tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146477522024-03-14T00:49:53.245-04:00Xpyria<b> x·pyr·i·a [iks-pir-ee-a]
noun (plural x·py·ri·as)
Definitions:
1. experience in life over time: active involvement in an activity or exposure to events or people over a period of time that leads to an active world view.
2. a base of knowledge or skill acquired over time: a viewpoint gained through being involved with people over a period of time </b>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comBlogger400125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-8695323752016440402020-04-25T20:46:00.000-04:002020-04-25T20:57:18.692-04:00The Real Virus Is Fear<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_8g_W3h3c0/XqTY1Zbnh8I/AAAAAAAAuQc/ThVbvJHR4oYV_qutne7SwYnvsogwuNgtgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/facemask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_8g_W3h3c0/XqTY1Zbnh8I/AAAAAAAAuQc/ThVbvJHR4oYV_qutne7SwYnvsogwuNgtgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/facemask.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is a virus that is attacking and ravaging this country but it is not Covid-19. It is fear. This fear is being spread by people who want us to believe that unless we embrace their fear, wear their stupid masks, close our businesses, bar the doors of our churches and wait to receive our little checks from the all-benevolent federal government we are somehow responsible for their sickness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This Covid-19 is a virus, not that much unlike most other viruses. You that are so fearful should realize you will likely have to deal with it. Millions already have, very few get sick enough to be hospitalized. Fortunately the survival rate is well over 99%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">However if you want to embrace the fear you are welcome to quarantine yourself. Stay locked in your houses, wear a face mask, stay 6 feet away from me and all reasonable people and you can figure out when it is safe enough for you to come out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We will no longer accept what others have determined to be winners and losers. We are no longer interested in the endless updates from experts that seem to change their minds on precautions and consequences daily. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are not "all in this together". You have had your say, I'm going back to work. I am ready to get my fast pass.</span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-5620953070828308232020-01-03T09:14:00.002-05:002020-01-03T09:14:31.276-05:00What the Bible has to say about time<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-enH5gy7FxrY/Xg9MOPN6i5I/AAAAAAAAr9w/PS0dwJGn13w2wFFOX9Ozr_RlQfVz_raqwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-enH5gy7FxrY/Xg9MOPN6i5I/AAAAAAAAr9w/PS0dwJGn13w2wFFOX9Ozr_RlQfVz_raqwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/time.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here are a few selections:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3%3A1-8&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ecclesiastes 3:1-8</span></a></span><span style="color: #625529; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter
under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time
to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to
break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time
to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather
stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A8&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 Peter 3:8</span></a></span><span style="color: #625529; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one
day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.</span><span style="color: #625529; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A12&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm 90:12</span></a></span><span style="color: #625529; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.</span><span style="color: #625529; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A16&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ephesians 5:16</span></a></span><span style="color: #625529; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Making the best use of the
time, because the days are evil.</span><span style="color: #625529; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The beginning of a new year is an
ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase
your enjoyment of God?<br />
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2. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year,
and what will you do about it?<br />
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3. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What one thing could you do to
improve your prayer life this year?<br />
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4. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10
years? In eternity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-84554978131088746392019-07-09T16:55:00.001-04:002019-07-09T16:55:37.931-04:00WHY A NON-DENOMINATIONAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH?<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IaEO87GPsmM/XST865FNu1I/AAAAAAAAoq8/nlbaWqc1NQEhxIfhwx_b8_fMe6ltF_4OwCLcBGAs/s1600/nondenom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="248" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IaEO87GPsmM/XST865FNu1I/AAAAAAAAoq8/nlbaWqc1NQEhxIfhwx_b8_fMe6ltF_4OwCLcBGAs/s1600/nondenom.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our small Christian non-profit
ministry recently requested and received approval from the IRS to be re-classified
as a ‘church’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As our primary ministry
is hosting two church services weekly, serving as pastor and chaplain to the
residents of a large assisted living facility and promoting discipleship
through weekly Bible studies, it seemed appropriate. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">As a church our core beliefs and passions led us to align ourselves as an independent “non-denominational" evangelical church.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While there is a great amount of
diversity and variety among non-denominational churches—the one likely
commonality is they all are embracing a growing trend to not be connected to a
denominational structure and stubbornly refuse to be identified by
denominational criteria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My personal stubbornness lies in what
I call an aversion to ‘isms.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<i>Isms</i>’
are an expansion of what likely started as a stated doctrinal belief hopefully
based on a Biblical teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
in time, the ‘ism’ at the end of the name of the doctrine or teaching creates divisions
into different, competing and often hostile opposing groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While, many of these teachings and beliefs
are doctrinally sound, they tend to unnecessarily divide us when Christ and the
New Testament is clear that unity of the Body of Christ is the objective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Beyond just being stubborn, there are
two primary reasons why churches like ours are independent and
non-denominational—these reasons are <i>organizational</i> and <i>theological</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 15.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Organizational<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 15.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Denominations tend to become
bureaucratic and inwardly focused. They typically have shown an inability
to remain focused on the original vision that created the movement’s
vitality. All too often, the established and traditional methods become
more important than the results that are to be achieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Methods are a poor substitute for being a
part of the true vine that Jesus followers are to cling to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there are benefits in tradition,
tradition can quickly lead to inflexibility, and the larger the organizational
and associated requirements become the greater the opportunity for
organizational dysfunction and misdirection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many denominational churches have
moved to become independent by disconnecting themselves from their denominational
underpinnings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, this is
accomplished by a simple name change, taking on a generic name that in
appearance drops or greatly reduces the denominational baggage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By maintaining a connection to the
denomination, these local churches may find that they can maintain some of the
benefits of cooperation and theological training while embracing some of the
non-traditional worship, culture and language of the independent churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to Pew Forum research, most
of the largest denominations in the United States reported a decline in
membership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Interestingly, this same study also found that
while Protestants in general saw their share of the US population fall since
2007 (decline of 4.7% from 2007 to 2014), and Catholics also lost approximately
3.1% of their share of the population,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the nondenominational share of the US population grew from 4.5% to 6.2%
during the same period. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Declaring a church to be
non-denominational by itself doesn’t eliminate the inherent challenges and
predictable decline of centralized denominations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when combined with a focus on the
primary doctrines of the faith as discussed below, many evangelical,
non-denominational churches have thrived and pushed against the trend. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Theological<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Non-denominational</span></i><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> does not mean undecided or not orthodox in belief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vast majority of independent
non-denominational churches are also clearly evangelical. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This indicates while non-denominational, there
is a common distinctiveness of doctrine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While there are many that prefer to define evangelicals based on style,
political opinions, or by denomination, the NAE (National Association of
Evangelicals) states that <i>“Evangelicals take the Bible seriously and believe
in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The term “evangelical” comes from the Greek
word euangelion, meaning “the good news” or the “gospel.” Thus, the evangelical
faith focuses on the “good news” of salvation brought to sinners by Jesus
Christ.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Further, according
also to the NAE, many evangelicals choose to not use the word ‘evangelical’ in
describing themselves, focusing rather on their core theological beliefs: The
faithfulness and authority of the Bible, salvation by grace through faith, the
need for a personal relationship with God through Jesus and his death and
resurrection, their involvement in evangelism, the desire for discipleship and
fellowship and the ultimate return of Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the
strengths of the non-denominational, evangelical church is the simplicity of
their doctrines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is rarely any
complex terminology or exhaustive theological explanations but typically a
simple reference to a few verses in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It can be said that the non-denominational, evangelical church typically
majors on the major doctrines of the church and minors on the minors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, the word sacrament can be used
to describe their regular communion and baptism rituals without the people
becoming ‘sacramentalists.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible
is considered to be faithful in origin as well as transmission without an
insistence of any particular translation or edition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Church services can be rather prescribed or
sometimes unpredictable without causing a major breach of an historic ecclesiastical
calendar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a result, the
local pastor is able to build a church that focuses on the primary truths of
the Bible, preach the Gospel with clarity and remain in unity with other
churches in the community that are considered to all be part of the same Body
of Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ultimately, each
non-denominational evangelical church will need to grapple with the same issues
that the denominational churches have had difficulties with over the years:
divorce and remarriage, church governance, church discipline, the roles of
women and men in leadership, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
advantage however for these newer non-denominational churches is that they can
make even poor decisions without saddling other independent churches with a
mandate to go and do likewise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><i><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rev. Kenneth Behr
(Th.D)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>July 2019<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-16193474863727499272019-06-29T14:17:00.001-04:002019-06-29T14:17:25.194-04:0090 Days to a changed organization<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYSxPdV1kI4/XReqhgQgmqI/AAAAAAAAoOE/68dgSWCjcSU7vNcQUArarzp4GEC-r14nACLcBGAs/s1600/90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="551" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYSxPdV1kI4/XReqhgQgmqI/AAAAAAAAoOE/68dgSWCjcSU7vNcQUArarzp4GEC-r14nACLcBGAs/s320/90.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Organizations are often like children. Some children grow up with great parents who
intentionally care for, nurture, protect and guide their children so that they
have the right kinds of values, they are able to communicate effectively, and
all of the children play well together. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some organizations however have absentee parenting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The organization is started…it could be a business
or possibly a non-profit but there is no one setting goals, no instructions, little
care for the employees and while jobs get done <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(paychecks get sent out), there is little
intentionality in direction, or structure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fortunately, some leaders become aware of the deficiencies
in their organization and change can begin the moment that realization is
made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intentionality
is one of the key factors of success in any organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All organizations have cultures that dictate
most day-to-day interactions, reporting relationships, responses to challenges
and how decisions are made and implemented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These cultures all too often are coincidental rather than purposeful and
organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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After the leader or leaders recognize the inherent problem in
the organization, the ability to change is dependent upon intentionally building
a deep-seated culture that leads and has the opportunity to direct communication,
improve processes, create good-will, attract and retain talent, clients and
customers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Here’s a quick 90-day cultural change challenge to any
leader, any organization that wants to change their culture:</b></div>
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<ol>
<li>Many great organizations like Disney, Amazon, Microsoft and Chic Fil A are known for their culture.<span style="font-weight: 400; text-indent: -24px;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-indent: -24px;">It’s not a written statement it is a state of being. </span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-indent: -24px;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-indent: -24px;">Classically, culture is defined by four parameters: </span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-indent: -24px;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-indent: -24px;">Values, Language, Symbols & Borders. </span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-indent: -24px;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -24px;">The question is, “what kind of culture do the leaders want?”<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -24px;">Starting with the first cultural parameter, values, define the three or four (no more than five) core values the organization WANTS TO be identified with and exemplify. For example, Disney identifies “Openness, honesty, integrity, courage, respect, diversity, and balance…” as their core values.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -24px;">Carefully and very intentionally craft the language and accompanying symbols including slogans, tag lines, logos and colors that support the new values and language. Eliminate all non-supportive language and symbols.<br /></span></li>
<li>Launch and then train, reinforce, reward,
champion and repeat.</li>
</ol>
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While no culture is stagnant and no core cultural axioms are
eternal, the best opportunity for true cultural change is when the senior
leaders of the organization are the best advocates for the culture and the rest
of the team are cultural carriers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Remember that the culture-to-be-changed that presently dictates
most day-to-day interactions, reporting relationships, responses to challenges
and how decisions are made and implemented likely took years to emerge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be changed but that change requires a
very intentional 90-day period followed by constant and never-ending support,
encouragement and leading by example. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A 90-day period may seem like a short period of time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it is and needs to be seen to be the
primary mission during the 90 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
not just a task, nor just a short-term problem to be solved but a transformation
that will impact the organizations future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great organizations like Disney, Amazon,
Microsoft and Chic Fil A are known for their culture and your organization can be
as well. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>©Kenneth Behr, Xpyria Consulting</i></div>
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<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-37774213506569454652019-05-24T10:57:00.003-04:002019-05-24T10:59:00.756-04:00"What is repentance and is it required for salvation?”<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x39HOvgwsaE/XOgGMGH7KwI/AAAAAAAAn70/wBiXI2Kq6ooazlyhymP7NHk4rPDuaORnwCLcBGAs/s1600/metanoia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x39HOvgwsaE/XOgGMGH7KwI/AAAAAAAAn70/wBiXI2Kq6ooazlyhymP7NHk4rPDuaORnwCLcBGAs/s400/metanoia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #525252; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The concept of repentance is often
misunderstood. While repentance definitely
means to feel sorry for a previous action, to decide to reform or change and to
ask for forgiveness, the word used in scripture is the Greek term metanoia (<i>Strongs 3341</i></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> met-an'-oy-ah</span></i><i><span style="background: white; color: #525252; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">),</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #525252; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
literally “<b>change of mind”</b>. We can
appreciate that the English word repentance paints a much stronger and often
more appropriate picture of what we are called to do than the Greek. </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">However, it’s
good to remember that repentance may begin and end with a simple change of
mind. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The best illustration of this is likely the
story of the thief on the cross, Many remember that there were two criminals,
one on either side of Jesus, being crucified and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,40 saying, “Are you
not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying,
“Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41
And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but
this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you
will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This Gospel
account is well known as it is a remarkable story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one thief mocking, the other thief
confessing to his previous sins and the Son of God promising the miracle of
redemption “today you will be with me in paradise.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, in the
Gospel account of Matthew, in the 27<sup>th</sup> chapter, we are told that
initially both criminals insulted and ridiculed Jesus, …<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He
said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way, even the robbers who were
crucified with Him berated Him. 45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour
darkness came over all the land.… <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So both began
their time on the cross by mocking and cursing at Jesus, as did many of the
spectators. So what happened?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
happened was the unadulterated form of repentance, he changed his mind!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is no
record of this one repentant criminal of saying he was sorry, or listing the
crimes from worst to least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The remarkable
point of the story is two-fold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One,
that at the 11<sup>th</sup> hour, likely hours or less from his death, one
sinner was able to change his mind, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #525252; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">metanoia</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #525252; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">,
and appeal to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was fortunate in
that it is actually only Jesus that has the power to take our sins and pay that
price in full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why I believe, Jesus
later said, “It is finished.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work of
the cross was and is completely sufficient to bring forgiveness and extend the
mercy of God to the most undeserving sinner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #525252; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Secondly,
Jesus is willing to forgive and restore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We often make the transformation from condemned sinner to forgiven believer
much more problematic and complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
misunderstand my comment here as I am one that teaches and believes that true human
repentance that leads to Godly forgiveness results in a forever changed
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that ‘good thief’ would have
been taken down from the cross and his wounds ultimately healed, he would have
been a far different man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A changed life
is always the proof of repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may
begin with a change of mind but always results in a change of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As long as
someone still has a awareness even if he or she doesn’t show a response and as
long as they have the ability to hear the message of the gospel, that Jesus is
the Son of God, the Lord of Life who died and rose on the third day, and they
have the ability to change their mind, they may be saved. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s never too late to hear the gospel, it’s
never too late for God to welcome a sinner into paradise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-39143852762073207422019-04-29T10:23:00.000-04:002019-04-29T10:23:47.057-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JAnPDLKIIx8/XMb-09hzztI/AAAAAAAAnwg/sc1c_d7JSmMPjC-hNGhWWWd2WX2wZBYtgCLcBGAs/s1600/no%2Bpain%2Bno%2Bgain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JAnPDLKIIx8/XMb-09hzztI/AAAAAAAAnwg/sc1c_d7JSmMPjC-hNGhWWWd2WX2wZBYtgCLcBGAs/s320/no%2Bpain%2Bno%2Bgain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Have you heard the saying “if it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger?</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">It is similar to the saying “No pain No gain”.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Well believe it or not, that is actually a very Biblical principle. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">God
uses the difficult times, the pains and the suffering to build us up but just
as importantly to help others and to do ministry, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">This is exactly what James,
the brother of the Lord says, in the first chapter of James, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever
you face </span><b style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">trials of many kinds</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">, 3
because you know that the testing of your faith </span><b style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">produces perseverance</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that
you may be </span><b style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">mature and complete, not
lacking anything</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Jesus never said, "I have come that you should be happy." Actually, God is much more interested in making your life holy than He is in making you happy. Happiness is fleeting; holiness has eternal value. No pain, no gain is particularly relevent in building character. We shouldn't expect that we can avoid pain and suffering as it is inevitable. Embracing hardship and allowing God to use it to build us up and advance Godly purposes in our life makes us "mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:4)</span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-86691665114517386602019-03-30T16:56:00.000-04:002019-03-30T16:56:36.646-04:00When We All Get To Heaven <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ednogq9_PRE/XJ_UtR2G7gI/AAAAAAAAnfA/erLYaXCFm8AKs06K0r9LN3P63wKafV0SgCEwYBhgL/s1600/WHEN-WE-ALL-GET-TO-HEAVEN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ednogq9_PRE/XJ_UtR2G7gI/AAAAAAAAnfA/erLYaXCFm8AKs06K0r9LN3P63wKafV0SgCEwYBhgL/s400/WHEN-WE-ALL-GET-TO-HEAVEN.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">I've been teaching each Sunday on some of
the traditional hymns of the Church and recently had the opportunity to talk
about "<i>When We All Get to Heaven,” </i>a Christian hymn written by Eliza
Hewitt and met Emily D. Wilson in 1898. Hewitt praises the wondrous love of
Jesus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>When we all get to heaven<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>What a day of rejoicing that will be<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>When we all see Jesus<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>We'll sing and shout the victory</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">If we are going to talk about ‘getting to
heaven’ two sections of scripture immediately come to mind. The
first is 1 Thessalonians 4:16 & 17 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">“F</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-16" id="en-ESV-29603" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">or <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29603A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29603A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the Lord himself will descend <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29603B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29603B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>from heaven <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29603C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29603C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>with a cry of command, with the voice of <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29603D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29603D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>an archangel, and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29603E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29603E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>with the sound of the trumpet of God. And <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29603F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29603F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the dead in Christ will rise first.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 1Thess-4-17" id="en-ESV-29604" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>Then we who are alive, who are left, will be <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29604G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29604G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>caught up together with them <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29604H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29604H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29604I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29604I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>we will always be with the Lord.</span><span class="text 1Thess-4-17" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">"</span></span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">There is a companion verse as well.
