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Daniel L Newhouse

Cayn
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There was a methodist church between Tamarack Ave and Sander's Branch River in Niceville that was torn down. I I went to an ecclesiastical church in town a couple of Christmas's ago and listened to a bell choir. The entire denomination is gone now!

In LA, the First Immanuel Presbytarian church is gone and it had an orchestra and a pipe organ from EM Skinner.
 
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There was a methodist church between Tamarack Ave and Sander's Branch River in Niceville that was torn down. I I went to an ecclesiastical church in town a couple of Christmas's ago and listened to a bell choir. The entire denomination is gone now!

In LA, the First Immanuel Presbytarian church is gone and it had an orchestra and a pipe organ from EM Skinner.
Was the Presbyterian church PCUSA or PCA?

When PCUSA voted to accept gay clergy, many bolted to PCA.
 
Here where I am, smaller churches Are being closed. An attempt will be Made to consolidate.
not many going to church. I believe God must have a plan.
Maybe only believers will be attending church?
 
Matthew 13-31-32
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”


John 15:1-2
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

I know that there is a difference between a mustard plant and a vine - but the idea is the same. I think you see congregations fold up because there is simply no life in them.

On the flip side, there has to be great caution in looking at 'mega' congregations in regards to 'must having' a lot of life. They may or may not. Remember the story of King Nebuchadnezzar and the idol? There was a mega congregation bowing down and only 3 not......

I think the only thing you can say for sure is a "church" is only as health as all its members are. The closings of church buildings should not be a concern at all. The members of the body of Christ should be the concern.




 
Matthew 13-31-32
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

John 15:1-2
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

I know that there is a difference between a mustard plant and a vine - but the idea is the same. I think you see congregations fold up because there is simply no life in them.

On the flip side, there has to be great caution in looking at 'mega' congregations in regards to 'must having' a lot of life. They may or may not. Remember the story of King Nebuchadnezzar and the idol? There was a mega congregation bowing down and only 3 not......

I think the only thing you can say for sure is a "church" is only as health as all its members are. The closings of church buildings should not be a concern at all. The members of the body of Christ should be the concern.



The members will be there whether or not the church is.
Catholics believe that if you miss church, it's a mortal sin, and you're going straight to hell. Unless you confess of course.

So how will those who don't drive get there?
They,ll have to learn that we're saved by the spirit of
God and not because we attend church. Although we should.

The remnant will always be there.
 
Those of us abused in the church have a harder time attending as we tend to not accept parishoners nor clergy at face value. We victims of the church tend to look with a much more suspicious eye on those attending and those tending the flock. I question everything I was ever taught.
 
Those of us abused in the church have a harder time attending as we tend to not accept parishoners nor clergy at face value. We victims of the church tend to look with a much more suspicious eye on those attending and those tending the flock. I question everything I was ever taught.
You were abused in the church?
 
You were abused in the church?

Absolutely. I rage whenever I think on what happened to me. Here's one memory of betrayal and the twisted justification I was given for subjecting me to it.
I was ordered by my mom to befriend the priest's son. I couldn't stand him but I obeyed. One day I was told "Johnny" invited me to spend the afternoon at his house. We played with the ant farm in a glass case mounted on the window sill in the living room. A little while later his dad called us into his bedroom. He was lying face down on the bed wearing a T-shirt and slacks. He had on black dress socks. He told us to give him a massage. Johnny said " you get on one side and I'll get on the other". We were instructed to massage his neck and shoulders. Then he had us massage his back. We were then told to massage his buttocks. Every time we tried to move from his buttocks down to his legs, he ordered us back. Finally after a while we were told to move the massage down to his legs. We were then told to massage his feet. At this point Johnny was called out of the room. I thought the massage was finally over but I was told to continue alone. I was told to move back up the legs and then back to the buttocks. I kept looking nervously at the bedroom door wondering where Johnny was and what was taking him so long and why was I here massaging this man? He had me keep massaging his butt. Every time I tried to stop he kept telling me to continue. Finally Johnny showed up and told me I could stop and to go wait in the living room. I just wanted to leave, but kept waiting on him. Johnny appeared and told me "My dad really liked that massage and said you can come back next time and do his front. He said you can go home now."
After I got home, I told my mother what happened and told her I never want to go over there again and if I went he'd make me do his front. I was young but even then I knew what he wanted from me. My mother said " He is under so much pressure. You should just do as he asks. If he wants you to give him pleasure then you should do it. I know whenever a man of God ever asked me to give him pleasure then I did whatever he asked and you should too".
I refused. From that point forward, my mother and her priest lover boyfriend waged a campaign of emotional warfare against me. I wound up walking in front of a car and then running away.
 
daninthelionsden

Priests don't have sons. You mean a Presbyterian priest? I thought of RC at first glance.

