Thoughts On Polygamy

Warren Jeff's a leader of a polygamist cult has been arrested. He is charged with rape, child rape, arranging marriages of young under age girls to older men. I am glad that they finally found this man and will be brought to justice. This has started a whole new debate over marriage. I believe marriage is instituted by God between one man and one woman. In the beginning we see that God created Adam and Eve. He tells us that two will bcome one flesh. Later in the Bible we see multiple marriages or polygamy. Abraham, David, Solomn, and numerous others had many wives. You see in 1st Timothy the qualifications of elders is the husband of one wife, there was evidence of polygamy in other societies in the New Testament. In missions you have cultures that have multiple wives do you tell them to divorce the wives they have and stay married to just one? That would leave those women without a means of living. That has been discussed in missions classes.

Doyou think polygamy is wrong? Why? When did it change from one wife to multiple wives in the Bible and then back to the intended? What problems does polygamy lead to and hurt others? How have seen women abused in a polygamist society? How does it effect love?
Let me know what you think?

Child Beauty Pageants

The Ramsey murder case has been in the news lately. It has got me to thinking and I want you to share your oppinions and thoughts. Personally I think it is sick to see little girls dressed up like Barbie Dolls and in beauty pageants. They look to older for their age. It's just not natural.
We live in a sick society anyway why would parents take the chance of a preditor being in the crowd. Parents should be protecting their children, let their kids enjoy being kids. Why do these parents flont their little girls around like this? What do you think? Are child beauty pageants a bad thing? Why? Should they be outlawed? Are they an invitation to preditors and sicko's? What do you think. What do you think God thinks about these child beauty pageants?
Let me know your comments.

Hurricane Katrina A Year Later

For I a minute I want you to set aside your political views and party affilations.
You are not democrat or republican.
You are just Americans.
I want you to think about Hurrican Katrina and what you saw on the news, how long it took for Amercans to get the help they needed, the destruction, how the gulf coast looks today?
May the images be forever burned into our minds so that we will never forget that those were American's who suffered. Fellow American's who lost many of their family members, friends, homes, personal items, jobs, places of worship. Fellow Americans.
Today I want you to remember and pray for all the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The B-I-B-L-E YES THAT'S THE BOOK FOR ME

I dont know about you but one of the first songs I remember being taught in Sunday school was the BIBLE song. Now my sons are learning that song, singing it around the house. I remember my oldest son went around the house saying BI BI for the longest time. If you don't know the song or forgot the words:

"The B-I-B-L-E
Yes that's the book for me
I stand up on the word of God
The B-I-B-LE. (repeat as many times as you want, I know my sons do)

A simple but very powerful song with truth.
I believe the Bible is the inspiried word of God from the first letter to the last. I believe what the Hebrew writter says in 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penatrates even to dividing sould and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The word of God is what matters to us as Christians. It is what we should base our oppinion on. Our beliefs. Our way of living is by standing upon the promises of God, his word. We need it. It is a must if we are to survive.
In Deuteronomy 8 Moses is telling the people not to forget God and reminds them of all the things that God has done, giving them manna from heaven to eat and then tell them that just like the bread that sustained you and gave you life the Lord says teach them that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.Vs. 3(NIV) As Christians, Christ word should dwell within us richly (Col.3:16 NIV). We are to be doers of it (James 1:22). I am glad that I can trust the word, that no matter what changes, God's word never passaway (Matthew 24:35). I am glad that I have the Bible and that others across the world are getting it printed in there language. Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then I will return." How wonderful.

I don't know about you but when I am down and I need strength, encouragment. I got to the Bible and read the Psalms and man do I feel better. I read his promies of help, refuge, stronghold and I leave strengthened. I read and I see failures of man of faith, leaders, and understand that I am not alone. And time and time again when failures, disappointments, disobedience happens and I Gods grace time and time again. In the Old and the New Testaments. God reveals himself to us in the Bible. God reveals his desire for us in the Bible. God reveals how to become a Christian, how to live as a Christian and what his will is for the church. The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me, is it for you?

Do we believe the Bible today? Really believe? Do we read it as often as we should? I know you who are ministers study and prepare sermons and classes but do you spend time in personal study? Yes, there is a difference. Do we base our oppions and beliefs from the Bible? Do we pick in choose what we want out of it? Do we argue over translations and miss the message completely? Do we encourage others to read it? Do we sit and read it with our families at home? Is it on our minds when we are at work? What is your favorit passage? What passage gives you strength, help, when you are in need? Favorite memory verses?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.

Dallas Cowboys Question

Here is a question that you Cowboy fans have heard but if not are going to love. Every Cowboy fan should know the answer to the quesion if asked.
Here it is:
Question: Why is there a hole in Texas Stadium?
Answer: So God can watch His team win!

Friday Night Football Coming Soon!

