RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger's neighborhood?)
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/3/2008 8:48:04 PM
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zamdad
Posts: 1270
Joined: 4/8/2005
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quote:
Tell me what you think. Tell us about your neighborhood... your town, your city. What about the churches today? What about the churches in your neighborhood? What about your church... and what do you care about?
Debby, from what I've read of your posts since joining this forum, I have the sense you are someone truly engaged in the cultural mandate. You are one of the King's warriors helping to bring the lost, those who desire least to be loved, to the cross where transformation can take place. Thanks for your work.
As you may recall from a previous conversation, I have been a probation officer for nine years, 16 years total in corrections. I have done this work in two states, Alaska and Minnesota.
Like you, I hail from southern Cal. I left there a month after graduating high school. At the time, all I wanted in life was to get high and party. God got hold of me five years into my life in Alaska and changed me forever.
Here in MN, I live in the sticks. Ten miles from the closest town and ten mils from our church. We attend a medium sized E Free church in the middle of nowhere. We draw folks from as far away as 60 miles. We have a large youth group thanks to a very dynamic youth pastor and we draw kids from nine differnt communities in that 60 mile radius.
As I think about my immediate neighbors, I've developed some pretty close relationships with some. I know almost all of my neighbors as I am the social butterfly who goes out and meets everyone I can. While I say that I have some close relationships with neighbors, I still lack a true, intimate friend other than my wife.
Let me explain. For five yewars of my probation officer career, I supervised sex offenders. I got to know the men and women on my caseload extremely well. Not only did I sit in on treatment, I get to know their families, friends, coworkers, and associates. I got to monitor them in the community and make sure that what they were saying in treatment was what they were living in real life. I was the accountabilityy partner for up to 60 people on my caseload. Yet, as I searched for a male friend within my congregation to hold me to the same level of accountability, I found one. But, he lived thirty miles away and our work schedules made getting together difficult at best. Eventually, he moved to another state.
As I think about my struggle to find a "Ranger Buddy," I know that others are struggling with this as well. I know that so much of the pain we see with those we work with is a result of loneliness. Our culture tells us that we have to strive to be independant, to look out for number one and to heck with everyone else. yet, we all long to be loved by someone else just as Christ loves us. As a result of not getting that love, people turn to chemicals, material things, sex, entertainment, etc., to fill that God sized hole in their hearts. And life the recovering alcohlic told me, "there are no answers in the bottom of that bottle."
I don't know about you, but I want a neighbor that is not so concerned with trying to save the world, but is more concerned about tending to one hurting soul. Perhaps, in turn that hurting soul will find healing and tend to another wounded soul. It seems that we all have so much attention focused on global concerns that we fail to see the wounded neighbor next door. I want a neighbor that is willing to slow down and abide in God's time. One that is willing to listen and not have an answer for everything. One that's willing to listen to God in the silence. Thus far, it sure seems that we're all too busy.
_____________________________
You can take the man out of Alaska, but you can't take Alaska out of the man.
Me
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/3/2008 9:03:12 PM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3520
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
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It would seem a christian justice of the peace who is forced by the government to marry homosexuals would have a choice....quit. If this issue is important then quit.
I agree with zamdad. All the church ministries in the world do not compare to just someone truly caring.
When we leave morals to be taught by teachers and policemen then...we get what we get.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/4/2008 12:33:20 AM
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pstrdebi
Posts: 653
Joined: 4/28/2008
From: So. Oregon, by way of So. Cal.
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: zamdad
Debby, from what I've read of your posts since joining this forum, I have the sense you are someone truly engaged in the cultural mandate. You are one of the King's warriors helping to bring the lost, those who desire least to be loved, to the cross where transformation can take place. Thanks for your work.
Wow. Thank you.
I always enjoy reading your posts... I feel that you are a very down to earth person.
(what part of So. Cal? I was born and raised in Orange County... Old Orange, Laguna, Dana Point...)
quote:
I don't know about you, but I want a neighbor that is not so concerned with trying to save the world, but is more concerned about tending to one hurting soul. Perhaps, in turn that hurting soul will find healing and tend to another wounded soul. It seems that we all have so much attention focused on global concerns that we fail to see the wounded neighbor next door. I want a neighbor that is willing to slow down and abide in God's time. One that is willing to listen and not have an answer for everything. One that's willing to listen to God in the silence. Thus far, it sure seems that we're all too busy.