First of all the whole event is horrifying for two reasons:
First of all that a person claiming to represent God should do anything of the sort (and I incl Catholic priests)
should have a special place set aside for them when they go to the next world.

Second a mother is supposed to protect her children, not put them in harms way.
This is why you're so intent on doing all you can for your son. It's almost like making up for what you didn't have. You may not realize it now, or maybe you do, but this will be a blessing for you throughout your life.
(that you helped your son so much, I mean).

I was sorry to read this. I think it's a miracle that you've been able to recover as much as you have.
Blessings and prayers.
 
daninthelionsden

Priests don't have sons. You mean a Presbyterian priest? I thought of RC at first glance.

First of all the whole event is horrifying for two reasons:
First of all that a person claiming to represent God should do anything of the sort (and I incl Catholic priests)
should have a special place set aside for them when they go to the next world.

Second a mother is supposed to protect her children, not put them in harms way.
This is why you're so intent on doing all you can for your son. It's almost like making up for what you didn't have. You may not realize it now, or maybe you do, but this will be a blessing for you throughout your life.
(that you helped your son so much, I mean).

I was sorry to read this. I think it's a miracle that you've been able to recover as much as you have.
Blessings and prayers.

Thank you. Any prayers are greatly appreciated. Yes. I probably over compensate in caring for our son. I don't regret it though. He has a story to tell that includes being assaulted, made to eat pizza off the floor, having schoolwork vandalized, having a bible he was reading knocked from his hands......and all while attending Christian/private schools.
My mother was/is a very sick and twisted person. She was brainwashed in her teens at a Christian orphanage she would sneak away to in Waco, Texas. The orphanage is still there. She was passed around to clergy even after she married my "dad". I am the result of one of her affairs with clergy at St Barthalomews in Victoria, Texas. My story would bankrupt the despicable church....err I mean the Episcopal Church......hence priest's son.
 
Here where I am, smaller churches Are being closed. An attempt will be Made to consolidate.
not many going to church. I believe God must have a plan.
Maybe only believers will be attending church?
It could be too,that Believers are leaving the Church. Not that they are leaving the Faith,but it's hard anymore to find a "real" church. I am reminded of Amos 8:11-13. I have not found a decent church for a while now. And phony TV preachers don't help the situation. Where exactly I wonder can a person new to the faith find the truth?
 
Thank you. Any prayers are greatly appreciated. Yes. I probably over compensate in caring for our son. I don't regret it though. He has a story to tell that includes being assaulted, made to eat pizza off the floor, having schoolwork vandalized, having a bible he was reading knocked from his hands......and all while attending Christian/private schools.
My mother was/is a very sick and twisted person. She was brainwashed in her teens at a Christian orphanage she would sneak away to in Waco, Texas. The orphanage is still there. She was passed around to clergy even after she married my "dad". I am the result of one of her affairs with clergy at St Barthalomews in Victoria, Texas. My story would bankrupt the despicable church....err I mean the Episcopal Church......hence priest's son.
Got the play on words.
You should just write the story and then look for the publisher.
I think you're a good writer.
Maybe leave the name of the church out?
 
It could be too,that Believers are leaving the Church. Not that they are leaving the Faith,but it's hard anymore to find a "real" church. I am reminded of Amos 8:11-13. I have not found a decent church for a while now. And phony TV preachers don't help the situation. Where exactly I wonder can a person new to the faith find the truth?
I find that this is becoming a problem.
The problem is that we all believe we have the truth.
When I was in NY I liked the Nazarene Church.
It's a pure church and doesn't believe anything strange.
Some non denominational churches are nice, but if the pastor gets sick, that's it.
Just keep looking.
This forum is nice too. At least we could speak to each other.
 
