I just started a new class at Harrodsburg tonight. We are going to go through headlines that are in the news both past and present and discuss how a chirstian should/could deal with difficult situations in life and in the communities around us.
The first lesson was on a girl who got shot in Western KY and is now paralyzed from the neck down. The main question is "does human suffering disaprove the existence of a benevolent God?"
How to we reconcile the fact that God is all knowing and all powerful also all loving and yet allows these things to happen? We had great discussion in class tonight please feel free to discuss here.
Yes, I am. It is interesting that I saw the beginning of your post on the Preachermen forumn and told Amber, "Hey, it looks like Mike Estes is now on Pleonast." And then I saw the end of your post. Ha. I don't think you and I have met, but Amber has mentioned you before.
Can you make a new years resolution early? I have decided that I really stink at blogging. Between this and my other blog both have been ignored for a month or two (how long ago was august?) I am now going to make a concerted effort to update both blogs. For those of you who don't know why life has been crazy for me lately I will fill you in.
In addition to working with the church here in Harrodsburg as an evangelist I also manage the investment division in southeastern KY for a large regional bank. If you know KY geography it is everything south of Lexington to the TN line and east of Bardstown. Said bank that I work for has had financial trouble and was recently aquired by PNC bank out of PA in what best I can tell was a shotgun wedding. In the midst of this I lost 4 of my 5 employees who were concerned with the future of their jobs. So that left me and one employee managing investments for close to 125 million dollars worth of assets in 25 branches in 10 counties and has anyone seen the market lately?
The good news though is that I just hired all new people that have better talent than the ones I lost and they started this past week. I am not sure what the market is going to do but most of my clients now have calmed down and decided to take our advice and reccomendations on how to navigate these difficult times.
So now I am back on track with lots of madness behind me and time to get back to things that got neglected to handle the working place. I appreciate all the prayers from those that have helped me through this mess and thank you for listening to my whining about things as well.
^^Adam, you crack me up!! I was thinking the same thing...graceful and Mike in the same sentence? No, I know he is a hard worker and we love what he does for our congregation. I know he can work through the bank problems...even though we have to remind him no fuss'n!! ha-ha!
1. I will argue about just about anything it is a hobby of mine
2. I am one of the few remaing purist democrats (maybe just me and Dad left)
3. I still play video games as if I was 10
4. I will listen to and sing along with almost any type of music
5. My son makes everything better (you just have to see him play and hear him laugh- Cassie can back me up)
6. My wife is the only person more cynical than me
7. I enoy discussing economic and market theory even if it only exists in a vacum (Adam can back me up on this)
8. I would rather preach about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit off the cuff or the symbolism in revealtion than do announcements.
Yes, Caleb makes everything better! Too bad about announcements...you got them for all of this month! I'll make faces at you or wait...even better I'll raise my hand and correct you before someone else does!! ha-ha!!
That's what I thought. And I agree that both parties have completely abandoned the moral issues. And since those are the issues that are most important to me (and I believe should be to all Christians), that's why I've abandoned both parties to look for someone that actually represents my views.
I'll admit there's a lot that I don't understand about it. But if irresponsible people take loans that they can't afford to repay from irresponsible banks that lend them the money anyway, I don't see why the federal government should take money from me to help either the borrower or the lender. It may be a good investment, but it's being made with my money. I can't even afford to buy MYSELF a house--why should I be paying for someone else's? At least that's my understanding of it.
That makes a lot of sense. I guess the bigger problem is that we have gradually allowed our economy to become too credit-based (debt-based). Too many Americans have become like spoiled children who think they're entitled to whatever they want, whether they can afford it or not. And so have too many governmental departments.
Good points; and for the most part, I agree. I've even argued similar points in the Politics group. We will never have good leaders until we start to care more about morality. (And the American people won't start to care more about morality until they turn to the Lord. "And how shall they hear without a preacher?") I agree that our top priority is to teach the lost; and I probably should've emphasized that more. I don't want to give the impression that we should abandon the work of the church to focus on politics. But I also believe that God expects us to be good stewards of all that he's blessed us with, and to use it in his service. I don't see why the opportunity for self-government is any exception. That shouldn't be our top priority; but I see it as poor stewardship to disregard it altogether. We do need to try our best to create a nation full of Christians, but we also need to make sure that those Christians know if God has spoken on any particular issue (like abortion, homosexuality, pedophilia, etc.) I've been appalled at the number of Christians who overlooked, or even failed to consider the immoral policies of their particular candidate. Clearly, we do need to discuss policy. "Teach, baptize, teach." But thanks for providing some balance. Also, I absolutely agree that God is using Obama to give us what we need, whether it's correction or just punishment. I'm already seeing a lot of Christians start to re-evaluate their lives and priorities because of Obama. I just hope enough of us get the message.
Come one come all!! We are having a singing this saturday and every first saturday of the month in Harrodsburg. We will start at 5pm and quit when we run out of song leaders. Please log onto the website for directions or email me for details.
I agree. There are two new parties that I'm looking at supporting--the Constitution Party and America's Independent Party. I haven't decided which one I like better.
Good point. And since Jesus was the perfect steward, that shows us that occasionally taking time to rest, relax, and re-energize to keep our talents sharp is part of good stewardship. We just have to find the right balance.
The question is how? How do you get started? What things are beneficial? Is any particular thing going well in different areas? Please feel free to comment. We are struggling with this area here and I am looking for ideas to implement.
I am certainly no expert in this area and need to do a much better job... but what I have found that works best is building sincere personal relationships with people. Through that, they will see by your example and will trust you as well.
Good questions...how? Well we all need to put our best foot forward, but some struggle with that. I know I did for years. Beneficial? Is seeing the sick and shut ins put a smile on their face when they see you coming! We are struggling with this...I just hope we can overcome it!
