The Life of Ryleigh

Tuesday is a special day, it is the day we celebrate Ryleigh Stegall's birthday.  The Butterfly Foundation had it's annual walk from the high school to the town square in remembrance of Ryleigh and to raise funds and awareness for the foundation.  Ryleigh's family started the Butterfly Foundation to help people in Wayne County who have children facing life threatening or life altering illnesses.  The Stegall family holds a special place in my heart, in my mind, they are true heroes.  The following post was originally written on September 15, 2007 the day after Ryleigh died, I read it at her funeral and since then it has taken on a life of its own.  It remains the most read post on my blog by far with dozens of hits each month.  My intention is to "re-post" it annually in conjuntion with the Butterfly Walk.  Mitchell

Ryleigh Stegall's seven year battle with Leukemia ended Friday morning as she passed from this life and into the arms of God. Ryleigh's life ended quite similar to how it began, surrounded by family and friends, appreciative to God for blessing our lives with her life.

Anyone who ever spent time with Ryleigh found themselves captivated by her strong personality. She had one of those smiles that could light up a room. With all of the things about Ryleigh that made her special, ironically, it was her desire to just be a normal kid that truly set her apart.

Ryleigh leaves behind her parents, Steven and Michelle, her sister Keerstin, and her brother Chandler, a close knit extended family as well as an entire community who loved her. At some point all of those who knew Ryleigh will ponder the question of "Why?" Why did Ryleigh have to bear such a burden? Why did she have to go so young? Why did all the prayers for healing offered on her behalf go seemingly unanswered? I will be first to admit that I have pondered these questions. While I may not be able to answer these questions, even to my own satisfaction, I do know that God holds the answer. Ryleigh now knows the answer and her smile continues to light up rooms.

We may wonder, "What if. . ." What if she had never gotten cancer? What if God completely removed it from her body? One thing I do know is that no one who ever knew her could imagine what life would have been like without her.

Steven and Michelle never let the disease that robbed so much from their daughter's life define her and neither did Ryleigh. This attitude, this determination, is what defined the life of Ryleigh, it is her legacy to us. It is not what happens to you in life that defines you, but rather it is how you choose to live.

We would all do well to choose to live the life of Ryleigh.

The Life of Ryleigh

Tuesday is a special day, it is the day we celebrate Ryleigh Stegall's birthday.  The Butterfly Foundation is having it's annual walk from the high school to the town square in remembrance of Ryleigh and to raise funds and awareness for the foundation.  (It begins at 1:00 PM if you would like to join in.)  Ryleigh's family started the Butterfly Foundation to help people in Wayne County who have children facing life threatening or life altering illnesses.  The Stegall family holds a special place in my heart, in my mind, they are true heroes.  The following post was originally written on September 15, 2007 the day after Ryleigh died, I read it at her funeral and since then it has taken on a life of its own.  It remains the most read post on my blog by far with dozens of hits each month.  My intention is to "re-post" it annually in conjuntion with the Butterfly Walk.  Mitchell

Ryleigh Stegall's seven year battle with Leukemia ended Friday morning as she passed from this life and into the arms of God. Ryleigh's life ended quite similar to how it began, surrounded by family and friends, appreciative to God for blessing our lives with her life.

Anyone who ever spent time with Ryleigh found themselves captivated by her strong personality. She had one of those smiles that could light up a room. With all of the things about Ryleigh that made her special, ironically, it was her desire to just be a normal kid that truly set her apart.

Ryleigh leaves behind her parents, Steven and Michelle, her sister Keerstin, and her brother Chandler, a close knit extended family as well as an entire community who loved her. At some point all of those who knew Ryleigh will ponder the question of "Why?" Why did Ryleigh have to bear such a burden? Why did she have to go so young? Why did all the prayers for healing offered on her behalf go seemingly unanswered? I will be first to admit that I have pondered these questions. While I may not be able to answer these questions, even to my own satisfaction, I do know that God holds the answer. Ryleigh now knows the answer and her smile continues to light up rooms.

