STEADFASTNESS

[heartstrings]

All I will say about funeral services is I've noticed that many times, when the worldly people die, the crowds come to fill up the building many times overflowing the building. Them just the opposite happens for some of the godly people. Not always mind you, yet its that way quite often.

Wow, imagine, if everyone decided that church attendance was of no importance. One thing about most who do not attend church, they generally do not support one of Jesus' Churches with offerings, they generally stop reading the Bible, they generally stop praying, and they draw away from God, not closer. Plus on top of that they set a bad example for their children and friends is important to follow.

One elderly woman who has since died stated, "If the world loves a person, you can be assured they do not stand strong for Jesus, but compromise at every turn. For if they stood for Jesus, and His ways, the world would hate them." She made that comment when Billy Grahams name came up.

It would be a sad sight if one Sunday all of Jesus true churches had no attendance. With the way its going that just may come true, them there will be no one to carry forth the; go, teach, baptize, reaching them to OBserve all things whatsoever Jesus has commanded us.

Yes, the America way teaches that work, making money, attending games, car racing, going to the lake and many other things is more important than attending church services at one of Jesus Churches.

I still recall one morning several years back. I had gotten up about 4 AM, had gone and done what was necessary I my chicken houses, came back to the house, took a shower, ate me a bite, was waiting on Linda. It was pouring down outside, I went and laid down on the couch, nearly dozed off. I jumped up, got another cup of coffee. When Linda came out of the bathroom I told her, "The old devil just nearly got hold of me, I could easily lay on that couch and take a nap and miss church this morning, but I shall not let him win."

Many are letting the old devil win, skipping church for whatever reason is of importance to them.

All of that said, what people have done, and or what they are now doing, is not what counts, what counts is what the Bible has to say about it. Jesus' Churches are on this earth for a very good reason, and its not for some people to be able to skip attending its services.

Like I already told you, hmy Dad was forced to work on Sundays....but then you go and make your judgemental remarks.

[heartstrings]

I know that farmer too, he was guilty of worrying about his kids. He was proof of that old adage that what you fear the most will come upon you. Chapter and verse?

JOB 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.


Also, I believe JOB (no chapter or verse, but a whole lot of promises contrary to it!) was a special case, just thank God that He doesn't prove our faithfulness the same way!

I'd say that a man who doesn't have enough concern to worry about his kids, doesn't care about them.

[JerryNumbers]

I did not know that we live in a country where people can be forced to even work, let alone forced to work on Sunday.

[JerryNumbers]

I'd say that a man who doesn't have enough concern to worry about his kids, doesn't care about them.

Why worry, why not turn it over to our Lord.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Yes, some people try to tote the whole load, and refuse to turn it over to our Lord in prayer.

[CPR]

I did not know that we live in a country where people can be forced to even work, let alone forced to work on Sunday.

You may have to work sometimes on sunday if you want to keep your jOB and continue to provide for your family. Like I've said several times but no one seems to want to address, many churches offer alternative worship times for a traditional Sunday morning style service such as on Sunday evening or even Saturday evening. So maybe not being able to attend on Sunday morning all the time isn't such a big deal if you can attend at one of these other times.

[trc123]

I did not know that we live in a country where people can be forced to even work, let alone forced to work on Sunday.

No usually, but some time. We also have a country were some don't have to work as their livelihood is provided for them by the government (not necessarily the Lord). But then of course they would say that the Lord provided for the government to take care of them.

[heartstrings]

I did not know that we live in a country where people can be forced to even work, let alone forced to work on Sunday.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

[John81]

True!
But on the rest, I beg to differ with you.
Your little farmer story was about earthly blessings and "actually" JOB DID lose all of his, except for his wife. Furthermore, unlike your farmer who prayed and was spared from disaster, JOB prayed too but disaster came anyway.
And JOB's children went to be with the Lord?? Chapter and verse please.

JOB suffered a temporary "loss" for the glory of God under rather special circumstances.

By what we know it's likely JOBs children were right before God so JOB could look forward to seeing them again one day.

From what Scripture tells us, JOBs entire life before and after this moment in his life the Lord richly blessed and kept him. Even in the midst of the trial God preserved his life and as we know, God will allow nothing to come upon His people they can't handle. God's glory was served.

[John81]

Like I already told you, hmy Dad was forced to work on Sundays....but then you go and make your judgemental remarks.

What "judgemental remarks"? I also don't recall you relating anyone forcing your dad to work Sundays.

[John81]

Why worry, why not turn it over to our Lord.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Yes, some people try to tote the whole load, and refuse to turn it over to our Lord in prayer.

If we trust in God we can trust God with our children as well. When we worry we show our lack of trust. I've lived on both sides of this and just as Scripture says, worry does no good, only harm, but when we place our trust in God without worry we can know peace.

[John81]

You may have to work sometimes on sunday if you want to keep your jOB and continue to provide for your family. Like I've said several times but no one seems to want to address, many churches offer alternative worship times for a traditional Sunday morning style service such as on Sunday evening or even Saturday evening. So maybe not being able to attend on Sunday morning all the time isn't such a big deal if you can attend at one of these other times.