Got the play on words.
You should just write the story and then look for the publisher.
I think you're a good writer.
Maybe leave the name of the church out?

Thank you so very much. I'm going to give it yet another try. You are right. You're about the 8th person or so who has urged me to write about it all.
 
It could be too,that Believers are leaving the Church. Not that they are leaving the Faith,but it's hard anymore to find a "real" church. I am reminded of Amos 8:11-13. I have not found a decent church for a while now. And phony TV preachers don't help the situation. Where exactly I wonder can a person new to the faith find the truth?

That's what I am seeing, too. There are some believers who want to go deeper into the Word, and there's just too much baby-talk or showmanship churches around preaching only salvations and baptisms and the babies never grow (and a lot of it bordering on false doctrine). I am seeing an increase of Christians admitting to a house church or private bible studies for fellowship. That's the direction I have been going myself.
 
Here where I am, smaller churches Are being closed. An attempt will be Made to consolidate.
not many going to church. I believe God must have a plan.
Maybe only believers will be attending church?

I believe you're right Sister. A lot of people are not attending corporate churches now. I attend one irregularly but it seems the Holy Spirit just isn't there. They have a program designed to make money. You know what I don't understand? How did the OT priest get back into the church after Jesus tore the veil? The Pastor isn't supposed to be leading the flock! He isn't higher up. ALL saints have equal authority and access to the Lord now. Follow the Shepard and not the Herd!

It could be too,that Believers are leaving the Church. Not that they are leaving the Faith,but it's hard anymore to find a "real" church. I am reminded of Amos 8:11-13. I have not found a decent church for a while now. And phony TV preachers don't help the situation. Where exactly I wonder can a person new to the faith find the truth?

Most who do not attend corporate churches almost always find their way to the television in effort to go to church without the corporation. What's there? TBN. I myself watch TBN fairly frequently and was attracted to it at first. They say enough of the truth to draw you in, but I've noticed that they veer off of the path in depth. Many of these tv ministries are taking on the atmosphere of entertainment shows. So then,

Where exactly I wonder can a person new to the faith find the truth? (good question)

YouTube is where I find it. Many churches in the eastern world are bubbling over with truth, righteousness, and the Joy of the Lord. They've not been indoctrinated by the western ways and it shows in the faith, messages and delivery of the presentation in the videos. Make no mistake about it, Brothers and Sisters, God uses Youtube a lot.

There's a lot of truth being spoken on Youtube videos. Nevertheless, of course there will be false prophets and naysayers everywhere and they're on Youtube too. So one must pray, and rightly divide the truth, looking always to our divine Teacher, The Holy Spirit, who will lead you into all truths. I was really scared of being deceived when I first began watching YT videos, and prayed for illumination, and had my bible handy and approached it all with skepticism and confidence in my Lord. The Holy Spirit has a way of, uh, how to say this..He pings my spirit when what I am watching is truth. So in the midst of a deceptive world it is possible to hear new truths, and basic truths. The Youtube is now one of my primary sources to find truth after scriptures. They preach stuff that corporate churches will not talk about.

It may seem odd that God uses Youtube, but He most certainly does.
I would give a list of honest preachers on YouTube, but I will not because my post will certainly be attacked by the intellectualizers and naysayers, so my advice is to let the Spirit guide you into the truths being spoken on YT.
 
You know what I don't understand? How did the OT priest get back into the church after Jesus tore the veil? The Pastor isn't supposed to be leading the flock! He isn't higher up. ALL saints have equal authority and access to the Lord now. Follow the Shepard and not the Herd!
Why don't you understand it? It's in Scripture:

Act 15:2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. (ESV)

Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
Eph 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (ESV)

Tit 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
Tit 1:6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
Tit 1:7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
Tit 1:8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
Tit 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (ESV)

2Ti 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (ESV)

Tit 2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
...
Tit 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. (ESV)

1Pe 5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
1Pe 5:3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (ESV)

It has absolutely nothing to do with access to God. The NT clearly lays out Church structure where the elders are in authority, commanded to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
 
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