We may wonder, "What if. . ." What if she had never gotten cancer? What if God completely removed it from her body? One thing I do know is that no one who ever knew her could imagine what life would have been like without her.

Steven and Michelle never let the disease that robbed so much from their daughter's life define her and neither did Ryleigh. This attitude, this determination, is what defined the life of Ryleigh, it is her legacy to us. It is not what happens to you in life that defines you, but rather it is how you choose to live.

We would all do well to choose to live the life of Ryleigh.

Hug a Veteran

Wednesday November 11^th is Veteran's Day. The following are a few thoughts of mine as I reflect upon an event we held at the Waynesboro church of Christ. My only desire for this post is that you may be inspired to say, "thank you" to a veteran you know.

Saturday evening marked the third annual Veterans Day Celebration at Waynesboro church of Christ and it was amazing! We had good food, celebrated with great friends, and most of all God was glorified. This event has become a favorite among our members as well as with members of the community. Some people came for the southern fried catfish but left with so much more.

This celebration is one of my favorites because of the people we are celebrating. Our Veterans are a special group of men and women. If not for them, we most certainly would not enjoy the freedoms we take for granted every day. A persons feelings about a particular war or war in general should not restrain them from honoring the individuals who have been asked to sacrifice on their behalf. One particular Vietnam veteran told me Saturday that he appreciated this event and others like it because, "It gives me the opportunity to make sure that none of our veterans ever feel unappreciated. . ." As he said this, his eyes began to tear and he finished, "like I felt when I came home." Powerful stuff.

We were also honored to have in attendance, members from the Waynesboro National Guard unit who are set to deploy to Iraq in January. Seeing these men and women in uniform reminded us, that even at this very moment, the sacrifice continues.

The next time you see a veteran or a current member of the armed forces tell them how much you appreciate their service.

Mitchell

Made for Ministry

This one will challenge you! You were made for ministry, not to sit on the sidelines. Christians are called to be servants. Listen and let me know what you think.

Made for Ministry

View more presentations from mitchellskelton.

Ruminations on Grace

I think most Christians, if asked, would say that they are sure of their standing with God. All one needs to do is read 1 John to hear his constant confident reiterations of assurance concerning our eternal destiny. We can know without doubt that we have eternal life! However, the devil has done a number on us and we doubt. We question ourselves. We know what the bible says, we know we've been forgiven, but we also know all we've done and our deepest, innermost thoughts.

It's tough to reconcile God's forgiveness with the reality of our sinfulness. Even after we experience that initial forgiveness when we first give our lives to Christ, we soon realize that sin remains part of our life. We think, "How can I be heaven bound and do such things, think such thoughts?" God never intended for his children to think this way.

This is why it is so important to understand grace. Grace sets the record straight. Grace balances the scales. Grace clears the muddy water. Grace is God saying, "I know you aren't worthy, but my Son is." No matter how righteous we live, no matter how many things we do in the name of Jesus, no matter how many people we lead to Christ we don't deserve salvation. We will never be able to examine our lives and feel "worthy" because of things we have done yet, grace says that we need not feel "unworthy" because of things we have done.

The next time you or one of your Christian friends question your standing with God, remember the words of Paul. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Vacation Surprise

          Vacation is a great time of relaxation and renewal.  It is always good to get away from the normal routine, spend time with your family, and recharge the batteries.  My family along with Mom and Dad just returned from vacation Saturday.  We expected to return relaxed and renewed, however, what we found upon return left us humbled.  You see we missed the big storms that rolled through Waynesboro this week.  We had talked to several people back here at home and knew the extent of the damage left in the storms wake.  Fortunately, our homes were spared any damage from the winds, however, we expected to come home and have plenty of work to do cleaning up from all the scattered debris.

            We were absolutely taken aback when we pulled in to our driveway and saw that all the branches blown from the trees had been removed!  As we began to question our neighbors about what had taken place we soon discovered that members of our GREAT church family had taken it upon themselves to clean up for us while we were away.  You guys are awesome and an example of what church actually means.