Companion verses are often the same wording found elsewhere or a similar
recollection or event. 1 Thes 4:16 is a prophetic verse of a
future event so a companion prophetic verse speaks to and provides additional
insight into the same prophetic event. That verse is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">1 Corinthians 15:51 & 52 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><i>"Behold, I tell
you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, on
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we
will be changed."</i></span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">So how do we learn from these verses? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><b>First</b> – notice that in these two verses,
the word that is used for those that died by the Apostle Paul is
sleep. The prophet Daniel affirmed that those who “<i>sleep in the dust
of the earth shall awake” (Dan. 12:2)</i>. This obviously is a reference to the
physical body.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Jesus once said to his disciples: <i>“Our
friend Lazarus has fallen asleep but I go that I may awake him out of sleep”
(Jn. 11:11).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">I prefer thinking of the dead as being
asleep. When you sleep you are peaceful. The anxiety
of the day, the stress of life, all of our aches and pains, they disappear in
the bliss of a good nights rest. Yes, sleep is good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The early church used the same term; they
thought of death in the same way. They even called their burial
grounds <i>koimeteria</i>, or “sleeping places,” and from this term derives our modern
word, “cemetery,” a place to which the bodies of our loved ones are kept until
they awaken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The term sleep refers to the body….the body
is said to be asleep. It does not say the same about the soul. We are both SOUL and BODY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">HOWEVER, At
the same time, we have very little in the BIBLE about what heaven is LIKE PRIOR
to this event, that we are reading about in 1 Thes 4:16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><b>Second</b>, in these verses, Does Paul really
describe what many call the "rapture"? That word “RAPTURE” has many
fans and just as many detractors. Many look forward to what is
called the rapture but may not know where it comes from. Others, may argue that
the word "rapture" is nowhere to be found in Scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Well, let me settle that argument once and
for all, the word ‘rapture’ is certainly in the Bible, you just have to use the
Latin Vulgate version which was the primary Bible translation utilized for one
thousand years preceding the Reformation. In our English version we read that
we are to be “caught up” which is the English translation of the Greek word
<i>harpazo </i>which was translated "<i><u>rapturo</u></i>" in the Latin Vulgate
that derives the English words "Rapture" or "raptured".
Setting aside the argument that the word rapture is not found in modern
translations, the more important question is what does the original Greek word
<i>harpazo </i>actually mean?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Well, in Greek, <i>harpazo </i>means to snatch up
or </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">take suddenly and vehemently, often
with violence and speed or quickly and without warning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">So, this teaching of a ‘rapture’ is part of
the broader teaching of the second coming of the Lord or what’s know as the Day
of the Lord or the <b>END TIMES</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">There are many Bible scholars, pastors and
teachers and I am included who believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ
will be in two phases. First, Jesus will come for believers, both living and
dead, in the “rapture”. We see that these verses in 1 Thes 4 and 1
Cor 15 that show the transformation and catching up of all Christians, dead or
alive, to meet Christ in the air—it will be sudden, and in secret, no one knows
the day or the hour and it will be unknown to the world of unbelievers at the
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">I believe that it is amazing event, this
removal of a countless millions of people that will usher that which is known
as the seven years of tribulation and that at the end of this seven years,
Christ will return to the earth with His church, the saints who were raptured
along with those that are known as the “Tribulation Saints” (all of them
martyrs). There are many verses that substantiate this second
coming including Matthew 24:30, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:13, Revelation
1:7, Revelation 19:11-14).<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Christ will be victorious over His enemies
and will reign on the earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:3) with His saints,
the church.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><b>THEN </b>After 1,000 years, living unbelievers
and the wicked dead now raised to life will be judged at the great white throne
judgment. They will then be cast into the lake of fire, while the saved will
live forever with Christ in a new heaven and earth (Revelation, chapters
20-22).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The primary teaching of these verses in 1
Thessalonians 4 and also 1 Corinthians 15 is that 1) this event is sure,
it will happen just as all other prophecies regarding the first and second
coming of Jesus has and will happen 2) it is for God’s people, for those that
know Jesus, for the SHEEP of his pasture, we want to make sure that
we are included in that group of true believers and 3) HEAVEN (or what we
know of the ultimate heaven) is exclusively a gathering of ALL BELIEVERS of ALL
AGES and ONLY BELIEVERS and the Bible teaches that this resurrection is a transformation
of the same bodies we had on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">This teaching by Paul ends with this
encouragement. <i>18 Therefore comfort one another with these
words.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The hymn, “When We All Get to Heaven,” by
Eliza Hewitt and Emily D. Wilson is one great encouragement as well:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>When we all get to heaven<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>What a day of rejoicing that will be<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>When we all see Jesus<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>We'll sing and shout the victory<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>While we walk the pilgrim's pathway<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>Clouds will overspread the sky<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>But when trav'ling days are over<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><i>Not a shadow not a sigh</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-57478194208399612202019-02-07T16:04:00.000-05:002019-02-07T16:04:21.032-05:00Purgatory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGHyCD3N7cM/XFyc81EcK5I/AAAAAAAAnEQ/F6g2alSOerMWM0v9DJdNVYiYPlABH_lewCLcBGAs/s1600/purgatory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="680" height="160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGHyCD3N7cM/XFyc81EcK5I/AAAAAAAAnEQ/F6g2alSOerMWM0v9DJdNVYiYPlABH_lewCLcBGAs/s400/purgatory.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Through the Flames…</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The official Roman Catholic teaching regarding purgatory is rooted in historical Jewish prayers for the dead. History records that as early as the second and third centuries, Christians often made reference to prayers for the departed. The argument that Catholics, therefore, have historically given for purgatory is “why pray for the dead if there isn’t some benefit in the prayers?”</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">One of the common scriptures used in connection with this doctrine is from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter three, verse fifteen: “If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">It was St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354–450) who first used the term purgare in referring to the need for the departed to be purged or cleansed of their sin. While the idea that the Christian departed may still need to be cleansed from their sin was ancient, a place called purgatory was most likely brought into common knowledge by the fourteenth century.</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Italian poet Dante, who wrote of the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory in the epic Divine Comedy. </em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unlike the more modern Roman Catholic teaching regarding purgatory, in the late Middle Ages it was portrayed as a horrible place of torment, punishment, hellfire, despair, and anguish. It became a popular teaching of the church at that time that indulgences would be granted for individuals who were alive as well as those who had died. These indulgences ranged from simple prayers and good works to gifts of money and property. People who gave substantially to build churches and monasteries would receive years of indulgences that could benefit them or departed relatives suffering in purgatory.</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">By the time of the Reformation, the sale of indulgences had become a major financial boon for the Catholic Church, and a German monk by the name of Johann Tetzel was charged with the task of raising money for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s in Rome. Martin Luther saw the selling of indulgences as not only nonbiblical but another obvious example of the corruption in the Catholic Church, which included the office of the pope. Martin Luther made Johann Tetzel famous—or infamous— because of Tetzel’s nondisputed quote: “As soon as the gold in the casket rings; the rescued soul to heaven springs.”</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; padding-left: 30px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Today the Roman Catholic Church continues to embrace both purgatory as well as indulgences. However, since the time of the Reformation, when Martin Luther and others strongly objected to the obvious abuses in the church, including the sale of indulgences, the Roman Catholic Church has modified its teachings so that purgatory is not so frightening. It is not thought to be a place of torment but rather a holding place where venial sins or minor transgressions are purged primarily through time as well as by the prayers of others and through the sacrifice of the altar, meaning the saying of a Mass for the departed. The Catholic Church denies that indulgences were ever sold. It claims people thought they were buying the indulgence where in fact they were just making financial contributions, and the church was providing the spiritual merit from their treasury of merit.</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">
text above from pages 99-101 in<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Purgatory - Chapter 18 of<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics">Roaming Catholics"</a></strong></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">
Was Peter the first Pope? Should Christians pray the Rosary? Should priests be married? These are among the provocative topics addressed in Roaming Catholics: Ending the wandering to embrace the wonder" </div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">
This thoroughly researched book presents the development of the Catholic Church in an engaging way to help Christians understand their common history shared by all. The apostle Paul referred to the church as the "Body of Christ," not the "Body of Christians." Rather than Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female he proclaimed we are to be one in Christ. </div>
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<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">
Pastor and theologian Kenneth Behr shares his own religious evolution from a Catholic altar boy to an evangelical pastor and engages readers with a parallel story of the evolution of Catholicism. </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics Book">Click here<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></a>to buy (via Amazon) the book</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Study-Guide-Participant/dp/150783067X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=150783067X&pd_rd_r=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B&pd_rd_w=Mn0DQ&pd_rd_wg=2AXEU&psc=1&refRID=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics study guide">Click here<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></a>to buy (via Amazon) the study guide; <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Study guide is available free via Kindle for Amazon Prime users</strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="Cover_Book.jpg" height="320" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/faithdialogue/pages/1087/attachments/original/1514668972/Cover_Book.jpg?1514668972" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="213" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Study-Guide-Participant/dp/150783067X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=150783067X&pd_rd_r=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B&pd_rd_w=Mn0DQ&pd_rd_wg=2AXEU&psc=1&refRID=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="Cover_Study.jpg" height="320" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/faithdialogue/pages/1087/attachments/original/1514668980/Cover_Study.jpg?1514668980" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="213" /></a></strong></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-13830919523941498482019-01-17T13:28:00.000-05:002019-02-07T13:29:09.373-05:00Being Intentionally Intentional <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wGve006P7RU/XFx4pZ52HRI/AAAAAAAAnEE/U1QgdaA-IrAVUf7WfwGSxInaWZWhnwPuwCLcBGAs/s1600/intentionally%2Bintentional.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1280" height="163" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wGve006P7RU/XFx4pZ52HRI/AAAAAAAAnEE/U1QgdaA-IrAVUf7WfwGSxInaWZWhnwPuwCLcBGAs/s400/intentionally%2Bintentional.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I always
enjoy seeing intentionality. I think most of us enjoy clarity and intentionality is one of the best ways to communicate clearly. Over time, intentionality is one of the traits or skills I’ve tried to master.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I’m talking
with organizational leaders, I often suggest that intentionality is one of the key
factors of success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, without
being intentional, it’s difficult to even know when you have achieved success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over time, I’ve joined the
adverb to the adjective and often talk about being ‘Intentionally intentional’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not all that unusual to combine words for emphasas as I’ve I have
seen other consultants talking about being committed to commitment or being
earnestly earnest just for example. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Intentionality
however is the granddaddy of them all. People that are non-intentional go
through life just bouncing from one activity to the other and filling their
days with activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While that is a
lazy way to live, it’s a horrible way to lead an organization. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve upset the
applecart often, perhaps that is why I do consulting. While “leadership” is in
vogue for many good reasons, I remind organizational leaders that great leaders
understand that they need managers to be productive and achieve results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Management is ‘intentional’ about planning,
directing, controlling and organizing the company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Intentionally
intentional’ is a skill that once mastered, begins to be useful in so many
ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meetings that are meaningful are
intentional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one wants to attend
meetings that have no agenda, no goal, no intentionality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Organizations that are intentional about
everything from monthly sales to product launches to service and process
improvements will not only rise quickly to the top of the class but also easily
be able to measure the relative success of their efforts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some
suggestions for all leaders: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be more
intentional—identify objectives and direction and specify intended results</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Demonstrate
intentionality by staying focused on desired results and being accountable for
the results. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Become more
intentional in your personal growth.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Inspire others to become more intentional. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Intentionally
intentional’ is a catchy little phrase that can go a long way into turning
regular activities and daily routines into purposeful actions that deliver
intended results. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-72390474511668217392018-12-22T13:47:00.003-05:002018-12-22T13:47:34.717-05:00The Twelve Days of Christmas <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v73i9XSOYfY/XB6GSwBJvRI/AAAAAAAAmcY/hrnVB5Ux6TUv5oiPg5FH2QqOCGobAWSZACEwYBhgL/s1600/12%2Bdays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="747" height="231" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v73i9XSOYfY/XB6GSwBJvRI/AAAAAAAAmcY/hrnVB5Ux6TUv5oiPg5FH2QqOCGobAWSZACEwYBhgL/s320/12%2Bdays.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To many the <b>Twelve Days of Christmas</b> is
just one of the many Christmas songs that are played on radio and has no further
significance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contrary to popular
belief, the Twelve Days of Christmas begins on Christmas Day, December 25<sup>th</sup>
and not before Christmas and also has a fun and important history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Twelve Days of Christmas actually refers to
the days between December 25<sup>th</sup>, Christmas Day (celebrated originally
in the Western-Latin churches) and January 6<sup>th</sup>, the Epiphany (celebrated
originally in the Eastern-Greek churches). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, Christmas is one of the
longest-celebrated holidays as it begins for the shoppers on Black Friday, the
day after Thanksgiving, and for many of the faithful, officially includes
Advent, embracing the four Sundays prior to the 25<sup>th</sup> of December. While
the Epiphany was originally celebrated by the Greek churches as multiple
revelations of God in Christ to the world, today it is primarily remembered as
the celebration of the visit of the three wise men (or kings) to the baby
Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The origin of the 12 Days according to many
sources was an attempted reconciliation between the Latin and Greek churches in
the 6<sup>th</sup> century as a fitting celebration of the birth of
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill Federer, bestselling author
and president of Amerisearch Inc. and producer of “Faith in History” tells the
story that in 567 AD, at the Council of Tours, the church tried to reconcile the
dispute between East and West by defining the days between December 25th and
January 6th as officially and inclusively as the 12 Days of Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill Federer goes on to say that these 12 days
were declared to all be “holy days” so when someone wishes you happy holidays,
