Acts-celerate

Acts20.com NEW Acts-Celerate

Open Any Time -- Day or Night

Ordained Bishops Age Limitations: Discussion on Church of God General Assembly, Nashville 2016

Acts20.com NEW Acts-Celerate Forum Index -> Acts-Celerate General Discussion -> Ordained Bishops Age Limitations: Discussion on Church of God General Assembly, Nashville 2016
Acts20.com NEW Acts-Celerate

Church of God General Assembly, Nashville 2016
“ordained ministers 25 years of age and older”

Rationale: “….the motion, if passed, provides greater incentive for attendance to International General Assemblies and
ministerial credential advancement….”

Premise: A lot was said about ordaining younger ministers around the 2012 Assembly. The proposed Item 25, properly numbered recommending lowering the age requirement to 25 years, did not pass. Naturally, discussions stopped perhaps in wait for the next Assembly. But the question still stands open before our church.

Data on Average Age of our Ministers
Age 20-30 3.62% Ministers, .62% pastors
Age 31-40 12.61% Ministers, 8.09% pastors
Age 41-50 19.98% Ministers, 21.85% pastors
Age 51-60 25.84% Ministers, 32.18% pastors
Age 61 plus 37.95% Ministers, 37.27% pastors

Less than 9% of our pastors are under 40. Roughly 70% are 51 and over. The 20-30 numbers can be a little skewed because of many youth pastors and children pastors, etc. However, only 16% of ministers are under 40.

Rationale: This motion seeks to affirm the value of a new generation of ministers by giving them voice and vote in shaping the future mission, vision, and core values of the Church of God. It also expands the International General Council to include ordained women, whose anointed insights and spiritual discernment are much needed in addressing the growing complexity of fulfilling the Great Commission.
Ordained ministers are currently permitted to serve in the Church of God as pastors, ministers, chaplains, missionaries, and a wide variety of other vital ministries. As such, they are held accountable to the recommendations of the International General Council and decisions of the International General Assembly, yet they do not have opportunity to share their insights, ideas, experiences, wisdom, discernment, and concerns in the formation of those recommendations. This proposal seeks to remedy that. Additionally, the motion, if passed, provides greater incentive for attendance to International General Assemblies and ministerial credential advancement. Finally, if passed, service in an official elected or appointed capacity such as the presiding bishop, the International Executive Committee, the director and assistant director of Youth and Discipleship, the director and assistant director of World Missions, the Council of Eighteen (18 ), administrative bishops, and any other so identified by the Minutes will continue to be restricted to ordained bishops (S5. I. SELECTION, Item 5, International General Assembly MINUTES, page 67; S22. III. RIGHTS AND AUTHORITIES, Item 2, International General Assembly MINUTES, page 101).

Reasoning & Logistics: When an active pastor is not allowed to vote in business sessions, the congregation he pastors is left voiceless. Alas, all business carried at the assembly affects the said church, which basically has no representation in General Council. So if a church pays for its young pastor to be sent to Assembly and represent the congregation, but without the right to vote this representation does not amount to much in the end. There is something fundamentally wrong with this. The argument of age is of course connected with one’s experience. But let’s face it, multitudes of pastors leave the ministry for one reason or another having already gained both age and experience. And unfortunately, so many of them leave exactly because of the experience they have had aging within the church. Actually in today’s world, if you have not gained enough life experience and if you don’t know yourself by age 25, you will most probably not gain what’s needed by age 30. Therefore, if a man is appointed to be pastor of a church by consideration and approval of the Administrative Bishop, he should be allowed to vote. If he is trusted enough to take care of the church’s spiritual life and business, surely he must be trusted to represent his congregation and vote toward its betterment as a part of the whole organization.

Further questions:

  1. How desperately do we need new blood in COG leadership?
  2. What is our Current Context of Leadership and Elections?
  3. Do you have to think young if you want your church to grow?
Facebook Comments
Comments

  2. Definitely with you NBF, seems sorta strange, i.e. If you have flet and enjoyed the Lord’s blessings. When you have enjoyed the latter rain that you would consider putting yourself back under the law.I follow the intents of the Ten Commandments for many reasons not the least of which is common sense in this present world. I appreciate that our forefathers here in the USA thought the same.Why would I reverse what I KNOW to be right in the sight of GOD! ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  4. If the Law was key to Christianity, why did God allow the destruction of the Temple? As a matter of fact, if the Law keepers are so committed, why have they not rebuilt the Temple no matter what the price? I am sick of those who play at being Jewish?

    Reply

  5. I see you all have a real problem with Jewish things. Better throw away your Bible then and you’re praying to a Jewish Rabbi, King of the Jews, who died for the sins of the world. But the thing I like the most, is the love I feel from the Church of G-d, you guys are quite a unique bunch of people who break your own rules, but that’s fineI don’t worry guys, I won’t be here much longer you can go back to whatever it is you discus________________Ps 122:6

    Reply

  8. .james….🙄, You don’t even understand what I’m saying, you chalk it up as a judaizers to give you an excuse not to listen, but you don’t even know what a judaizer is…. What if I told you above what G-d already said in his Word to do and live? nothing. Have I told you it’s commanded for you to wash your hands before you eat, have I told you that for you to be saved you have to be circumcised and keep all the Law of Moshe? No Your problem is not with me your problem is G-d and what He said, you don’t know. 1 John 2:4; he that says I know Him and keeps not His Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. Truth is Torah Ps 119:160& Truth is Yshua They are On________________Ps 122:6

    Reply

  9. .james….🙄, You don’t even understand what I’m saying, you chalk it up as a judaizers to give you an excuse not to listen, but you don’t even know what a judaizer is…. What if I told you above what G-d already said in his Word to do and live? nothing. Have I told you it’s commanded for you to wash your hands before you eat, have I told you that for you to be saved you have to be circumcised and keep all the Law of Moshe? No Your problem is not with me your problem is G-d and what He said, you don’t know. 1 John 2:4; he that says I know

    Reply

  10. .james….🙄, You don’t even understand what I’m saying, you chalk it up as a judaizers to give you an excuse not to listen, but you don’t even know what a judaizer is…. What if I told you above what G-d already said in his Word to do and live? nothing. Have I told you it’s commanded for you to wash your hands before you eat, have I told you that for you to be saved you have to be circumcised and keep all the Law of Moshe? No Your problem is not with me your problem is G-d and what He said, you don’t know. 1 John 2:4; he that says I know

