BrotherTony

It depends on the congregation he's serving. The church I grew up in provided residences for the pastor and assistant pastor. The pastor served there for over 30 years. His son became the assistant pastor and had his house provided. Later on, as the church grew, the youth pastor had his residence provided as well. It can be a blessing, but, it can also be a curse. When the pastor resigned he had to move out of the parsonage into an apartment. It wasn't good for him.

That's not even funny TGL....just as it wasn't funny when you admitted trying to get into the women's forums. Sad.?

I'll take your word for what you believe. I'm neither Arminian or Calvinist. I can only call things as they seem to be presented though. Peace to you. BT

I don't believe they did count those others. I know that the SBC-affiliated church we attended in 2001 was a mega-church by standards, and our pastor was somewhat well-to-do. His mother was killed in the fire at the nursing home owned by the local hospital in Nashville, and he got a huge settlement from the lawsuit filed for negligence on the part of the nursing home. He retired a few years later, just after my wife and I moved to a smaller church. The pastor of that church hadn't had a raise in nearly 10 years, and he was living in his own privately owned residence without a housing allowance. He didn't have a car allowance, either. Just his salary. He was bi-vocational. Our current pastor has a job outside of the church, but he makes a fair amount of money and lives in the parsonage. I don't believe his income is outrageously high from the church, though. I know he turned down a raise a few years back because of the economic downturn during the pandemic. I believe his increase the last time was only 4%. That's not very much, especially considering at that time my wife was making nearly as much as he was and only got a 3% raise that year.

Have you accounted for inflation, cost of living, and the percentages compared to the time period you're referring to? If you're going to post things like this you truly should be able to back it up. Just sayin'. ?

There's a lot of terminology and hermeneutical twisting that sure fits that mold. If God has already decided who is saved and picked his favorites then John 3:16 is a lie, and so are all verses stating and implying God would have that all men would be saved. You can't have it both ways, John. Call it what you want, it still fits the Calvinist mold. You can add "humbly" all you want, it's still not a free will choice if it's been prescribed.

My wife has looked into these and we've discussed them. We have decided against it in light of our varied eating habits. It just wouldn't be feasible for us.

My mother puts this in every card, letter, or book she sends to her kids, at least the ones who are still in church. She's done this for years. I used to write it in our foster kids books and letters.

I really like that.

Personally I wish the pastor's wife would step down as "worship" leader. I mean, what is that anyway? In most of the Baptist churches I was ever in as a member or visitor up until the early 1990s, there was a proper song leader. I never did like the changeover to a "worship ' leader. I always believed that to be the pastors job, and we should have our hearts in condition to worship and praise God.

I've never found ? clown's remotely funny. Some do, though.

Neither could I! ???

Sounds like "closet Calvinism" to me. Call it what you will, it's not the salvation taught by any Baptist Church I've been a member of.

I will never treat this lightly, believe me. In fact my wife wants me to go to Mayo or Cleveland. My current cardiologist is not treating the angina properly from what we're being told. I was already taking a statin and baby aspirin. I used to be on nitroglycerin, but, he has yet to even suggest that. I've asked, and he's avoided the subject. At least my pulmonologist seems to be taking things seriously. If pulmonary rehab isn't successful he has said that I may have to be placed on oxygen. Praying for you and your upcoming surgery.

I have many friends and relatives that are liberals, and they don't support the LGBTQ+ agenda. Your assumption is quite incorrect. The devil is the one working OT to get this agenda through to everyone. Many at Belmont don't agree with that group either.

Unfortunately, Brother, they are.

I'm supposed to be able to get to 468 on my peak flow meter, but, I am only able to get to 210. I don't know if I will ever get to the 400 level. I feel like I never get enough oxygen.

I have been so ashamed of this university over the past 28 that we've lived here. Their continued slide towards being PC is over as far as I am concerned. There were several SS students there the past few years with no repurcussions directed towards those students. I have many friends who have graduated from there, and many more who are going there at the moment. We've discussed this, but they would rather go for financial expediency instead of going to more theologically sound institutions. It's sad...very sad. I applied to Belmont back in the 1970s. I'm thankful that the Lord led me elsewhere.

I don't see where the article called this a "young girl." It states "as young as," and that's totally different. Love your reference to King David... But, is that really applicable here? She was a married woman....jus' sayin'.

I don't necessarily agree with your assessment. If someone is hired as the youth minister, if he's capable, doing a great job, and there are no problems, he should be left in place. I've been in many churches where the youth minister and workers have been in place for many years, and there have been no problems. Those that have been in the youth groups love, cherish, trust, and respect these people. And many churches aren't large enough or have enough people to do this. If they did as you are suggesting, the church would be in a constant state of disarray.

Not a problem with me. ?

Morales, you seem to be "confused" (reference to your "confused" emoticon in the last post) about a lot of things lately. To be honest, you post a lot of sensationalized posts, usually attacking or complaining about other people's churches, and then even your own. Can I ask, do you ever post anything uplifting to the body of Christ and the posters here? Just a question. I'm not telling you not to post here...but, to be honest, I'd love to see you post some POSITIVE things once in a while. Thanks. ?

Many Christians use certain ASPECTS within yoga for relief of pain, anxiety, depression, etc. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater, Morales. Each individual has to make the evaluation on yoga themselves. Should they practice everything taught within yoga? Absolutely not. But, there are aspects of it that are very beneficial and can be separated from the religious teachings.

Breathing issues and pain levels, Ain't life grand? Lol

I went to bed at 1 AM and got up at 3 AM.