Crazy Pics

I am impressed!

Sick and too many things to

It is the end of the semester and inevitably I am sick. Please pray for me. I turned in a 220 page project today. (Don't be impressed it is a workbook.)

I also have to read thousands of pages before Monday. It is going to be a hectic few days before graduation.

I will try to post something more intellectually stimulating after graduation. Please stop by again.

A Change in Evangelism

I found this pic about girls ministry.

Following the thoughts

The past few posts, and especially their comments, have been interesting to read. It is always intriguing to see how a discussion moves itself. Circenses proclaims that both men and women can be elders/pastors. And he cites:

"Male Elders - 1 Tim 5:1; Titus 2:2
Female Elders - 1 Tim 5:2; Titus 2:3"

However, these passages do not address the issues of the officers of the church but discipleship, if I am reading correctly. I have no problems for men teaching men and women teaching women, however at what point does a church put a woman over a man or a man o
over a woman.

What is the correct path to follow? (Remember to be Christ like in all things)

Authority

It seems that the last post left some questions as to what I meant by authority. Let me clarify a little. What I am looking for is your thoughts on leadership and governance in church. Most who responded were Baptists, even Pope Cole, however even with Baptists circles there is disagreement about this subject.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Discussion Question

Authority in the church is important.

Deacons, Elders, Etc.

Discuss.

Evangelizing Babies

The age of salvation has been an interesting issue for me throughout my life. I have been to many youth camps and other meetings where it was told that if I did not remember my date of accepting Christ then perhaps I am not saved. This bothers me.

I was baptized when I was in third grade. We were in the middle of the "Here's Hope Jesus Cares for You" campaign at church, yet it was not because of the revival that I came to faith. I suppose some of my friends might call me a covenant child in that I grew up in the church and out of that my expression of faith emerged. However, that is not to say I did not have a moment when I called out to God for his mercy. I was eight. It was at Joe Glass' house. My mother was there with me.

Why do I tell you all of this? The reason is that today I learned that had I waited only a few more months the likelihood of my salvation would have slipped dramatically. Research has now "proven" that if we do not effectively evangelize our children by age X, then the chances of them coming to faith is very, very slim. I have heard the argument from Youth people and they use age 18. I have heard some children's ministers’ use 12 or 13. Now I have heard by age 7 or 8.

Where is the faith in salvation? Have we become so pragmatic, logical and statistical that we have forgotten that the Gospel is foolish to the wise (1 Cor. 1)? Does this research imply that Christian converts are only for the ignorant?

My friends it is time we quit trying to make Christianity fit our molds. Those molds will pass away (1 John 2:15-17). It is time we remembered that belief in Christ is not a cognitive experiment; otherwise we are no different than any other religion who has "determined" they are correct.