            Thank You to the Sam Haines and Ronnie Mathis Families!  (For those of you who don’t know, these great people are Sam, Angel, Samantha and Cooper Haines, Ronnie, Shelia, Zack, Cassie, and Dawson Mathis.)

You make me proud to be a part of the family of God in Waynesboro.

Perspective

We have all been there, you pass someone in the hallway on the way to bible class, you flash them your best “have a great day” smile and nothing, they act as if they didn’t even see you! My favorite is when you have been up all night with a sick child yet somehow find the strength to go to worship only to have someone snidely remark, “Man, you look awful!” THANK YOU!

It would make a huge difference in how we relate to each other if we all had an electronic sign on our forehead that flashed a status report of how we were feeling and why. This way as I approach you in the hallway I would know that you were preoccupied because you just learned a friend had been diagnosed with cancer. Instead of flashing a smile and expecting one in return, I could offer a reassuring hug and promise of prayer. Instead of telling someone how bad he or she looks after pulling an “all nighter,” we could encourage them by commenting on their dedication for even making the effort to show up.

Very rarely does a person set as their goal to hurt another’s feelings, especially in the church family. Yet it happens all too often. The reason is perspective. We cannot see things from another person’s perspective unless we actually know what is on their mind and even then, it is extremely difficult.

Stephen Covey, author of “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” uses this story about himself to illustrate how getting to know someone changes your perspective of their behavior. As he was traveling home on a commuter train, he noticed a father and three small children enter the train at one of its frequent stops. The father sat down across the aisle from him, leaned his head back against the window, and closed his eyes. The children, however, never took a seat and commenced running up and down the aisle and generally terrorizing the entire train car. Having been “bothered” by their behavior for too long and the father seemingly ignoring their antics, Covey spoke to the man saying, “Sir, don’t you think you should control your children? Some people have had hard work days and would like some quiet time before facing their own children.” The man woke from his daze and immediately apologized saying, “I’m sorry. We just came from the hospital and I guess I am a little distracted. Their mother just died. I don’t think they quite know how to act.” Everyone on the train who, moments before, were bothered by the children were now actively trying to help this man in his time of need.

What a difference it makes when we know the “why” behind the way someone is acting. The next time someone passes you by, makes a snide comment, or just makes you mad, ask yourself, “What could possibly be going on in their life that I could do to encourage them?” Instead of burning with anger or feeling slighted, make it a point to pray for them.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

CSI: Easter

Easter is huge! Next to Christmas, Easter is the most celebrated holiday in the world. There is a good reason why so many people celebrate Easter. Historians and theologians have never come to a satisfactory conclusion for the reason the early church began celebrating Easter. Some evidence seems to suggest that Christians held the first Easter celebrations to differentiate their celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Jewish celebration of Passover. Other evidence suggests that Emperor Constantine, desiring to promote Christianity and marginalize pagan activity, Christianized a pagan festival celebrating the earth's transition into spring.

As I said at the beginning, there is a good reason why so many people celebrate Easter the answer is Jesus Christ. While the origin of Easter may be in doubt, the reason for Easter is apparent, Christians desired to proclaim from highest height and in the loudest possible way the good news that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead! Scripture does not command us to celebrate Easter as a religious obligation however; scripture does allow us to celebrate such holidays. Paul writes to the Roman Christians,

"Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone." (Romans 14:4-7)

From now until Easter Sunday, we have a unique evangelistic opportunity that will not be available again until Christmas. Your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, anyone with a background in Christianity will be thinking about Christ and most likely desire to go to church somewhere. I encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to help bring someone you love closer to and possibly into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

This Sunday we will begin a new sermon series at Waynesboro that will culminate on Easter, April 12^th. This series, CSI: Easter will take us on a Crime Scene Investigation of the cross. Did Jesus really die on the cross? Did he really rise from the dead or was his body simply stolen to create the illusion? We will look at these question plus many more with a critical eye. We will weigh the evidence from history, from critics, and from the bible; we will place them side by side and see which ones stand and which ones fall. If you invite your friends and family, they will be engaged by this honest look into Jesus Christ and they will be moved by the conclusion. Pick up the phone right now and invite someone this Sunday!

