I Am Alive!

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Lightning hit the local internet provider's equipment (housed in the local
library)
and I have been off-line for the weekend.  So I have not ignored any of you.  
This post and retrieving mail is being done by long distance because the library
and phone company are on a long weekend.

I have been gratified by the response to my posting.  It has (it seems to me)
garnered some interesting discussion.  I was a member of a music list before 
getting on this list and I would have been ostracized royally for the 
posting on that list.

Bro. Mike asked some good questions and the answers to those questions 
have been enlightening.  I praise God for a list that is sincere and that is
what I feel is the attitude of this list.  We may not all be in one accord but 
I don't think any of you want to spread discord in your ranks.

To the contrary, Bro. Mike, there is a pecking order in any species of the 
animal kingdom.  Sometimes these lords-of-the-manor get mean and 
become abusive too.  These 'boards' can be (and have been) more the 
trouble than the pastor.  It works both ways.  Satan is a hard worker, 
and we would be wise to respect that.  The board did not fire this man.  
They gave him a choice.  Visiting the elderly and shut-ins was just one 
of his 'shortcomings'!

I agree with Bro. Tim.  Sometimes we have some dooseys to come along
and can sound very authentic.  Our little church is very trusting.  In one
of the
messages to one of the seven churches of Asia Minor, the Lord was upset with 
a church that had allowed the Nicolaitaines to come in and 'take over'.  Some
traditionalists say that this is the laity lording it over the church leaders.  
In other words, the laity tells the preacher what to preach and when.  I 
would say that these traditionalists were probably church leaders.  Could
it have been that the laity was being abused and brow beaten by the
church leaders?  There are two sides to every coin.   Either way, the Lord 
would be upset.  Perhaps Jesus left that open to discernment and Holy Ghost 
interpretation for a good reason.

Again, thanks for your enlightening discussion.  I have learned and gained
respect for this lists where the things of God count.  Love you all!