posted
I love interacting with new people who get me to clarify and communicate my not-so-humble but hope-to-be-helpful thinking.
At another forum, which is not too active yet, so I am not ready to promote it, I tried to write out how we are trying to Evaluate our Work. In doing this, I clarified my own ideas about what I SEE as the big vision, in a different, measurable framework.
We don't want to count people as numbers, but at the same time if there is no fruit, we should question our efforts. These are thoughts I have about what fruit might look like in our new matrix.
Your clarifying thoughts Wanted!
Blessings, LA
I have found the "communitas" concept to be most true both to the Israel model of "How does God want people to live?" and the Jesus model of "How does Jesus want us to expand His kingdom" which, we believe, are two facets of the same thing. The Households of faith that Jesus sent the disciples to, and that Paul called people to be are really not that different from the community God was calling Israel to be.
As a community of missions minded, family oriented believers, our goal is to strip away all things non-biblical and do "all and only" the commands of Jesus wherever possible, influenced by the strategies and writings of G. Patterson and B. Hogan and others.
We are measuring success by whether others embrace our simple model, by whether we see true, regenerative change in people's lives, and we see success as outward expansion of people who interact with us regularly and change some practical aspect of their lives based on our relationship.
Some of the metrics for our fellow believers are: -Have they quit church as usual, because they believe their home is God's Kingdom Unit and The Kingdom of God is wherever they are? -Is there personal conviction of the need for changes away from worldly patterns and destructive cultural norms? -Have they changed their giving patterns to be based on generosity and holding people accountable rather than guilt? -Are they training their children to work with their own hands rather than wanting them to be paid for "brain work", which results in idleness? -Has the wife begun trying to be more supportive of her husband's role in her home and life and expecting God to speak through him? -Has the husband become more excited about living for Jesus? Is he developing relationships with godly men? -Are people being added to the Kingdom, both by becoming part of our communitas and by choosing to follow Jesus? -Is there an increase in the practice of hospitality? -Are we as a community continuing to find new ways to reject worldly systems that undermine community and to be more family-centric? -Are we finding God's word alive and finding the Holy Spirit to be our Teacher? -Are individuals having vision regarding the "ends of the earth" and pursuing it in some way, such as learning new skills, researching needs, or getting ideas for ministry that are more in harmony with the non-building, non-clergy model? These are all questions we've been able to say, "Yes" to.
-Ultimately, of course, we hope to say yes to, "Do we have sent ones out there in pioneer fields who have come from our own communitas"? !!
For our unbelieving/unchurched/unknown surrounding community, I made and a list of "goals" for our interaction with them. So far, I have listed, -Identify, -Meet, -Exchange practical favors, -Have and resolve conflict (model Matthew 18) -Have an Acts 2:42 meal together, -Share the Wisdom of the Word regarding some issue in their life -Pray fervently for "God to show up and demonstrate his power" and to draw them to Himself. -Ask them to join us in following Jesus. (We just had our first conversion of a family unit last week, for which we are very grateful and excited. They saw God's power demonstrated in the life of one of the families experiencing grief and experiencing God's comfort and joy. Amazing!)
I find that looking at progress this way, I'm focused on each person/family's progress, rather than numbers. At the same time, I'm looking for an outward flow of our influence. We don't try to add more people to our "first generation of contacts" so much as try to add people at the outskirts, and deepen the understanding of those closest to ourselves.
The ministry of Jesus looked very much this way, so I hope we are on the right track. He didn't so much gather a permanent group as start a domino effect.
posted
Certainly we want to look at numbers as a measure of growth. Acts certainly recorded numbers, as the measure of growing. Second, we want to look at success as a measure of our dedication to Christ, in that we are doing what He commanded (our great Commission) us to do........go and spread the Word. As a church (individual or collective) we must worship, support/encourage (love) one another and evangelize. So one measure of success is simply are we doing this, regardless of the results. We are co-workers, our job to speak and the Spirit's job to convict. So regardless of numbers, we are successful by just speaking. The simple Gospel....... May I also add here that I here so often that this country needs a revival. True but......Revival must first start in one's own heart. One can't wish for a contry's revival without burning in his/her own heart, home, neighborhood, town, state before nation and all nation's. Those wishing for revival may pray for it to start a little closer to home. All for the Love of Christ.
quote:Originally posted by D Allen: May I also add here that I here so often that this country needs a revival. True but.....
