Comments on: Wednesday, March 1

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 03:10:00 +0000

Mike, thank you for posting the Van Rheenan’s letter. I got it and shared it with a few but a lot more people read your blog. Gailyn and Becky are some of the most gentle, wonderful, godly people on the planet. What a tragedy! May God move to comfort their hearts! My prayers go up for them.

By: Cathy Messecar

Cathy Messecar — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 19:31:00 +0000

The Van Rheenen’s loss resonates today.

As I write this I’m watching the farm-to-market road in front my house. A deputy has had the road blocked for four hours because of a fatality accident with an 18 wheeler and a pickup truck.

My son and husband own trucking companies, and I ride with my husband once a month, and log a few hours in the sleeper, although not behind the wheel.

For the Van Rheenens and all who are experiencing loss, I take a deep breath and exhale in prayer.

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 19:05:00 +0000

Now THIS is a good blog post…

By: Beverly

Beverly — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:32:00 +0000

Mike, a back handed compliment, I have had a few…Sometimes a bit of critisism (I can’t even spell it) aches my bones a bit. I think that is why I really appreciated Brother Taylor’s sermon…I can’t be filled or drained from what man says. It is God and only God who can fill me.
By the way, when you pray that prayer before you begin a sermon,(pour over me the gift of preaching) I am praying that God will teach me through your words. I can’t remember a time when your words did not touch my heart..thanks.

By: 27th Street

27th Street — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:12:00 +0000

Recently while searching for a church to visit in another town, I came across several church of Christ websites. They clearly fell into two categories: the ones that defined themselves in terms of their ministries and their love for Christ, and those whose taglines were “ONE CUP ONLY” and “we have ABSOLUTELY NO instrumental music.”

To me, there is a maturity gap. Sure, there are things that I grew up with in the church of Christ that make me feel at home, but I don’t feel like they are essential for my salvation. To me, loving one another and trying to be Christ to others involves a whole lot more than telling people they can’t dance or should put the organ away.

By: BW

BW — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:08:00 +0000

First, thank you for sharing the post from the Van Rheenens. Unfortunately, we know too many who have suffered such tragic loss. May we continue to remember them in our prayers!

Second, thanks for the excellent observations about criticism. Doesn’t it make you wonder when someone walks up to you and says, “I don’t mean to be critical, but…”? Probably a cousin to the person who says, “I don’t mean to gossip, but…”

In fact, we are all tempted to criticize and gossip, right?

The following is a bit verbose, being written in the style of bygone days, but in it Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) seems to shed some light on why criticism is such a popular pass time.

He wrote:

Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. The power of invention has been conferred by nature upon few, and the labour of learning those sciences which may, by mere labour, be obtained, is too great to be willingly endured; but every man can exert some judgment as he has upon the works of others; and he whom nature has made weak, and idleness keeps ignorant, may yet support his vanity by the name of critic.

Then, again, perhaps this is a bit critical.

By: julie

julie — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:00:00 +0000

I have learned firsthand the direction that criticism can take your life. You begin to be defensive and not live out the true Spirit life that God intends. You are constantly watching your back and questioning the motives of others. I felt myself going there and then felt the joy being sucked out of my life…I knew that a major change had to happen to move out of that pattern. We have made that change and no, it has not been a piece of cake but the joy is back and I am feeling God’s presence again. I know that God was always there but I was having a hard time feeling it. There is big criticism and little criticism and sometimes it is the little stuff that pulls us down. It is especially hard when it is your church family that gets pushes you down…you love them and yet they are attacking….and you are left wondering, what was that?

By: Eli Perkins

Eli Perkins — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 15:44:00 +0000

I read “There’s No Pulpit Like Home” last night and thought of the great work people are doing in New York and Boston. The idea is not new but quite fascinating that house churches are not an avenue to get people into a “real” church building, but they are in reality, the Church itself. And what if thousands of house churches could donate 90% of their contribution to service and mission work as opposed to the lower percentages of traditional churches. From the article: “Golden Gate Seminary’s Karr reckons that building and staff consume 75% of a standard church’s budget.”

I like the concept…but then, what would all of us ministers do for a living?

By: M. Tapie

M. Tapie — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 15:10:00 +0000

Mike,

I wanted to let you know that I really enjoy the podcasts that Highland is doing. Every Tuesday morning, at about 4:45 a.m. I drive from Dallas to Abilene for M.Div classes, and I listen to your sermons. So, keep ‘em coming!

By: Clint

Clint — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 14:45:00 +0000

“Our glory is hidden in our pain. If we turn to God, not rebelling against our hurt, we let God transform it into greater good. We let others join us and discover it with us.”

Henri Nouwen
“ Turn My Mourning Into Dancing”

By: D Love

D Love — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:40:00 +0000

Powerful words from the Van Rheenens. Thank you for sharing.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:32:00 +0000

Criticism …. We’ve all seen the statistics about how many compliments it takes to wipe out a careless (or intended) negative word.

Remember Acts 4:32 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.”

That grace was so critical. Believers coming from many nations, backgrounds, philosophies, religious heritage finding that much grace was upon them all. Maybe this grace was supernatural from God — an “extra dose” of compassion, if you will. Or maybe this kind of grace among one other was (and still is) the natural byproduct of believers being of one heart and mind.

Just two cents of thought from a layman.

By: Clint

Clint — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:31:00 +0000

I know Gailyn and Becky to be lovers of God. I have seen their lives emulate that of Christ. Even their children honor them in Gods love. There is nothing to say in a time of “Unspeakable Pain” but we love you. May you find the Peace of God.

By: KentF

KentF — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 12:46:00 +0000

There’s no doubt that the vast majority of church criticism is at the petty level or beneath. Now, let me follow up that statement about complaints with a complaint or suggestion.

Lynn Anderson said it best a decade ago in his book “Navigating the Winds of Change” - “the church is often controlled by the dysfunctional few”. So….why do elders (and ministers for that matter) spend so much time dealing with petty complaints - at the expense of real concerns over shepherding, maturation in Christ, evangelism, etc. etc.? Every eldership or staff has someone with a talent for deflecting petty quips and critics - let that person handle 99% of ‘em - and let everyone else minister.

And, Mike - I do admire you for biting your tongue over such absurd comments - I could never do that. It is a gift from God.

By: Candy

Candy — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 12:00:00 +0000

Wow Mike. Thank you for posting that note from the Van Rheenen’s. What a powerful testament to the love of God, in many ways. When we show His love in the midst of great grief I believe it goes out in waves thousands of times more powerful than in the good times. God is definitely at work in the midst of their sadness. I pray for the Van Rheenen’s to stay strong in the Lord. I definitely see Christ in them. I agree with their statement that “Too many Christians have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Tim. 3:5)”. I pray that His power and glory will be evident in Highland in the midst of our sadness, too. I believe they and we have entered into an “in our weakness He is stronger” phase.