    Reply

  11. Bro, if he doesn’t accept, is this offer open to others? Wouldn’t want that ham to go to waste… I will go, I just don’t want dave to go 😀😇lo________________Ps 122:6

    Reply

  13. No comment makes much sense at a time like this. Prayers of course for the families. It is hard to fathom how one can logically foresee and/or defend from any terrorist act.Humans cannot read the minds of humans…….. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  16. The main reason is for a soldier to LIVE, and at the same time WIN (for himself and his comrades). It can also keep a country safe and of course when used for the wrong reasons can be very destructive.Cars kill a lot of people, we do not ban then, but try to keep them out of the hands of criminals and drunks. We do not always accomplish that but we still keep trying!I do not have such a weapon, I do not feel the need of one. Neither do I carry a weapon (except my pocket knife) but if I was endanger I would appreciate a ‘good shot’ who did carry one nearby!The argument will continue for years to come, but this country was formed by armed men and women. I hope we citizens can always be armed. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  18. YES BUT CAN’T YOU SEE, IF WE CONFISCATE ‘ALL’ OF THEM you would no longer have that problem.So on the third of July we will ask everyone YOU and all the crooks that have them to turn them in. PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!!! We won’t take names, remember faces no records so EVERYONE will be protected.That procedure works well with guns and drugs I hear????????????? It might work! ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  19. Here is my proposal if I was in Congress.Ban AR-15s and other so called assault rifles – couple that with a ban on abortion after the first 8 weeks.I would make that trade in an instant.Hopefully it will occur to the President too – like he did with amnesty for so called Dreamers – in exchange for the wall.Then we will see who really wants to fix things – when they must give up something they don’t want to________________

    Reply

  20. No one outside of the armed forces has a true need for an AR-15 type rifle. Now, for the paranoid, you can’t make a weapon that does too much damage.Consider that a shotgun, pistol, or regular hunting rifle is MORE THAN ENOUGH to defend one’s home from bad guys…unless those bad guys are SEALS or something…in which case nothing you have is going to save you.ANYONE who hears the distinctive sound of a shotgun shell being pumped into the firing chamber is going to run. If they don’t, then having a shotgun is better than having an AR-15, since you don’t have to be particularly skilled in aiming.I think most men have an AR-15 either because of compensation issues, paranoia, or (and I think this is the largest category) it makes them feel like a bad dude.Now, there’s nothing wrong with that! But when we KNOW that an AR-15 is going to allow someone to kill a number of people in a very short time (as opposed to an intruder and his intruder friend trying to get in your house), we probably need to rethink some things.A gun is for the defense of one’s property and person…and for hunting. A shotgun or hunting rifle can BOTH do extraordinary damage against a person…but the AR-15 is PRECISELY designed for EXTREME cases–e.g., a whole squad of cartel guys is trying to get in your house. The truth is that even a shotgun would make someone think twice in such a case…but the AR-15’s only unique purpose is that sort of fast and mass killing. It doesn’t serve a legitimate hunting or personal protection need.Yes, if we have a zombie apocalypse, maybe you’ll need one. AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM: WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN!!! This is probably the kind of person that most certainly should NOT have a gun.Ask yourself a question: WHERE do we draw the line? Why can’t a person also mine their front yard? Why can’t they have Claymore mines? Why not a Daisycutter bomb? Why not nuclear weapons? I mean, we DO have the right to defend ourselves, right??? Here’s the problem, I think: For better or worse, the AR-15 type gun has been the weapon of choice in a number of these mass killings. Yes, a pistol will kill you, too…but the AR-15 is the perfect weapon for mass killing…since it can be obtained legally (and not by having to smuggle plutonium out of Europe, etc.)We speak of justifiable force. A shotgun (for self-protection) is justifiable force/firepower. It could be easily argued that the AR-15 goes beyond what is necessary to defend oneself and family. A possible thing is gun insurance. If you own an AR-15 (or any gun deemed beyond justifiable force), you MUST have insurance on any illegal damage it does. If you are caught with such a gun and do not have insurance, you perhaps risk prison. We’d do that if someone had their own nuclear weapon, wouldn’t we?I’m just sick of hearing the same story: An assault type rifle was used to kill a number of innocent people. Leave those types of guns to our military. They are OUR military. They are NOT the enemy (as back in Revolutionary times when the British military turned against Americans).

    Reply

  21. Self defense is the purpose of the AR-15. The gun is also a reminder to DC that the people of the States have the power to deal with traitorous politicians________________

    Reply

  23. One reason is to protect myself against people who illegally possess an AR-15. It is difficult to defend against an AR-15 with a 6 shot pistol or a shotgun. Hey Aaron. This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^________________

    Reply

  25. Self defense is the purpose of the AR-15. The gun is also a reminder to DC that the people of the States have the power to deal with traitorous politicians.

    Reply

  26. One reason is to protect myself against people who illegally possess an AR-15. It is difficult to defend against an AR-15 with a 6 shot pistol or a shotgun. Hey Aaron. This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    Reply

  27. The premise of the 2nd Amendment had a LOT to do with the fact that the British wanted us defenseless to impose their will. We are no longer in this situation….If the president ordered the Army to, say, gun down American civilians, they would refuse. Why? Because they ARE us…they have families…they know we’re not the enemy.BUT if they DID want to take us out, do you suppose we own any weapons that would stop a drone strike?

    Reply

  29. I’m increasingly sympathetic to your view of things as more and more of these awful events occur, but this isn’t exactly how a firefight happens, with two guys pew pew pewing at each other with their weapons. In a firefight, a rifle with higher accuracy and a higher capacity is going to win almost every time. A semi-automatic is a larger weapon that can be braced against the body to provide better accuracy. They’re also easier to sight; aiming a handgun is actually really, really hard. Additionally, a 10 round magazine will disappear before you know it in a firefight. An AR-15’s standard capacity is 30 rounds, so while your opponent is fumbling for a spare magazine, you’re able to continue laying down fire. It would take an extremely talented marksman to overcome an AR-15-wielding opponent with a pistol. Indeed, in a FIREFIGHT, having an AR-15 might give you a nominal (or even a dramatic) advantage over a shotgun, hunting rifle, and certainly a pistol/revolver. But this harks back, I think, to our tendency to be paranoid about just what sort of situations we will face. If we are fighting a war, then YES, bring on the AR-15s and everything like them. But in terms of what is required to protect one’s person or property, you have to come up with some pretty extreme scenarios to justify the ACTUAL need for an AR-15. If we are fighting people with night vision and body armor, there is almost nothing we could do to win in such a situation. Or if we’re facing 15 super-soldiers, etc. But in almost any scenario that one could reasonably expect themselves to encounter, a pistol, rifle, or shotgun is plenty…if not more than enough.

