You can take away our phones and you can take away our keys, but you can NOT take away our dreams!

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a day off for many.

It seems to me that it's one of the few "day off" American holidays that receives no recognition from the church. Should the church recognize it?

I would suggest that more than a man, the American holiday recognizes the efforts and dream of one man, a dream that should be shared by all, a dream the church should labor to help make a reality.

What should be the role of the church with regard to issues related to ethnic diversity and harmony?

Should the seminaries do more in this regard?

Personally, I hate that the more "liberal" theologically have smoked us more conservative types in promoting the truth that our membership in the body of Christ transcends all other ties.

Because of that truth, our familial relationship should enable us to worship together and love each other, regardless of ethnicity.

Why is that not the case?

I happen to think that the church growth movements and other "helpful" organizations can be a hindrance here.

That is, the encouragement of homogeneity in church, targeting a particular type of people, or training people (perhaps even ignorantly so) to pastor a "white church" or a "black church" or an "ethic church" (whatever that might mean).

As we celebrate as a nation, I wonder why do don't do much (if anything) to celebrate and/or commemorate as a church.

I'm not so much suggesting we celebrate a particular man, but celebrating and contributing toward the dream of desegregation, particularly church desegregation, are under-emphasized ways to glorify God via unity in Christ.

I'd like to see churches get to work on this Not tomorrow, not after breakfast ... NOW!

Captain, I'm concerned about this vessel. It's taking on water. Why does that concern you? I can't swim.

“Our high calling is to be in the world, not of the world. It is not our being in that world that ruins us, but our suffering the world to be in us: just as ships sink, not by being in the water, but by the water getting into them.”
-Andrew Robert Fausset, A Critical and Expository Commentary on the Book of Judges

I used the above quote/analogyin Sunday's sermon on Judges 2:1-23 at Providence Church.
(click to listen)


It reminds me of the tension where it's easy to retreat from the world, so it doesn't "stain" you (cf. James 1:27), but then again you also have no impact on it. Likewise, it's not that hard to be in the world, to learn of it and become acclimated and assimilated. Yet, it is quite hard to be in it and not of it, rather making a positive influence on it.

Or, keeping with the analogy, ships are safe in the harbor, but that's not what ships are made for.

No, not "show you," show ME the money!

I'm excitied about being in charge of putting money to good use for the Lord's work, but something in that offer caught my eye and REALLY peaked my interest.

"My name is Mariam Turine. I was born in India, I am married to Rev Jeff Turine, Rev pastor of Christian missionary church in Cote d'Ivoire. We were married for 38 years without a child. He died after a Cadiac Arteries Operation.

And Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Five months due to my cancer problem (cancer of the lever and stroke). Before my husband died last year there is this sum $5.8 Million Dollars that he deposited with a Private Finance Company here In Ivory Coast."

Hmm. I'm pastoring in the wrong country. India, eh? I'd be hard pressed to deposit $5.8 thousand serving here in Texas.