they are just using the new pronunciation of holy days as ‘holidays’!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-76834593515679216362018-10-30T17:52:00.000-04:002018-10-30T17:52:32.793-04:00Getting Unstuck<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0H6tO73zr4/W9jR0dBQ8sI/AAAAAAAAlrA/6oZtGcZzr5MOnkBDaOpG1n22is647tfgwCEwYBhgL/s1600/puzzle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1014" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0H6tO73zr4/W9jR0dBQ8sI/AAAAAAAAlrA/6oZtGcZzr5MOnkBDaOpG1n22is647tfgwCEwYBhgL/s320/puzzle.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V0H6tO73zr4/W9jR0dBQ8sI/AAAAAAAAlrA/BKFsYTB7KIMzioG80Qs6pCGoaxikxPMaQCLcBGAs/s1600/puzzle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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All of us have had the experience of getting stuck. Recently we experienced that in simply assembling a puzzle. It started off just fine putting together the borders and then we separated some of the colors. We were excited when we found that there were a specific colors and designs that quickly fit together. But then we got stuck. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Some are up to a challenge of a 5,000-piece puzzle but for others, it’s just too much of a challenge and we find ourselves stuck, We start wondering if we should continue or just put it all back in the box.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Sometimes getting stuck is a bigger issue. Perhaps it’s financial….We lose a job and the next thing we know we are about to lose our car or our home. We go to the doctor for a checkup and he says, “oh oh”….What do you mean oh-oh? Those are words we don’t want our physicians to say.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Perhaps some find themselves in a bad marriage, a bad job, or a bad neighborhood. God wants us to have peace in these situations and can give us that peace. Regardless of our situation, the scriptures remind us that we can be content for God has said,<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)</em></div>
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But sometimes being stuck ends up becoming a true crisis. How are we to find peace in the midst of a crisis? The Apostle Paul tells us that first of all, we need <strong style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to focus on God instead of the situation.</strong> That's easier said than done, but that's what Paul means when he says, <em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). </em> Paul's not saying that we're happy about what we're going through; he's not even saying to rejoice in our difficulties. He's saying rejoice in the Lord, and that's something altogether different.</div>
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It’s possible to have joy in our lives not only when we are stuck but even in the midst of a crisis. True joy is the knowledge that God is in control of our circumstances and allows only that which He permits into our lives. That's why the Apostle and brother of the Lord, James says to consider it joy when a trial comes our way. (James 1:2) </div>
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It's not that the trial brings joy. Instead, it is what God is doing for us and in us through the trial. He is involved in our lives and is working through these situations. When we truly believe that God is involved, we will consider the trial joy and can find peace and rest in the Lord. In truth, our joy is in the Lord and is completely independent of our circumstances. That is why even in the midst of the worst situations we still worship God. That's what Job did when he lost his possessions and his family; he said, <em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21)</em></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-31211780213560638052018-10-11T17:55:00.000-04:002018-10-30T17:59:37.930-04:00Joyful in the midst of struggles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WRUeDskmsRk/W9jTALMHWOI/AAAAAAAAlrQ/bEQ3iGvnZ6gtimon2mdREtkq9zphdHE4ACLcBGAs/s1600/joyful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="500" height="286" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WRUeDskmsRk/W9jTALMHWOI/AAAAAAAAlrQ/bEQ3iGvnZ6gtimon2mdREtkq9zphdHE4ACLcBGAs/s320/joyful.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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“Joyful Joyful” is a hymn written by Henry van Dyke, a US born, Presbyterian minister from Pennsylvania. Van Dyke was born in 1852 and during his lifetime he was considered by many to be one of the leading Presbyterian preachers and religious leaders in the country. </div>
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In addition to achieving fame as a preacher, he was a professor of literature at Princeton University, became a Navy chaplain during World War 1, and represented his country as an ambassador to Holland and Luxembourg under an appointment by President Wilson. He was a prolific writer of devotional material with many of his books being best sellers.</div>
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The hymn, “Joyful Joyful,” written by van Dyke was written to Ludwig van Beethoven’s, Ninth Symphony for the song called “Ode to Joy.” It was Beethoven's last symphony, took him six years to complete and is generally considered to be his greatest.</div>
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Many know that Beethoven by thirty years of age, had become completely deaf. It’s amazing to think that this Ninth Symphony and many others were written without his access to hearing what he composed. A story is told that when the audience erupted with applause at the conclusion of the initial performance of the Ninth Symphony in Vienna, Austria, the singers on the stage had to turn Beethoven around so that he could see the audience standing and applauding.</div>
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Joyful Joyful is the best-known of van Dyke's hymns. The Hymn is based on Psalm 71. The key verse is Psalm 71:23 which reads:</div>
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<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My lips will shout for joy</em></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">when I sing praise to You</em></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">because You have redeemed me. (HCSB)</em></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I like to look at the context of the verse before I begin to teach. In Psalm 71, the psalmist (David) is looking for deliverance. While he is waiting for God to answer him, he reflects on the wonder of God and then shouts for Joy.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I wonder if this song was being written today it could be called “Happy, happy, we adore thee?”</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Today, people will want you to believe the words “joy” and “happy” are interchangeable, when in fact, they are not.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
We may not always be happy, which is subject to my emotions and external stimuli; but, as believers, if we have faith in God, we can always be joyful in the Lord.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Here are some distinct differences:</div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><br />
<ol>
<li><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Happiness is a feeling, but joy is not.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Happiness is fleeting, but joy is everlasting.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Happiness depends on circumstances or other people, but joy is a gift from God.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
‘Happiness’ comes from the root word that we get ‘happening’, as from the circumstances. Joy is from the Greek <em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">GAIO</em><strong style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>meaning to ‘rejoice.’</div>
</li>
<li><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Joy is internal. Happiness is external. You may have a happy time at Disneyworld however when you leave you may lose that happiness.</div>
</li>
</ol>
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The Bible answers the question of how we may have joy despite what is going on in our lives.</div>
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The Apostle Paul faced some very unhappy circumstances. However, in the midst of his struggles he wrote (Phil. 1:18b)<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“…I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”</em></div>
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Paul wrote this to the believers in Philippi while Paul was locked up in prison and facing an uncertain future. The previous four years of Paul’s life were miserable. He spent two years in prison in Caesarea, and then he was put on a ship to go to Rome to appear before Nero (aka, the Caesar known for his cruelty against Christians).</div>
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On the way to Rome Paul is shipwrecked, stranded on an island, bitten by a poisonous snake, survived the winter there, continued on to Rome and spent another two years in prison awaiting trial to be executed.</div>
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Yet in spite of all of these situations, Paul says in Phil. 1:18b “…<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”</em></div>
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What was Paul's secret? How did Paul remain so positive in prison, riding above his troubles, and being joyful in spite of the fact that everything has not turned out the way he planned it?</div>
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The secret I believe was that Paul knew not only knew who he was but more importantly he knew <em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">whose he was </em>…..He was loved by God, called to be an Apostle, a messenger, an Ambassador of God.</div>
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Do you know whose you are? You are called to be a child of God. Because of God, because of whose we are, the Bible says that we are to consider even our trials to be joyful.</div>
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James, the brother of the Lord, wrote in James 1:2-4<span style="color: #b00000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.</em></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
As we persevere through trials, with God’s help, our faith strengthens and matures. By God’s grace we can be happy despite our circumstances.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-13165140591262774552018-09-29T11:06:00.001-04:002018-09-29T11:06:58.993-04:00This is Amazing Grace<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEaN7IPG4As/W6-UlrFuEuI/AAAAAAAAlPI/XEBY-fnXzxUJzSQ-KgUBuBPzk7FdSCLSgCLcBGAs/s1600/amazing%2Bgrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEaN7IPG4As/W6-UlrFuEuI/AAAAAAAAlPI/XEBY-fnXzxUJzSQ-KgUBuBPzk7FdSCLSgCLcBGAs/s400/amazing%2Bgrace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Most of you are familiar with the song,
Amazing Grace. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You may have heard as
well a little about the song writer.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">His
name was John Newton.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">John was born in 1725, his dad was ship
captain and his mom died when he was very young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While still a very young man, his dad had him
became a sailor, serving as just a deck hand but later he became the captain of
the ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not a military
vessel, part of the British Navy but a cargo ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had all kids of cargo including loads of
human cargo, these were slaves, captured, separated from their families and put
in shackles and traded, sold in various ports in South American, North America
and England. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">John’s life was a mess, it is reported that
at times he was so drunk and destitute that even his crew was disgusted with
him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have likely heard the phrase, he
(or she) cussed like a sailor;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it could
easily have been named after John. In fact, it was said of John that he
actually created new words, new profanity that exceeded the limits of verbal
debauchery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Once while piloting the ship, for several
months with a load of lumber, livestock and beeswax, a big storm blew up, threatening
the ship, everyone thought they were going to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So severe was the storm that the otherwise
seaworthy vessel was in danger of sinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A huge wave crashed over the ship and his only friend, who was standing
right next to him, got blown off the ship, never to be seen again. John thought
his life is over, and he found himself in the moment of his greatest trial and
his deepest fear crying out to God, the God that he blasphemed, he called on
and said, Lord, have mercy on us all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Despite much damage to the ship, when they
finally reached a port in Ireland, John began a sincere effort to become right
with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">And so this man, named John Newton, started
reading scripture, and was transformed by the grace of God. And he put pen to
paper and wrote the lyrics in 1772, to the hymn that we now know as Amazing
Grace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">So, let’s pause for a moment on the story
of the man behind the hymn, Amazing grace and turn our attention to the
scriptures, Ephesians chapter two, and this is where Paul pens these passionate
verses about the Amazing grace of God: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And you He
made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now
works in the sons of disobedience</span></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">, <sup> </sup>among
whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,
just as the others.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But God, who is rich in
mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in
trespasses, made us alive together with Christ</span></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (by
grace you have been saved), <sup> </sup>and raised us up together,
and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, <span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"> </span>that
in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. <sup> </sup>For by grace you have been saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, <sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></sup>not of works, lest anyone
should boast. <sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></sup>For
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:1-10)</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Paul is saying something that is actually quite
intuitive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone has a PAST and Paul
addresses that in the very first verses of Ephesians 2 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">A<i>nd you He made alive, who were dead in
trespasses and sins, in which you once walked
according to the </i></span></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><i>course of
this world, </i></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Before you became a follower of Christ, You
WERE something you ARE not today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can
you follow that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">These verses are a little easier to
understand with a more modern translation like the New Living Translation <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Paul says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the
devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the spirit at work in the hearts of
those who refuse to obey God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us
used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our
sinful nature.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Sometime people are in denial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They even deny that they are sinners….following
their passionate desires of the flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">This is what Paul is talking about. We WERE
dead in our trespasses and sins, We were just like the rest of the world, we
followed the evil desires of our heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s who we were. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">What about John Newton? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">John Newton, former sea captain, slave
trader, the man with the foul mouth knew who he WAS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we become a believer, it’s important
to know who were ARE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">It’s said that it’s difficult so save a man
from a burning house when he doesn’t smell the smoke or feel the heat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And Paul
says there is a “BUT” coming<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But God</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">, who
is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we
were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The key here are the words, “BUT GOD” You were dead in your sins
BUT GOD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were lost, you saw no way
out BUT GOD, Your marriage was in trouble, your life was a mess, you couldn’t
kick the habit that was destroying your life BUT GOD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me tell you why PAUL is using this type of language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why Paul says, “BUT GOD”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is PAUL, formerly SAUL who before he was
follower of Christ hated CHRISTIANS so much that he got papers from those in authority,
so he could kill them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">SAUL fortunately had a BUT GOD moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was on the way to Damascus to go and kill
some Christians when suddenly Jesus comes to him as a bright light, and it knocks
Saul off his horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is blinded and
hears Jesus speak to him and say, “SAUL SAUL, why do you persecute ME” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Saul, also called PAUL is then baptized and
begins to preach Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly Paul understands
for the first time the true meaning of all of the Old Testament traditions, the
yearly sacrifices, the feat of the Passover…they all pointed to JESUS. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Paul was lost, BUT GOD….R</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ich in
mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead
through our trespasses, made Paul, made US alive together with Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">John Newton not only had the BUT GOD moment, but John Newton
went on and became a preacher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And he penned the words:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazing grace, how sweet the
sound,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that saved a wretch like me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I once was lost, but now am
found,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Was blind but now I see.</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Twas grace that taught my heart to fear</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And grace my fears relieved</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How precious did that grace appear</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The hour I first believed</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Through many dangers toils and snares</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I have already come</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And grace will lead me home</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>When we've been there ten thousand years</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Bright shining as the sun</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>We've no less days to sing God's praise</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Than when we've first begun </i></span></div>
<h3>
<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h3>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-91183331186271178912018-09-24T20:13:00.000-04:002018-09-24T20:13:44.503-04:00“Joyful Joyful" – Ode to Joy<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zyroMQHr6V4/W6l9I-eZm3I/AAAAAAAAlKc/hxDwnML4eXobspnd7hjlQWNGTVFngvikgCLcBGAs/s1600/psalm%2B71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="500" height="286" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zyroMQHr6V4/W6l9I-eZm3I/AAAAAAAAlKc/hxDwnML4eXobspnd7hjlQWNGTVFngvikgCLcBGAs/s320/psalm%2B71.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Joyful Joyful” is a hymn written by Henry van Dyke, a US
born, Presbyterian minister from Pennsylvania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Van Dyke was born in 1852 and during his lifetime he was considered by
many to be one of the leading Presbyterian preachers and religious leaders in
the country. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In addition to achieving
fame as a preacher, he was a professor of literature at Princeton University,
became a Navy chaplain during World War 1, and represented his country as an
ambassador to Holland and Luxembourg under an appointment by President Wilson.
