<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"
http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFCC" text="#000000">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 09/10/2012 09:53 AM, Mark Clayton
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAJv0My_pSdLTnmXDFXgrAo97n4pSrgfwDhVPhL9Fks_wGCw1_w@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite" style="color: #000000;">
<pre wrap="">'Sure appears to be so! I have a suspicion that one of our key problems is
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>that MOST don't read their Bible for themselves...cover to cover and
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>FREQUENTLY!! Most are "spoon fed" and unfortunately, by misfits like Joel
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>Olsteen.....just to mention one of them.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">It takes more than just reading the bible. It's got to read for what
it really says, not what one want it to say.</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
That was my intended assumption. <br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAJv0My_pSdLTnmXDFXgrAo97n4pSrgfwDhVPhL9Fks_wGCw1_w@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
Sure there's a lot of 'big name' hero worship going on. But I see it
happening in small conservative churches too. A majority of the congregation 'adores' the
pastor and/or elders and believes they do no wrong. I see so many people live the
faith of someone they admire instead of wrestling with their own faith. Are all these
leaders misfits?</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
Some, and some aren't. <br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAJv0My_pSdLTnmXDFXgrAo97n4pSrgfwDhVPhL9Fks_wGCw1_w@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
Some are, some are even evil. But most are just trying to do too much
and can't lead the flock they are charged with. This doesn't mean they're bad people,
just bad leaders. </pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
Some, for sure. <br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAJv0My_pSdLTnmXDFXgrAo97n4pSrgfwDhVPhL9Fks_wGCw1_w@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
(I know I was a bad small group leader. I wanted to do a good thing
but I did more damage than good.) I see such a disconnect between church leaders and the congregants.
Everyone uses the same words, but there's a difference between what the leaders are
saying and what the congregation is saying. I can't quite put my finger on what or where
the disconnect is. It's like one of those things that you catch in your periphery vision
but it disappears when you focus on it.</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
'Happens. I'll modify what I said before....more complete. One MUST
read his/her Bible cover to cover and read it daily. One must also
be a truth seeker, NOT what might be considered to be idealistic.
God means EXACTLY what He had written in Scripture.....PERIOD! When
a story is told to make a point, it's obvious that the story isn't
necessarily true, but the point of the story IS true and what God
wants all to accept. If one is a truth seeker, and prays that God
will open his heart and mind when he reads His word, it will be
done. <br>
<br>
When he says that a man isn't to lie with a man as a woman, nor a
woman to lie with a woman as with a man, He means it!! It's NOT a
choice! We aren't free to pick and choose what commandments He has
given us we are going to follow and which ones we will ignore. <br>
<br>
If someone does read their Bible but isn't seeking God's truths,
then they are doomed to their own devices. If they don't read it
frequently and only listen to sermons, then they can be, and
frequently are misled. <br>
<br>
Fred<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Apparently, we are supposed to be more angry about what
Mitt Romney does with his money than what Barack Obama
does with ours.</pre>
</body>
</html>