    Reply

  30. Any time two individuals are discharging weapons at each other, it’s a firefight. Robbery, home invasion, anything. Firefight.

    Reply

  31. Self defense is the purpose of the AR-15. The gun is also a reminder to DC that the people of the States have the power to deal with traitorous politicians. So, I could fight off the US Army with my AR-15? Cool. Who said anyhing about the army? Most of the military would be on our side________________

    Reply

  32. I’m increasingly sympathetic to your view of things as more and more of these awful events occur, but this isn’t exactly how a firefight happens, with two guys pew pew pewing at each other with their weapons. In a firefight, a rifle with higher accuracy and a higher capacity is going to win almost every time. A semi-automatic is a larger weapon that can be braced against the body to provide better accuracy. They’re also easier to sight; aiming a handgun is actually really, really hard. Additionally, a 10 round magazine will disappear before you know it in a firefight. An AR-15’s standard capacity is 30 rounds, so while your opponent is fumbling for a spare magazine, you’re able to continue laying down fire. It would take an extremely talented marksman to overcome an AR-15-wielding opponent with a pistol. Indeed, in a FIREFIGHT, having an AR-15 might give you a nominal (or even a dramatic) advantage over a shotgun, hunting rifle, and certainly a pistol/revolver. But this harks back, I think, to our tendency to be paranoid about just what sort of situations we will face. If we are fighting a war, then YES, bring on the AR-15s and everything like them. But in terms of what is required to protect one’s person or property, you have to come up with some pretty extreme scenarios to justify the ACTUAL need for an AR-15. If we are fighting people with night vision and body armor, there is almost nothing we could do to win in such a situation. Or if we’re facing 15 super-soldiers, etc. But in almost any scenario that one could reasonably expect themselves to encounter, a pistol, rifle, or shotgun is plenty…if not more than enough.I do hear you, though, my brother. I am just thinking that if people can come up with the crazy scenarios that I can come up with at times, then, yes, we are all going to want AR-15s…and grenades…and a tank. But in reality, the most any of us will face–THE MOST–is PERHAPS someone trying to break in your house…and who will flee at the first sign that you know they are there. Last I checked we have a Bill of RIGHTS, not a Bill of NEEDS.And going back to the colonial times, nobody tried to own cannons or grenades. But they did have rifles that were on par with that of the military. We don’t even that. The military’s rifles are fully automatic. Ours are not________________

    Reply

  33. Maybe it’s just me, but I never saw a lot of He is wrong being said. Most people were in shock, and wondered why, but I didn’t see a lot of finger pointing going on. Not to mention, the COG wasn’t shunning him either, considering they still had him speak at Winterfest even though he had made him departure known already________________

    Reply

  34. Maybe it’s just me, but I never saw a lot of He is wrong being said. Most people were in shock, and wondered why, but I didn’t see a lot of finger pointing going on. Not to mention, the COG wasn’t shunning him either, considering they still had him speak at Winterfest even though he had made him departure known already.

    Reply

  35. Maybe it’s just me, but I never saw a lot of He is wrong being said. Most people were in shock, and wondered why, but I didn’t see a lot of finger pointing going on. Not to mention, the COG wasn’t shunning him either, considering they still had him speak at Winterfest even though he had made him departure known already. Right…. things aren’t orchestrated. Speaking out might cost you a seat at the big kid table things can be petty like that. You don’t want to lose an appointment. Wait a minute didn’t loran go off in a letter before things got choppy? You are right about winterfest though.

    Reply

  36. Maybe it’s just me, but I never saw a lot of He is wrong being said. Most people were in shock, and wondered why, but I didn’t see a lot of finger pointing going on. Not to mention, the COG wasn’t shunning him either, considering they still had him speak at Winterfest even though he had made him departure known already. Right…. things aren’t orchestrated. Speaking out might cost you a seat at the big kid table things can be petty like that. You don’t want to lose an appointment. Wait a minute didn’t loran go off in a letter before things got choppy? You are right about winterfest though. SouthFloridaMan…you don’t even make sense in your reply here. Nobody here said Kevin was wrong or has attacked Kevin. But you keep defending him as the day is long.

    Reply

  37. Not worth reading. Just a bunch of bitter, never-Trump holdouts. Nothing they say is of interest to me. Are these guys calling for a Convention of States, as the Founders intended, to reel in the insanity? No. Instead, they are trying to overthrow the one President we have had since Reagan who is actually trying to defend religious liberty.Rush Limbaugh made an interesting observation the other day. He said there are still a few Never-Trumpers who, though knowing everything they’ve ever hoped for is at their finger tips, they refuse to get on board simply because they don’t like the guy who is trying ti implement THEIR agenda. These petty, shallow-thinkers need to go somewhere and shut their pharisaical mouths________________

    Reply

  38. Anyone who actually does read the article will surely appreciate the humor of this remark. Oh I am sure they are aware of Rush’s remarks and try to cover themselves in the article. But in the end, they are still doing exactly what Rush accuses them of________________

    Reply

  40. Could it be because the church can’t keep a pastor? Or it’s not sustaining itself? I have to admit that I’m not too much of a fan of relaunching a church by changing the name. Especially, these new corny names. Most of the time the name is a far cry from the church. It seems like a fad more than anything. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s just the way I feel about these new names.There seems to be a lot of closed churches in the area that I live in and nothing new starting up. Geographically, it really stinks if you live east of I-95. Most the churches are west.

    Reply

  42. Locations get a stigma. You can change the name of a facility but it will still carry the stigma of the past. You see the same thing with restaurants or small businesses that try to make a go of it in an old facility that has failed in the past.