He was a prolific writer of devotional material with many of his books being
best sellers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The hymn, “Joyful Joyful,” written by van Dyke was
written to Ludwig van Beethoven’s, Ninth Symphony for the song called “Ode to
Joy.” It was Beethoven's last symphony, took him six years to complete and is
generally considered to be his greatest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many know that Beethoven by thirty years of age, had
become completely deaf. It’s amazing to think that this Ninth Symphony and many
others were written without his access to hearing what he composed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A story is told that when the audience
erupted with applause at the conclusion of the initial performance of the Ninth
Symphony in Vienna, Austria, the singers on the stage had to turn Beethoven
around so that he could see the audience standing and applauding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Joyful Joyful is the best-known of van Dyke's hymns. The
Hymn is based on Psalm 71.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key verse
is Psalm 71:23 which reads:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My lips
will shout for joy</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">when
I sing praise to You</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">because
You have redeemed me. (HCSB)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I like to look at the context of the verse
before I begin to teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Psalm 71,
the psalmist (David) is looking for deliverance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While he is waiting for God to answer him, he
reflects on the wonder of God and then shouts for Joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I wonder if this song was being written
today it could be called <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Happy, happy,
we adore thee?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today, people will want you to believe the
words “joy” and “happy” are interchangeable, when in fact, they are not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We may not always be happy, which is
subject to my emotions and external stimuli; but, as believers, if we have
faith in God, we can always be joyful in the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here are some distinct differences: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1) Happiness
is a feeling, but joy is not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2) Happiness
is fleeting, but joy is everlasting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3) Happiness
depends on circumstances or other people, but joy is a gift from God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4) ‘Happiness’
comes from the root word that we get ‘happening’, as from the circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joy is from the Greek <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">GAIO</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>meaning to
‘rejoice.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5) Joy is
internal. Happiness is external. You may have a happy time at Disneyworld
however when you leave you may lose that happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Bible answers the question of how we
may have joy despite what is going on in our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Apostle Paul faced some very unhappy circumstances.
However, in the midst of his struggles he wrote (Phil. 1:18b) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“…I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to
rejoice.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul wrote this to the believers in
Philippi while Paul was locked up in prison and facing an uncertain future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The previous four years of Paul’s life were
miserable. He spent two years in prison in Caesarea, and then he was put on a
ship to go to Rome to appear before Nero (aka, the Caesar known for his cruelty
against Christians).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On the way to Rome Paul is shipwrecked,
stranded on an island, bitten by a poisonous snake, survived the winter there,
continued on to Rome and spent another two years in prison awaiting trial to be
executed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yet in spite of all of these situations,
Paul says in Phil. 1:18b “…<i>I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What was Paul's secret? How did Paul remain
so positive in prison, riding above his troubles, and being joyful in spite of
the fact that everything has not turned out the way he planned it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The secret I believe was that Paul knew not
only knew who he was but more importantly he knew <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">whose he was </i>…..He was loved by God, called to be an Apostle, a
messenger, an Ambassador of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you know whose you are?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are called to be a child of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because of God, because of whose
we are, <span style="color: #252525;">the Bible says that we are to consider even
our trials to be joyful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">James, the brother of the Lord, wrote in
James 1:2-4 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience
various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4
But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and
complete, lacking nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As we persevere through trials, with God’s
help, our faith strengthens and matures. By God’s grace we can be happy despite
our circumstances.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-56258859139048025972018-09-03T10:25:00.000-04:002018-09-03T10:26:50.448-04:00Morning Has Broken<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke_LqCHUvzY/W41DcAcd3gI/AAAAAAAAkys/gjPcMI60Y6EJf-PVHvijFz6W5sLcS5xUgCLcBGAs/s1600/morning%2Bhas%2Bbroen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke_LqCHUvzY/W41DcAcd3gI/AAAAAAAAkys/gjPcMI60Y6EJf-PVHvijFz6W5sLcS5xUgCLcBGAs/s320/morning%2Bhas%2Bbroen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Morning Has Broken" is a hymn that was included in many of the
church hymnals after it first appeared in 1931. The author was Eleanor Farjeon
who lived from 1881 to 1965 and had a number of poems and other literary works
to her credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was relatively
unknown until 1971 when Cat Stevens featured it on his album ”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teaser and Firecast”</i>.<br /><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While many may just enjoy the melody, the hymn embraces both the first day
and the wonder of God’s creation.<br /><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of the lyrics to help us remember and see God’s creation:<br /> <o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Morning has broken like the first morning<br />Blackbird has spoken like the first bird<br />Praise for the singing<br />Praise for the morning<br />Praise for them springing fresh from the world<br />Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven<br />Like the first dewfall on the first grass<br />Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden<br />Sprung in completeness where his feet pass<br />Mine is the sunlight<br />Mine is the morning<br />Born of the one light Eden saw play<br />Praise with elation, praise ev'ry morning<br />God's recreation of the new day<br />Morning has broken like the first morning<br />Blackbird has spoken like the first bird<br />Praise for the singing<br />Praise for the morning<br />Praise for them springing fresh from the world<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The ‘first morning’ in the first verse is a reference to Genesis 1 and the
creation of the universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /> </span>All to often we take God’s creation for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We enjoy it and use it but fail often to
fully embrace the wonder of creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even more infrequent is the reference to God’s creation in the
media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there was a moment back
on December 24, Christmas Eve, 1968, as the spacecraft Apollo 8 orbited the
desolate surface of the moon. The Apollo craft carried a three-astronaut crew —
Commander Frank Borman, Pilot James Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William
Anders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Back in 1968 these historical
space flights were the subject of national and international news as we saw the
first humans to travel beyond Earth’s orbit, to travel to the moon for the very
first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Christmas Eve, with the
earth in view out of the porthole, a bright and beautiful marble in the
darkness of space, the three astronauts on board chose to read the opening
verses of the book of Genesis, the words of Holy Scripture describing the
wonder of creation:<br /> <o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">“In the beginning God created the heavens and
the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the earth was formless
and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the
Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said,
“Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was
good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light
“day,” and He called the darkness “night.” Evening came and then morning: the
first day.” (Gen. 1:1-5).</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>Have you ever thought what it would have been like to be there at creation?
It’s almost incomprehensible to read that first there was nothing, and then
there was something. The Bible says God “calls into existence the things that
do not exist” (Rom. 4:17). “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed
by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things
which are visible” (Heb. 11:3). The Latin term for that is creation ex nihilo
(out of nothing).</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The second stanza closes with a reference to God walking in Eden through
the garden, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">where his feet pass.”</i>
This is an echo of Genesis 3:8: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“And they
heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.”<br /> <o:p></o:p></i><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>The scriptures teach us that we should rejoice in each new day. In Psalm
118:24 we read the words, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“This is the
day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”</i><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>This is a verse that I have opened our worship services with. We call
people to worship with these words, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This
is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”<br /> <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Every single day is a gift from God. Every day God continues His work
of Creation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that we too often forget the miraculous and mighty
works of creation in the hand of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
said we use all of God’s creation but we don’t remember it is a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daily, the works of God are the natural
rhythms in which creation occurs.” Bonhoeffer’s words help us know,
recognize and reflect how every day is a gift from God and evidence of the
Creator’s ongoing work of creation.<br /><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>Listen to some of these words from the song again, this time seeing God’s
hand in creation. The first verse says, “Morning has broken like the
first morning, blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Praise for the
singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them springing fresh
from the Word!” The last verse adds, “Mine is the sunlight! Mine is
the morning born of the one light Eden saw play! Praise with elation,
praise every morning, God’s re-creation of the new day!”<br /><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>I have a feeling that if we could begin each morning reciting Psalm 118:24
and maybe singing the words to “Morning Has Broken” it would help us start each
day with a positive attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
the day offering praise to the Giver of all good gifts and we would see the
goodness of God, not only in all his creation but in all of the people around
us as well.</span></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-67233564480677820712018-07-25T22:00:00.001-04:002018-07-25T22:00:34.860-04:00The Catholic Mass and Agape Feast<div class="ember-view" id="ember1189" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Most of us are aware that all Christian Communion practices have their beginnings in the Last Supper of Jesus and His apostles. That Last Supper was actually a Seder meal, and many contemporary Jews would recognize many of the elements—the sharing of the cup, the blessing, the breaking of bread, the sop that was handed to Judas—as part of their Passover celebrations.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The New Testament’s book of Acts 2:42 records that early Christians would gather together to worship, pray, and teach. In the years after the church was empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, there were two different but similar customs or early sacraments that are closely related to the more contemporary practice of Communion. These two sacraments could also be called meals, as one was the Lord’s Supper and the other was the Agape feast.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 1 Corinthians 11:20–22, the apostle Paul was critical of the church because they were getting too rowdy and even drunk at what others would later call the Agape love feast: Therefore, when you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s Supper. For at the meal, each one eats his own supper ahead of others. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on the church of God and embarrass those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you for this! (HCSB)</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Many scholars believe the early church would gather weekly for a common meal, often shared in the homes or house churches. Each meal would include a blessing, the breaking of bread, and a distribution of Communion. Over time this Communion (a Greek word for “fellowship”) became the Eucharist (another Greek word, meaning “grateful” or “thanksgiving”) and the central focus of the weekly gathering.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Piecing various historical records together indicates that this weekly common meal, sometimes called the Agape feast, included the distribution of Communion. However, independent of the Agape feast, a separate liturgy developed for Communion that did not include a meal. The Agape feast was truly a feast (think potluck with wine), and, probably because of the abuses similar to those mentioned by Paul hundreds of years earlier, it disappeared completely by the fourth century.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The apostle Jude also mentioned these Agape (meaning “love”) feasts and some problematic individuals. He wrote that some people were “spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves” (Jude 1:12, NKJV). Weekly celebrations, services, and the beginnings of what Roman Catholics now know as the Mass were anything but uniform throughout the early church. Cultural differences, location, language, and distance all had impacts on the way these early Christians would relate to each other, gather, and worship.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">History records that the head of some of the local churches were called presidents, though in some locations, and over time, the heads of the church were referred to by the Greek words presbuteros and episkopos, typically translated as “elders” and “bishops.” Typically the duty of breaking bread and distributing Communion was the duty of these leaders of the church. Both history and the Bible give us indications that the early Christian community would utilize primarily Jewish prayers of thanksgiving on the Sabbath in connection with the breaking of bread and the distribution of Communion, which was their Last Supper memorial. As the believers in Jesus were removed from the Jewish houses of worship, they began to meet officially on Sundays, which was called the Lord’s Day. The apostle John, writing in Revelation 1:10, said, “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.”</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By the end of the first century, Christians began to identify their weekly gatherings as pure sacrifice as opposed to the public sacrifices to the gods, which they referred to as offerings to demons. As the apostolic community was no longer on the scene, the church would use, read, and reflect on the writings of the first-generation leaders, including the writings of Paul and the sacred writings that would become the New Testament. Various patterned prayers, singing, invocations, and remembrances were added that ultimately developed into the beginnings of what is recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as the liturgy of the word.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The concept of the bread and wine being the body and blood of Jesus was acknowledged sufficiently in the second and third centuries that the Romans accused the Christians of being cannibals. There has been much controversy in the church surrounding the actual presence of Christ in the memorial service that we know as the Eucharist or Communion. We will not try to settle this controversy, but we can look at some history and some practical comments related to the development of the doctrine. History records that over time, theologians identified the Eucharist as both a memorial ritual as well as a sacrificial ritual. The Eucharist was said to be both the reenactment of the Last Supper along with a strong identification of the bread and wine with the body and blood of Jesus.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The question that arises is whether the bread and wine were symbolic and a memorial or whether there was a sacrifice and a transubstantiation— the Catholic Church term indicating the bread and wine become literally the body and blood of Jesus. By the fourth century, some of the modern teachings of the Roman Catholic Church had evolved, but not with the clarity that many would suppose. For example, we have writings by both St. Augustine (bishop in Hippo, Africa) as well as Cyril (archbishop of Jerusalem) related to the Eucharist. Augustine said Jesus is present in the Eucharist “per modum symboli,” or symbolically. (35) However, Cyril declared that in the Eucharist, Christians “offer up Christ sacrificed for our sins.” (36) Obviously there was nothing symbolic about the way Cyril viewed the Eucharist.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From my perspective the issue is not about the presence of Christ but the ability of a man, a Roman Catholic priest, to be able to transform supernaturally, call down, or have the power to change bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ. This is a role or a power that other ordained clergy or pastors of various other churches do not claim to have or believe is appropriate. The issue of symbolic versus actual is an argument that may not need to be voiced. Symbols are often actual representations. For example, the national seal of a country on an embassy in a foreign land indicates not symbolically but in actuality that the embassy is a part of that nation, even though it may be thousands of miles from the homeland. The American flag is not a mere symbol but represents the country. That is why patriots will come to the rescue of the flag that is burning or being dishonored in some way. Are a married couple’s wedding rings merely symbols? If they were, why would they be one of the central elements in a wedding ceremony and thought to be literally priceless if lost or stolen?</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Misplace your wedding ring someday, and see if your spouse thinks it was just symbolic.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Both the traditions as well as the teachings of the church changed considerably over the first few centuries. By the fourth century, the first Christian emperor, Constantine, eliminated the persecution of the Christians, which led to the rapid expansion of Christianity in the empire. Around that time the local pastors of the church were first being called priests, a term that would never have been used for the leaders of the church at the time of the apostles. Priests were nonexistent in the church for the first few hundred years, but priest became the popular term for the clergy that were ordained and commissioned. As the priests took on this specialized role, the laity took an increasingly diminished role in spiritual affairs.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Soon the clergy started dressing differently from the rest of the church, and Latin became the official language of the church. Soon those who didn’t speak Latin (including nearly all of Europe after the fall of Rome in the fifth century) couldn’t read the Bible or understand the prayers and liturgy of the Mass.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There was a great amount of diversity in traditions and practices in the church. However, by the seventh century, Pope Gregory declared that the Latin Mass used in Rome was the standard, and it became the basis for what Roman Catholics knew as the Roman rite up until the time of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the Middle Ages, the sacraments were fully defined, the power of the church became absolute, and the sacrificial aspect of the Eucharist grew in importance while the Last Supper and meal symbolism diminished. The spiritual divide between the clergy and laity widened. The power of the priesthood was thought to be essential in the celebration and the sacrifice of the Mass. For the most part, the general public became merely spectators to an intentionally mysterious drama that the priest performed while wearing special robes and standing before an altar.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Eucharistic prayers, consecration, and Communion became the central part of the worship service. However, the people rarely participated, as they were reminded frequently of their sins and shortcomings. The importance of receiving Communion became less important for the laity than their witness at the Mass of the consecration of the bread and wine. This led to the practice of worshipping and adoring the Eucharistic Lord (the specialized round wafer, called a host, from the Latin hostia, meaning “an offering, usually an animal”). Because so few people were receiving Holy Communion, the Fourth Lateran Council (AD 1215) required that Catholics must receive Communion at least once a year.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The sixteenth century brought about the Protestant Reformation. The pope convened the Council of Trent (1545–1563) to correct some of the abuses that had crept into the church. It also defended some Catholic beliefs that the reformers attacked. In the area of the Eucharist, the church fathers reaffirmed the real presence of Jesus. They also defended the sacrificial nature of the Mass against the reformers. In addition the Roman Missal was published, which brought uniformity to the official ritual of the Mass. The Roman Catholic Church used it for the next four hundred years.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Most Catholics continued to avoid going to Communion, believing they were unworthy, until 1910, when Pope Pius X permitted children who attained the age of reason to receive Holy Communion and encouraged frequent Communion by all the faithful. More than anything else, it was Pius X’s reforms of the Eucharist that had the greatest impact on the daily lives of Catholics. With his decree, “Sacra Tridentina Synodus” (1905), Pius emphasized that Holy Communion was not a reward for good behavior but, as the Council of Trent noted, “the antidote whereby we may be freed from daily faults and be preserved from mortal sins.” In another decree, “Quam Singulari” (1910), the pope laid out guidelines on the age of children who are to be admitted to Holy Communion. In the past, children—or better, adolescents—received their first Communions when they were between the ages of twelve and fourteen. Since Pius X’s edict, they were more likely around seven years of age, often in the second grade, as I was at St. Joseph’s School.</em></div>
