http://www.pleonast.com/user/truthme recent pleonast.com entries by user truthme en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/truthme?l=5&entryID=588417 When I first became a Christian it was a total life change. I was so amazed at God’s love. Just a year and a half before this I had tried (again) to commit suicide. And God just reached down and saved me. (September 13th 1984) I was very religious before this, involved in many groups, but my life was a mess. But when I met up with the church, it was so awesome. We sang- we prayed- We had this amazing vision… God was going to change the world! No one was going to have to be sad and lonely and confused anymore, God was offering life and we were not going to go a day without making that clear to everyone around us. The church trained us to evangelize. It was so rare for anyone to come to church without a visitor. Our attendance easily averaged twice our membership. The church was alive! We didn’t have to fight over what the rules were, or what events we HAD TO attend, this was life! We loved each other deeply, everyone came to every event and we brought in flocks of others wit... 2008-10-17 http://www.pleonast.com/user/truthme?l=5&entryID=560891 I am still bothered by the articles and research that has shown that the church of Christ has shrunk by 58% in the last 30 years, while population has grown by 42%. I am heartbroken by the fact that we have lost ONE THIRD of our congregations in that time- nearly 6,000 churches. And I have almost become violently ill when I have shared this with some in the church who have responded with: Well, “Narrow is the road and few find it!” Or “Well, “The Bible says there must be divisions to show which of us has God’s approval”. I want us to think a bit about this verse: Matt 7:17-20 Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. We have born bad fruit! And to be honest, we are cutting down our own tree! We have fought, and complained, and neglected, and debated o... 2008-08-09