    Reply

  44. Enjoying reading the responses. Da Shiek, I couldn’t agree with you more. A trend that I have noticed has been more than “relaunching” churches (which has a lot of merit)… but states calling a relaunch a “church plant”. The term “church plant” looks much more appealing to Cleveland than a “relaunch”. There’s monies available…. and, state offices appear to be planting new congregations, when they are merely building upon the work of others. It seems a bit self-serving. Then again…. I’m an oldschooler

    Reply

  45. Is that why so many reopen with the name New Life ….. ? Would that be New Life Pointe???

    Reply

  47. This is correct. The Board could appoint OTCP and the COG couldn’t do squat about it! They are more likely to appoint Oprah, just sayin’ Oprah. Just think of all the donations and the names on the new buildings. The mind just races with names like Obama Hall and Bernie Sanders School of Theology, or the Barbara Streisand School of Music and the Clinton Administrative Buildings (one for Bill and one for Hilary). Don’t forget the Snoop Dog Basketball Center. Mat As long as the Striesand School of Music is at least two stories tall and the only way to the upper floors is the Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven – I am good with it________________

    Reply

  48. From a child, I remember they did not shoot old Thomas because he wanted proof. But I think the Lord said,It might be better not to NEED physical proof.delete the rest YES is my answer!________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  50. It’s my fault, Tom. I questioned if folks here really believe in healing because if we talk about faith, then we must be Word of Faith believers and the healing we may receive may not be real. It seems to me that acts of faith here are discouraged rather than encouraged, and we say we believe in healing but where is the evidence?Just wishing we could have some positive discussions here________________More of Him…less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name

    Reply

  52. I am in 100% total agreement with everything you stated________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”

    Reply

  53. Re: A Vast Chasm between being a Continuationist and believing every report is of God

    Reply

  54. The problem, OTCP, is not that you (rightly) reject extremes. It is that you also pretty much disbelieve ANY sort of healing or miracle that comes from a WOF ministry.I don’t agree with snake-handling. Yet I have NO DOUBT that healings, miracles, salvations, baptisms of the Holy Ghost, and so forth take place in such services.To ME, you seem to think that if it smacks of the kind of Pentecostalism that the Church of God exhibited in the 60s and 70s, it’s foolishness. You seem to delight in pointing out how foolish some of these folks appear, even though they may have a great heart toward God (e.g., your regular posting of the Soddy Daisy Prophet in order to either humiliate him or degrade old-fashioned Pentecostals).If you are a continuationist (that’s a new word for me), you are of a very specific branch of it called…MAYBE-ISM. That is, God MAY heal you, but probably not. The thing to me is this: If we don’t think that God heals significantly more than what would be considered that statistical probability of coincidence, then that’s really–no matter what you call it–cessationism.

    Reply

  56. [/b]Well, if you go back in Bible history, you find that everyone who came to Jesus seemed to go away healed.Nowadays, if 2 our of 100 receive a clearly divine healing, we’d start a revival.So, either GOD CHANGED…or we did. Or maybe there’s only so many miracles He can do at once, but back then, the church being much smaller, miracles were more prevalent?But here’s the thing: Instead of you accepting that WE have changed (i.e., we don’t have the requisite faith like those saints of old had), you claim that God is not willing to heal (which would seem to point out that God HAS changed, since He seemed so much more willing back in the day).

    Reply

  57. So you acknowledge there’s nothing wrong with asking for evidence, so long as you get to define the conditions under which that’s okay.I’m not sure why it would be OK to ask for evidence from a church that claims gold dust/etc, but not one that preaches false doctrine*. I would be much more apt to believe God graciously worked a miracle in the former rather than in the latter.

    Reply

  58. You know – what I don’t get is Aaron saying only 2 out of 100 get healed nowadays compared to the 70s.Yet regularly – folks that would have died in the 70s – go home from heart attacks, strokes, AIDS, Hodgkins, colon cancer, premature babies, etc… and Aaron gives no credit to God for it happening. He says God is only healing 2 out of 100!?!?!?!?!?!COG folk all over the world prayed for these miracles to happen in the 70s – and when God answers those prayers – and they happen all the time – Aaron discounts them as nothing. Just because they don’t happen where Aaron think they should take place – he feels they don’t occur at all.Very sad.Perhaps he needs to heed Colossians 4:2- that during prayer – look for the miracles that DO happen – and thank God for them. They are all around us.Col 4:2Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. KJ________________

    Reply

  59. Great point, NBF. We tend to be so focused on single cases that we overlook the overwhelming grace that floods over us in this day and age. Historically, the infant mortality rate was 50%. One in two children born alive, but dead before their first birthday. Today in the United States it is 0.6%. You could repeat this exercise for an almost limitless number of statistics concerning health, crime, etc.

    Reply

  60. NBF, I was talking of Church of God worship and dress styles of the 70s, not healings. For healings, I was comparing it to what was seen in the time of the apostles.There are reasons for being doubtful of things, but hear me out….Strike one is that we almost can’t help doubting those things that are outside of our range of experience. I have never prayed for anyone to have their leg grow out to become equal with the other one. That makes such things suspect for us. Strike two is that some “miracles” seem more akin to a magic trick. That is, it can be virtually duplicated via devious means. But if someone is healed even though it is KNOWN that they have never walked a day in their life, that is the sort of event that goes beyond a gimmick or trick (which is not to say that someone can’t CLAIM they have never walked a day in their life, etc.)Striker three is that we can feel that if we accept miracles from people/churches whose doctrine is dubious, then we are giving weight to their claims. For instance, if a Buddhist were casting out devils, we almost certainly would not accept it (and rightfully so, I believe). The problem is that we don’t want to accept such things even from CHRISTIANS…if they don’t believe it pretty much like we do. Consider if a Mormon claimed such things. Or a Catholic. Or an apostolic (not that any of us would doubt that one, but still…).Strike four: The Holy Spirit. And this is the most important strike of all. There are simply things in this world that, no matter the provenance or pedigree, something isn’t right! THIS is the one that matters the most. And it is the one that I seek to go by most of all. There may be some overlap between this one and the other items, but if we are doubting because something isn’t right in our spirit about it, I have a great deal of respect for that. Even if I think you are wrong, I can respect that you are doing this because you honestly feel that something isn’t right.But if our default is always doubt, we likely wind up missing some good things from the Lord.Consider this: If there were a church in the United States where seemingly HUNDREDS of miracles were supposedly taking place, I hate to admit it, but I think I would be skeptical. But I am afraid that skepticism would arise from me being doubtful that God still works like that. Isn’t that a shame that anyone could feel that way? And yet, we have gotten so accustomed to NOT seeing miracles…that we are suspicious if someone sees too many of them!What a shame (and I speak this to MY shame). No wonder we don’t see the miracles that were once reported in the Church of God! Our default setting it…to find fault. To identify this and that and the other reasons why it is hyperbole or trickery. I have determined for myself that I am going to do my best to believe that God not only CAN heal, but WILL heal. And that if we can truly pray in faith, He will heal every single time. And if not every single them, then every other time. I, I, I take the blame for not praying the prayer of faith. I am not going to act like God is somehow LESS willing to heal than He was in the Bible…or at the beginning of the Pentecostal movement. No, if someone doesn’t get healed, it MIGHT be that they do not have sufficient faith. It is far more likely that I don’t have sufficient faith. But it is NOT AT ALL LIKELY, I contend, that God has changed His mind about healing. If He has changed His mind on such things, then we need, I think, to reevaluate preaching divine healing. Because if what we have to offer is no different (or only a little different) from what would happen randomly anyway, then we need to adjust our faith…or our doctrine.

