BrotherTony

Thanks! ???

All of this bloviation over a typo? Really? I think just from reading the previous posts we all know what is being spoken of. Just more proof that "knowledge puffeth up." UGH!

This isn't wrong by any means....A name doesn't dictate the doctrine...I've seen many Baptists not have "Baptist" on their signs...in fact, I helped start a church back in 2005...Faith Community Church...it was a Baptist church. It lasted nearly two years, but, because of the indecisiveness of the pastor and his inability to maintain any decorum, he resigned nearly six months after helping start the church. The assistant pastor who took over after the pastor resigned, started to try and turn the church toward the charismatic movement. I had resigned by then as one of the leaders of the church, and gone to another church. They closed in 2007, nearly two years after starting. They would have been fine if they had called a pastor instead of letting one from the split come and take the church. All that being said, there are at least ten churches in the Murfreesboro area that are Baptist but don't have "Baptist" in their name. They are stable churches, witnessing for Christ, presenting the good news, and growing at a steady rate. This is your preference...not necessarily correct...for many churches that have the name "Baptist" aren't Baptist at all. There are some in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and even here in Tennessee that have their preference for the KJV listed on the bottom of their marquee.

Thanks, Jim. My mom also made that recommendation the other day. She's also 80, and she had to get dentures at the age of 21. She and my biological father both were part of a tooth paste study for Crest back in the 1950s, and they both had to have their teeth removed and dentures to replace them. I just turned 61 on May 3, and I have had an opportunity to joke with them both that their participation in that study was passed on to me and that Crest gave me the protection they should have had! Lol ?

I have a follow up appointment with the orthopedic surgeon on Monday morning. He doesn't think I will need surgery, but he's stated that I'll probably need extensive therapy to regain some of the use of my left arm. I am a little apprehensive about going through another long period of therapy only to once again being disappointed. It's all in the Lord's hands. Then, on May 28th I have the rest of the teeth in my mouth pulled and will be getting my immediate dentures. I kept my teeth longer than both of my parents, which I praise the Lord for. I'm sort of nervous, as I have had some very bad experiences at the dentist office over the years. They're going to have to "twilight" sedate me. I would greatly appreciate your prayers.

I just want to see the cavities in their teeth when they smile! ???

Our 32" flat screen cost us $189 at Walmart four years ago. Now we want a 72" in the living room very soon. $389 to $499 depending on the brand.

The noise from the church can be heard a mile and then some from the property. Locke's congregation meets in a tent instead of a building. Granted, they had to get a new tent a while back because the old one was destroyed. The new tent is supposed to be more sound proof than the previous one. They're also having problems because of violating parking restrictions and allowing their congregants to block neighborhood driveways. This has been an ongoing problem for quite a while now. Mr. Locke basically says the county and neighbors don't like the fact that he's preaching the gospel and changing lives. He's been nothing but belligerent the whole time saying nothing was going to stop HIS church. Having had dealings with Mr. Locke myself, I fully believe he's brought this action on himself. Over 2,000 residents in the area signed the petition for legal action.

I'm all for the weapons... but I just don't see doing this kind of thing in a church. It sends the wrong message to the unsaved, and could affect the growth of young believers.

Yet, a majority don't.

Though I believe it is a good thing to "dress to impress," I believe a lot of people pay far too much attention to what everyone else is wearing. If one is dressing to impress everyone else to gain their approval, then they're doing it for the wrong reasons. Do I believe a pastor should be dressed like a professional? Yes, I do. Pastors are held to a higher standard, and I have to say, personally I have a problem with taking a pastor seriously if he doesn't care enough to look professional. Does this mean that a pastor is necessarily doing something wrong by not dressing in a suit and tie? No, of course not. God blesses the preaching of his word regardless. We as Christians have to remember that we are Ambassadors of Christ. We should try to look the part if possible.

To use your word.... wrong. Read Jim's take on the subject.... seems to be the same as mine. ?

"Matter of fact" or not, they're wrong.

I can't believe Tony Hutson is going so low as to even be a part of this type of thing. It seems more like something Mr. Locke would be promoting or participating in. Just my humble opinion.

As in a "mankind" typology. Not as a physical male.

Tonight will be our second and last night on the sloppy Joes my wife made last night. She wants me to have some pork and beans, and possibly some bbq potato chips with it. That will be good, as I am having to make a bedroom and our second bath squeaky clean for my little sisters visit this weekend. ?

Very nice, TGL.

That's understood, and nowhere have I stated otherwise. As they were commanded to teach others to do so, they did. I truly believe that the power of the people to baptize has been usurped by the corporate church, ie, the power taken by the leadership. I liked most of what I read in "The New Reformation: Unfinished Business, Returning The Ministry To The People Of God," by Greg Ogden. I have been in churches where people have been baptized by those who led them to the Lord...they were baptized in a swimming pool, river, lake, or somewhere with sufficient water, who have come to church and requested membership, the one baptizing them giving an account of the baptism and the one who was baptized giving an account of his/her salvation to the congregation. They were accepted without question. I've seen this in at least two Baptist churches, four Cowboy Churches, and two inter-denominational churches. These people are thriving and growing, as are the churches they are in. I'm not saying I 100% agree with the process, but with the command given by Christ, I find it a feasible position. I've already stated where I stand on the remnant of believers...my view isn't Landmarkism. Nor is it that we came from the Protestant Reformation.

I know many who are non-denominational who are living holy, acceptable, on-fire lives, filled with the Holy Spirit. Are they perfect? No...Are they confused about where they stand on the Bible, or where they believe the Holy Spirit has led them? No. Many of them are living more holy, fruitful lives than many of the Baptists I know today, including myself at times. Being non-denominational doesn't mean one is a heretic or ungodly.

And I don't think you'll find but one or two people on these forums that believe this. Most do not. There are a few, however, that do believe that God had a remnant of people who were never a part of the Romans that grew to be the RCC, nor do they believe that their branch of Christianity had anything to do with it in the first place. God will always have a remnant of people who have not been a part of the fallacy of man-made doctrines or positions. In the passage you are giving here, it's specifically given to the Apostles...Care to try again? I don't believe "successionism" has anything to do with it. I believe ignorance of the Bible's teachings and one's own interpretations being forced into them as truth, as the Pharisees did when they added their teachings and traditions into and above scripture in many instances is the problem. The authority doesn't lie with just the pastoral/elder/deacon leadership to do these things.

??????? All this is based on YOUR opinion...again...as to what Baptists believe...that's really strange considering you're not a Baptist (you say you've got no denomination) and you're telling us what we allegedly believe. I think I already pointed out the fallacy of your viewpoint before. How would YOU know if the churches that Jim has attended came out of succession or not? It's sort of irrelevant and not worth going through since we're supposed to be redeeming the time, seeking to lead souls to the Lord, and building his kingdom. More bloviating and assumption on your part.

Application? ?

We're so thankful that all has turned out well! Praise the Lord for his blessings. Those are some great pictures.

He didn't address them that way because the society was patriarchal.