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Pastimes : Ask God -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alan Markoff who wrote (23132)	12/6/1998 3:05:00 PM
From: PROLIFE	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 39621

Alan and Nancy, I understand perfectly(well maybe not perfectly but pretty good) about what you are saying about the "churches" being full of hypocrites, and many are there for their own trip. I can say to that you are correct. Having said that I would say this. Where else should a hypocrite be? Or any other sinner for that matter. That seems to be a perfect place for them,(me) as somewhere sometime a spoken word may touch their lives. They may not be touched sitting at home. Also what is the church? Is it a fancy building with stained glass windows, is it the "men of renownd" sitting up front with fancy collars or robes on? NO, you know the Church is YOU. Baptized, believing followers of Christ. That is why I always contend that you can go to assembly, but you can't "go" to church as you are the Church. Defined as the BODY OF CHRIST. And Alan, while it is not my position to judge any,I can say that even with all the hypocrites(even me sometimes) there are many blessings to be had in fellowship. Not only fellowship with the other believers but in praise and worship to God corporately. Look at Psalm 100 . Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Remember the walls of Jericho, with a great shout the walls came down. Was it because of the shout the walls fell,or was the shout so in line with what God asked of them that He brought the walls down? One final thought. I asked a young lady not long ago what she knew or thought about God and her reply was this: " My parents are Catholic and I do have a faith and my faith is a private thing between me and God." My reply? Matt. 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. thanks for your time dan

To: Alan Markoff who wrote (23132)	12/6/1998 3:16:00 PM
From: Darrin Vernier	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 39621

Nancy, Wise words as usual. I used to think I knew everything, and no one could offer me something that I did not already know. Then one day I asked myself,"If you have all the answers, why isn't it working?" This was a tough question. And in it, I am finding more answers than I dreamed possible. I learned that it is not courage on my part to believe that I know everything, and to attempt to show others that they do not. True courage is the willingness and honesty to admit to myself that I don't know something, that I feel pain, and that I am not in complete control of everything that happens, but only how I might perceive those happenings. I used to revel in all my accumulated 'knowledge'. I used to value it as my definition of myself. I now instead find utility, opportunity, and growth in discovering that something which I thought I knew was indeed false, and am now finding my false beliefs to be that which have covered up my true wisdom, and sense of who I really am. And the source of my direction. You may be wondering how this relates to your post. What I am saying is that you demonstrate that sensitivity, that wisdom, to put yourself in your vulnerability out there, and allow the truth to arrive. Doing this as you have, you will never fail to find God's love and encouragement, regardless of the responses of the people on this board, because you are giving his love and encouragement to yourself, and I know you will receive healing. I do not know what your answers will be. When they show up, perhaps you will be willing to share them here, perhaps not. Even being under what I perceive to be an attack, you go on teaching and learning, and putting yourself out there honestly, and without reservation. Thank you for continuing to show me the way that answers should be found for all. It is only my belief, but I believe that this will never fail you. I believe that Nancy knows her answers, or how to find them, and has all that she needs to get through to the other side of what she sees now as a gulf of pain. I will be smiling when you get to the other side of your current problem, but I am also smiling now, because you know just how to get there, and nothing anyone can say can take it away from you. Peace, Darrin

To: Alan Markoff who wrote (23132)	12/7/1998 10:29:00 AM
From: O'Hara	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 39621

><>...Dear Nancy and Alan...><> Just a thought Alan and Nancy If your congregation is filled with people as you describe, then it is high time to change it by being an example to them of our Lord. The building people go to at least one day a week is the meeting place of God's people to bring a worthy praise to God our Father. We go to "church" in order to praise and worship God. We are there to gather in His name. We are there to learn more of Him. The reason we go there is for Him, and Him alone. We don't go there for ourselves. If however, while we are there for Him, we get some encouragement along the way, then we are doubly blessed. But the gathering of His people in a "church" is for purposes of Reverencing God. And God will see to it that we are blessed. You know Nancy and Alan, it could be there are people there just like you, who need a word of encouragement, and your being there could be just what they need. We are to lift and encourage one another. And if the churches are filled with the kind of people that you and Alan talk about, then maybe God is showing you that He wants more people like you and Alan to be part of those who gather in His name, so that others there may get a kind word from people like you. Ps 134:1-3 1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. 3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion. Sincerely, Shalom...><>