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The text above from pages 110-118 in <em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Communion and the Mass- Chapter 20 of </em><strong style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"</em></strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0073b1; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roaming Catholics"</em></strong></a><em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Was Peter the first Pope? Should Christians pray the Rosary? Should priests be married? These are among the provocative topics addressed in Roaming Catholics: Ending the wandering to embrace the wonder" </div>
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This thoroughly researched book presents the development of the Catholic Church in an engaging way to help Christians understand their common history shared by all. The apostle Paul referred to the church as the "Body of Christ," not the "Body of Christians." Rather than Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female he proclaimed we are to be one in Christ. </div>
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Pastor and theologian Kenneth Behr shares his own religious evolution from a Catholic altar boy to an evangelical pastor and engages readers with a parallel story of the evolution of Catholicism. </div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-88608895436469246652018-06-06T20:18:00.000-04:002018-06-06T20:18:15.854-04:00History of Baptism <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JPx4jMhMWM/Wxh5KXLzvzI/AAAAAAAAjL4/hxrly2N75vk1HPW1Av92Zy2dfmr2Db2oQCLcBGAs/s1600/baptism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="512" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JPx4jMhMWM/Wxh5KXLzvzI/AAAAAAAAjL4/hxrly2N75vk1HPW1Av92Zy2dfmr2Db2oQCLcBGAs/s320/baptism.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The history of baptism in the church is interesting and typically one of the most controversial teachings. Today there is a great deal of emphasis in many denominations on baptism, and over the centuries people have been baptized in many different ways.</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bible actually has a lot to say about baptism. We see in Matthew, chapter three, the coming of John the Baptist, a fi rst cousin of Jesus, calling people to repentance and baptizing them in the River Jordan.</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The word baptize is from the Greek word baptizo and means “to dip or immerse under water.” However, the word also can mean “to clean with water.” The Greek word was used, for example, in the way cloth was dyed: it would be immersed under water with pigment. Another example would be how a blacksmith would baptizo a piece of hot iron in water to cool it quickly and therefore make it stronger.</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Jewish followers of John the Baptist, who were called to repent of their sins, already knew a lot about baptism. In the Jewish culture, ritual washings, or baptisms, were also one of the final steps for Gentile converts to Judaism. They would be baptized (called a mikvah) “into Moses” by symbolically recalling the crossing by the Israelites of the Red Sea.</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the early church people who were converted “into Christ” were baptized typically by being immersed in water. We know this because we have historical evidence from the time of the apostles, including excavations of baptismals that are deep enough for an adult to be immersed fully. We also know from first-century writings that the bishops could grant permission for water to be poured only if there wasn’t sufficient or deep water available.</em> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the first few centuries, new Christian believers would receive special instruction for an entire year. These new believers were called Catechumens, and after their instruction the church would have a huge celebration, typically right around Palm Sunday, when these new believers were baptized, given white robes, and became full members of the church. </em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At that time baptism was a rite of initiation with great symbolic meaning, but it was not directly tied to the forgiveness of sins. Many Catechumens, for example, who were not yet baptized went to the Roman Coliseum and faced martyrdom confident of their salvation.</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, by the fourth century, Christians generally associated baptism with the forgiveness of all sins. As a result many people would delay their baptisms to gain maximum effect and wash away many years of sin. Emperor Constantine the Great, for example, delayed his baptism until his deathbed. The leaders of the church saw a great moral danger in delaying baptism, and fortunately for them another teaching—that baptism was necessary for salvation—became popular. St. Augustine (AD 354–430) had written, “How many rascals are saved by being baptized on their deathbeds? And how many sincere Catechumens die unbaptized, and are thus lost forever!”(15)</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As a result of these dilemmas and Augustine’s teaching, two new Catholic doctrines—the doctrine of necessity (that baptism is necessary) and the doctrine of forgiveness (that baptism forgives original sin)—officially emerged. Since the mortality rate for infants was very high, soon babies were being baptized within a few days of birth. By the end of the fourth century, baptism, as an initial step of initiation into the church, split into two sacraments: baptism for infants and then a later confirmation for adolescents and adults, replacing what was typically an adult baptism via immersion that accomplished both rites. In the Eastern or Orthodox Church, babies are still baptized by immersion rather than being sprinkled, or by having water poured over their foreheads.</em> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By the sixteenth century, many of the reformers began to look at infant baptism in light of both early church history as well as the teachings in the Bible and encouraged each other to be baptized again. These Anabaptists, as they were called, restarted the practice in the church of what we know today as believers’ baptism, which is practiced in many of our Evangelical churches.</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Not all Christians baptize the same way, nor do all Christian denominations recognize each other’s baptisms. However, many Evangelical Christians believe that water baptism identifies the believer with the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as we are commanded in Matthew 28:19 to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Further, water baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. </em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></em></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Rom. 6:3–4).</em></blockquote>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While some may believe baptism is only symbolic, we also need to remember it was one of the two commonly recognized sacraments of the church. Historically sacraments were viewed as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given to us, ordained by Christ himself.” (16) Baptism is the manner by which the church fulfills the commandment of Jesus to “make disciples…and baptize them” as well as for the believer to identify himself or herself with his or her new life in Christ.</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
The text above is from pages 44-46 in Baptism, Chapter 9 <em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of </em><strong style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"</em></strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0073b1; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roaming Catholics"</em></strong></a><em style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia,Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 19.4px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Was Peter the first Pope? Should Christians pray the Rosary? Should priests be married? These are among the provocative topics addressed in Roaming Catholics: Ending the wandering to embrace the wonder.<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
This thoroughly researched book presents the development of the Catholic Church in an engaging way to help Christians understand their common history shared by all. The apostle Paul referred to the church as the "Body of Christ," not the "Body of Christians." Rather than Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female he proclaimed we are to be one in Christ. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Pastor and theologian Kenneth Behr shares his own religious evolution from a Catholic altar boy to an evangelical pastor and engages readers with a parallel story of the evolution of Catholicism. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0073b1; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Click here </a>to buy (via Amazon) the book<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica Neue,Fira Sans,Ubuntu,Oxygen,Oxygen Sans,Cantarell,Droid Sans,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Lucida Grande,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Source Serif Pro,serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Study-Guide-Participant/dp/150783067X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=150783067X&pd_rd_r=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B&pd_rd_w=Mn0DQ&pd_rd_wg=2AXEU&psc=1&refRID=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 115, 177); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0073b1; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Click here </a>to buy (via Amazon) the study guide; <strong style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Study guide is available free via Kindle for Amazon Prime users</strong></div>
</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-88070296788782457132018-05-30T19:51:00.000-04:002018-05-30T19:51:10.235-04:00Water Turned into WIne<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdYoBcT7aA0/Ww84E1kxgTI/AAAAAAAAjGc/L8MJM_XTBRAud-_bGW9lUWpAilaoxV6kACLcBGAs/s1600/Water%252BInto%252BWine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdYoBcT7aA0/Ww84E1kxgTI/AAAAAAAAjGc/L8MJM_XTBRAud-_bGW9lUWpAilaoxV6kACLcBGAs/s320/Water%252BInto%252BWine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "&quot", serif; font-size: 16.5pt;">We’ve been going through the Gospel of John at the Windsor and
just started the second chapter where Jesus and his disciples go the Wedding in
Cana of Galilee.</span><span style="font-family: "&quot", serif; font-size: 16.5pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most people know this story and it’s a great opportunity to talk
about Jesus at the very beginning of his ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these studies, in the Gospels as well as
the other books of the Bible, it’s often thought that it is easy to ask some
general questions with the primary objective of getting a conversation going:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What did Mary ask Jesus to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why do you think they ran out of wine?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What do you think is the purpose of this miracle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think all the water was turned into
wine? </span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The idea is that when people participate they learn and grow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, just asking questions and letting people come up with the
answers on what they believe the scriptures mean, can be problematic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus rebuked both those who didn’t
understand the scriptures as well as those who twisted the words of Scripture
or misapplied them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The approach I take is to start with the general assumption that
all of the Gospel of John has one primary purpose. That purpose was stated by
the Apostle John in John 20:31 “<i>But these are written that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in
His name”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second step in the approach is the more difficult both in
application as well as in definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It includes the idea of taking the scriptures ‘literally.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Typically when someone asks if you take the Bible literally, you
can get caught between the two extremes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of the sayings in the Bible are obviously meant to be figurative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus says he is the door but He obviously is
not made of wood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, assuming that the Bible is allegory
or metaphor means you can make it say anything you want. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The best way to understand the Bible and more importantly to teach
it is to take a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Literal, Grammatical and
Historical</i> approach to what is called exegesis, or finding the true meaning
of what the author was saying through the inspiration of the Spirit of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Typically, people depart from the more literal meaning of the
verses not because they are obviously figurative but because they are amazing,
mighty and fantastic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Adam and Eve, Noah and the flood, the plagues of Egypt, the Virgin
Birth and even the Resurrection of Jesus are Bible events that are to be taken
literally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus made a reference to Jonah obviously because He believed it
to be literally true as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He compared
Jonah’s few days in the belly of a great fish to His own death and
resurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the same way, some think it amazing, mighty and fantastic to
think that Jesus would return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
the prophecies regarding Israel are being fulfilled in our day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
read the Bible and use a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Literal, Grammatical
and Historical</i> approach to the prophecies of His second coming, there is
much to be excited about what may be happening in the very near future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-10487334834787403932018-05-21T09:56:00.001-04:002018-05-21T09:56:30.546-04:00Measuring Spiritual Growth
<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aMeQ5tVhPJg/WwLN_wwVolI/AAAAAAAAiq4/M2fzaXLypjQT8377eAgVsB3guEYWTfc3gCLcBGAs/s1600/how-to-grow-apples-154444190-1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aMeQ5tVhPJg/WwLN_wwVolI/AAAAAAAAiq4/M2fzaXLypjQT8377eAgVsB3guEYWTfc3gCLcBGAs/s320/how-to-grow-apples-154444190-1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Is it a basketball game if no one keeps score? <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I remember coaching our church’s basketball
team for children. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was a mixed team
with girls and boys including my son, all under 9 years old.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we played our first game I learned that
we weren’t going to keep score.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span>Someone
had decided that it wasn’t “Christian” to be that competitive.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of us dads found that not keeping score
just didn’t create the excitement or enthusiasm that a soccer, football or
basketball game typically generated.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Fortunately there were plenty of Capri Sun drinks to keep the enthusiasm up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One of the advantages of not keeping score was that we didn’t
need a ‘mercy’ rule, which mercifully often ended some of my games back when I
was only nine. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Some of that thinking that Christians shouldn’t keep score
has limited the churches ability to measure spiritual growth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Spiritual growth however should be a primary
objective of our churches and without some measuring rod, some metric that can be
employed, how do we know if we are effective?</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Metrics are used in churches to keep track of things like
attendance and giving.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Churches even keep
track of more spiritual matters like Baptisms and commitments to Christ.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We know however that these activities don’t
necessarily equate to true spiritual growth. Activity and attendance doesn’t
necessarily parallel a change in the heart or the development of
Christ-likeness. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Some significant attempts at spiritual measurements have
been interesting and well documented.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Willow Creek conducted their ‘Reveal’ study in 2004 that analyzed over
6,000 extensive attendee surveys.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They
reached out to hundreds of people that had left Willow Creek the previous
years.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then in 2007 an additional 5,000
surveys were completed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span>Willow Creek invested a considerable amount of money to
conduct a very comprehensive and well-documented measurement of spiritual
growth and satisfaction at their churches.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>One of the preliminary and primary finding was that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0px;">Involvement in church
activities does not predict or drive long-term spiritual growth.<a href="file:///C:/Users/kenne/ShareFile/Personal%20Folders/Faith%20Dialogue/Articles,%20lesson%20plans/Articles/Measuring%20spiritual%20growth.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">[1]</span></b></span></span></span></a></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></b></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0px;">If we take
the findings of the Willow’s Reveal study as a starting point and apply some
standard statistical probability analysis methodology I believe we have the
opportunity to create a measurement tool that can give us some highly
significant metrics.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One of the first
hurdles that we have to address is that m</span>easurement and metrics are
about identifying both positive and negative trends. They are not designed to
measure absolutes. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In addition, a
metric is only meaningful when used in comparisons and over time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>An individual score or metric is meaningless
without a comparison. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
For example, a quality rating for a hotel or a restaurant of
5 stars may be better than one with 4 stars but does not guarantee that the 5
star is perfect nor that the difference between the five star and four star is
observable. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Hotel and motel four and five star ratings are based on
things like hospitality, cleanliness, amenities, lobby hours and how long the
concierge or room service may be available.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Churches need to find other classifications and qualities to
measure.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Willow’s reveal study said that
activity and attendance isn’t an appropriate “stand-alone’ measure so what
should we use? </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The Apostle Paul talks about measuring Spiritual growth in
the 5<sup>th</sup> Chapter of Galatians.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He juxtaposes the acts of the flesh in 5:19-21 (sexual immorality,
impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy,
fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy drunkenness, and
orgies) with the fruit of the Spirit in 5:22&23 (love, joy, peace,
forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Rather than measure attendance or even more subjective
things like satisfaction with the church, the services, music or pastor, why wouldn’t
churches measure what actually matters? </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Do we really want to measure whether people are ‘happy’ with
the sermons, the music or the pastor?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
apostle Paul also said that “Godliness with Contentment is great gain,” (1 Tim
6:6) but from my perspective, contentment without godliness is just spiritual apathy
or complacency. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
In a statistically conducted survey there are some factors
that determine whether the results of a survey are reliable.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If they are reliable, that means that the
results of the survey are adequate to be able to predict that if EVERYONE was
surveyed, the results would be similar.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
are used to hearing comments like “95% confident and “within the margin of error”
which is a reference to what is known as a confidence interval. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
If churches could find a simple, easily repeatable survey
that could consistently be used to determine if people are growing spiritually
– if people were becoming more Christ-like with regards to exemplifying the
fruit of the spirit described by Paul, would that be something worthwhile?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The answer is yes, absolutely, so let’s go a
little further into the methodology that should be employed.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
People that work in the field of statistics know that the
questions that are used and the sample selection employed are very important in
determining the usefulness of the data and responses that are collected.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A relatively few number of respondents
(i.e. as little as 322 out of a population of 2,000 ) can give you a 95% degree
of confidence of the results within + or – 5 points) </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
While the sample size is important but easily attainable,
the degree of randomness or ‘lack-of-bias’ in the sample selection is critical. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
For example, in looking at church attendees, sampling or
surveying 2,000 people and collecting only a few hundred responses could easily
have a significant response bias. Perhaps it is the people that are most
involved or connected to the church that respond.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Perhaps those that are the most apathetic or
least spiritual chose to not turn in the survey.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
As a result, it is more important to use some random method
to select the survey recipients and ensure that a higher percentage of them
return their surveys.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A high response
rate is essential in legitimizing a survey’s result.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Typically, this is done by 1) limiting the
number of questions; 2) making it easy to complete and return the survey and 3)
providing encouragements and incentives to ensure a high response rate. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Taking Paul’s characteristics of Spiritual maturity (i.e.
