Life Goes On

I was given a copy of the book "The Blessed Church" by Robert Morris in exchange for my review on my blog. Robert Morris, founding and senior  pastor of Gateway Church in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area has done pastors a great service in this book, The Blessed Church.  The book is divided into six sections, and features 24 "Keys to a Blessed Church" that make it easy to reference.  Although it is an easy read, it will probably require several re-reads in order to digest all the information that has grown out of Morris' own journey. Especially insightful is his take on the primary task(s) of a senior pastor to "feed and lead" in that order.   For the pastor of a church that does not incorporate Elder governance or Apostolic oversight, there are portions of the book that would not apply.  That being said, I found the book to be enriching, encouraging and insightful in getting a grasp on church health which leads to church growth.

Memorial Day!  It must be much more than picnics, cookouts and a day off work.  It must elicit memories of family members, friends and acquaintances who risked life and limb for freedom.  The old adage, "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." (Paraphrase) applies now more than ever.  Our country is  embarking on a path that was initially trod by those whom we considered enemies to our freedom.  We have forgotten that the ideologies of Marxism, Fascism and Socialism were strongly opposed by our forefathers who bled and died to keep them from our shores.  We have become deeply distracted with in-fighting among political parties while allowing our representative form of government to be usurped by individuals with delusions of grandeur.  Freedoms we once though inviolate are being eroded.  Like the "frog in the kettle" we are blissfully swimming around in the pot that is becoming increasingly hotter until we will be boiled...

Regardless of whether we set out to establish a "norm" for our family, it will happen.  Families that worship (more than just attend church) together will produce an air of worship within the household,  Families that pray together will produce a dependence on prayer in each member.  Families that fuss and fight will produce an atmosphere of animosity that filters down to the youngest member of the family. Sometimes I hear my father or my mother speaking in my head and suddenly realize that it is my voice and I'm actually saying what they said, the way they said it.  My Mom passed away 27 years ago and my Dad about 4 years ago.  I really didn't live with them much beyond my graduation from high school, and yet their influence is still strong almost 70 years later. I've said all of this to make a particular point.  We must be aware of the enemy at our gate.  If Satan can sneak in when the door is left ajar by sin that is not confessed, unresolved confl...