, 'Oh, No!'?
Our name says so much about us. It is probably the one main think that identifies us to others.
So, back to the original thought. I have been reading a book, Changing Traditions in the Churches of Christ. It is a series of essays that examines brotherhood issues. Quite frankly, alot of the focus so far has been on how we publically worship and the externals of style. But the book also speaks of attitudes and how we conduct ourselves in the worship assembly. It speaks of how we lives our lives and how we identify with each other when we are not personally together. It got me thinking about churches in our brotherhood and how some have dropped 'of Christ' from the name. When the issue first came up I will admit that I did not have a problem with this. After all...it was just a name. I listened to the reasons for changing the name. None of them seemed sound and they sounded like just a ploy to get more people into the building. But still, I thought that was the decision of that local congregation. But, the more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable I became with this and the stated reasons. My concern then turned into the following two questions: 1)How in the world did this ever become something that we would consider doing?, and 2) Why in the world would you want to do this?
Before this ever came up, I never thought about changing the name of the institution. The name is who we are. The name is what we are. It says everything about us. Up front, it tells the world who we follow. I recall that immediately after I was baptized I had a proudness (is that a word?) about being a member of this body. I had only been a member a few minutes but there was something definitely different about these people. I did not have any knowledge about the church, but to say I was a member of the church of Christ...it just sounded right. The institution, or better yet, the organization known as the Church of Christ had always been around, as far as I knew. And it would continue to be here, as far as I knew. Now with congregations deciding to drop part of the name...it just seems wrong. It almost says they no longer want to be a member of this body. By their way of thinking, it's almost as if they no longer want to be identified as part of the worldwide body of Christ. By saying they are 'a church' without any identifying marks they are leaving the door open for any wind of doctrine to come into their midst and be taught. It seems that they can preach and teach and accept anything they want. By not identifying with the larger body they say they can exist on their own.
By saying that a congregation is 'a' church they become just that: a group of people who are not identified with anyone else, ones who stand off on their own and try to do things their own way. I know there are places in the world that may be doing things in the way God expects us to act but we must be clearly identified as to who we are and who we follow. Without that we are headless. Without that we have no guidance. Without that we have no future.
Those are my thoughts. What do you think. Share with me.
Several years ago Amy and I attended the first Shepherd's Conference held at the Northside congregations building. I can't remember his name, but the closing speaker spoke about the name on the sign in front of the building. He spoke about the bold statement that it made to the community. He said it told everybody that we were a church of Christ. By using that phrase we were telling all who drove by that we were directly identifying with the individual whose teachings we follow. Up front, there was not a question about who we are and what we are all about. By making that identification, we take a definite stand. There should not be any question about what goes on with this group of people and what we believe.
The same thing goes for us as individuals. When we hear someone's name, what thoughts come to mind? What do other's think of that individual? What images appear for us to consider? Are they pleasant thoughts or those that make us think, 'Oh, No!'?
Our name says so much about us. It is probably the one main think that identifies us to others.
So, back to the original thought. I have been reading a book, Changing Traditions in the Churches of Christ. It is a series of essays that examines brotherhood issues. Quite frankly, alot of the focus so far has been on how we publically worship and the externals of style. But the book also speaks of attitudes and how we conduct ourselves in the worship assembly. It speaks of how we lives our lives and how we identify with each other when we are not personally together. It got me thinking about churches in our brotherhood and how some have dropped 'of Christ' from the name. When the issue first came up I will admit that I did not have a problem with this. After all...it was just a name. I listened to the reasons for changing the name. None of them seemed sound and they sounded like just a ploy to get more people into the building. But still, I thought that was the decision of that local congregation. But, the more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable I became with this and the stated reasons. My concern then turned into the following two questions: 1)How in the world did this ever become something that we would consider doing?, and 2) Why in the world would you want to do this?
