AMERICA - The Right Way!! The Weekend Ed.(Days 973-4)[Davis Watch - 17-16?? Days to Go!]

All of Us | 9/20/03 | Various News Sources and FReepers

[Guenevere]

Okie, dokie...

I was just in the family room watching Dr.D.James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian, PCA in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

He wears robes....my pastor doesn't....it's optional....some do, some don't.

There are 'highchurch' Presbyterian and non highchurch....

..the dressing may be different, but the Word stays the same....

..We are 5 point Calvinists, and honor the Westminster Confession.

We believe in the inerrant Word of God and if you want to know more about my church....

..just Google ....Presbyterian Church, PCA and read all about it.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Yeah, I'm still confused, but I keep an open mind.

[Guenevere]

#82..How open?

[JRandomFreeper]

The Sons of Martha

Rudyard Kipling

1907

The sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited
that good part;
But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the
careful soul and the troubled heart.
And because she lost her temper once, and because she
was rude to the Lord her Guest,
Her Sons must wait upon Mary's Sons, world without
end, reprieve, or rest.
It is their care in all the ages to take the buffet and
cushion the shock.
It is their care that the gear engages; it is their care that
the switches lock.
It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care to embark and entrain,
Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by land and main...

snip

And the Sons of Mary smile and are blessed - they
know the Angels are on their side.
They know in them is the Grace confessed, and for
them are the Mercies multiplied.
They sit at the Feet - they hear the Word - they see
how truly the Promise runs.
They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and - the
Lord He lays it on Martha's Sons!

I just love Kipling.

/john

[JRandomFreeper]

BTW, I consider myself to be a Son of Martha.

"They do not preach that their God will rouse them a
little before the nuts work loose.
They do not teach that His Pity allows them to drop
their job when they dam'-well choose.
As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark
and the desert they stand,
Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren's
day may be long in the land." - Kipling

It's all about service, for me, and I look forward to actually getting some work in the field.

/john

[Mr. Mulliner]

Well, I hope I'm no heretic. I should have said that I'm willing to listen to someone's explanation of scripture that may differ than my thinking on it.

I've heard lots of talk about Mary and Martha. American Christians seems to have such a love for the things we identify with Martha that many people do tend to find a way to lift her up as an example. But it's easy to read too much into the story.

Martha wasn't rebuked for her work, but for wanting Jesus to get Mary to listen less and work more.

[Miss Marple]

Oh, excellent! I just love Kipling, too!

[JRandomFreeper]

Martha wasn't rebuked for her work, but for wanting Jesus to get Mary to listen less and work more.

I have been rebuked for the same kind of attitude. Yes, some Americans identify. ;>)

In my mind, one of the wonders of the Scriptures is for a man 2000 years away from the events to identify his own flaws based on a story about two sisters that are long dead.

/john

[Neets]

Hi! I read your mail and will try to answer you later.

[Guenevere]

Mulliner-----I'm not here to argue with anyone....and I certainly didn't imply you were a heretic.....good mercy.

Both Martha & Mary have their place in Scripture and in practical application.

I've always thought the stronger emphasis was on Mary.....because she was listening....(not because she was lazy or unconcerned with the needs of the guests)..

..Martha ---in my upbringing--was always taught as .....don't lose sight of what's important...

God bless you...each & every one.....G'night dear folks! :)

[A Citizen Reporter]

"In my mind, one of the wonders of the Scriptures is for a man 2000 years away from the events to identify his own flaws based on a story about two sisters that are long dead."

Thank you for that, Johnny. That's quite a breath of fresh air for those of us who are embroiled in the current Episcopal crisis. I'm so tired of hearing how the Scriptures would not/could not have been written the same way today, or must be read through today's PC culture. One thing I do believe. Those that launched this crisis on this particular church, are not ready for backlash that they have unleashed. At least, I'm hoping and praying every day for it.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Oops. Did you think I was feeling accused? I wasn't. I was just joking about the heretic thing. I knew you weren't implying that at all.

I do tend to be very open-minded in that I'll listen to people and try to figure out how they came to their conclusions. Some people see it as a fault and maybe it is to some extent.

But I didn't think you were saying that. I was more guessing what some people I know would think when I say that I am open to hearing different opinions on Scripture.

[Iowa Granny]

Well, it wasn't Ruth. Since I last posted, in addition to hauling meals to the field, I've read the entire book of Ruth, KJV. No mention of the seduction of her captures.

Senility is the Pits. Most definitely I will be able to hide my own Easter Eggs this year.

In my mind I can see myself, about age 13, sitting in the second row of pews and hearing this story from the Youth Minister at MYF. (I can also remember my Mother didn't think it was quite necessary in 1957 or 8, for the Youth Minister to be discussing seduction with Jr Hi Girls).

I will drive myself nuts trying to sort this out and where my confussion lies. Nothing stronger than Diet Coke in the glass, so I have no valid excuse, except I'm getting old and I can't keep things straight anymore.

[Iowa Granny]

There is no fight worse than a church fight. The only good thing about a church fight is you quickly who the real Christians are. As opposed to the 'Sunday Christians'.

[Mr. Mulliner]

I've been trying to find something online that comes from a little book called "Ministering Cross-Culturally." It's a simple little set of questions that helps you understand what your cultural values are.

They have 6 or 8 different categories, and you come out stronger on one of two values within each category. For instance, one category is people-oriented versus task-oriented. Another is time-oriented versus event-oriented.

I don't recall all of them now, but have found that little thing so valuable that I've used it several times in teaching I've done in Singapore and Indonesia. You can learn a lot about yourself and your culture from those simple questions.

I know that in most of the ways, I always came out as quite different from what is typical of American culture. It helped me in China and in working with people from all over the world, especially Asia, to be people-oriented and event-oriented rather than task-oriented and time-oriented. But in America I very often feel I don't fit well and have a hard time getting into the flow of things here.

And that's true after over a year now.

[kayak]

Does this make anyone else's jaw drop as far as it did mine?

Latest contender for president comes from long line of rabbis

The opening sentences ....

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17

(JTA) — Raised a Southern Baptist who later converted to Roman Catholicism, Gen. Wesley Clark knew just what to say when he strode into a Brooklyn yeshiva in 1999, ostensibly to discuss his leadership of NATO´s victory in Yugoslavia.

"I feel a tremendous amount in common with you," the uniformed four-star general told the stunned roomful of students.

"I am the oldest son, of the oldest son, of the oldest son — at least five generations, and they were all rabbis."

[snip]

Clark´s Jewish father, Benjamin Kanne, died when he was 4, but he has kept in touch with his father´s family since his 20s, when he rediscovered his Jewish roots. He is close to a first cousin, Barry Kanne, who heads a pager company in Georgia.

Hmmmmm .... now who else was it that suddenly recalled Jewish ties? Doesn't her name begin with H?

How convenient!

[Mr. Mulliner]

We used to have a pastor who often told us that the first church he served in literally split over the color of the carpet. That, to me, is unfathomable.

[bamafour]

Lets see here....Jewish, Baptist, Catholic, Military!
Wow! A man for all the people!
What a bunch of rot!

[JRandomFreeper]

Did you think I was feeling accused? I wasn't. I was just joking about the heretic thing. I knew you weren't implying that at all.

That would be the shortcoming of communicating on a text-only messaging service where we can't see your facial expression or hear your chuckle.

The up-side is that we can't smell what you had for supper. ;>)

/john

[Guenevere]

LOL...#93..You are toooo funny :)
I'll hide those Easter eggs with you, dear.
G'night....

..PS..I knew you must be up to something, it was taking you so long to return...LOL....