Mitchell

Every Vote Counts

Matthew Morine, minister for the Castle Rock Church of Christ in Denver, former minister at Waynesboro and one of my dear friends, has received some exciting news!  Matthew's blog, Musings on Spiritual Matters, has been nominated for an award at this year's Christian Bloggers Luncheon at the Tulsa Workshop in the category, Best New Blogger. 

I am so excited for Matthew.  Matthew has always been an encourager to my ministry, a modern day Barnabas, he deserves this award.  If you haven't read Matthew's blog then follow the link above and prepare be entertained and challenged.  I also encourage everyone to vote!  Visit http://vote.theobloggers.org/ and vote today.

Forward Progress

In ministry the constant struggle is to maintain forward progress. As an old friend of mine was fond of saying, "You are either green and growin' or you are ripe and rotten." This is especially true in the life of a congregation of God's people, once you stop moving forward the downward spiral soon follows. The elders at Waynesboro are especially aware of this and as a result they have always been vigilant about maintaining the forward progress of the congregation.

This past Sunday the elders made a decision which will help keep the congregation moving forward during this interim period while we search for a new minister. As most everyone knows, when Matthew moved the elders appointed me as the interim Pulpit Minister asking me to continue in my role as Family Life Minister and taking on the responsibility of filling the pulpit each week. This was a role that I gladly accepted however, it still left a large portion of our regular ministry concerns unmet. It was out of concern for this unmet need that the elders have hired Bobby Pinckley as our new Visitation Minister. Bobby will serve in this position until a final solution is arrived at concerning our ministry situation.

I am so excited about the prospect of working with Bobby! Bobby has been a great influence in my life as well as countless others in this congregation. Bobby's focus as Visitation Minister will be to visit all those in our congregation and community of friends who need encouragement. He will be visiting in the hospitals, the nursing homes, and in the homes of our sick and discouraged members on a regular basis as well as following up with others through telephone calls. The addition of Bobby to our staff will enable the congregation to continue its forward progress.

In order for Bobby to do his job effectively he will need your help. If you know of anyone in the congregation (or connected to our congregation) who needs a visit of encouragement then let him know. Too often people fall through the cracks because no one took the time to let someone know a member or loved one was sick or hurting. If you know someone who is in need of a visit, please don't assume that we already know because we probably do not. You can easily keep us informed by calling or emailing Bobby, Sheryl, or myself. Let's keep moving forward!

Contact Info:

Sheryl - Church office	Bobby Pinckley	Mitchell Skelton
931.722.5520	931.722.3563	931.722.8227
waynesborococ@tds.net	pinckley@netease.net	mskelton@live.com

Poor in Spirit

Jesus began his monumental and earth changing "Sermon on the Mount" with what we now call "the Beatitudes." This group of sayings or teachings has brought hope, inspiration, comfort, and even a little bit of confusion to people from that day up until the present day. Over the next few days, I want to examine Jesus' Beatitudes and prayerfully, bring a little hope, inspiration, comfort, and clarity into your life.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

Once during a children's sermon the preacher asked his little listeners, "What must you do to receive God's forgiveness of your sins?" A child quickly declared, "First of all, you have to sin." How profound! If you have children, you already know that it does not take long for them to get right to the point. This young child has the right idea to understanding what Jesus meant when he said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Until a person realizes they are in sin, they will never turn to God for forgiveness. I know that may sound simple, so simple that it does not deserve to be examined but really, do we all realize that truth? As we look at our society today, we see many lines being blurred. What is the difference between Christians and the rest of the world? If I am a good person is that not good enough? I submit that the question we need to ask people is this, "How has Jesus changed your life?"

