tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673701.post6840679552234661578..comments2008-02-11T16:08:37.994-08:00Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14371406028679573966noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673701.post-65177456467436609852008-02-11T15:08:00.000-08:002008-02-11T15:08:00.000-08:00you make me have faith in christians.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05844117995738974626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673701.post-51245592895290360202008-02-05T14:59:00.000-08:002008-02-05T14:59:00.000-08:00Ouch! Yes, I too am afraid of the answers. <BR/><BR/>And the comments about the "appearance" of success ring very true. Since the Reveal research came out, Willow Creek has been quick to point out that "numbers" do not equal "success". And they are right to do so. This is a paradigm shift in church thinking!Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14371406028679573966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673701.post-72888108367182397342008-02-05T11:53:00.000-08:002008-02-05T11:53:00.000-08:00I hope they let you preach once in a while at Our Place. I'm sure people will jump all over you for even asking some of these questions, but what great food for thought! Also, we musicians are always having to struggle: is the point of worship such that we really need to buy that pipe organ/digital delay pedal/new microphone/any of a million other things we salivate over, or are we making better use of our resources if we lead worship with an old beat up guitar and use the thousands of dollars that we would like to spend to instead feed the hungry, cure AIDS, support a missionary, etc? I think I'm afraid to learn the actual answer to this, so I spend a lot of time justifying how I "lead others into worship, and enable others to use their gifts for God's glory."David Goldenwww.oatmealbible.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673701.post-8915076415903217462008-02-04T07:23:00.000-08:002008-02-04T07:23:00.000-08:00Wow Pastor, I happen to agree with you a 100%. So many times I look around and am shocked by how much the church looks like "big business". I'm not even talking about money. More just how things operate. Everything must be successful, but more than that, LOOK successful. I have SO many things I can say on this subject, but I don't want to hurt any feelings. <BR/><BR/>I have always viewed reading the bible as real to me as Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus just being drawn in by WHATEVER He was saying. I think THAT made Mary "mature". <BR/><BR/>I love the bible classes because I love learning. However I have found it is now like any other religion class.<BR/><BR/>I always wonder, why don't we worry as much on coming together and praying. I suppose it's not as popular to say, hey, wanna come to a pray meeting with me today? <BR/><BR/>ConnieJConnieJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08116259934910197519noreply@blogger.com