Yes... I agree. There are some good neighbors here... however, some are still lost. Wonderful liberal couple on the other side of us... but God is not in their thoughts. We pray for them. And there are others... some listen. Quite frankly, if I had to choose who to have dinner with... it would probably be the liberals or the hippies down the street. Why? Because they are teachable. They will listen... they will ask... they will debate. I appreciate that much more than someone who stands with their arms crossed, saying, "at least I'm not like those Sadducees..." You know what I mean?
God bless!
Pastor Debi
_____________________________
"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/4/2008 12:33:04 PM
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kernsfamily
Posts: 1306
Joined: 4/26/2006
From: Dallas (originally Detroit)
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I live in a metro area with 6.5 million of my "closest friends"....
The primary city, Dallas, has about 1.3 million, while the "suburb" we "officially" live in (on the very, very edge of Dallas), is about 150,000....though, my "suburb" just "blends" in with the city of Dallas, the surrounding other suburbs and rest of the DFW metroplex.
we live in a very suburban, yet very urbanized, area....
The suburb we live in has been named repeatedly by Money Magazine, and many other publications, as a "Top Place to Live" and "top place to relocate".....
With regards to my specific neighborhood, we know VERY VERY few people. People keep to themselves, and want it that way, so we respect that. 2 doors down, are friends (because their daughter attends the same school as our kids)....they are christians (United Methodist)...the house 2 doors up the other direction, we are also somewhat "Friends" with them.....they go to a small "Church of Christ" congregation close by (our area is INUNDATED with churches....many of which I know about, as we visited them at one time or another, but, many I don't know anything about).....we know a few other families in our neighborhood of 65 homes (primarily because of school). There's a very nice Hindu/Indian family directly behind us.....and, diversity is something that we encounter daily living in such a large metro area.
My wife has taken it upon her self to be a "first responder" of sorts. If she hears the ambulance/fire trucks/police in our neighborhood, she'll go to the house, and make sure everything is ok, all their kids are "tended to", and to be there in case they need any help in any way.....one time, she went up the street, where a teen committed suicide....the ambulance was there, but the police had not yet arrived....so, when the police got there, they roped off the entire house as a "crime scene" (standard procedure with "unattended deaths")....my wife got "stuck" there, and was unable to leave for HOURS....but, she was a big help, and comfort, to the kid's mom.....
Our church...well, it's big. and is within 3 miles of our home. It started out in 1977 with a few families....today, it's about 26,000 members, and is VERY "biblically and scripturally" sound....strong teaching....relentless "outreach" into the community....continuous discipleship....as I mentioned, this area is saturated with churches....some very large, some "average' size....others, quite small......we probably drive past at least a half-dozen or more churches on sunday morning.....(just checked on the SBC website...in our little suburb alone, there are 22 Southern Baptist Churches....alone.....JUST SBC!)
and, while those are the "christian" churches, there are also the mosques, synagogues, temples and many other "places of worship".....
our services are 'translated' (by headphones) into Spanish (of course), but also many other languages, including Farsi....to meet the needs of those in our diverse community. It's not unusual to see Indian women at church wearing a "Sari".....
that kind of tells you about my neighborhood....and surrounding area.....
probably not far from being "Mr. Rogers"....sure, we know our mail man, UPS guy, FED EX Guy....and several people on our street...but, we don't know everyone.....and, it's a nice place to live.....
< Message edited by kernsfamily -- 6/4/2008 12:39:43 PM >
_____________________________
Proud dad of 3 great girls....Erin, Emilie and Elise
Blessed to have all of them in a "totally awesome" public elementary school!
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/4/2008 9:28:19 PM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3520
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
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Sounds familiar kernsfamily. Much the same goes on here in south Florida. Very diverse. Insular, unless you have some connection with them like school....or the biggest social connecter here, hurricanes. That, is when you meet your neighbors.
One of the pastors in my church was asked to "officiate" at a muslim funeral. We have some muslim women coming to our church. Their husbands cannot change their traditions but its ok their wives come. So one asked my pastor to do this. He did.
He closed with, in Jesus name amen, of course, and he was suprised when all the muslims said...amen...LOL.