Yes, how long do you do CPR before you give up? Even the so-called revivals that happen here are primarily just the shuffling of the saints at a faster pace.
Revival assumes there is life, and I'm starting to think we don't need RE vival so much as we need New Birth, and it simply isn't going to happen if we keep doing what we have always done.
I think our efforts need to be organized and purposeful as yours appear to be. Have you met with any flack from that portion of the HC community which seems to oppose any organization, preferring rather the organic method? And, do you care?
I do disagree with at least one of your metrics. I am a strong advocate of teaching every child some industry but 'brain work' should not be classed with things resulting in idleness. There are some who work with their hands who have not exercised their brains.
I concede that physical activity is better for the body than sitting at a desk. And, that sitting does appear to be idleness. And, I believe that every child should be taught some industry regardless of the line of work they ultimately pursue. But let's not go to extremes. Workers are needed in every field. We need laborers as well as thinkers.
Are you also opposed to using modern farm equipment because the person rides? How about modern appliances which do the work for you such as the washing machine? Consider just the lawn mower then consider that in some countries they cut the grasses by hand with machetes. Somehow I don't think you cut your acreage by hand.
I think our efforts need to be organized and purposeful as yours appear to be.
Not really "organized" - we just keep our goal in mind, "To Know Jesus and to Make Him Known" and keep in mind a list of ways that can happen. To our neighbors, absolutely nothing in our life looks different from theirs - except an undertone of Life Eternal. My evaluation tends to be "retrospective and responsive" rather than purposeful. An example: My son went fishing with a neighbor. The neighbor reported the name of the new family next door. My son rushed to tell me their name - knowing we would add it to the family prayer list. That will be the first step, and yet there was very little we could do to get that knowledge. God provided it.
quote: Have you met with any flack from that portion of the HC community which seems to oppose any organization, preferring rather the organic method? And, do you care?
It's the opposite. It's how organic we are that drives people crazy. They want to know "when is the meeting? did you make them say the prayer? did you tell them to read the Bible?"
quote: I do disagree with at least one of your metrics. I am a strong advocate of teaching every child some industry but 'brain work' should not be classed with things resulting in idleness. There are some who work with their hands who have not exercised their brains.
I have a few thoughts: first, in the same way the Jesus attacked the Pharisees for overemphasis on "religious ritual cleansing" (while not, I am sure, wanting people to live in filth and squalor) I am attacking an overemphasis in our culture on "education" -that is, "edubba - the writing on a tablet". I'm not saying that child training isn't necessary, only that our institutional attempts to make children smart and sinless ought not to be an object of faith and worship.
Education is the true religion of America. It is considered the answer to everything. Just look at the billions of dollars spent by everyone from D.C. to the local church on what is, very clearly, a failing model of raising children. Therefore I will, slightly, exaggerate and say, "NO TEXTBOOKS! NO SCHOOL!" Train your child in the fear of the Lord, and the skills of daily life and "all these things (such as calculus and antiquities) shall be added unto you" if there is some reason you need to know it.
(My younger three children don't know what it is to be sat down at a desk, and yet my daughter is currently teacher herself Russian - the current project is reading the Chronicles of Narnia - in Russian).
quote:
I concede that physical activity is better for the body than sitting at a desk. And, that sitting does appear to be idleness.
There are very few things that can be taught with one's bottom on a chair that cannot be taught better hands on. If not hands on, then "by the way" - for example, history is better understood in the context of seeing the world and making associations or by answering questions we naturally have about our own family and ancestry, or by experiencing events and discussing them, than by reading in a textbook. Even math is best learned in context until the very highest levels, and even they may be best learned by drawings and diagrams being copied, than by reading them in a book.
The Hebrews valued literacy and understanding more than almost any other culture in history, and yet they were a highly holistic culture - the Kings and Priests were expected to have their own pastures, flocks and work to do. Our culture aspires to have everyone be idle. The delegation of the physical labor is extreme. Even hands-on careers like medicine and child-training tend to have the majority of the physical work done by "underlings" who are not respected.
posted
Laurie Ann, I have been thinking about this "metrics" thing. I have asked myself, what would my metrics be for evaluating progress? I started out with statements that began, "are they" and "is this or that person" ...and ended up having to look only at myself. Kinda sad I guess.
