I'm surprised that you of all people would want a group of English homosexual elites to govern.

The Church needs to change with the times too!  Only I don't mean accepting bad behavior.  Like part of the Word given...'More cults will meet their demise in 2007....Truth will once again reign supreme!' 

I was talking about the Apostles- those guys were so gay!
As far as cults go, just as many will pop up to replace the ones that fade out or drink the Kool-Aide.

What too much testosterone for you?  It would have looked bad if the Apostles where all girls hanging out with Jesus!

See, only a woman would see a sausage fest like that as a good thing

Are not all believers "equippers"?   These are pretty words, but, as always, actions speak louder.  What is the point of this?

Hi how are you?  Sorry I didn't get sooner, life got busier than normal for me and then it was just easier to not come back.  It's funny though, I always thought about my network of friends.  I don't necessarily use 'this' as a journal but except heated debates or something else more serious.  Maybe I am too serious about all the issues and it just seemed like work to come back and discuss everything that's happening.  I really don't know what took me so long?

 

Well I went back and reread what I wrote and the comments.  You are right in that 'all believers' are to encourage one another and use our gifts to do so.  This prophetic word from DC was speaking in reference to the governmental Body of Christ.  So unless you are a Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor or Teacher operating in that ministry in your church then this Word is not for you.  God Bless.

See, that is precisely the issue - Each believer has a "job" to do, but that job is not likely to the church.  The church is tended by Jesus, but her ministry is to the world at large.  Instead, she is shut up away from those who NEED her, too busy trying to figure out her "giftings" and find her "ministry" to actually mingle with the people.  There is a Church (Bride) rising, but she is not behind the closed doors of a church.  She is out where the lost are ... not looking for personal glory or some "office" or "title", but giving Christ's grace freely.  She is ... following Jesus' footsteps.

I was a little taken back by the hostility.  You are mixing up personal responsibility as a Christian verses how God ordained the Church to function governmentally in the 5-fold ministry capacity.  For the record; it should only be on certain occassions that the church closes her doors to non-members and that would be at the family meeting to where members are working out the details in ministering to others and the business of running a church.  And a title is only a discription of responsibility.  If it was just for the title then I would say that is sin (pride).

 

I do know the fustrations that you feel towards the Body.  It's not easy to take commands from those in leadership.  Sometimes for the sake of unity, one needs to back up and allow God to make the move on your defense.  If it's meant to be, then God will bring it to pass but you got to be participating in order for that to happen and not give up.  Sometimes moving to another church feels better.  Gives one a new start.  Even a employee moving from one job to another for one reason or another is never taken seriously.  An employer is more likely to ask the previous employer how you are as an employee; same should go for Pastors and a wise Pastor can help a long the way.

 

Not going to church for a Christian should never be an option.  One cannot be part of the 5-Fold Ministry unless one is in church.  It's like a 'teacher' saying they are certified to teach and yet didn't go through the proper channels in getting their degree to teach.  Many 'people' get their degrees and appoint themselves, this causes an immature church not functioning like God wants them to function.

<<One cannot be part of the 5-Fold Ministry unless one is in church.>> See, this is where you and I disagree.  Paul says the gifts and callings are without repentence.  God doesn't take His gifts and anointings back.  Where you are I differ is simply in our definition of the Church.  She is alive and breathing, being continually transformed into the likeness of her Creator and her Groom, but she is not a business conglomerate - which is the way most congregations are run.  I do not GO to church; I am Part of the Church everyplace I go, no matter what I do.  It is whose I am, not what activities I attend.  Everytime I open my mouth, it is church ...the same applies to every believer.  The organization called the church is not the same thing as the Church which knows no boundaries, denomination, or headship other than Christ.  Surprizingly enough, the Church outside the church is flourishing and being networked together in supernatural ways that only the Holy Spirit can accomplish. 

 

<<It's not easy to take commands from those in leadership.>>  I take commands from no one, and no authentic leadership issues commands as such other than Jesus himself.  Authentic leadership leads by example and service, by humility and grace.  Authentic leadership is moved by compassion which identifies with sinners, not by spiritual elitism that is just a fancy name for arrogance or self-reliance.  Paul warned about it ... we are to prefer one another, the titles and offices take care of themselves. 

 

 

The Book of Revelation seems to teach that the Bride is the city of Jerusalem, while we are the guests of the banquet.  So are we all moving to the Holy City? <smile>

If so, mortgages are going to seriously hit the roof!

-- S

Or go through the roof....

That too...

We have friends from our synagogue who just bought an apartment for themselves and their eight year-old son in one of the "suburbs" of Jerusalem called Talpiot Mizrach.  The last time I was in Israel, almost ten years ago, that area was just beginning to get built up. And now?  People are building all over.  And the prices continue to rise wherever you go.

-- S

Land is one of those nonrenewable resources or something, isn't it? 

That's why I'm buying up cheap real-estate on Mars the moment it becomes inhabitable.  And I'm opening up a Starbucks.

-- S

People will travel galactic distances for a good cup of java.

Thought I'd come by and see how you were....

Thanks Sandi!  It's almost weird to come back since I have been gone for so long.  I have truly been overwhelmed for the past few months.  With God and keeping everything in perspective I have been doing fine.