Articles

Musings and Amusing

I’m thankful for…

patricia grace

In the rush and urgency of getting all my prayer requests before the throne of God, sometimes it’s helpful to stop, be still, and just be thankful.

two birds with beaks together on a tree branch

I’m thankful for:

  • Rescue from the wrath of God (His just wrath due to my sin)
  • Access to a heavenly Father by Christ the Lord
  • The Holy Spirit who prays for me, as I don’t know best how to pray
  • The Holy Spirit’s empowering me to obey and follow Christ
  • The Scriptures — the truth and the lamp for my feet (to know what to believe and what how to live)
  • Being chosen for an eternal relationship with God
  • Provision for this life — food, clothing, shelter, and loving relationships
  • Answer to prayer — for a church home, husband, job, wisdom
  • A mom and a husband who believe
  • Friends like Barbara, Vera, and my Sunday school ladies
  • Rest when I need it
  • Discipline when I need it
  • Faithful pastors and teachers to help us know God better
  • My health and abilities
  • Favor among my various relationships (landlord, employers, coworkers, neighbors)
  • Verses like “Be anxious for nothing…” and “Cast your cares upon the Lord…”

 

Musings and Amusing

“I’ll believe it when I see it”

patricia grace

I’m amazed to look back and remember the thoughtless, ignorant statements I used to heartily believe and repeat. I would proudly proclaim to be a thoughtful person, one who was not easily fooled, but I remember how I would hear statements about evolution and the age of the Earth and readily accept them as fact without any question.

Folks repeat statements like “I’ll believe it when I see it” when asked about their beliefs in a Divine Power; however, the same folks will readily lap up statements from scientific journals without question, without seeing, without understanding, and without debate.

If I told you that the device upon which you were reading this article had appeared naturally after millions of years, after time and temperature and earthly elements came together to make the technological marvel before you, without any intervention from an intelligent being, you would say I was mad. Yet, how readily do we believe statements about an explosion (“Big Bang”) creating order and a life-sustaining planet?

Check this out and let me know what you think:  Evolution vs God

Are you open to truth, even if it means you may have to change your mind, your actions, and endure criticism from those who have closed their minds?

patricia grace

 

Sermons

Sermon notes

patricia grace

One of my intentions had been to start a category on this blog whereby I make notes of the sermons of my church. We have a new Pastor at my church and I’ve heard several weeks of sermons now. I’ve made notes, asked questions, but hesitated to make any posts.

The reason is that I’ve found that the man who has been called to pastor our church is not qualified to preach the Scriptures. An example of this claim is as follows: upon asking him his position on women being pastors and teaching over men in the church, he stated that the scriptures that deal with that issue were about a cultural issue that the apostle Paul was addressing. He admitted that the qualifications for an elder do not permit a woman to lead as pastor but that the forbidding of teaching and speaking in church was a cultural problem and not a command for today.

There’s a problem with his interpretation of Scripture, however, as Paul mentions Adam and Eve following his admonition that “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. ” 1 Timothy 2:11-12 NIV

In mentioning Adam and Eve, we see that Paul is setting a precedent of God’s appointed order of how things should run, rather than addressing some local, cultural issue. The full passage is as follows:

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.  And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.  [1 Timothy 2:11-14 NIV]

I am saddened that this is far from the only example I have of how the man has failed to properly teach the Scriptures.

So as not to cause disruption and agitation at my church, and to keep from the temptation to be a source of division in that church, I have prayerfully decided to start looking elsewhere for Sunday worship. I’ve found some churches in my area noted on the church search section of the 9Marks website [Edit: please use discernment and be much in prayer when searching for a church. I removed the link to 9Marks after some questionable statements made from current writers there. Be Bereans always!]  and, Lord willing, will be visiting those places in the coming Sundays.

Prayerfully,

patricia grace