There are many churches here but so much more is needed. Its very...urban here and most people have no church association even with the many christian and other churches here.
I live in a neighborhood "in transistion" I guess you could say. Most of the houses are four bedroom houses and most have multiple families or people in them, renitng out rooms etc. One house across the street is a house for the metnally challenged.
One guy stanbds out front to be picked up from work. I always wave to him coming home from work. One day he came over and introduced himself. Michael. Pretty cool.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/5/2008 7:01:59 AM
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RJR_fan
Posts: 723
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
Status: online
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quote:
I'm just asking about your neighborhood... your town.
The neighbor on one side had us over for a keg party the week he moved in, but we've had little or no contact since then. We talk over the fence from time to time with the neighbor on the other side. The guy directly across the street is an usher at our church. The couple next to him are older Unitarians, but really friendly and approachable.
Our church has its problems, but also its strengths.
We've had a great time over the last few years interacting with Muslims from Turkey -- it seems to be a friendly and hospitable culture. Show an interest in their language and dreams, and a door for evangelism opens a crack.
That's our neighborhood. We interact in a friendly way more frequently with Muslims from abroad than we do with our immediate neighbors, or the people in our church. Go figure!
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The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/6/2008 4:50:56 PM
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pstrdebi
Posts: 653
Joined: 4/28/2008
From: So. Oregon, by way of So. Cal.
Status: offline
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quote:
One of the pastors in my church was asked to "officiate" at a Muslim funeral. We have some Muslim women coming to our church. Their husbands cannot change their traditions but its OK their wives come. So one asked my pastor to do this. He did.
This is so interesting to me. Where I live... you do not see any Muslims... heck our Afro-American population is little to nil in the burbs about 30 miles away... and I don't think there are but a couple black families here in our town. So. Oregon is predominately white majority... but, many of them are extremely liberal. And... The meth problem here is out of control.
About an hour away is another extremely liberal town... a college town of sorts with a lot of new hippies. There is also a huge community of organic growers here. Homeopathics and organics is big here.
_____________________________
"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/10/2008 10:21:38 PM
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deedeeking98
Posts: 69
Joined: 6/6/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: pstrdebi
I have read several posts from some folks that I would just LOVE to be my neighbors! Folks who take a stand against the compromising church... folks who are sick of the seeker friendly churches...folks who are tired of pastors 'pimping' Jesus from the pulpits, etc. We say AMEN!!
Uhm.... my husband would "flip" to read this and agree wholeheartedly!
quote:
But didn't God tell us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven , and I will forgive their sin and heal their land." Are we not responsible to care and pray for the state of this world?
This was in DIRECT reference to Israel. As sure as I am that God would honor a heart humbled before him in fervent pray for forgiveness and healing, I am also sure that this scripture was contextually meant for the nation of Israel, so IMHO they would be the only nation with the ability to "hold God" to this promise. But, the sentiment is understood.
_____________________________
"Sometimes we don't do the things we want to do because we do not want others to know that we want to do them."
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/10/2008 11:15:34 PM
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funny_girl
Posts: 854
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I'm your neighbor and Jesus commanded you to love me!
I can see that you've taken the time to get to know your neighbor's Debi. We are God's messengers. It's our job to preach the gospel and disciple/teach the flock. If we are pastors it's our job to teach the people to do the work of the ministry. It's our job to preach the gospel, not to force people to follow our Master. I'm thankful that you can see what is right and wrong. Everyone will be held accountable for what he does. I find that if you follow Him, the sheep will follow you. If you are the shepherd that God has called to the area, the sheep will find you. Meaning, the sheep without a shepherd, if you know what I mean?
We don't own our sheep but they come back and bring others with them. One couple recently joined our church after nearly 2 years of waiting and praying about the move. I can't blame them a bit. The situation of their previous church is an embarrassment. The pastor claims to be spirit filled yet he's the puppet of the church. He has an atheist on his board! How can that be????? We have an Anglican church that has a bar in the back for after services. Many have moved over from the baptist church after they ran off their last pastor. He's now doing evangelistic work around our area. We have a good working relationship with the Nazarene and Holy Spirit church as well.
Tell me what you think. Tell us about your neighborhood... your town, your city. What about the churches today? What about the churches in your neighborhood? What about your church... and what do you care about?