Many churches have two or more services on Sunday but not all churches can do this.

It's not a matter of the time one attends Sunday church, it's a matter of knowing when your church holds Sunday services and making sure you attend. God will provide the means for His people when they determine to do right and place their trust in Him and follow His direction.

[John81]

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

Not applicable here. No one is suggesting that men not work. What is being put forth is that we are commanded to assemble and the biblical model sets the primary day for this as Sunday. God is more than capable of providing us with jOBs that don't require Sunday work.

We can turn back to farmers in this as well. Most farmers, including Christians, work Sundays during times of planting and harvest especially. However, there are a few faithful Christian farmers who abide by the Word of God and devote Sunday to the Lord. When all is said and done, these farmers suffer no loss, regardless of the conventional wisdom, and they provide a wonderful witness for Christ.

[JerryNumbers]

Before going any further, why the snide remarks, it sure is not being Christ like, not the least bit. If you've got to stoop to snide remarks, its best left unsaid.


No, its our choice to work Sunday and miss Sundays services. And a weeknight services is not the same as Sundays' services, never has been never will be.

The America way, work to get wants, and to have, to have and have. Lust of the flesh gets in the way of many. Many will not sacrifice in order to follow Jesus closely, they rather follow Jesus from afar while going along with the America way.

[heartstrings]

What "judgemental remarks"? I also don't recall you relating anyone forcing your dad to work Sundays.

My Dad had a jOB with WinnDixie for over 30 years. Dad was in his late 50's and getting closer to retirement and even though he had been a faithful employee for years, they began to put him on irregular work schedules which included sometimes working on Sundays. Dad was a meat cutter, which was the only trade he had ever known, so changing jOBs was not much of an option.

It's amazing the misunderstandings we come away with when we don't READ what people say. Then go contradicting them. You see the word "sometimes" ,sir?

Tell you what, Jerry #s. If my Dad came over to your house to see you, and saw you working in your yard, building a shed, or whatever....even if he didn't know you my Dad wouldn't just stand there watchign you while he chatted. No sir, my dad would roll up his sleeves and start helping. If you needed financial help, my Dad would help you with that too. He did that for MANY people and THAT's why he had a big funeral. And beign he wasn't a slacker, he was in great demand as a worker and helper and you certainly wouldn' find him sitting in front of a computer with 13,000+ postings on a message board..... Edited August 23, 2010 by heartstrings

[JerryNumbers]

I have not said that your father was a slacker, nor anything such as that.

The topic 'Steadfastness,' and its led to us discussing Church attendance on Sunday. And my opinion on this has nothing whatsoever to do with your dad. Neither does it have anything to do with the number of people who attended his funeral.

My father believe Sunday was just like any other day, but I do not, I firmly believe attending Jesus' local church is connected with this topic, 'Steadfastness.' I firmly believe we all make our own choices.

I might add, my father taught me many wonderful things, to work hard, to work for what I have, to pay my bills, do not charge something unless you know for sure you can pay for it, be honest at all cost, be committed to your wife, and true to her, and not to drink. But he taught me nothing about God, Jesus, and such. But even that has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Now my mother, grandmother, taught me to go to church, she taught me church attendance was important, by example. Yet that is not why I think we ought to attend Sunday services, I believe we ought to attend Sunday services because of one reason, we love God and Jesus, we want to do those things which brings Them glory, and we are not to forsake attending Sunday services as some do. And that we cannot do these if we leave off Sunday church attendance.

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

And if we are going to:

Luke 6:46 Jesus asks, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
And not do ALL those things He ask us to, why call Him Lord?

Once I was speaking with a deceased pastors youngest daughter, she had 2 young children. I had not seen here in a long while and I asked here if she and her family were in church. She replied, we went until I started working on Sunday's, I now send them to church.

I got nosey and asked her, 'Why work on Sunday.'

She replied, "I can make a bit more money."

I asked her, 'Are you behind on bills."

She said, 'No.'

Why work on Sunday them?

Where we can have more.

Yes, you can have a bit more but think about what your doing, your selling out to old Satan, selling our Jesus, just so you can have more, fulfill some of your wants. Plus look at what your teaching your children, that your wants is more important than Jesus. And please tell me, what would your father think?

She said her father would not like it, that he would think that she and her family should be in church every Sunday.
After telling me that all I had time to say is, 'You know your father is right,' this was at a funeral service after the service and we were headed to the graveyard, and I had to leave it at that, she lives in another town and I have not seen her since.

There is a deacon of a Baptist church that lives between me and town, I pass his house many times on Sunday evening and he will be working in his yard, leaving church attendance off. I might add, he teaches a Sunday school class, or at least he use to. He to is selling out Christ, and setting a very poor example, plus he has a sign in his yard telling what church he is a member of.

Let me say this, we don't attend church because we have to, becasue its an OBligation, we should do so only because we love God, we love Jesus, They should be our # 1 priority over everything else. And yes, there is a few excuses for not attending, and it should be restricted to when our ox actually gets stuck in the mud hole type situations, and if it starts happening to often we ought to repair the mud hole ASAP.