Salyan

I feel like the overauthoritative pastor may be at some level a uniquely American issue. I recently had friends who moved to the States from Canada, and their home pastor in the States told them (not suggested - told!) that they needed to put their kids in school and she needed to teach at the church school. Um, no! That level of bossiness and intrusion in family choices would be rare if not nonexistent in Canadian churches.

Baptists here talk a lot about Israel, we just don't always do it here. Please change the title. It is not fair to paint such an inaccurate negative impression for new visitors to the site. How about: "What's going on in Jerusalem and Israel?"

Since Baptists here obviously do talk about what's going on in Israel, could the name of this thread please be changed?

There are so many ministry areas beyond pastor and deacon.... if divorced people want to serve God, they are barely limited by this restriction. I feel like maybe there's some pride involved with those that want to lead despite this disqualification (and if that's the case, they really shouldn't be leading!).

Dressing immodestly is a stumbling block, yes, and women are often safer from the designs of evil men if they don't draw that kind of attention to themselves by what they wear. But NO ONE deserves to be attacked because of what they wear. That mindset is the epitome of rape culture and has produced the society we are in where people take no responsibility for their actions and refuse to recognize their own sin. Men are responsible to God (and the law, where applicable) for their own thoughts and actions, and they don't get to try to absolve themselves of responsibility because a woman was immodest. A few years back the Modesty Survey was released by Josh Harris' younger brothers, the Rebelution. It was interesting for me as a woman to see how guys think. It was also interesting to see how the youngest participants (14-15), who are also the group of young men just beginning to notice girls and still struggling with learning self control, tended toward the most extreme responses in how much they figured women needed to be covered. It reminded me of conservative Islam - men trying to avoid their own temptations by making women literally invisible, sometimes to point where even their eyes are not visible. Funny how removing all possible stumbling blocks doesn't change their heart struggle.

What is the matter with these groups? Christians should hold ourselves to a higher standard than the world - and leaders even more so. And even the world knows to hate this kind of thing! Our church set up a Child Protection Policy a few years back that makes it Very. Clear. that the proper authorities are to be notified in such a case. I had a pastor friend who confessed to affairs with prostitutes... he'd hidden it for a very long time. He wasn't found out but confessed freely and stepped down from the pulpit - and if he hadn't, the other pastors around here would have encouraged it. How can these churches not do the same?

It's scheduled for August! We're running an evening one to make it easier to find staff. I'd better get busy on those crafts!

I normally dislike AI, but this is AMAZING.

Sounds like you need to get in a good church again. Are you still in Ndop? Where did you attend while you were there?

Thinking, the rules of this Board require only the use of KJV. Please edit this post and use the KJV in future for quotes. Thank you!

We do different gifts. Sometimes they get elaborate. For mothers, we've done pansies in pretty pots with a small chocolate, potted succulents, jar candles with a goodie, a good book & bookmark - things like that. Fathers have gotten things like a small tool set or cookies. Their favorite year was the year someone baked a pie for every dad in the church, and they got to pick their favorite flavor to take home. I have mixed feelings about celebrating mother's day/father's day too overtly. Singles are obviously left out (not that I mind... there are usually leftovers if I really want something - ha!), but I wonder how those feel who are silent parents (lost a child to miscarriage that people might not know about), or struggling with infertility.

It’s also an affront to the English language, which predetermines pronouns based on biological gender, and it does not allow a singular entity to be referred to in the plural. IMO, using that preferred pronoun in signature lines shows tacit agreement to this nonsense and therefore supports this defiance of God’s ordained order.

I understand where you’re getting at, but the title really does offend me.

TGL, it is heresy to state that Mary was the mother of God (specifically that term), or to call her the Virgin Mary, considering that she is no longer a virgin. You can call her Mary, mother of Jesus. Those terms are Catholic heresies, and have no place on this board. Please stop using them immediately. And actually, I don’t think people are lost just for not believing in the virgin birth. It’s kind of part and parcel of the story of salvation, but they have believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins,, and was raised again, according to the scripture as well. But you have a point that it’s good to learn from all the people in the Bible, and not to exclude her.

Wasn’t Thanksgiving like a month ago? ?

If it's no big deal, then why are we talking about it? TGL, I think you need to stop challenging things that aren't a problem. Frankly, even if a pastor did have an assigned space (which I could only think would happen in huge churches), it would probably be a good thing. They're busy and are coming to work when they get to church. It's not like they'll be taking space from legislatively-required handicapped stalls.

I mean, I think the adjectives on temple descriptors were just a way of telling them apart by builder.... I don't feel that there's any spiritual significance there. The only temple that will be built by God's hand has yet to be seen. I love the carpenter gothic churches, but am forced to admit that there is no reason to have them and not another design (although the vaulted roof is ideal for good congregational singing - so there's that). Our church is considering a church expansion that will spoil the pure carpenter gothic architecture, and I am not a fan. ?

It's unhealthy to be speaking of yourself in the plural, there, TGL. ? This seems rather an unprofitable conversation.

Since this thread is discussing Israel, the title is incorrect. TGL, could you please change it (and try to create more positive titles in future - thanks!).

1. Hard to get out of the carpet 2. Why have it? Is someone that addicted they can’t bear to be without it for an hour? Burden of proof for having it should be on those wanting to bring it in (I say that as someone who sometimes is still drinking my first coffee to wake up as I arrive at church - but I finish it outside the sanctuary or leave it).

Like multi stall bathrooms, or single stall bathrooms? (I can’t see the sign.) nothing wrong with single stalls being for used by either gender, because only one person can use them at a time. ?

And then there’s ours, where the secretary is often (not always) also appointed treasurer. ?

In choosing the secretary? Probably depends on the church. I don’t think there is a scriptural ‘should’ for this. I mean, in my church they vote for the Treasurer and Clerk, but the pastor hires/appoints the secretary. (They’re not always paid.?)

JW is not a denomination, it is a cult. They worship a false Christ. If this is your family, I am so sorry. Your daughter has made her choice, as an adult, and the fault and consequences will be hers, not yours. She has chosen a hard path. I believe it is possible for true believers to be ensnared in the JW organization, not realizing what it is. I don’t know if that is the case of this young man or not. You are in an excellent position to both encourage your daughter in the faith (and maybe make sure of her salvation), and to graciously witness truth to this young man. Anyone can be saved!

Can she? Yes, of course. Should she? It’s probably better to have someone else handle the financial stuff - counting & depositing offerings - if possible, but secretarial is fine. Even just having others help with counting so the money is seen by more people will help with preventing any appearance/future accusations of financial impropriety.