Our area is a mix of small pueblos along the lake. This is a retirement area for American/Canadians and a vacation area for the Mexicans. I believe some 40,000 live here. Who's my neighbor? At our home in Guadalajara I know my neighbors on either side of me, in front of our house and at the little tienda. Here, near the church apartment, my neighbor is a family in our church. We're going to be moving out of our house in Guadalajara to a little house near the church where hopefully, I can build more relationships with my neighbors. We have to be careful for security reasons. Our home in Guadalajara has had a lot of equipment and only those who know us have been allowed in the house. We won't have nearly the equipment in the new place.
It's predominately Roman Catholic here. Mexican Christians are persecuted for their faith. They are discriminated against in employment, housing and service. They can be excommunicated from their families. Talk about about flip side. Our English expat church still doesn't always grasp where they live and still struggle with faith. Where our Spanish church relies on God for their needs and have a difficult time understand the lethargy of the English church.
What do I care about? I care about lost souls and seeing them saved. I care about inviting the presence of the Lord into our worship services. I care about listening to the peoples needs and trying to help them help themselves through the love of Christ. I care about the needy and I care about those who just need someone to be Jesus to them. Most of all, I care about my children and my husband. My boys are big now and I'm trying to spend as much family time with them as possible. We are just the best of friends and I'm so grateful for that. I'm so proud of them. They are becoming 2 of the finest musicians that I know both with a call to write and lead worship.
< Message edited by funny_girl -- 6/10/2008 11:30:32 PM >
_____________________________
"...bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; known yet regarded as unknown...poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." II Corinthians 6:8-10
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/11/2008 2:24:39 AM
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BlessedbyGod_1
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Hi Debbie, My friend and I were talking today about how we were going to have to know the truths of God's Word when the times came that our faith ,our knowledge was tested. I go to a real small church,maybe 20 people on a really good day. My pastor is a woman.It is really more of a training place--tohelp you find your niche in the church. But it is full of the spirit.
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/11/2008 1:51:11 PM
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pstrdebi
Posts: 653
Joined: 4/28/2008
From: So. Oregon, by way of So. Cal.
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: deedeeking98
This was in DIRECT reference to Israel. As sure as I am that God would honor a heart humbled before him in fervent pray for forgiveness and healing, I am also sure that this scripture was contextually meant for the nation of Israel, so IMHO they would be the only nation with the ability to "hold God" to this promise. But, the sentiment is understood.
Hi deedee...
Yes... we all know this. However, we can get so contextually bound that we forget that God's Word is living and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Praying the prayers of old are just as relevenat today as they were then.
"If My people who are called by My name..."
We, who have been called by God, who have received His Son as Lord and Savior of our lives... children of the Almighty... Barak Adoni. There are no generational boundries for those who are called by His name.
"...will humble themselves and pray and seek My face..."
Humbling ourselves... meaning to "not be prideful"... to be aware of our shortcomings... knowing that we can't do anything in our own strength and power... admitting we are helpless and turning to God in all trust... it is saying, "God, You have to do it or it can't be done!" When we pray in this way... seeking to be face to face... abiding in Him... longing for His very presence.... God listens.
"...and turn from their wicked ways..."
Confessing the sins of our land... our nation... in this 21st century. Sins of abortion, homosexuality, lawlessness, etc. And then confessing and asking forgiveness for our own sins and then turning from them.
(I believe that part of confession is renunciation. Renunciation is an action word... it describes an act of doing. In that, I believe a part of that 'act' is teaching others... about sin and confession and renunciation, etc., etc. and so on and so on, from one generation to the next.)
"...then I will hear from heaven..."
God hears the prayers of the righteous... even the prayers of old. Especially His own Words being prayed back to Him... bringing to rememberance His covenant with us... His covenant promises. How sweet an aroma it must be for God, our Father, to hear from His children His own Words repeated to Him... showing Him that we heard and believed what He has spoken to us.
"... and I will forgive their sin and heal their land."
God is faithful to forgive. He is also our Just Judge. He hears and forgives and heals our households... our neighborhoods... our communities.... our land.
If we are praying this prayer to God... He is not in a box... He knows what we are saying. Likewise... we should also pray this prayer for Israel... praying for God to bless Jeruselam as He asked to.