Therefore, I can conclude that I can only judge my walk (outside of obvious sins others commit) and only say, "Maybe The Lord has that other person right where He wants them to be.
That being said, here is my list...
Am I attempting to love The Lord with all of my heart?
Am I in a dynamic (praying/studying), obedience based relationship with The Lord?
Am I loving others, and treating them as I would want to be treated?
Am I showing that love by looking for opportunities to meet true needs within The Body of Christ?
I'm having trouble coming up with anything else. Is this too simple?
As far as raising my daughter (and any other children we may have) goes, I will follow my parents' lead and; 1.) Help each individual child discover what natural talents The Lord has entrusted to them. 2.) Encourage them to develop those talents to their fullest potentials. 3.) Kick them out when they are 18 years and one minute old!!! (I'm Just kidding!)
Actually, I'll have then legally emancipated, and kick them out when they turn 14! (Now I'm really kidding!!! )
Am I attempting to love The Lord with all of my heart?
Am I in a dynamic (praying/studying), obedience based relationship with The Lord?
Am I loving others, and treating them as I would want to be treated?
Am I showing that love by looking for opportunities to meet true needs within The Body of Christ?
This is great, Matthew, and, no you are not missing anything significant - when we get down to the way we should live, it is AMAZING how little is required. What you said points again to the 7 commandments thing (seven is really a subjective grouping - you certainly included all seven in your analysis). The first six are self-oriented, then #7 is "Teach others to do the same". So, while my metrics may seem overly "other-centered" I'm actually doing a self-evaluation on "How am I doing on #7"!
posted
Okay, well ...I seem to be stuck on the praying/studying thing. The thing is, my wife and I are both beginning to question the facts regarding our abandoning "the word a minute" lifestyle. We both lived that way for the first four years of our married life (and separately before that).
Please don't misunderstand, I don't want to ever go through that again, but being totally Scripture obedient and leaving "The Word" out of our lives, doesn't appear to be the answer either. It seemed that there was a more "supernatural essence" when we lived the other way. There was a more natural flow of sorts (this is coming from your "Are we finding God's word alive and finding the Holy Spirit to be our Teacher?" metric.
Questions: What's the balance? How much conformation do I need to "know" I'm probably hearing right?
posted
The basics of worshiping God is found in Isaiah 1. :10 Recieve God's revelation, :13 "I cannot bear your evil assemblies (monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings............:14 you have become a burden to Me". :15 "When you spread out your hands in prayer.......I will not listen". :16 Clean up, stop doing wrong, seek justice, help the down and out, encourage the oppressed, stand up for the homeless and the defenseless. How is this for a measure of 'Christians"? Sometimes we think too much, pray to hard and do too little. God is Love. If I have everything, but do not love, I am nothing.
quote:Originally posted by Matthew: Questions: What's the balance? How much conformation do I need to "know" I'm probably hearing right?
This goes along with the discussion about "tithing" I think, in that stewardship of our lives is the same as stewardship of our money: God gives us 1) a set of principles to live by that are universal 2) complete freedom, to do as we will (with consequences, of course) 3) occasional intervention where he says, "This is an opportunity for something special, if you are listening and willing!"
Our time is 100% our own, yet 100% accountable to God. Most choices are ours. "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof" yet "The Lord said... fill the earth and subdue it..."
I think the balance for you, then, is to realize that you can try to have a higher level of listening for the Spirit, keeping in mind that our bodies are frail, our minds deceptive, and that you have to use your common sense. I know that the more I ask, "Lord, what can I do for you today?" the more fruitful I am. But I try not to be paralyzed by indecision, or to get carried away by inner promptings.
As an example: We knew without doubt that, when we had the chance to go to Japan, that it was an opportunity that God had arranged in answer to our specific prayer. At the same time, I was in the middle of a major physical breakdown, had 4 kids and was pregnant with our 5th, and that it would be a huge disruption to our lives, a huge risk to our future, and a bit traumatic for our kids.
We did a pros and cons list, and prayed. prayed, prayed.
We felt that it was up to us, and that God would bless us either way, but if we wanted to, we could do this "crazy thing", fulfilling lifelong dreams for both of us. There is no way we can know what would have happened if we had stayed where we were, but I don't believe we would have been condemned, or had a terrible life. God would have used us where we were in a different way. I think that if we hadn't both WANTED to go badly enough to pay the price in effort, inconvenience and discomfort to be reasonably accepting of the challenges, it would have been insanity to get on that plane.
