Salyan

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. 

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

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.

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.

We should not use those kind of things unless we are using the biblical and correct English definitions and pronouns, no church should encourage its members to do that.

To be honest, I think the safest sacred music is hymns. Which don’t require additional chord progressions, because one just plays with or expands on written chords (and that’s come out of the classical tradition). My experience with the addition of chords that are not written is that they quite often conflict with the actual harmonies of the hymn, and make it difficult for people to sing in harmony. Most guitar chord progressions are written over-simplistically, and don’t coincide with the complicated chording already present in the body of the hymn.
I’m probably not the best conversation on this subject, because I really am such a sight reader. As I recall, the 2–5–1 is a pretty basic chord progression that you will see in the construction of the end of most hymns.

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. 

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. 

Amazing how Israel is the evil victim of what is happening. The lost world telling them what they need to do. Nobody is telling Hamas what they need to do. Has your church been quiet about what is going on in Israel? Your leader should be informing you of biblical events that are happening in Israel and how the world will someday try to destroy them. This will happen before the rapture of the Saints. If he says, that there have always been wars as his only final answer. Time to find a new church, in my humble opinion. 😇

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. ? 

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'll take "Things I don't care about" for $200 Alex

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!).

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!

Music leaders lead, though, and that's a form of authority within the service. I don't think women should be in that position either. 

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

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. 

I'm constantly browsing church websites for inspiration and to observe current website trends. (It's part of my job). Today, I came across a website with the caption, "We Grow People." My brain must have been in its comedic mode because I took it to heart, picturing a garden of human heads sprouting like enthusiastic sunflowers. ?

Wives are to submit to the husband. Let's be specific here. ? 
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I was speaking a little in jest before, but to give a serious response to the OP in the area of why pastors don't speak hard to women like they do men -  My observation in the churches here that the women are preached to a little more than the men, and by and large, I see the wives working harder at submitting than the men do leading. If that was the case in the churches with pastors like those mentioned above, I can see why they wouldn't place a harder burden on those actively trying to obey than those that aren't.  Perhaps this is something that varies greatly by region and church.  
I think my response here is also colored by what may be a different issue, and that is that I have heard of church leadership advising wives to submit through extended, unrepentant abuse as the only option for moving forward. That is neither Biblical nor helpful (nor actually legal).  So maybe I'm applying my distaste for this mentality to this discussion in a way it doesn't belong. I totally agree that if pastors truly are failing to teach the wives their part, that is a grave problem, and that the wives are responsible to obey God's commands for them within marriage. 
I don't really see how someone can truly submit to someone who is not leading - because decisions have to be made, and as nature abhors a vacuum, someone will have to step up and make them.  One can't just stop moving forward. But maybe that's why God still has me single. ?

Heartstrings, I am so sorry over what's happening in your son's marriage - what an awful thing to have to witness in your own family. 

So this is the third year in a row that we've been able to take a trip  for our anniversary. First year we took an extended trip around the Olympic Peninsula (an 8 hour drive stretched over 4 days). Last year we were able to go to CA to see the Redwoods. The drive down the  Pacific Coast Highway was beautiful.
This year, we are going to north central WA, to Okanogan County. There is a church there that is hosting a fellowship  meeting for the independent Baptist churches of WA. We thought we'd go and then head to one of the ghost towns in that area. Then back this way to spend the night in a town we stayed in on our move out here. Then on to church at a friend's church and home. Gonna be kind of busy, but we're looking forward to it.
However, there is a fire burning in that area. So I don't know what's going to happen once we get there.

Wives are to submit to the husband. Let's be specific here. ? 
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I was speaking a little in jest before, but to give a serious response to the OP in the area of why pastors don't speak hard to women like they do men -  My observation in the churches here that the women are preached to a little more than the men, and by and large, I see the wives working harder at submitting than the men do leading. If that was the case in the churches with pastors like those mentioned above, I can see why they wouldn't place a harder burden on those actively trying to obey than those that aren't.  Perhaps this is something that varies greatly by region and church.  
I think my response here is also colored by what may be a different issue, and that is that I have heard of church leadership advising wives to submit through extended, unrepentant abuse as the only option for moving forward. That is neither Biblical nor helpful (nor actually legal).  So maybe I'm applying my distaste for this mentality to this discussion in a way it doesn't belong. I totally agree that if pastors truly are failing to teach the wives their part, that is a grave problem, and that the wives are responsible to obey God's commands for them within marriage. 
I don't really see how someone can truly submit to someone who is not leading - because decisions have to be made, and as nature abhors a vacuum, someone will have to step up and make them.  One can't just stop moving forward. But maybe that's why God still has me single. ?

Heartstrings, I am so sorry over what's happening in your son's marriage - what an awful thing to have to witness in your own family.