    Reply

  61. Why did Paul leave Trophimus sick at Miletus?Why were hundreds, if not thousands, fed to lions, burned alive, etc.?Why does the last part of Hebrews 11deal with believers who endured unthinkable agony?

    Reply

  62. [/b]Well, if you go back in Bible history, you find that everyone who came to Jesus seemed to go away healed.Nowadays, if 2 our of 100 receive a clearly divine healing, we’d start a revival.So, either GOD CHANGED…or we did. Or maybe there’s only so many miracles He can do at once, but back then, the church being much smaller, miracles were more prevalent?But here’s the thing: Instead of you accepting that WE have changed (i.e., we don’t have the requisite faith like those saints of old had), you claim that God is not willing to heal (which would seem to point out that God HAS changed, since He seemed so much more willing back in the day).

    Reply

  64. The only thing embarrassing is Aaron’s use of the SDP incident to suggest that OTCP was/is somehow demeaning/mocking him for:1. Being from Soddy Daisy, TN2. Being old-fashioned Pentecostal3. Being 70’s-ish in his hairstyle/dress/worldviewNone of which is true!

    Reply

  65. Guys – of course he wasn’t embarrassed on the video. That has nothing to do with it now.We’re talking about later – after he was roundly made sport of by supposedly Christian ministers. That’s what I have a problem with________________

    Reply

  66. We do have so much to be thankful for here in the USA. And yes, The sacrifices of men and women who will work for goal of bringing the family under the flag of ghe USA is commendable. If you have been in the armed forces of the USA and spent a year ‘unaccompanied’ you understand the loneliness of those months. But you also know the rewards. So do many of the folks I know who are anxiously waiting for a family to be approved to enter the USA. YES they do deserve and need our prayers they want better for their families.________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  67. Shalom Tom, can you explain to me what you get out of this please? Because G-d gave a double portion Manna in the wilderness on Shabbat and Y’shua did more healings and miracles on Shabbat, so I’m puzzled by what you think the meaning of this is. Shalo________________Ps 122:6

    Reply

  68. First – I have no idea what you are talking about.Second – it is poetic.It is a sort of watercolor backdrop of possibilities.It is not an attempt to rewrite theology or challenge creed.Really, at the core of it is something that started with me several years ago when I noted the first time ruach (Spirit/spirit/breath/blow/wind) appears in scripture is Genesis 1:2(Spirit).The second time it appears is in Genesis 3:8, …cool of the day… I mused over that for some time.Over the last several months (and much, much more scriptural reflection) I began to consider the possibility of cool being the linguistic implication of existential effect of wind blowing or blowing on something…i.e. it is cool. The word that follows it is the word most typically used representing a period of time. My question was: Could this not be translated Spirit Time? It sort of takes off from there…I won’t bore you with it.Nonetheless – my point in writing all the unrelated stuff I just wrote is to simply say…what I wrote had nothing whatsoever to do with challenging any view of the sabbath. Scripture says He (God) rested on the seventh day. That’s all. He was creating (thus, poetically, He wasn’t speaking). On the Saturday after the cross (whatever day one thinks the crucifixion happened) heaven was indeed silent again… That’s all. On the first day of the week Christ was risen from the dead. That’s all.You may indeed be able to make this yet another anvil on which to continue to hammer out your well established point of conviction regarding Torah, but it is not one I will engage any further than this.

    Reply

  69. Really good stuff…thought-provoking, Tom!This part caught my attention. Really? Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb was in a garden? I’ve never heard that…or maybe you are taking this from Mary’s mistaking Him to be the gardener? Hmmm…________________More of Him…less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name

    Reply

  70. First – I have no idea what you are talking about.Second – it is poetic.It is a sort of watercolor backdrop of possibilities.It is not an attempt to rewrite theology or challenge creed.Really, at the core of it is something that started with me several years ago when I noted the first time ruach (Spirit/spirit/breath/blow/wind) appears in scripture is Genesis 1:2(Spirit).The second time it appears is in Genesis 3:8, …cool of the day… I mused over that for some time.Over the last several months (and much, much more scriptural reflection) I began to consider the possibility of cool being the linguistic implication of existential effect of wind blowing or blowing on something…i.e. it is cool. The word that follows it is the word most typically used representing a period of time. My question was: Could this not be translated Spirit Time? It sort of takes off from there…I won’t bore you with it.Nonetheless – my point in writing all the unrelated stuff I just wrote is to simply say…what I wrote had nothing whatsoever to do with challenging any view of the sabbath. Scripture says He (God) rested on the seventh day. That’s all. He was creating (thus, poetically, He wasn’t speaking). On the Saturday after the cross (whatever day one thinks the crucifixion happened) heaven was indeed silent again… That’s all. On the first day of the week Christ was risen from the dead. That’s all.You may indeed be able to make this yet another anvil on which to continue to hammer out your well established point of conviction regarding Torah, but it is not one I will engage any further than this.Thanks Well I’m sorry I asked the question Tom, wasn’t meant for me looking for my anvil. When I read it, it seemed to me that u were saying G-d does nothing on Shabbat, but He moves on the 1st day etc…. Classically bad response on my part…a combination of a tired mind and assumption – something I try hard to never do. That was unfair to you…please accept my apology.I was not making any mechanical theological point at all. I was exploring the narrative – that’s all. But then scripture seems to supply the latitude to do that very thing. What I mean is, for example: I’m certain God did not rest in the sense that humans do since He does not grow weary, at all, ever…and yet He gave those words to us. Nor do I believe in the most technical of senses that God was technically silent and motionless on the Saturday prior to resurrection.It’s poetry and narrative.