I agree that in teaching, contextuality is important. However, praying through the Word is equally important. We have this history as a wonderful tool... a virtual well of knowledge and wealth to tap into and pour out from it all the blessings God has in store for those who "call on His name."
< Message edited by pstrdebi -- 6/11/2008 2:19:15 PM >
_____________________________
"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/12/2008 9:07:51 PM
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deedeeking98
Posts: 69
Joined: 6/6/2008
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I agree with you Debbie, all prayer is relevant. I just think sometimes, perhaps often, people take things out of context then get hurt or confused when they don't see the result they interpreted as being promised. It would then be important to be contextually relevant so one can "have the mind of Christ" as it were and pray according to God's will, not mans.
P.s. (edited to add) That is an incredibly beautiful break down and a wonderful model for praying the scriptures!
< Message edited by deedeeking98 -- 6/12/2008 9:16:44 PM >
_____________________________
"Sometimes we don't do the things we want to do because we do not want others to know that we want to do them."
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/12/2008 9:28:27 PM
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deedeeking98
Posts: 69
Joined: 6/6/2008
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Perhaps I should answer the original call:
I live in a small border town. About 2,500 people. My neighborhood is a small low-income townhouse culdesack. I've been there for 7 years. We have a good mix of people in there right now. We all try to be friendly and get along. I am grateful that the drug dealers next door moved, more due to the loud partying and inappropriate conversation at all hours of the evening under my children's windows. Also, one neighbor who had a meth lab in her home has moved. The reasons to be grateful for that are obvious. A child pedophile has moved and a young couple who used to have gun fights in the parking lot have moved. In there places we do not have perfect people but citizens who are more willing to be lawful and considerate. I am grateful for them. For the first 5 years we lived there we kept to ourselves and were christian snobs feeling that we were better than everyone else there and did not belong there as others did. However, we were able to join God in allowing Him to change our hearts and started being a part of our little community instead of setting ourselves apart from them. We became very good friends with a single mother and her three children. One day I invited her to a bible study group and she got saved. She and all her children are saved now and attend a local church regularly. The LORD has truly knit our hearts together and we feel they are a part of our extended family. Also, our complex has gone from one man living on premises (my own husband) to 3. That's a huge increase in a 12 unit complex! And, we've seen the Lord get one neighbor clean and sober and give her daughter back. Our family befriended this little girl when she moved in. She was a nightmare child and no-one liked her, but the LORD got ahold of my heart and gave me a portion of HIS love for her and we adore her! She has changed soooo very much, most of the complex has noticed, and we are making friends with her mother. I would still like to move one day, but until He is finished using me there and using these people in my life, we are here, right where He wants us! I can truly say now, that I am content to be where I am!
_____________________________
"Sometimes we don't do the things we want to do because we do not want others to know that we want to do them."
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/16/2008 12:33:10 PM
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lazareth
Posts: 22
Joined: 5/10/2008
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My sweet wife finally let me get on the computer...
She already shared about our neighborhood,
I want to share about:
What about the churches today? What about the churches in your neighborhood?
There are 7 local churches here. An Assemblies, a Catholic, Episcopalian, Church of Christ (closed down), Baptist, one we're not sure what they are, and ours (Christian Church). In the out-lying areas are many churches, but I'd like to specifically address the Christian Churches.
When we first came to this area, we visited many churches in order to partner with them in prayer and community. What we found was an overwhelming sense of complacentcy. Many of the churches are seeker friendly churches who focus on making the church experience "easy" for the people to pallate. They are more into programs and coffee clutches than they are in to saving the lost.
Last summer, we had the opportunity to go back to the mid-west to visit my folks and relatives. What a time of refreshment we experienced as we attended several churches throughout Iowa and MO. Finding pastors who were ready to preach the Word in truth... and were not focused on watching the clock. In one church, (my mom's) the service actually went on for an extra 1 1/2 hours of worship and prayer.
Our church is not seeker friendly, although, we are friendly. We "seek" to know God more and more every day, and teach our members to do the same. I preach the truth (in love), and I will not waiver or compromise just to make it "easy" on the ears of those who come. I will be happy to direct people to a church down the street if that is what they are looking for.
God bless you all.
