Posted on 02/03/2004 8:55:08 PM PST by netmilsmom
Subject: Special E-Letter AOL/Lisa Whelchel
Special E-Letter
Dear friends,
I am deeply disturbed by what happened during last night’s halftime show of the Super bowl. I was downstairs cleaning up the kitchen when the halftime show began and when I overheard the lyrics of the songs I went upstairs to have the kids switch the channel. Too late! When it was over I called my mother and said, “Did what I think just happened, really happen?”
As a family, we immediately knelt down and repented on behalf of America and pled for mercy on our country. We prayed the scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are ÿcalled 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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
At the end of the game we had a family discussion and talked about how we could make our voice heard, that there were people in America who were not willing to stand back and watch our country go the way of cultures in the past who gave themselves over to the flesh and were destroyed.
MTV produced the halftime show but AOL was the official sponsor. We can’t boycott MTV because we don’t subscribe. But we can cancel our AOL service – and we did! When I called AOL this morning to cancel they asked me why I was punishing AOL instead of CBS or the NFL.
I explained that CBS would not know if our family never watched another show on their network because we aren’t a “Nielson” ratings family. Same goes for the NFL. I don’t hold within my hands any influence to impact CBS, NFL or MTV. But AOL does!
If enough people cancel their AOL subscriptions, you can believe me, AOL will go directly to CBS, NFL, MTV and any other acronym involved, and their voice (and pocketbook) will be heard.
May I share a personal aspect to this story? For over a year Haven has been campaigning for “Instant Messenger.” I have repeatedly said no, explaining that I felt it was a time-waster. Last week the subject came up again, but she had a fresh argument. She said, “Television is also a time-waster and you let me watch that after all my school work is done.” I responded, “Good point. Are you willing to trade television privileges for IM?”
When she said that she would, she gave up watching television unless the whole family was watching something together, (which is very rare.) Tucker made the same choice and three days ago Steve loaded AIM, AOL’s Instant Messenger service. (We’ve had an AOL account for over ten years!) She has had the best time since then chatting with her friends and I was happy because, as many of you know, the kids have not made friends as quickly as I thought they would since we moved.
Last night when I put Haven to bed, I told her that I felt like we should cancel our AOL subscription but I would ultimately leave the decision up to Tucker and her because they were the most who would most be impacted by the choice.
With tears running down her cheeks and onto the pillow she said, “I will make the right choice, but it is so hard. I waited so long to get IM. I don’t want to, but I will do the right thing.”
I was so proud of her. (BTW, Tucker agreed, too, but he was more mad than sad.) Living in America, we don’t often have to suffer for our beliefs. I believe canceling our AOL account is a small way that we can take a stand for Christ and do our part in “turn(ing) from our wicked ways.” AOL may not hear, but God will and, perhaps, He “will forgive (our) sins and heal (our) land.”
Blessings,
Lisa Whelchel
www.lisawhelchel.com
P.S. Feel free to forward this E-letter to as many people as you know. Perhaps, collectively, our voices will be heard.
Quarterly? As in four times a year? To be honest, that does not sound like a very proactive method to attract new membership.
We invite people from the community by means of direct invitation.
Our Churches obviously differ. You probably would also be offended that the Church I attend:
** Has weekly Awana's meetings aimed at children from 3-12 yrs old. This is open to any who may wish to attend and the Churches facilities are used w/o charge.
** Has weekly AA meetings open to the general public w/o charge (donation only is asked).
** Has periodic "Coffee House", where Christian themed bands perform, free of charge, coffee and snacks are provided. Again, open to anyone who wishes to attend.
I find the idea of an "invitation only" method of outreach to be counter productive to what an outreach should be.
Besides regular weekly worship services and Bible studies classes and quarterly Gospel meetings what other outreaches might you suggest?
Do you get many non-members attending the Awana meetings and Coffee Houses?
I hope the AA meetings are more for the general public and not the members.
I find the idea of an "invitation only" method of outreach to be counter productive to what an outreach should be.
The invitation part is more for the members to get involved in getting the word out. Everyone is invited. An invitation is not required. No donations are every asked from anyone for any reason. The only monies collected are from members on the first day of the week.
I think our definitions of "outreach" differ. To me an outreach is a program designed to attract nonmembers to the Church. They might come for an event of some type and then find that they do in fact like the people. Hopefully this then results in their attendance at worship services.
One very successful program at our church is a "Ladies Tea." Each woman in the Church, who chooses to participate, 'buys a table' of eight for $40.00. They then invite seven friends (non church members). They set their tables in their finest china and they each bring two dishes of some sort, as agreed upon by the planners. A guest speaker is the main draw (which is what the $40.00 is for). Many of those who attend, do end up attending services as well.
Do you get many nonmembers attending the Awana meetings and Coffee Houses?
A number of the Awanna's are not regular Church members, but since I have no kids in that age range, I really do not know the overall make-up. The attendance at the Coffee houses is 50-50. Either Church members or friends of the Band.
I hope the AA meetings are more for the general public and not the members.
Why?
That sounds like a very judgmental statement to me. If a person is/was an Alcoholic and is fighting this affliction, what is wrong with that person both being a member of AA and a member of the Church?
Far be it for me to attempt to put God's thoughts as my own, but I would hope that God would be pleased that such a person has found comfort in his house and in his words. If this makes others in the Church uncomfortable, then I would think that those people, the ones who are uncomfortable with this, have lost sight of what a Church really represents.
Speak for yourself, please. Had it not been for this thread, I would not have known to contact Lisa Welchel to give her my kudos.
This is not, as you so tackily put it, about JJs anatomy. If you can't see that, I feel deeply sorry for you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.