We do not have to renounce any past decision, unless it was one of the VERY few times (I think if it happens more than a few times in your lifetime, you have a vivid imagination or are listening to a "familiar spirit, not the Lord) when God speaks so clearly and unmistakably to do absolutely a certain thing.
There are times when God does "corner you" into a specific decision, and makes it clear. But those times are pretty rare. Most of the time, we are to "do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God" -- which gives a lot of latitude!
So, if you miss seeking that inner voice, do it - having learned something about burnout, and heeding that lesson.
I would add that as I have prayed for guidance I have always gotten the feeling that God could use me wherever, and in whatever situations I chose to put myself. Where His voice seems to be more strong is in pointing out situations (in whatever place and situation I had previously put myself in) where He was wanting to use me in someone elses life. He gives me opertunities to spread the kingdom when I am open to them. Does this make sense?
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Wow! D. Allen, Jeff L, Laurie Ann, and Jeanne,
Thanks so much for the wonderful advice!
To answer you Laurie Ann, I have been "cornered" only three times in my life, so that's good I guess (maybe I'm not nuts ). I heard that Jeff!
Jeff L agrees with D allen. So, what do you think ladies? Is seeking justice, helping the down and out, and encouraging the oppressed (in Love [aka Christ] of course) "IT"?
Jesus said that the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers are blessed. Is that too simple, or am I getting it!?! Any other "New-Testament-agreeing-place" that I missed Jeff?
That is a great question Mathew! I do agree that if you could boil down all that God asks of us to just one word it would be love. But I guess I don't think that love is for love's sake. I think of Mat 5:16 that says we should let our light shine before men, that they may see our good deeds (love in action) and praise our Father who is in heaven. And in 2 cor 5:14 that tells us that Christ's love compels us, and then goes on to describe the believers ministry of reconciliation.
Gods love reconciled us to Himself. Our love (as in we being a vesel for God's love) should work towards the end of reconciling others to God. Do others see it this way?
quote:JeanneH said: Gods love reconciled us to Himself. Our love (as in we being a vessel for God's love) should work towards the end of reconciling others to God. Do others see it this way?
Jeanne, That sounds really good! I can defiantly see that end. I can even see doing everything we do with this "motive" or means in mind. Good, or bad?
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Yes, I see it that way, Jeanne. We should seek to reconcile others to God. How should we do that? Well, I think we need to understand what caused the estrangement in the first place. Then we will understand what reconciliation involves.
Isaiah says that our sins have separated us from God. John defines sin as the transgression of God's law. Paul says that carnal mind is enmity against God and not subject to his law. What a mess we are in! But in our darkest hour Jesus reaches out his hand to effect our reconciliation. By his blood he pardons our sins and by his life he cleanses us from all iniquity.
To be reconciled to God then, must involve the putting away of sin and subjection to his law-- which seem to be one in the same. This is the reconciliation work of Christ.
posted
NOTE: The Law used to define sin. However, Jesus fulfilled all of The Law. We are no longer under The Curse of The Law. Just type in "But I say unto you" in your Bible search engine and take a look in Matthew 5. You may want to start in verse 17 and go to 48.
We can no longer evaluate ourselves, (nor can we define sin) by looking at any part of The Law. The Law was fulfilled by Christ Himself, when he died on The Cross for us. The Law is no longer our standard. Jesus (The Living Word) is!!!
quote:The Law is no longer our standard. Jesus (The Living Word) is!!!
That is absolutely correct! Jesus is our standard. He calls us higher than the law ever could. He fulfilled the law by keeping it without fault. He did not sin, ever.
Now think about this when you evaluate your progress in the light of Jesus as our standard. Jesus' own siblings taunted him. Yet, if he had showed impatience in look or word he would have sinned. Wow! That is awesome.
quote: Of the bitterness that falls to the lot of humanity, there was no part which Christ did not taste. There were those who tried to cast contempt upon Him because of His birth, and even in His childhood He had to meet their scornful looks and evil whisperings. If He had responded by an impatient word or look, if He had conceded to His brothers by even one wrong act, He would have failed of being a perfect example. Thus He would have failed of carrying out the plan for our redemption. Had He even admitted that there could be an excuse for sin, Satan would have triumphed, and the world would have been lost. This is why the tempter worked to make His life as trying as possible, that He might be led to sin.
