Laeodicean Hymns

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

These re-worked hymn titles would be funny - if they didn't so accurately reflect the pervasive attitudes nowadays.

* I Surrender Some

* There Shall Be Sprinkles of Blessings

* Fill My Spoon, Lord

* Oh, How I Like Jesus

* He's Quite a Bit to Me

* I Love to Talk About Telling the Story

* Take My Life and Let Me Be

* It is My Secret What God Can Do

* There is Scattered Cloudiness in My Soul Today

* Onward, Christian Reserves

* Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following

* Just As I Pretend to Be

* When the Saints Go Sneaking In

* Sit Up, Sit Up for Jesus

* A Comfy Mattress Is Our God

* Self-esteem to the World! The Lord Is Come

* Oh, for a Couple of Tongues to Sing

* Amazing Grace, How Interesting the Sound

* Go Tell It on the Speed Bump

* Special, Special, Special

* Lord, Keep Us Loosely Connected to Your Word

* Praise God from whom All Affirmations Flow

* My Hope Is Built on Nothing Much

* O, God, Our Enabler in Ages Past

* I Lay My Inappropriate Behaviors on Jesus

* Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me

* All Hail the Influence of Jesus' Name!

* When Peace, Like a Trickle

* I'm Fairly Certain that My Redeemer Lives

* We Give Thee but Still Think We Own

* What an Acquaintance We Have in Jesus

* My Faith Looks Around for Thee

* Joyful, Joyful We Think Thee Pretty Good

* Blessed Hunch

* Above Average Is Thy Faithfulness

* We Are Milling Around in the Light of God

* Spirit of the Living God, Fall Somewhere Near Me

* Blest Be the Tie that Doesn't Cramp My Style

[Morning Glory]

Ouch..... You are right, too close to home. I pray that I am not in that group. OTOH, someone has a sense of humor to be poking fun at Laodicea!!

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I'm not in the least bit politically correct.

By and large, I think there's a whole lot of complacency in the Christian community, including Adventists. After being out of the church for about 25 years, and now back, I see some differences....but those differences have to do with *rules*: now it's okay to wear jewelry, wear whatever to church, dance, different types of music in church. I'm not saying those things are bad - maybe they're *good*... I'm not about to be the one to judge. But the thing I find distressing is that the *complacency* of the church has not changed at all. That part still feels the same - and is part of the reason I'd left in the first place.

Granted, there probably *are* some churches tucked away in nooks and crannies that are different - I've heard that Adventist churches in Africa are *booming* with the Holy Spirit - but I don't see that here.

[Ron Lambert]

Those are really witty religious song titles.

[Jeannieb43]

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rudywoofs said:

After being out of the church for about 25 years, and now back, I see some differences....but those differences have to do with *rules*: now it's okay to wear jewelry, wear whatever to church, dance, different types of music in church.

... But the thing I find distressing is that the *complacency* of the church has not changed at all. That part still feels the same - and is part of the reason I'd left in the first place.

... Adventist churches in Africa are *booming* with the Holy Spirit - but I don't see that here. <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

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Dear friend,

The very thing which distresses you is something with which I find comfort. I'm glad people aren't being excommunicated because of the length of their skirts, or the wearing of a little gold. I'm thankful that the former judgmental attitude is being replaced with acceptance. [Granted, I myself was one of the legalistic mavens a few years ago.]

But now that I've learned what's inside the hearts of some of my "worldly-appearing" friends, I realize that God Himself is working in their lives.

About the African demonstrations of the Holy Spirit -- to me, that would appear to be just a cultural difference. We can find that same type of demonstration by going downtown L.A. to the African Baptist Church.

I think God loves us in spite of our external differences. I'm glad to learn that nothing I can do will make Him love me any less... and also, nothing I can do will make him love me any more than He already does.

[Neil D]

I am not sure how this is gonna come out, so take this with a grain of salt....

Our church has the idea of what a perfect person is...Granted, we have found that the perfectionist/legalist is NOT the way to be....

And while Jeanne has expressed gratitude for this long over due acceptance [this is positive acknowledgement of a positive attitude], I fear that we are not becoming pro-active. We have finally learned tolerance, but we have not extended mercy to our fellow chruchman...We have not learned how to extend mercy to the abused wife of a husband who beats his wife in a fit of rage. We have not taught our children to respect our enviroment, although we have taught them to behave and not be 'enviromental wackos'. We have taught our children the work ethic, but have we taught them responsibility to their employees?

IOWs, what have we done with this Grace that was extended to us? How shall we respond to it? and how does it, not only transform our lives, but how do we, with grace, impact others?

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Quote:

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rudywoofs said:

After being out of the church for about 25 years, and now back, I see some differences....but those differences have to do with *rules*: now it's okay to wear jewelry, wear whatever to church, dance, different types of music in church.

... But the thing I find distressing is that the *complacency* of the church has not changed at all. That part still feels the same - and is part of the reason I'd left in the first place.

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Quote:

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Jeannieb43 said:

The very thing which distresses you is something with which I find comfort. I'm

glad

people aren't being excommunicated because of the length of their skirts, or the wearing of a little gold. I'm

thankful

that the former judgmental attitude is being replaced with

acceptance.

[Granted, I myself was one of the legalistic mavens a few years ago.]

---

[]http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/icon_eek.gif[/]

Jeannie, perhaps I did not make myself clear. I am NOT distressed about people's dress in church, about wearing jewelry in or out of church, or whether or not someone dances. I am hardly in a position of pointing fingers at anyone.

My distress is with the COMPLACENCY of the church. The complacency I am referring to is the apparent acceptance of the lukewarm *spiritual* status quo.

IMHO, the jewelry/dancing/music/casual-clothing *acceptance* by the church is being touted as *reasons* for people to come back to church....to feel *accepted* - because, "hey, see? We're just like your homies!" That's called *baiting* .... and perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think being - or wanting to be - a Christian should hang on whether or not jewelry/dancing/music/casual-clothing is accepted. I believe those are what would be called *distractions.* But maybe I'm wrong....