the Fruit of the Spirit) and keeping the survey brief with just a few
qualitative questions a survey can be designed that would be very useful.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The church should keep it easy to administer
and likely to be returned.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Many studies
have shown that there is very little bias introduced when only electronic
surveys (as opposed to telephone and mail) are used since so many people now
have access via home and office computers and their hand held cellular
devices.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Providing incentives including
discount coupons are excellent ways to encourage participation and adequate sampling. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Some of the questions that could be asked (five point
response scales are common) would include: Do you find joy in knowing Jesus has
a plan for your life?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you worry or
find yourself worrying often about the future? (this being a negative response
question).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Are you a person that takes
difficulties and trials in stride, knowing that the Lord can use all things for
our good? Do people think of you as being a peacemaker?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Are you faithful in all things, particularly
in keeping your commitments to the Lord and your family?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Are you kind and tenderhearted?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you consider yourself to be a person of
faith? </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Questions related to spiritual growth could include: Are you
engaged in daily prayer (other than mealtimes)?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Do you have an interest in fasting, refraining from certain types of foods
or pleasures for spiritual gain?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Are you
a good steward of your life, deliberately managing God’s resources for His
glory? Do you read your Bible regularly?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Are you a good Christian witness, taking the opportunity to share with
others the hope that you have within you? <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you find yourself growing in faith,
becoming more Christ-like? </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
One individual survey result will not provide any definitive
metric that the church can use.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>However,
if the same survey is administered to the same demographic over a period of
time, there are likely trends that will be spotted.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Since it is important that the survey
questions remain constant over a period of time to be able to compare results,
churches should be careful in selecting the limited number of questions carefully
ensuring that they are the types of qualities they want measured and worded in
a way that is clear and provides consistent responses. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Churches can and should be using metrics to determine if
they are effective in producing spiritual growth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rising attendance and healthy finances are
possible indicators of health but quantitative surveys can produce meaningful
data that will help answer the question. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>(Faith Dialogue, Inc., a nonprofit faith-based ministry in Florida has developed a Spiritual Growth Survey and can assist any church in implementing this type of measurement of spiritual growth. Contact them at www.faithdialogue.org)</b></div>
<b></b><b></b><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br clear="all" /></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/kenne/ShareFile/Personal%20Folders/Faith%20Dialogue/Articles,%20lesson%20plans/Articles/Measuring%20spiritual%20growth.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">Greg L. Hawkins
and Cally Parkinson, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reveal: Where Are
You?</i> (Barrington, IL: Willow Creek Resources, 2007).</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-85075765784094463742018-04-08T09:54:00.000-04:002018-04-08T09:54:38.703-04:00Catholics vs. Protestants <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JW6QNirFE-w/Wsod4Hz8bZI/AAAAAAAAh5w/6bYlQ6sLQ8MosHyWDQrCGD06ns6dxfYtwCLcBGAs/s1600/nuns%2Bof%2Bst.%2Bjoseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="693" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JW6QNirFE-w/Wsod4Hz8bZI/AAAAAAAAh5w/6bYlQ6sLQ8MosHyWDQrCGD06ns6dxfYtwCLcBGAs/s320/nuns%2Bof%2Bst.%2Bjoseph.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In many families, people believe they can’t attend events at churches other than their own denominations. The Roman Catholic Church formalized this idea a number of times over the years, including in the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism, which was first published in 1885.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Catholics were not the first to put together a catechism. The lack of religious instruction that both the clergy and laity had dismayed Martin Luther, and he published Luther’s Large Catechism in 1529.</div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Roman Catholic Church was slow to respond to Luther. After the Council of Trent, however, there was a renewed emphasis on education, particularly for the clergy. While early Catholic catechisms going back to the seventeenth century were for the clergy to read, not the laity, the Baltimore Catechism had an edition just for students.</div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />My first Baltimore Catechism was probably a condensed version for elementary students. I remember it was green, and I kept it in my desk at school. It was likely an updated version of the original, but it still seemed old even back in the 1960s. The Baltimore Catechism consisted of lessons, a few prayers to memorize, and a number of questions.</div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The original catechism is now in the public domain, so I was able to find a couple of the questions and answers that dealt with this issue of visiting other churches, including joining a Cub Scout pack.</div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Q 205. How does a Catholic sin against faith?</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A. A Catholic sins against faith by apostasy, heresy, indifferentism,</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">and by taking part in non-Catholic worship.</em></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Q 206. Why does a Catholic sin against faith by taking</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">part in non-Catholic worship?</em></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A. A Catholic sins against faith by taking part in non-</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Catholic worship when he intends to identify himself</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">with a religion he knows is defective.</em></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For hundreds of years, both Catholics and Protestants have taught that it is sinful, harmful, and dangerous to get too close to each other. <span style="color: #b00000;"></span>This is so unfortunate, as there is so much we can learn from each other.</div>
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The Bible clearly tells us there is only one church, with Jesus as the head. In the Gospel of John, Jesus prayed for unity. He was praying for His disciples, but He included all of us:</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">shall believe on me through their word; That they all may</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">have sent me. And the glory, which you gave me, I have</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">(John 17:20–21, NASB)</em></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Many can relate to this struggle between Catholics and Protestants.</div>
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Religious persecution is no laughing matter, as the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) devastated much of Europe, and Germany lost literally one half of all of its young men in battles and the resulting pestilence and disease. This was not a war against barbarian pagans but with Christians drawing swords against other Christians. These were nations and kingdoms and cities led by kings who believed in God, understood the Trinity, embraced the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for their sins as a historical fact, yet found it appropriate to wage war against others who believed the same.</div>
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The text above is from pages 2-4 in<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> The Catholics and the Publics</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">- Chapter 1 of<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics">Roaming Catholics"</a></strong> Picture at the top is Dominican nuns arriving at St. Joseph’s School in the early 1960s. Photograph in the public domain.</em></div>
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Was Peter the first Pope? Should Christians pray the Rosary? Should priests be married? These are among the provocative topics addressed in Roaming Catholics: Ending the wandering to embrace the wonder" </div>
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This thoroughly researched book presents the development of the Catholic Church in an engaging way to help Christians understand their common history shared by all. The apostle Paul referred to the church as the "Body of Christ," not the "Body of Christians." Rather than Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female he proclaimed we are to be one in Christ. </div>
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Pastor and theologian Kenneth Behr shares his own religious evolution from a Catholic altar boy to an evangelical pastor and engages readers with a parallel story of the evolution of Catholicism. </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics Book">Click here<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></a>to buy (via Amazon) the book</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Study-Guide-Participant/dp/150783067X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=150783067X&pd_rd_r=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B&pd_rd_w=Mn0DQ&pd_rd_wg=2AXEU&psc=1&refRID=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics study guide">Click here<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></a>to buy (via Amazon) the study guide; <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Study guide is available free via Kindle for Amazon Prime users</strong></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-78521181407370458092018-03-25T18:37:00.000-04:002018-03-25T18:37:27.563-04:00Celibacy - A Personal Choice or Requirement? <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-left: 30px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Today the issue of celibacy is a popular topic with both the uninformed and the opinionated. In the United States as well as in many nations around the globe, the Catholic Church has had to face very serious issues of child sexual abuse allegations and convictions. Some connect the alleged crimes to the church’s practice of celibacy. The thinking is that somehow celibacy creates pent-up sexual frustration that is then released through criminal conduct.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">However, while the child sexual abuse allegations are very serious and no child should be subjected to abuse, there is no evidence I have found that priests are more likely to abuse children than are other groups of men. The Center for Sex Offender Management (CSOM) has stated repeatedly that there is no profile of a typical sex offender. (32) If that is true, then child sex offenders can be male or female, married, divorced, or single. Research indicates that the majority of the offenders are minors themselves, typically older boys preying on younger boys and girls. It follows, therefore, that only a very small percentage of these sex offenders would be frustrated because of celibacy.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The news reports of clergy sexual abuse, just like other stories of infidelity, theft, power struggles, or any kind of abuse within the church, have wounded the church and created a blemish on the desirability of a career or vocational calling to the priesthood. Many people believe that celibacy has contributed greatly to the decline in the number of priests.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">In total the number of Catholic priests in the United States dropped from nearly 59,000 in 1975 to about 41,500 last year. (33) </em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">These issues, coupled with other demographic and macro trends in the Catholic Church, have led to a serious decline in the number of men going into the priesthood. The requirement of celibate priests in the church is ancient, meaning </em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">the advocacy of celibacy for both priests and monks dates back centuries. The picture at the beginning of this chapter is of Origen, who was born at the end of the second century in Alexandria, Egypt. The Alexandrian school was one of the first advocates of monastic living, including a very ascetic lifestyle that was void of all material comforts. Origen was famous for being a devoted Christian, an early theologian, a heretic, and an early advocate for celibacy (not all at the same time). So passionate was he about his own celibacy that he reportedly castrated himself.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The celibacy of the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church is a discipline, not a doctrine. This means it can be changed, though there doesn’t seem to be much movement at the top indicating it will change anytime soon. The definition of celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church is also slightly different in that it strictly refers to the requirement that their priests remain unmarried. This is not at all to indicate that the Roman Catholic Church is not interested in purity or chastity, as there are vows that all priests take regarding the sins of the flesh. There has been much research into the origins of the celibate priest movement. Most of the apostles were married, Peter was married, and seven popes were married. Likely the teachings of Gnosticism that material things and sexual relations even in marriage were evil led to the teachings on celibacy.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The first recorded requirement of celibacy was issued at the Synod of Elvira (circa AD 305–306). This same synod also issued injunctions against the use of any pictures inside the church “so that they do not become objects of worship and adoration” and that “candles are not to be burned in a cemetery during the day.” (34) It was not unusual for many of the councils to have injunctions or proclamations that were later reversed or even considered heresy. For example, just a few years after Elvira, Constantine called the First Ecumenical Council of the church, with many bishops in attendance from both the East and the West. At this council in AD 325, officially called the Council of Nicaea, there was a discussion on clerical celibacy. The council disagreed with the requirements handed down by the Synod of Elvira. They agreed with the Egyptian bishop—St. Paphnutius, the confessor of Thebes—who argued successfully that celibacy should be only a matter of personal choice and not a requirement.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Church clergy remained married without any restrictions until Pope Pelagious II (AD 579–590) issued a series of proclamations regarding celibacy that were designed primarily to stop property from being transferred from clergy to children. However, this papal proclamation was often ignored. It was not until the Second Lateran Council in AD 1139 that the Latin (Western) Rite of the Catholic Church decided to accept people for ordination only after they had taken a promise of celibacy. </em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Eastern Orthodox Church continues to follow the thinking of St. Paphnutius. To this day about 90 percent of all Orthodox clerics are married.</em></div>
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The text above is from pages 104-108 in<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Celibacy- A Personal Choice or Requirement?</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">- Chapter 19 of<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics">Roaming Catholics"</a></strong> Picture at top is of Rev. Alberto Cutié, former Roman Catholic Priest. </em></div>
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Was Peter the first Pope? Should Christians pray the Rosary? Should priests be married? These are among the provocative topics addressed in Roaming Catholics: Ending the wandering to embrace the wonder" </div>
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This thoroughly researched book presents the development of the Catholic Church in an engaging way to help Christians understand their common history shared by all. The apostle Paul referred to the church as the "Body of Christ," not the "Body of Christians." Rather than Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female he proclaimed we are to be one in Christ. </div>
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Pastor and theologian Kenneth Behr shares his own religious evolution from a Catholic altar boy to an evangelical pastor and engages readers with a parallel story of the evolution of Catholicism. </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics Book">Click here<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></a>to buy (via Amazon) the book</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Study-Guide-Participant/dp/150783067X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=150783067X&pd_rd_r=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B&pd_rd_w=Mn0DQ&pd_rd_wg=2AXEU&psc=1&refRID=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ce3337; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics study guide">Click here<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></a>to buy (via Amazon) the study guide; <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Study guide is available free via Kindle for Amazon Prime users</strong></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-47721028327635810892018-03-06T15:44:00.000-05:002018-03-06T15:44:31.311-05:00Starting a Saturday Service
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SjdHpv6avo/Wp76wFVnYNI/AAAAAAAAhEk/fiBHZNNtyz0VsqL06mxBvC-h_r2Us5q0wCLcBGAs/s1600/Saturday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="560" height="133" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SjdHpv6avo/Wp76wFVnYNI/AAAAAAAAhEk/fiBHZNNtyz0VsqL06mxBvC-h_r2Us5q0wCLcBGAs/s320/Saturday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Solomon is quoted as saying “There is nothing new under the Sun” (<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ecclesiastes 1:9) </span>and while many churches are just starting to consider having a Saturday worship
service, it’s actually been around for a while. Yes, there is that Sabbath Day
vs the Lord’s Day issue but I’m talking about the churches that are finding
that a Saturday worship service may be good stewardship of their existing
resources and may also open the doors to people that are busy working on Sundays or may just prefer a Saturday service.</span></div>
A <span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Saturday service is a significant worship addition to the local
church and it is often introduced as a response to overcrowding on Sunday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Many churches have found it to be an
additional opportunity to reach new people in the community and to expand
service (volunteer) opportunities in connections, children, worship and guest
services. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The popularity of Saturday
services in churches is an acknowledgment that accommodating an American
culture that is changing and now works, plays and embraces recreation on Sunday, is a way to advance