    Reply

  71. Really good stuff…thought-provoking, Tom!This part caught my attention. Really? Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb was in a garden? I’ve never heard that…or maybe you are taking this from Mary’s mistaking Him to be the gardener? Hmmm…. John 19:40

    Reply

  72. Really good stuff…thought-provoking, Tom!This part caught my attention. Really? Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb was in a garden? I’ve never heard that…or maybe you are taking this from Mary’s mistaking Him to be the gardener? Hmmm…. John 19:40

    Reply

  73. Really good stuff…thought-provoking, Tom!This part caught my attention. Really? Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb was in a garden? I’ve never heard that…or maybe you are taking this from Mary’s mistaking Him to be the gardener? Hmmm…. John 19:40

    Reply

  74. First – I have no idea what you are talking about.Second – it is poetic.It is a sort of watercolor backdrop of possibilities.It is not an attempt to rewrite theology or challenge creed.Really, at the core of it is something that started with me several years ago when I noted the first time ruach (Spirit/spirit/breath/blow/wind) appears in scripture is Genesis 1:2(Spirit).The second time it appears is in Genesis 3:8, …cool of the day… I mused over that for some time.Over the last several months (and much, much more scriptural reflection) I began to consider the possibility of cool being the linguistic implication of existential effect of wind blowing or blowing on something…i.e. it is cool. The word that follows it is the word most typically used representing a period of time. My question was: Could this not be translated Spirit Time? It sort of takes off from there…I won’t bore you with it.Nonetheless – my point in writing all the unrelated stuff I just wrote is to simply say…what I wrote had nothing whatsoever to do with challenging any view of the sabbath. Scripture says He (God) rested on the seventh day. That’s all. He was creating (thus, poetically, He wasn’t speaking). On the Saturday after the cross (whatever day one thinks the crucifixion happened) heaven was indeed silent again… That’s all. On the first day of the week Christ was risen from the dead. That’s all.You may indeed be able to make this yet another anvil on which to continue to hammer out your well established point of conviction regarding Torah, but it is not one I will engage any further than this.Thanks Well I’m sorry I asked the question Tom, wasn’t meant for me looking for my anvil. When I read it, it seemed to me that u were saying G-d does nothing on Shabbat, but He moves on the 1st day etc…. Classically bad response on my part…a combination of a tired mind and assumption – something I try hard to never do. That was unfair to you…please accept my apology.I was not making any mechanical theological point at all. I was exploring the narrative – that’s all. But then scripture seems to supply the latitude to do that very thing. What I mean is, for example: I’m certain God did not rest in the sense that humans do since He does not grow weary, at all, ever…and yet He gave those words to us. Nor do I believe in the most technical of senses that God was technically silent and motionless on the Saturday prior to resurrection.It’s poetry and narrative.Thanks Of course u r forgiven my friend 😀😇 Shalo________________Ps 122:6

    Reply

  77. There is the right hand/left hand scripture in Matthew 6:3, which says, But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (NIV). Some might argue this has to do only with how you help the needy. Like prayer, closet and public, there is room for both types of giving. Barnabas was noted (Acts 4:30) for his donation from the sale of land (perhaps in Cyprus where he was from), but in the next chapter of Acts public giving did not go so well for Ananias and Sapphira. It would help us know how to handle giving if a few transgressors were struck down by God, but grace seems to get in the way (or I would have been done in a long time ago). Did they do that offering thing on Resurrection (Easter) Sunday morning?