Desire of Ages, page 88.
So if Jesus raised the bar even higher than the law had set it, then why would we want to try to attain to His perfection when we could not even attain to the lower perfection demanded in the law? Riddle me this?
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Impatience is different from truth, but they can seem the same. Jesus had no "patience" for the pharisees that were intent on entrapping Him.
Grab your Bible and look up "whited sepulchres, hypocrites, hypocrisy, serpents, blind, blind guides, vipers, etc...
You "riddle" is simple. There is no try. Our righteousness is only in Christ and we are empowered only through The Holy Spirit. This is the how... I think it's called grace.
posted
We are "co-workers" with Christ. Our Job is to be the best we that we can be. The guidance and strength will come from God, and together we can accomplish His will. Through prayer, study, practice and reflection, we can continue to grow, strengthen and always be in the will of God. When we evaluate ourselves in the light of Christ, we may see an area we must yield to the Spirit for His control, a pride, stubborness, or other spot that we exhibit self control rather than God controll. But, please remember, that in the light of our Lord Jesus, we are evaluated and judged to be perfect because we are evaluated in His Name by grace. How wonderful!!
quote: But, please remember, that in the light of our Lord Jesus, we are evaluated and judged to be perfect because we are evaluated in His Name by grace. How wonderful!!
Had you not qualified this with your opening remarks I would have wondered how you applied this. Jesus stands for us when we yield to him.
quote: Impatience is different from truth, but they can seem the same. Jesus had no "patience" for the pharisees that were intent on entrapping Him.
Don't misapply Jesus unselfish love for the Pharisees. Remember, He died for all men, them too! We know that Jesus did not sin therefore I can confidently say he was never impatient (which is an expression of self-interest). He boldly spoke the truth to open their eyes while I am sure he had tears in his eyes. But even though they dogged him from town to town, trying to entrap him and even kill him, Jesus never grew impatient with anyone. How could he be impatient with sinners when He 'came to save the lost.' If he were impatient with sinful man he needn't come to this world to die in order to save man. He could have wiped the slate clean and started again and none of us would have been the wiser. But yet he didn't. We have proof.
What do we know about Jesus' character? When speaking of why his return seems delayed, Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, penned these beautiful words of comfort.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
In truth, this is far from impatience, is it not? In fact, it is great patience. And the greatness is magnified by the very One who is exhibiting this trait. While we grow impatient with circumstances beyond our control, there are no circumstances beyond His control. He has no need to wait. Yet, His love for us compels Him to delay-- waiting for that one soul to find Him and not perish (die) but gain eternal life.
So I am not sure which word you had in mind when you wrote "patience," but truly, patience is not even in the context.
-------------------- Remember, this cafe is a radically Christian cafe, not a radical Christian cafe.
quote:Jeff L said: Don't misapply Jesus unselfish love for the Pharisees. Remember, He died for all men, them too! We know that Jesus did not sin therefore I can confidently say he was never impatient (which is an expression of self-interest)...
...So I am not sure which word you had in mind when you wrote "patience," but truly, patience is not even in the context.
NOTE: I didn't. I said, "Impatience is different from truth, but they can seem the same. Jesus had no "patience" (Notice the quotation marks?) for the pharisees that were intent on entrapping Him."
Here is what I was saying. "Impatience is different from [perceiving someone's attitude, and then confronting them with the] truth, but they can seem the same. Jesus had no [desire to waste His time, talking to and teaching] the pharisees that were only intent on entrapping Him. [He simply called them what they really were, and then moved on to better things.]"
quote: Jesus had no [desire to waste His time, talking to and teaching] the pharisees
Are you sure? You really can't speak for Jesus, can you? We can't discern even His tone from the words of Holy Writ. We must not judge according to Hollywood's depiction but we must judge thus, that Jesus was truly man yet truly God and in Him was no sin.
quote:Jesus had no [desire to waste His time, talking to and teaching] the pharisees that were only intent on entrapping Him. [He simply called them what they really were, and then moved on to better things.]"
My stipulation comes from the actual record we have of the way Jesus dealt with people. I could care less what Hollywood thinks, and gather NONE of my information from their interpretations of what Jesus may have been like.