the gospel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">While there are some churches that have intentionally made
their Saturday services “different” the prevailing wisdom, particularly for
churches that are growing and need to provide a response to overcrowding on
Sunday, is to build the service and experience to match as closely as possible to
what happens on Sunday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If the primary
reason to offer a Saturday service is to alleviate over-crowding then the primary
objective in building the service over time is to make it “just the same as
Sunday” in as many ways as possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">The move to Saturday is like an introduction of a second
service and akin to a church developing multi-site.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It requires different communication
strategies, an increased commitment by volunteers and staff and more planning. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Building
Volunteer Teams</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Volunteerism is at the heart of being a disciple and church
leaders need to remember that recruiting more volunteers or asking more of
church volunteers is beneficial to the health of the local church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Saturday service needs to have the same
compliment (even if in smaller number) of volunteers as the Sunday services.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In particular:</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Greeters in the front doors are
particularly needed as the church may not look ‘busy’ initially.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Many churches find that even if parking is
abundant, it may be good to station a volunteer outside near the driveway entrance
to give that initial welcoming. </span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Children’s greeters and volunteers need to be available for the Saturday Service. While churches may want to combine
some classes initially, you’ll want to be able to accommodate all of the age
groups you would normally accommodate on Sunday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Systems should all be running on Saturday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That would mean that the computer, printer
and tags should be used on Saturday for children and parents just as this level of security is provided on Sunday. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Volunteers need to be present at the end of
the service as well for pick up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It may be less crowded but churches have found
that keeping security tight is a good priority. </span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Worship volunteers will need to be
expanded.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The goal for worship on
Saturday is “just the same as Sunday” and churches that have firmly set that as
the goal are the ones that experience success. </span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Connection opportunities, the ability
to sign up for events, take a class, be baptized or become a member should not
be reserved for Sunday attendees only.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Build
the volunteer teams and offerings available on Sunday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
goal should be “just the same as Sunday” and while there may not be as many
offerings, none of the important activities or steps in being a disciple should
be excluded from Saturday if they are regularly offered on Sundays. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Special Worship
Considerations</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">A common saying among church planters and church consultants
is that ‘people will come for the worship experience; people will stay for the
preaching.’<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While there are churches
that intentionally try to have a different experience on Saturday to attract a
different group or demographic (i.e. contemporary or more casual), that is not
true for churches that are primarily introducing a Saturday service to relieve
overcrowding on Sunday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Again, the goal
is “just the same as Sunday.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">To develop a healthy worship service on Saturday is more
about commitment than any particular plan. Volunteers can be recruited and
engaged on Saturday or Sunday; volunteer teams can rotate; volunteer teams can
be on two weeks and off two weeks, etc.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>There are many different ways to develop additional worship teams
however it has to be a clear strategy that is focused and communicated. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Many churches find that to provide a high-quality worship
experience, some of the worship leaders are paid.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is a practice in churches
that is closely related to the size of the church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The greater the size of the church, the
greater the number of people being paid.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>As churches add more services (and more campuses) it is the norm that
the paid worship staff is supplemented with ‘contract-1099’ paid worship
leaders.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While this introduces an
additional cost and complexity, the success of the project is related entirely
to the commitment, development and communication of the plan.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Churches that plan ahead have a clear policy
of the number of paid worship leaders.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>For example, a church could provide a flat payment of $90 for each of
the three members of the band (typically bass, drums and guitar) that would
play at all three services, one on Saturday and two on Sunday, <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>and then consider raising the payment for the
weekend to $120 when the fourth or fifth service is introduced. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Paid Staff</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">All paid staffers that are responsible or need to be available
on Sunday should have a similar responsibility on Saturday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is often controversial but being part
of a paid church staff requires a commitment that is really not much different
than an employee at Target, Subway <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>or
Disney.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Church employees need to work
when there is work to be done. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Adding Saturday
responsibilities is not necessarily an increase in the number of hours that an
employee must work.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It has been the
practice in churches to provide time off during the week for the hours that are
worked in the evenings or on weekend. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Other
Considerations</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">While “Just the same as Sunday” is obviously the core of my
recommendations, that doesn’t mean that while the church is trying to build
Saturday, it can’t offer anything different on Saturday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For example, pre-service gatherings,
cookouts, tailgating as well as after service ‘fun’ builds community. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">As churches grow and they add additional services, there is
an immediate need for improved communication, better coordination and a
logistical plan.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While people that
attend a worship service that is over crowed are fully aware that the service
is over crowed, they likely don’t know what the plan is to relieve
overcrowding.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Churches that are
building new and larger auditoriums can point to the building plans and
encourage the attendees to ‘look forward to the new and larger space.’<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>However, churches that do not have immediate
plans for a larger auditorium need to just as clearly be communicating that the
solution is to attend other services. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">In advertising, the term ‘effective frequency’ refers to the
number of times something needs to be communicated before it is
understood.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God of course understands
this better than any of us as the Bible is full of stories, imperative,
warnings and encouragements that are repeated often.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For example, Peter repeats the story of the
vision of the unclean animals twice in Acts 10 and then a third time in Acts
11, “verily” is always used twice “verily, verily.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">The communication plan often is the key to the success of a
Saturday service.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What is the church
trying to accomplish?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Who should be
attending the service?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How can people
help the Saturday service succeed?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Personally,
I’m disappointed when I read articles on church planting and church growth that
do not emphasis communication.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Communication in organizational leadership (secular or sacred) is one of
the basic functions of management and is the key component of transmitting the
vision, culture and plans of any organization.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Furthermore, communication only occurs when it is understood by the
receiver.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Some messages are so
important that feedback or consensus is required, and that opportunity should
be provided when necessary.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At a
minimum, the frequency and continuity of the communication must be sufficient
so that ‘the-many’ do hear and respond. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-47937945169394075962018-02-03T15:40:00.001-05:002018-02-07T08:09:41.874-05:00"He Descended Into Hell"<br />
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kMBl-5XDSZo/WnYchg8qoTI/AAAAAAAAf6c/SW1X1Jm7jH4uadZeUjd36JaUSswzLNPjQCLcBGAs/s1600/descent-into-hell-fragment-1311.jpg%2521Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="594" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kMBl-5XDSZo/WnYchg8qoTI/AAAAAAAAf6c/SW1X1Jm7jH4uadZeUjd36JaUSswzLNPjQCLcBGAs/s320/descent-into-hell-fragment-1311.jpg%2521Large.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the lines in the Apostles Creed that often bothers people
is the phrase "He descended into hell." The Apostles Creed is
ancient, dating back to the 4<sup>th</sup> century, and while not considered
authoritative or inspired in the same way as the Bible, it is still read in many
of our churches on a regular basis. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was recently leading a Bible study in Ephesians for and came
across one of the verses that often brings up this same occurrence:</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.8pt; margin: 13.6px 0px 13.6px 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">“</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">But to each one of us grace was given
according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended
on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He
ascended”; what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower
parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all
the heavens, that He might fill all things.)” Eph 4:7-10</span></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.8pt; margin: 13.6px 0px;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While
the theme of these verses from Ephesians 4 are about the gifts that were given by God to man, these and other verses in the Bible
are often used to address what appears to be the time after the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ but before His resurrection. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.8pt; margin: 13.6px 0px;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two
men I admire greatly have completely different opinions on Jesus “decent into
hell."</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>"Faithfulness to all of
Scripture, however, requires us to deny that Jesus’ spirit went to hell after
He died.” (Ligonier – RC Sproul) and </i></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“Scripture clearly teaches that
the old testament saints were kept in the Bosom of Abraham, (Paradise) which
Jesus visited, preached and set the captives free (Grace to You – MacArthur) </span></i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the often-mentioned verses
related to this subject is Jesus reference to the bosom of Abraham in what is
known as the “Rich Man and Lazarus” (Luke 16: 19-31)</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">19 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in
purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">20 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of
sores, who was laid at his gate,</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">21 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 6pt; margin: 0px;">[</span></sup></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-25642d" title="See footnote d"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: #631e16; font-size: 6pt; margin: 0px;">d</span></sup></i></a></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 6pt; margin: 0px;">]</span></sup></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and
licked his sores.</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">22 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the
angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">23 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes
and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.</span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">24 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">“Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy
on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool
my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">25 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime
you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is
comforted and you are tormented.</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">26 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">And besides all this, between us and you there is a
great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor
can those from there pass to us.’</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">27 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">“Then he said, </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him
to my father’s house,</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">28 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them,
lest they also come to this place of torment.’</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">29 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the
prophets; let them hear them.’</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">30 </span></sup></i></b></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to
them from the dead, they will repent.’</span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;">31 </span></sup></i></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the
prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.8pt; margin: 13.6px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;">The teaching
referenced by the Apostles Creed and many other verses is that </span><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">Jesus that ascended after
he descended.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is that Jesus died and
like the faithful in the Old Testament (i.e. Lazarus) went to the heart of the earth (Abrahams
Bosom, also called Paradise and sometimes Hades and even Hell). Many Bible
scholars teach this was a ‘holding place’ for those under the law that were
trusting in God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The key to the release
from this holding place was the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – as the
Messiah, the key to being justified apart from the works of the law.</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.8pt; margin: 13.6px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">When Jesus rose from the dead,
he took those souls that were in the Bosom of Abraham with him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It appears that some stopped off at the
earth (As Jesus did on the day of His resurrection).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Matthew 27:53 has an interesting and unique
account “</span><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection
and went into the holy city and appeared to many people” </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.8pt; margin: 13.6px 0px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's possible the reason that the
late RC Sproul and others have a problem with the wording in the Apostles Creed
“He descended into Hell” and this particular teaching also found in Acts 2:24,
John 5:25, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Zachariah 9:11, and Colossians 2:15 is because it
provides an opportunity to misunderstand the necessity and sufficiency of Jesus
death on the cross. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From my perspective, the
teaching of a literal “Bosom of Abraham” and the release of the captives by
Jesus himself after the crucifixion fits into the Biblical narrative of
salvation through by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone. </span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-31051743832156124152018-01-30T02:13:00.000-05:002018-01-30T02:13:07.658-05:00Thou Art Peter
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sD4TpmPRcA/Wm13d-UU2oI/AAAAAAAAfyo/zoY0g2aEcBk0Rv0quSVNm0KDi-9Z_CKGgCLcBGAs/s1600/pope_and_ken%2Blandscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="644" height="179" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sD4TpmPRcA/Wm13d-UU2oI/AAAAAAAAfyo/zoY0g2aEcBk0Rv0quSVNm0KDi-9Z_CKGgCLcBGAs/s320/pope_and_ken%2Blandscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">It’s impossible to talk about the Catholic Church without
considering the role of the pope, and for a Roman Catholic it’s impossible to
talk about the pope without talking about Peter. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I’m a big fan of Peter. He was impulsive, often spoke first
before he really thought through the question, and made some mistakes. I am a
fan because I can relate. Peter was also the obvious leader of the apostles. He
was an amazing man and a great leader, and, like most of the apostles, he was
martyred because of his belief in Jesus Christ. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The Catholic Church makes some unique claims regarding Peter,
and one of their foundational beliefs is that the pope is a direct successor of
Peter and, as a result, is the head of the church. Let’s begin this relatively
delicate topic by first examining the Roman Catholic teachings regarding the
pope. These would include:</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br />
<br />
<i>• Christ made Peter the leader and the first pope.</i><br />
<i>• Christ made Peter the ultimate authority and leader of the church.</i><br />
<i>• Peter became the first bishop of Rome, making Rome and the bishop of Rome
the head of the true church.</i><br />
<i>• This authority, leadership, and infallibility is passed on to Peter’s
successors—the popes.</i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">As we begin to discuss this cardinal doctrine of the Roman
Catholic Church, I want to be upfront that I have no problem with the pope
or his role in leading the largest Christian denomination, the Roman
Catholic Church. Churches still need someone or some group that is in
charge, someone designated as the leader(s). In industry we have had presidents and
chairmen in charge for years and started calling the top guy or gal
in business the chief executive officer about twenty-five years ago.