Tonight I took the family to a high school football scrimmage. The boys had a great time at the game. Our middle son for the first time was really getting into the game and enjoyed it alot. He was yelling, stomping, shouting go and clapping. If your not from Texas you won't understand what I am talking abou,t but every friday night in every town, high school football is what it is all about. You can see stadium lights everywhere. The echo fans cheering and the marching band playing. The entire town is at the ball game and if not they are listening to it from their front porch, on the radio or watch the scoreboard shows on into early saturday morning. On some friday nights when it is cross town rival playing there can be anywhere from 30-40,000 that's right thousand. Friday night football. I'm from Abilene, and went to AHS, so I am going to have to say that Abilene High is going to win Texas State 5A this year. The only team that they got beat by last year, the only team, South Lake Carroll.
After watching Rocksprings tonight, man they are going to go far this year. Their defense is incredible. Offense was quick. Rocksprings is going to be a team you need to watch for this year in the playoffs.
I love watching 6 man. It is quick and high scoring. One team that has always been good and I have enjoyed watching is Ira. So if you are ever in the Snyder area check out Ira.

Friday Night Football, I can't wait.
How about you?
Is Friday Night Football big in your town? How's your town's football team?
Do you have any predictions?
Let me know what you think!

The Island: Thoughts on Human Cloning

On monday night I watched an incredible movie, The Island. It was about cloning and how clones had their own thoughts, feelings, individuality. The movie got me to thinking.
We clone animals right now. Texas A&M and other universities have cloned goats, horses, and an assortment of other animals. Is human clonning around the corner? Is it okay to clone? What about cloning human body parts for transplants? Will it human cloning happen in your lifetime? Will a human clone have a soul?
What do you think?

I've Been Tagged by Ben Overby

I've been tagged by Ben Overby:

1. One book that changed your life: The Bible
2. A book you read more than once: Too Busy Not To Pray by Bill Hybels
3. A book you would want on a desert island: The Bible off course (but How To Survive and Get Off A Desert Island).
4. A book that made you cry: No Wonder They Call Him The Savior
5. A book that made you laugh: I don't read books that make me laugh
6. A book you wish had been written: A Youth Ministers Survival Guide On How to Deal with Upset Parents, Elders and Staff.
7. A book you wish had never been written: Radical Restoration or Any book by F. LaGuard Smith
8.Book I am currently reading: Kingdom Come by Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks
9.Book I am planning on reading: The Spirit of Jesus by Gary Holloway
10. I tag Josh.

Splits within the Church

I am currently reading Kingdom Come by John Mark Hicks and Bobby Valentine. I am enjoying it very much. The book has caused me to think about the church and what God wants from it. As mentioned in the book, talked about at ACU Lectureship, and known among the restorationists is the split of 1906. I disagree with David Lipscomb and Harding. I think any split is wrong. I do think that there are many great things that we can learn from both Limpscomb and Harding.
As I keep tell the congregation I preach for, this isn't my church, it isn't even your church, this is the Lord's Church. He purchased it with the highest price of His one and only. Do we forget that as Chrisitans? We let personalities, selfish agendas get in the way of what God wants from us.
Do we understand that people who cause division in the church are going to judged by God harder than anyone else because it is His church and as they words says, "The Lord hates division." You look at how God is, unity in the trinity. It is how he is made up. One. Jesus's prayer in the garden was for oneness.
We should try to make peace. Jesus said, Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called what?
I know I want to called a son of God don't you.
What I see happened in 1906 is the Christian church wanted worship done a certain way and because they were doing it different. Christian church dis-fellowshiped itself from the church of Christ.
You hear about churches doing that today. You don't do it the way I think is by the word so we are going to remove our fellowship from you.
As you read the letters by Paul, Peter, James, John, Jude, you never see an example of dis-fellowship between churches. You don't see the Corinthian church saying to the Ephesian church we are removing fellowship from you. And I think all the churches had serious problems. Sin.

I believe we should strive for peace and unity.
We are seeing that push today with churches of christ and the christian church.
What has to happen for that to occur?
Does the Christian church need ask for forgivness and to give up the use of instruments for that to happen? Since it was I am going to take my bag or marbels (instraments)) and do my own thing. What can be done to seek unity and peace? What can ministers and churches do to make a difference and answer Jesus' prayer that he prayed in the garden?
How does it look in the eyes of the world we splits happen? What message does it send?
Will we see more unity and peacemaking in the comming years? How and why?
Let me know what you think?

New Books I AM Reading

Here are some new books I am reading:
Kingdom Come: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of David Lipscomb and James Harding by John Mark Hicks and Bobby Valentine
I just started it.

Others:
The Real Heaven: It's Not What You Think by Joe Beam and Lee Wilson

Anything written by Gary Holloway, I have loved reading. He is one of my favorites. I bought two books by him and looking forward to reading both.
The first is:
Living in God's Love: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality by Gary Holloway and Earl Lavendar
And:
A Meditative Commentary on The New Testament: Romans and Galtians "The Spirit of Jesus" by Gary Holloway.

Have any of you read these books? What did you think? What did you enjoy about them? Let me know what you think?

Is It The Beginning of WWIII

You can't help but hear about it on the news. Israel's at war Hezbalah. Syria may join the fight. If Syria joins the fight it won't be long before Iran will want to join in on the action. And if Iran joins in then America will take side with Israel. And if America joins in what about Russian and China? What side will Russia and China Take? Then there's N. Korea.

Could this war be the beginning of WWIII?
Should we be more concerned?
Should the U.S. be doing more than what they are doing to bring a cease fire?

What do you think? Could this be the war that starts it all? Let me know your thoughts on all this.