Here is the Biblical foundation for my stipulation. Matthew 22:35-46; Mark 12:28-37; and Luke 20:27-45. Here are three examples of Jesus doing exactly what I described above. Please note that all three times He "moved on to better things" (teaching those who actually "heard Him Gladly") immediately telling His followers to beware of the scribes and or the Pharisees!
posted
Nor is truth impatient. Nor was Jesus impatient. In every example you cited Jesus takes time to answer the question carefully and considerately. There is a chapter in 1 Cor. which speaks of charity (love). To gain a fuller understanding of how Jesus loved even those who sought to kill him read chapter 13. Pay careful attention to these verses and contemplate what the language is trying to say about the relationship between truth and patience.
quote: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
When you say that Jesus had no desire to waste his time you are implying he was impatient. The fact that he continued to answer their questions demonstrates that he was willing to reach out to them and teach them whenever they sought after him. And again, the fact that Jesus came and gave his life for this fallen race also gives ample evidence that he was not impatient.
You may say that truth is not impatience but it appears you think it ok to be rude (impatient) when someone is wasting your time. I often hear people say, "truth hurts." Those who cherish this sentiment simply do not care to learn to speak in kind gentle tones. They feel they are wasting their time. Jesus never felt that way.
You may respond in any fashion but to imply Jesus was rude and felt he was wasting his time speaking to sinners is the same as saying Jesus was impatient. And, why shoud he not then treat all sinners in kind-- for we are sinners too? Impatience is sin and Jesus, though tempted in all points as we are, never sinned.
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No Jeff. Saying Jesus had no desire to waste His time is to simply say, Jesus only said and did what The Father directed Him to say and do. Therefore, Jesus didn't waste His time, period.
I didn't type anything else, I didn't mean anything else. However, you are welcome to think (and or) type anything you like, because that doesn't make it so (take you thinking and typing that you out gave Walmart for example).
Your practice, Matthew
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Okay ladies, now to get this back on topic... In evaluating my progress, my daughter and I mad a trip to the store the other day (it was Walmart by the way).
When we left we were aproached by a fellow that claimed his car was broken down, and at a local garage. He claimed he needed about $17.00 to get it fixed. I didn't have any money with me, and told him so, so he asked me if I would walk with him (I had my truck and we wouldn't all fit in there) over to McDonald's so he could eat (he claimed he had been there overnight). I informed him I was boycotting them due to their current stance on the homosexual lifestyle, but that I would walk him to Wendy's. He ordered the cheapest thing they had (which kinda shocked me) and thanked me for my help. I told him that if he would wait there, I'd go get him the money he needed. When I returned, he thanked me again, and I was able to tell him that he was an answer to prayer.
posted
Glad to see we are back on track. Please don't let little detail things come between us as Christians. Our debates can quickly look like bickering. Subtle things can be over thinking and seperate two that are really close in agreement in the first place. We must always be willing to put aside some of our knowledge through some more extensive study or passion on a subject for a 'younger' Christian. I'm not saying it well but the just is lets not belabor little points. Little points like old hymns vs newer music, candles/no candles, robe or tie or t-shirt have been able to seperate Christians from one another. Silly isn't it. In response to progress, yes it is great progress. A willingness to help someone with an immediate need. Giving of a little time and a little tithe to a need placed right in front of us. If 90% of America claims to be Christian, and 90% acted like it.......wow.
quote:D Allen said: If 90% of America claims to be Christian, and 90% acted like it.......wow.
Hey D Allen, I'm at the place now where I just need to stop asserting what I believe to be true, and just live it. I have really been active here on the RCC for some time now, attempting to rebuild my knowledge base concerning The Bible.
Anyway, having now completely reworked my thinking, I'm going to stop posting here with the exception of praise reports. I'm just finding the rest (debate) to be pretty much a waste of my time.
Well, I'm going to head on out into the community and see what happens today!
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I have been counseled to not "give up the ship" so to speak, so I decided to just try and use better discernment when posting here.
That being said, I took my daughter out into the community. We went all over the place, and "nothing really happened" ...except the fact that we had a wonderful day, and that we tried to brighten everyone's day that we came across.
A three year old has a certain charm that seems contagious, and it's amazing the smiles she gits just saying "Hi." That being said, I know of nothing greater than spending the day with a child!!!
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