Almost all organizations have some formalized procedures to provide for
succession (e.g., new CEOs), and large organizations typically have
some accountability group (e.g., a board of directors, board of elders, or
trustees) that provides oversight.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Many Bible scholars will argue that having accountability
through a plurality of elders was the way the church was originally organized. However,
we know from history that soon after the death of the original apostles, a
single elder or bishop who would be the head of a geographical area and a
group of churches replaced the plurality of elders in the church. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Let’s take a look at the unique issues related to the role, the
authority, and the position of the pope.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Peter as the Leader and in Rome</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Peter was certainly one of the leaders of the apostles. He,
James, and John are often the three included in the inner circle with
Jesus. In every one of the lists of the apostles in the Gospels, Peter is
named first. He was present on the Mount of Transfiguration with James
and John. Jesus took him along with James and John into the Garden
of Gethsemane.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">While Peter denied Christ, as Jesus had predicted, Jesus
restored him with the “do you love me…feed my sheep” dialogue recorded
in John 21:17. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The book of Acts identifies Peter as one of the leaders of the
early church. As an apostle he had influence on and was honored by the
early church. In the catacombs of Rome, there are inscriptions honoring
both Peter and Paul. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">However, there are no indications in these inscriptions or in
any other historical writings from the first century that Peter exercised
any authority in the church in general or in Rome in particular.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">We do have some clue regarding early church leadership in the
scriptures. Luke, Peter, and Paul all discussed early church leadership.
Luke is the author of both the Gospel attributed to him as well as the
Acts of the Apostles; the apostle Peter wrote both 1 Peter and 2 Peter;
and the apostle Paul wrote nearly one third of the New Testament. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">In particular Paul talked about the role of Peter in his letter
to the Galatians: </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">They recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of
preaching the Gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the
circumcised. For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the
circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. (Gal.
2:7–8)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Paul’s journey and arrival in Rome are documented in great
detail in the book of Acts, chapter 28. Luke wrote about Paul’s welcome to
Rome, his imprisonment, and his teachings. Paul was in Rome for two
years, and, according to tradition, he was beheaded, which would have
been the appropriate manner of capital punishment for a Roman citizen.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">By tradition Peter made it to Rome and was crucified upside
down. However, there is neither biblical record nor early church writings
attesting to Peter’s arrival, ministry, or death in Rome. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Peter is not referenced at all in the Acts of the Apostles after
the Council of Jerusalem in Acts, chapter 15. In this council Paul
and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem to have the apostles settle the
dispute regarding circumcision. After some discussion Peter addressed the
issue, and then James, Jesus’s brother, provided the final decision.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">It is interesting to note that we have extrabiblical evidence
(historical writings regarding this time period) that state it was not
Peter who was chosen to lead the early church, but James, the brother of
the Lord. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Eusebius Pamphilus (AD 263–340) was a bishop and a scholar in
the early church. He is best known for his ecclesiastical history,
including the history of the church to AD 324. His stated intention in
writing the history was to connect the church of which he was part to the
beginnings of Christianity.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Eusebius wrote: </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Then there was James who was known as the brother of the
Lord. For he too was called Joseph’s son, and Joseph, Christ’s father,
though in fact the Virgin was his betrothed, and before they came together
she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit, as the
inspired Gospel narrative tells us. This James, whom the
early Christians surnamed the Righteous because of his
outstanding virtue, was the fi rst (as the recorders tell us) to be
elected to the episcopal throne of the Jerusalem church. (19) </i></blockquote>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Eusebius’s attribution of James rather than Peter as the first
bishop is echoed by another historian of the early church, Clement of
Alexandria (AD 150–215), who preceded Eusebius by fifty years. Clement was
also a scholar, and both the Roman Catholic Church and the
Orthodox Church considered him a church father. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Clement wrote: </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Peter, James and John, after the Ascension of the
Savior, did not claim preeminence because the Savior had
especially honored them, but chose James the Righteous as Bishop of
Jerusalem…James the Righteous, John, and Peter were entrusted by the Lord
after his resurrection with the higher knowledge. They imparted it to the
other apostles, and the other apostles to the seventy. (20)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">In addition, while we don’t typically try to prove something by
its omission, despite the fact that Luke recorded that Paul was in Rome
for the last years of Paul’s life, Luke did not mention Peter’s being in
Rome. During the time Paul was in Rome, the same two years Luke
recorded, Paul wrote to Timothy from Rome around AD 65 and talked about
a number of Christians who had served with him, including Demas, Crescens,
Luke, and Titus. However, Paul related that he had “fought the good fight”
and that the “time of his death was near.” In his final words from Rome,
he encouraged Timothy to come and visit if possible and that “only Luke is
with me” (2 Tim. 4:11).</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">It’s a stretch to find early support of a claim that Peter
founded the church in Rome or exercised any authority while there.
However, by the fourth century, the tradition of Peter’s being the first
bishop of Rome was well established, and Pope Leo I used it to request
primacy among all of the other bishops.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The Pope’s Authority in the Church</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">For one thousand years, and actually to this day, as evidenced
by the Second Vatican Council in 1965, the authority of the church
was in the councils. We saw this earlier, when I referenced the Council
of Jerusalem in Acts, chapter 15 (it is also recorded in Galatians,
chapter 2). According to the account in the Bible, Judas and Silas
delivered the apostles’ (plural) determination by letter to the
churches—not the ruling of one individual. However, had it been one
individual, he would most likely have been James, not Peter. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Constantine called the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, later called
the First Ecumenical Council because it included various known
Christian churches and was presided over by Constantine and the Patriarch
of Alexandria. The bishop of Rome (a.k.a. the pope) did not attend
this council. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The bishop of Rome attended the Council of Constantinople in
AD 381 and the Council of Ephesus in AD 431. The emperors and
empresses of Rome called these councils and later councils together, and
the decisions were made by majority vote of the bishops in attendance.
The bishop of Rome did not have a major role in these councils until
the First Lateran Council of 1123, after the Great Schism, when the
bishop of Rome excommunicated the bishop of Constantinople, and the
other patriarchs of Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Antioch sided with the
latter.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">
<b><i>Good Popes, Bad Popes</i></b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Anyone who has seen the TV series The Borgias has seen some of
the horrible accusations that have been leveled against the popes. As
with most accusations against world leaders, there are both truth and
exaggeration in the charges. History records that there have been some
great popes and some really bad popes. We aren’t going to go through
an exhaustive list, as it would be contrary to the overall theme of
reconciliation and fairness. However, some examples would be
helpful. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Bad popes include Stephen VI (AD 896–897), who had his
predecessor exhumed and put on trial. Pope Benedict IX was a highly
immoral man who may have been made pontiff when he was in his early teens
or possibly as old as twenty. He reportedly sold his papal throne, and
later the church excommunicated him. Great popes outnumber these
bad popes ten to one, and if I were listing them, there would be many,
including the recent John Paul II (now a saint), St. Leo I, and St.
Gregory I.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The Honor Versus the Authority of the Pope</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">As we look back to the early church, and even as late as the
medieval Church, the bishop of Rome was definitely in a position of honor.
This was recorded specifically in the Edict of Milan in AD 313. There
was, however, a clear distinction between honor and authority in many
historical documents from the same period. Historically bishops (and patriarchs in
particular) had authority over geographical regions. A number of church
councils referenced this authority, and clearly it was part of the Roman
state governance. Bishops and patriarchs who overstepped their geographic
boundaries were often criticized by the others.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Apostolic Succession</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The Roman Catholic Church identifies the pope as the successor
of St. Peter. Early church writings indicated that all of the bishops were
the successors of the apostles, but if particular leadership was truly in
the hands of the apostle Peter, there is neither biblical nor historical
indication that this leadership was to be passed on to his particular
successors. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The actual record of successors in the Bible is not so
honorable. After two hundred years of rule by judges, ancient Israel
appealed to the prophet Samuel and demanded a king. The biblical account
makes it very clear that both the prophet as well as Jehovah God were displeased with
the request and predicted Israel would ultimately suffer by having one
leader who had great authority and no accountability. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Samuel appointed Saul as king and typically disappointed both
God and man. Jonathan was his successor and heir, but God had a better
plan and put young David on the throne as the king of Judah and later all
of Israel. King David had a number of sons, and before wise King
Solomon came to the throne, David’s sons Amnon and Daniel were likely
successors. Amnon, however, was best known for the rape of his half
sister, Tamar, and the Bible doesn’t mention Daniel, also called Chileab,
other than telling us that his mother was Abigail. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Man’s plans to name a successor of a successful or even a great
man actually fail much more often than they succeed. I’ve seen this a
number of times in business and industry, as I’ve had many good friends
who were good business leaders, talented entrepreneurs, wise, and very
successful. Their sons and daughters, however, were not as talented.
Many businesses don’t survive when the second or third generation is in
power. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Interestingly (at least to me), the only instance of succession
in the New Testament is recorded in the book of Acts. After Jesus’s
ascension, the apostles traveled back to Jerusalem and returned to the
upper room. There they decided to replace the traitor, Judas. Peter stood
up and used an obscure scripture in the book of Psalms that stated, “May
another take his place of leadership” (Ps.109:8). </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The apostles nominated two men to succeed Judas as one of
the twelve apostles. The apostles prayed and decided to cast lots
(equivalent to flipping a coin). Eventually they chose Matthias as the
successor. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">This is not the place to discuss the role of the Holy Spirit
(which had not yet indwelled the apostles), biblical inerrancy, and
historical accuracy. However, it is clear that while it was the apostles’
intention to put Matthias in a particular role, the apostle Paul was the
one the Lord picked. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">In my church history class, I usually ask my students to name
the books of the Bible written by the apostle Matthias, to wake them up
to the obvious fact that succession, leadership, calling, and even
apostleship are of the Lord’s doing and not something either man or
process can guarantee.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Text
above from pages 58-65 in <i>Thou Art Peter- Chapter 12 of <b>"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics"><span style="color: #ce3337; margin: 0px;">Roaming
Catholics"</span></a></b></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Was
Peter the first Pope? Should Christians pray the Rosary? Should priests
be married? These are among the provocative topics addressed in Roaming
Catholics: Ending the wandering to embrace the wonder" </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">This
thoroughly researched book presents the development of the Catholic Church in
an engaging way to help Christians understand their common history shared by
all. The apostle Paul referred to the church as the "Body of
Christ," not the "Body of Christians." Rather than Jew
and Greek, slave and free, male and female he proclaimed we are to be one in
Christ. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Pastor
and theologian Kenneth Behr shares his own religious evolution from a Catholic
altar boy to an evangelical pastor and engages readers with a parallel story of
the evolution of Catholicism. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Ending-wandering-embrace/dp/1503239306" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics Book"><span style="color: #ce3337; margin: 0px;">Click
here </span></a>to buy (via Amazon) the book</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roaming-Catholics-Study-Guide-Participant/dp/150783067X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=150783067X&pd_rd_r=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B&pd_rd_w=Mn0DQ&pd_rd_wg=2AXEU&psc=1&refRID=FDE67DVK9V3KE6QRKR6B" target="_blank" title="Roaming Catholics study guide"><span style="color: #ce3337; margin: 0px;">Click
here </span></a>to buy (via Amazon) the study guide; <b>Study
guide is available free via Kindle for Amazon Prime users</b></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14647752.post-52976396268910332902018-01-28T03:14:00.002-05:002018-01-28T03:14:25.892-05:00Walk This Way<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esMokW-67J4/Wm2EmV-ouNI/AAAAAAAAfy4/TgVCEYybJbc7u6exxZIPXI8gMTXyDL0uwCLcBGAs/s1600/baby%2Bwalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esMokW-67J4/Wm2EmV-ouNI/AAAAAAAAfy4/TgVCEYybJbc7u6exxZIPXI8gMTXyDL0uwCLcBGAs/s320/baby%2Bwalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most babies go
through a number of stages in learning how to walk.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Typically, they start crawling, begin to pull
themselves up and learn how to lean on either something stationary or their
parents, brother or sister and then finally they can take a few steps before
tumbling down. </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My kids were
different.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I remember my daughter
especially going from standing up and leaning, to leaning forward enough that
she literally starting running before even walking. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is
something to be said about learning how to walk. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Bible has a
lot to say about walking.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There are
verses on 'walking in the light', 'walking in the Spirit' and 'walking with
God'.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Apostle Paul also uses a
similar theme and tells us in his epistle to the Colossians that we are to
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="margin: 0px;">“<i>walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God” </i>(Colossians 1:10)</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just as there are
characteristics of a baby learning how to walk, the Apostle Paul tells us there
are characteristics in what it means to walk worthy of our calling.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the first
things that Paul says is that we are to ‘f<i>ully please Him</i>” (verse 10).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Pleasing God means that we are more
interested in pursuing a relationship with God rather than exercising a religion.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God is all about relationships as Jesus was
actually the most critical of those that were the most religious. </span></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the same verse
we are told that we are to be <i>fruitful in every good work</i>.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Good works are a result of our walk and
relationship and are not the means by which we please God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span>Finally in verse 10, Paul says we are to be
<i>increasing in the knowledge of God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Proverbs 1:7 says
that the Fear (a healthy respect and reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we know God, we
naturally want to serve and obey Him out of gratitude.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next, in verse
11, we are given what I believe is the more difficult task.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This worthy walk is with<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“<i>patience and longsuffering with joy</i>”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have to admit that for me, patience isn’t
on the top of my list of virtues, and 'with joy' would be a stretch. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>However, this patience is primarily directed at others.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span>In his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul
modifies patience as<span style="margin: 0px;"> '</span><i>bearing with one
another</i>':<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This words that are translated
‘bearing with one another are the Greek words <i>ana</i> and <i>echó</i><span style="margin: 0px;"> that </span>literally means to HOLD THROUGH. The idea is
to hang on to each other, not letting the other person leave or being
dismissive ourselves. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's important to note that this idea of
<i>walking worthy of our calling</i> <i>is</i> not to say that if we walk worthy THEN God
will love us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No, it’s actually the
opposite, because God loved us first, we have the capacity to love HIM and walk
in a way that is worthy of that love. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© Kenneth A. Behr 2008, renewed 2011, 2015</div>Ken Behrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172993155624952151noreply@blogger.com