    Reply

  79. Thanks Mat, yes those scriptures ran thru my memory. Very good comment. One never knows what is in the heart with gifts.And yes Easter Sunday morn the pastor did receive the offering in that manner. This is a new pastor (8-10 weeks) We attended this church and finances/money was mentioned mostly in passing and God blesses a cheerful giver etc… What I consider normal COG receiving offerings.The new pastor mentioned finances quite often in the 2-3 services we have attended. That is such a loving church I am amazed at someone Stressing robbing God a lot…I have had a lot of the blessings of God in my life (both physical and spiritual). Driving down the road I never fail to look over at my girl and say we must be His favorites He has done so much for us. I have never felt the need to challenge God about finances…. HE is soooooo Good to me! ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  80. 1 Cor. 10:12-14 HOW TO TAME TEMPTATIONIntro: Ill. How an Eskimo kills a wolf. (He will repeatedly coat the blade in blood, allowing it to freeze, until the blade is covered. Then, he will placethe knife in the snow and as the wolf licks the blood, his tongue is numbed, and his hunger is fueled. The wolf will lick the knife, cut his own tongue and eventaully bleed himself to death out of his own lusts.) Satan uses the same tactic to defeat God’s children. He knows that he can never have your soul, but he also knows if he can cause us to succumb to temptation, then wewill become powerless and useless as Christians. Salvation is not a barrier to temptation! On the contrary, Satan is more likely to attack the Christian that the unbeliever. After all, he already has the lost person! He loves nothing better than causing one of God’s children to fall into sin. However, temptation, while it cannot be avoided, can be overcome! While it is hard to endure temptation can be used to help us grow in Jesus. I believer every believer needs and wants to know how to turn temptation into triumph. When temptation arises, men usually respond in one of three ways. The primary method for dealing with temptation in to simply give in to it. Many people live by an “If it feels good, do it,” mentality. They live like animals, doing everything they can to gratify the flesh. Nearly all lost people live like this, but sadly, so do many Christians! Others struggle against temptation daily. They spend all their time fighting temptation in their own strength. They fight and fail over and over, because no one can overcome his evil nature alone. If we could defeat the power of sin on our own strength, then it would have been pointless for Jesus to die for us. This type of person hates what he does, but he goes on doing it because they do not have the power to stop. Finally, there are those who overcome temptation through the power of Jesus Christ. They turn their temptations into triumphs. That may sound like wishful thinking to many of you, but I want you to know that you can win over temptation. It is possible to live in victory. There are a few things that you need to know to be able to do this. Let’s think together this morning on this thought, “How To Tame Temptation.”I. THE SUBJECT OF TEMPTATION (Who is affected?)A. All humans are subject to temptation. (Ill. Best to the least) (Ill. Jesus, Peter, David, etc!)B. We are daily assaulted with a wide range of temptations. (List some!) (Ill. We all have one area where we are particularly susceptible. C. It is not a sin to be tempted. (Ill. Jesus – Heb. 4:15) Sin enters the picture when temptation is surrendered to.D. Our greatest danger is to think we have arrived at a place where we are above sinning, v. 12; Pro. 16:18. When our pride tells us that us that we cannot fall, then we are headed for a huge one! Pride in this area just tempts the devil!E. Why doesn’t God just kill the devil and remove the attraction for sin? If that were to happen, then you and I would lose the ability to be overcomers in Jesus. Without opposition, there is no victory! God has not called us to a life of ease, but to one of victory. A victory that we cannot enjoy until we have faced evil and overcome it.II. THE SOURCE OF TEMPTATION (Where)A. Ill. V. 13 – “Common” – Do not think your temptations are so great, they are just like the ones we all face. They are just common, run of the mill, garden- variety temptations. We all get the same ones from the same sources. (Ill. 1 John 2:16; Ill. Eve – Gen. 3) There are three primary sources of temptation: The world, the flesh and the devil. Let’s look at these three sources and how they attack us.B. The World – In the Bible, the word for world means “system or order.” The Bible speaks of this system called the world and says that it is evil. (Ill. 1 John 2:15; James 4:4) It is possible for believers to become so worldly that they fail to stand out for the Lord. We are to be different and distinct. We are not to allow the world to force us into its mold, Rom. 12:1-2; Ill. Matt. 5:13-16 (Ill. Thermostat and thermometer) Ill. The world’s idea of beauty – 1 Pet. 3:3. God’s Idea is inward beauty of the soul untouched and unspoiled by the taint of the world.C. The Flesh – Born into everyone of us, from the most innocent child to the most godly adult, is a bent in our nature. There is a leaning toward sin. We inherited this from our first father, Adam. It is called the “old Nature.” (Ill. There is a civil war in the heart of every saved person here today – Gal. 5:17! ) When we fail, we try to blame our sin on the devil. Yes, he tempts us and points us toward sin, but we are responsible for the final decision, Ill. V.13. (Ill. Even if Satan were gone, we would still sin – Ill. Millenium – Rev. 2:27. D. The Devil – His main objective, as far as you are concerned, is to cause you to fall so that God is dishonored and your become useless to the Kingdom work of God. He knows every weakness you have and he exploits them trying to get you to sin. He tells you how great sin will be, that you will get by with it, that you even deserve it, but he hates you and he is plotting your defeat. He loves to point at fallen saints and laugh before God as he stands accusing us of evil. Don’t give him the satisfaction!III. THE SEAT OF TEMPTATION (How)A. Ill. Man is made in the image of the triune God. Man is a triune being, he possesses body, soul and spirit. When you are tempted, it will always be in one of these three areas. We need to understand this principle and understand the areas that will come under attack if we are going to overcome our temptations.B. The Soul – This is the word used to describe the you that lives inside your body. It speaks of your mind, your will and you emotions. The world is the primary tempter of the soul. The world says to the soul, “You need more, you can have more!” The world always appeals to the ego, or pride. A worldly person is one who is given over to the pleasures of the world. (Ill. Lot – Gen. 13:10-12 – Lot looked, leaned, lived and lost in the world.)C. The Body – The flesh, referring to the “old nature” always attacks the body. We are tempted to laziness, lust, overindulgence, sexual sin, etc. These are temptations of the flesh! (Ill. David with Bathsheba – 2 Sam. 11)D. The Spirit – The spirit is the primary arena for satanic attack. If the soul is our self-consciousness, then the spirit is our God-consciousness. Our spirit is what sets us apart from the animals. Man alone can know God! It is in the spirit that we can know God. The spirit is the realm of worship, John 4:24, and it is our spirit that worships and communicates with God. Satan hates this communion and he wars against the spirit in an effort to cut off our fellowship with God. He places doubts in our minds to distract us. He places false doctrine there to turn us away from the truth. Satan attacks the spirit. (Ill. In Peter’s denial of Jesus, the temptation was directed at the spirit. He wasn’t under an ego attack, or under sexual assault, he was caused to doubt the truth.)IV. THE SUBDUING OF TEMPTATION (What)A. There are three words to remember when facing temptation: Flight, Faith, Fight.B. To Overcome The Flesh We Need Flight – The key to defeating fleshly temptations is to flee from them. (Ill. 1 Cor. 6:18 – “flee fornication”; 1 Cor. 10:14 – “flee idolatry”; 2 Tim. 2:22 – “flee youthful lusts”) (Ill. You cannot expose yourself to fleshly temptation and expect to walk away untouched – Pro. 6:27 – Ill. Situations to avoid!) (Ill. Joseph and Potipher’s wife – Gen. 39:12)C. To Overcome The World We Need Faith – Faith that Jesus will take care of us when we willingly give up the attachment to worldly things. If we are loving the world, we are not loving God – 1 John 2:15; James 4:4. If you really want victory over the world, then love Jesus more than you love it – Heb. 12:2. Ill. It is our faith in him that offers us the victory – 1 John 5:4.D. To Overcome The Devil We Must Fight – If we stand up to him and fight, he will flee – James 4:7. Ill. You cannot run away from him, but you can drive him away from you. You must face him in the power of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He doesn’t fear you, but he trembles before the blood of the Lamb! Fight Satan and he will flee! (Ill. Eph. 4:27; 1 Pet. 5:(Ill. Jesus and His temptations – Matt. 4)Conc: I don’t know what temptations you may be dealing with in your life. However, I do know that if you are breathing, you are battling! Our greatest resource in the face of temptation is a close relationship with Jesus Christ. My counsel to you is that you bring your need to Him. Whatever, the need, the trial, or the temptation and lay it down before the Lord and expect Him to help. He has promised us grace during temptation. Why not take Him up on the offer today?