Before this ever came up, I never thought about changing the name of the institution. The name is who we are. The name is what we are. It says everything about us. Up front, it tells the world who we follow. I recall that immediately after I was baptized I had a proudness (is that a word?) about being a member of this body. I had only been a member a few minutes but there was something definitely different about these people. I did not have any knowledge about the church, but to say I was a member of the church of Christ...it just sounded right. The institution, or better yet, the organization known as the Church of Christ had always been around, as far as I knew. And it would continue to be here, as far as I knew. Now with congregations deciding to drop part of the name...it just seems wrong. It almost says they no longer want to be a member of this body. By their way of thinking, it's almost as if they no longer want to be identified as part of the worldwide body of Christ. By saying they are 'a church' without any identifying marks they are leaving the door open for any wind of doctrine to come into their midst and be taught. It seems that they can preach and teach and accept anything they want. By not identifying with the larger body they say they can exist on their own.
By saying that a congregation is 'a' church they become just that: a group of people who are not identified with anyone else, ones who stand off on their own and try to do things their own way. I know there are places in the world that may be doing things in the way God expects us to act but we must be clearly identified as to who we are and who we follow. Without that we are headless. Without that we have no guidance. Without that we have no future.
Those are my thoughts. What do you think. Share with me.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Some Random Thoughts
And now for something completely different...random thoughts. I have not blogged lately because things have been so up in the air lately, mainly with Amy's surgery and recovery. I have a few blogs in'edit' that I hope to get to soon, so stay tuned.
...having to stay busy at work and keep up with the workload, maintain the house and look after Amy. Sometimes I wonder how we keep going. And don't forget about the church activities! One of the good things is that we have not had to cook for about three weeks. So much food has been prepared for us. There is no way to adequately say thanks. That was probably the best thing out of all this. If I had had to cook, well, then the wheels really would have come off the wagon.
I have to say that I am truly amazed at Amy's recovery. It has been a month and she is doing very well. We've had a few hiccups along the way but all in all she has done remarkably well. Considering what she went through (which many women go through) she has bounced back quite well. I know she has a long ways to go, but the change in her demeanor and the improvement in her health...wow!
We have truly been humbled by the outpouring towards us in the form of visits, prayers, cards, telephone calls, meals prepared, thoughts and prayers. It felt a bit weird having it announced that we were going to be helped while we were present for the announcement. It gives one a greater appreciation for the church and those we care about when we are the recipient. We get so used to helping others that we sometimes forget that we need help occassionally.
It is amazing how the church responds when needed. There is never a question of what to do but rather it is the fact that there is a response. The 'who' is the body. The 'what' comes naturally. The 'when' is as needed. The 'where' is just that. The 'how' is in whatever way is appropriate.
...having to stay busy at work and keep up with the workload, maintain the house and look after Amy. Sometimes I wonder how we keep going. And don't forget about the church activities! One of the good things is that we have not had to cook for about three weeks. So much food has been prepared for us. There is no way to adequately say thanks. That was probably the best thing out of all this. If I had had to cook, well, then the wheels really would have come off the wagon.
I have to say that I am truly amazed at Amy's recovery. It has been a month and she is doing very well. We've had a few hiccups along the way but all in all she has done remarkably well. Considering what she went through (which many women go through) she has bounced back quite well. I know she has a long ways to go, but the change in her demeanor and the improvement in her health...wow!
We have truly been humbled by the outpouring towards us in the form of visits, prayers, cards, telephone calls, meals prepared, thoughts and prayers. It felt a bit weird having it announced that we were going to be helped while we were present for the announcement. It gives one a greater appreciation for the church and those we care about when we are the recipient. We get so used to helping others that we sometimes forget that we need help occassionally.
It is amazing how the church responds when needed. There is never a question of what to do but rather it is the fact that there is a response. The 'who' is the body. The 'what' comes naturally. The 'when' is as needed. The 'where' is just that. The 'how' is in whatever way is appropriate.
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