DL
_____________________________
"Believe your beliefs, and doubt your doubts-
but never believe your doubts, or doubt your beliefs!"
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/16/2008 4:12:33 PM
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lexie
Posts: 3159
Joined: 6/27/2005
From: Toronto
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I live in a Muslim neighbourhood. Enough said.
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I want to be more than an ordinary servant.
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/19/2008 9:42:58 AM
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conrack50
Posts: 747
Joined: 4/23/2005
From: 200 N. Bryan Ave. Shawnee, Ok 74801
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Since this peaked my curiousity, I did a search to see how many churches are in my town.
There are 165 listed. That's just the ones listed.
This city has 28,692 as of the 2000 census. I know there are more than that now because of the relocating from larger cities to smaller towns or as myself, to live once again in my hometown.
The crime rate has grown here some as with other communities but my neighborhood has believers.
Their faith isn't important, we sit and talk about the Lord and also pray on occasion when needed.
We're blessed with a quiet place to live, kids go up and down the sidewalks in the evenings, I see runners a lot now that it's right at summer time. People wave or say hey if you are outside.
We all watch out for each other, we know who drives what but the important thing to me is that...
The Lord has placed all of us in this place for a reason.
We are daily blessed by one another. There used to be parties day & nite next door before the house was sold to my current neighbor. Parties across the street doing the same.
I left my last church because the "spirit" of the Lord wasn't there. The pastor boldly said he was going to school now to become an engineer. So I stopped going, more have left and I'm sure the church is closed down now. Something else is there, it's now turned back into a house.
Now I study at home because I'm learning more than I did in any church I've gone to.
This is what God wants me to do right now so I can "get it" into my spirit man what I need to know.
I've been blessed to have found and post in these forums also daily!
Connie Lou
< Message edited by conrack50 -- 6/19/2008 9:51:04 AM >
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Want to make some extra money?
No quotas,you're the boss.
Come take a look.
http://www.connieloubarnes.com
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/25/2008 5:51:40 PM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3520
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
Status: offline
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My pastor tells us we live in the most unchurched county in America. People do not attend church here. However, on the radio yesterday I heard south Florida has a very high percentage of people who believe there is a God.
There does seem to be a disconnect here. People seem to believe in God...but do nothing about it.
I wonder...can people believe in God and not know Him? I think so.
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You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/25/2008 6:33:52 PM
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ta_mosquito
Posts: 11115
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: from MN, now in Ontario :D
Status: offline
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quote:
I wonder...can people believe in God and not know Him? I think so.
Absolutely.
My dad's side of the family is Roman Catholic. They believe in God, but the only time they go to church is for weddings, funerals, and the occasional Christmas mass. It's sad. With south FL being a lot of Hispanics, I wouldn't doubt that a lot of them are cultural, nominal Catholics.
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Tricia
"There's a fine line between being open-minded and empty-headed." ~Michael Coren
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/26/2008 7:41:54 AM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3520
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
Status: offline
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quote:
With south FL being a lot of Hispanics, I wouldn't doubt that a lot of them are cultural, nominal Catholics
No question. A guy at work has exhibited some interest in gojng to church and is watching some local Sunday morning pastors...and he is floored at the difference he sees in christianity that is not catholic.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/26/2008 12:49:15 PM
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pstrdebi
Posts: 653
Joined: 4/28/2008
From: So. Oregon, by way of So. Cal.
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ta_mosquito
quote:
I wonder...can people believe in God and not know Him? I think so.
Absolutely.
My dad's side of the family is Roman Catholic. They believe in God, but the only time they go to church is for weddings, funerals, and the occasional Christmas mass. It's sad. With south FL being a lot of Hispanics, I wouldn't doubt that a lot of them are cultural, nominal Catholics.
I was raised Catholic... and this is true. Although we went to mass every Sunday, it was just a "duty." My family would gather in the parking lot after church and make plans for getting together at one of their houses... and then they'd all get plastered.
The only time we opened the giant family Bible, was to enter marriages, deaths or births. We never read the Bible, norr were taught to. The priests would tell people that THEY will tell you what you need to know. 
Praise God that we have seen some great Christian churches ministering in the predominately Catholic neighborhoods!
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"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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. This is really sad to me... how do you just quit on a congregation? 