    Reply

  81. I lurked for a few years, but took the plunge in 2007 towards the end.I have enjoyed my time here and met some good folk. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  86. We moved to our own domain in 2005. Is that what you mean? Yes – so I was a couple of years before that________________

    Reply

  87. For those wondering – Acts-celerate was born on ezBoard.com in June 1999________________

    Reply

  89. Unfortunately not. I just kept the date that the ezBoard was created for historical documentation. June 22, 1999________________

    Reply

  91. Unfortunately not. I just kept the date that the ezBoard was created for historical documentation. June 22, 1999.

    Reply

  92. Same. It was a blessing to have had her in our lives. She was a special one________________

    Reply

  93. I think you are talking about a story that Hong Yang told. He wasn’t the one that it happened to, but he told about a man who had been imprisoned in China for his faith. His punishment was to work in the sewer. It smelled awful there, of course, but he was by himself, so it became his place of prayer and communion with the Lord. I think his favorite song was In the Garden and he would sing it there and worship God. All alone in the sewer, it became a place of intimacy with him & the Lord. That is what I remember, anyhow.Hong Yang is on Facebook if you’d like to communicate with him. He is banned from China right now, but his wife is still allowed to go there. They have seen many of their family members and countless others saved in China, also. I heard him speak at a local church sometime in the last 6 months or so________________More of Him…less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name

    Reply

  101. Or it could be very unoriginal and just combine the previous years and we’ll hear jokes about crawling panties________________

    Reply

  104. Jesus is the light 💡 so if I am moonwalking with him there is no darkside. Lol 😉 ________________

    Reply

  105. I’m so happy to have someone here who wants to meme. Now it won’t be weird if I do it.

    Reply

  109. This is amazing stuff. Makes for interesting reading that is for sure. Modern medical technology definitely has its positive side. I am learning. THANKS! ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  110. There is so much to DNA testing (Mormons aside). There is a great feeling of having some understanding of where you came from and who you are connected to. I think DNA testing could help heal emotionally wounded individuals such as those who have been adopted, or even communities like African-Americans who has a since of disconnect due to slavery. The law enforcement uses – finding the right rape and murder suspects, also, what if we took DNA samples from all immigrants (legal or other wish). We could have a clear identity no matter what name they used, we could trace them back to where they came from.The military use of DNA to identify KIAs is leading to a day we no longer have unknowns, plus we could hit the people who fund terrorist.Medical use is bringing cures and treatments for so many diseases and I feel one day science will point to one conclusion, there is a Creator. My sister had a test, but we learned that some test only show the father’s or the mother’s DNA line. We knew that dad’s family was from northern Germany, Scandinavia and Eastern European Slavic. No surprises on that side. I want to get mine done, but the test that does the mother’s side.Mat

    Reply

  111. I’ve done Ancestry DNA, and I have a pretty extensive tree built out. The biggest surprise so far is that I’ve found a secret cousin, and we’re still trying to find out exactly who he belongs to. We’ve narrowed it down to my paternal grandmother’s siblings. Someone either gave him up for adoption, or had a child out of wedlock. Unfortunately, my grandmother and her siblings are all dead, so we can’t confirm anything yet..I also recommend uploading the results to GEDMatch.com and seeing if anyone else shows up________________———My Facebook http://www.facebook.com/theB3

    Reply

  113. I am glad that has been clarified. I feel much better. I have been concerned for nearly 75 years. What a load off my mind! Must be catching in this day. making statements then ‘swear’ someone misunderstood! or at best misquoted. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  114. Dude, I was embarrassed for the guy who got up at the last General Assembly (I think it was that one) and went on about how the Wisdom was personified as feminine, etc. I obviously don’t agree that that has ANY weight in the argument…but I still felt badly that he was coming from that angle.No, what I felt bad about when it comes to the Soddy Daisy fellow was that he no doubt felt humiliated at some point (I don’t think he even caught on for a while). I don’t want people to be humiliated (which may be why I can hardly stand reality TV).

    Reply

  115. Excellent choice of words, Wyatt. This is exactly what makes the SDP video so hilarious to me personally–

    Reply

  116. Quote TS:The Gardener had indeed returned to The Garden!End quote…SWEET my friend SWEET indeed. That is the kind of seed planting I really believe in.. (I meat the thought planting but I see it two ways now! ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

    Reply

  117. Interesting!I have wanted to have a DNA for some time now but have not due to cost.My Great grand father was married 7 times and had about 20 children. My father always had an interest in relatives. Not long before he died I took a cassette tape recorder and interviewed him about our relatives.I discovered my sister married her 5th cousin. By my calculations their children are 7th cousins.Several years ago I received a letter from a cousin that I did not know. He did some study of our family. Dad would have loved to know what he shared with meHere are some interesting facts. My wife’s sister married Tom. She died and my sister married Tom (they since divorced). Then my son married Tom’s sister. This made Tom my sons brother in law and since he married my sister and my wife’s sister he was also my son’s double uncle. For the record I have only married once and we are not biologically related. I think I may be my own Grandpa. ________________Recorded Sermons @ http://www.pastorwiley.com

    Reply

  118. Interesting!I have wanted to have a DNA for some time now but have not due to cost.My Great grand father was married 7 times and had about 20 children. My father always had an interest in relatives. Not long before he died I took a cassette tape recorder and interviewed him about our relatives.I discovered my sister married her 5th cousin. By my calculations their children are 7th cousins.Several years ago I received a letter from a cousin that I did not know. He did some study of our family. Dad would have loved to know what he shared with meHere are some interesting facts. My wife’s sister married Tom. She died and my sister married Tom (they since divorced). Then my son married Tom’s sister. This made Tom my sons brother in law and since he married my sister and my wife’s sister he was also my son’s double uncle. For the record I have only married once and we are not biologically related. I think I may be my own Grandpa. ________________Recorded Sermons @ http://www.pastorwiley.com

    Reply

  119. According to their biographies, per Wikipedia, neither Jerry Falwell for Adrian Rogers had earned doctorates. If this information can be verified as true, then what is going here?

    Reply

  120. Do you get an anti-Jewish vibe from the many negative things God said about his own people? Your comment is exactly what I’m talking about. Why does one suddenly get labeled or suspected of being anti-Jewish if he criticizes Jewish actions that occurred after 70 AD? Did they do NOTHING to their host countries that warranted getting kicked out? Was the they are Christ killers card the only one played, or were there other reason? Again, I’m not making accusations, I’m simply asking questions. You ignored other points I made.Alexander Solzhenitsyn was the hero of the West until he started telling what he thought of the Jewish/Communist connection…www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/25/russia.books Sorry man.I call ’em like I see ’em – right down the middle.You are pretty sensitive – which makes me suspect it even more. Right down the middle? No, I’d day that field goal attempt sailed wide-LEFT! You might call them like you see them, but your seer is pretty messed up.Did I mention that I’m part Jewish? ________________

    Reply

Most Read Today

Most Commented Today

© 2026 Acts20.com NEW Acts-Celerate