Some translations of the bible and a few paraphrases have suggested that instead of the word "blessed" we use the word "happy." In the case of Matthew 5:3 the bible would read, "Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I will not deny that happiness is a true result of the transformation that comes through Jesus but I'm not sure that the word happy goes far enough in explaining what we receive when we give our lives to Christ. When Jesus said that the poor in spirit would be blessed he capped it off by telling us the blessing, which was the kingdom of heaven! To be blessed means supremely blessed and the promise to the poor in spirit is that they will be blessed by God with the Kingdom of Heaven. Happiness does not even begin to describe what Jesus is saying here and I'm not sure that this side of heaven any of us can explain it satisfactorily.

So what does Jesus mean when he says this blessing comes to those who are poor in spirit? Poorness in our vernacular acknowledges a lack of something, usually in our day and time, a lack of money. Poorness could also refer to lacking in aptitude or certain skills, weakness, being timid or passive, but rare is the occasion that we would equate being poor in something as the key to attaining anything. Yet there it is straight from Jesus himself, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Being poor in spirit is that moment when we acknowledge our total spiritual poverty before God. It is a personal acknowledgment of our own spiritual bankruptcy. It is that instant when one realizes, "I am nothing; I have nothing; I can do nothing; and I stand in need of all things." An example of this can be found in the life of Peter, while still a Galilean fisherman he experiences a life changing, paradigm shifting event, we call it the miracle of the great catch of fish. After fishing all night and catching nothing, Jesus encourages Peter and his fellow anglers to give it one more try. When they do, the results were astonishing! They caught so many fish their nets started breaking and their boats were filled to the point of sinking. The bible tells us that when Peter recognized what Jesus had done he exclaimed, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (Luke 5:8) Peter recognized that he was poor in spirit.

Recognizing our poorness of spirit is fundamental to salvation. When we acknowledge that we have nothing to offer God, it is then and only then that we are open enough to allow God to fill our lives. Poorness of spirit is closely related to repentance. Repentance is what follows when we recognize that we are poor in spirit. Another good bible example is found in Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee stood to pray and talked on and on about all the good things he has done while the tax collector could not even bear to raise his head. The tax collector was broken and in need of God. He "beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." (Luke 18:13) We cannot be filled until we are empty, we cannot be made worthy until we recognize our unworthiness; we cannot live until we admit we are dead.

So, how has Jesus changed your life?

Life Happens

Life is never easy. Life on this earth will introduce you to a myriad of emotions. In the course of one day, we can experience boredom and excitement, elation and desolation, life and death. Whether your outlook on life is positive or negative, life is filled with diversity. Just when we think we have it figured out and know what to expect, life happens. The past few days in my life is a good example of the range of emotions life will throw your way. Tuesday found me conducting the funeral of a young Christian woman who died of cancer; Thursday dawned with the birth of a daughter to a good friend and fellow gospel preacher; Saturday ended with joining a young couple in holy matrimony. Contemplating this whirlwind of events, I could not help but think that there must be a learning opportunity here.
A humanist would simply say that I had just witnessed the "circle of life." One life ends while another begins with some living in between. This "circle" idea may seem all neat and orderly, it may fit perfectly into the secular world, yet it fails to address the needs of man who is created "in the image of God." The essence of being created in the image of God is that we have an eternal soul. Instead of the "circle of life," we more aptly resemble an infinite line. Sure, we have a definite point of origin but when it comes to our soul, there is no end.
How we live while on earth and our response to the cross of Christ will determine where we spend the majority of our existence. Job summed up human existence by saying, "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble" ( Job 14:1). Job was beginning to understand that life on this earth is insignificant when viewed in light of eternity. This life we are experiencing is only a tiny portion of our whole existence. Job seemed to understand this as he said, "If a man dies, will he live again ... I will wait for my renewal to come. You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made" ( Job 14:14,15).
Let us not get so caught up in the happenings of life that we forget why we are here. We are the only ones who can let life get in the way of salvation. God has promised that no matter what happens in your life it will not stand in the way of your salvation unless you allow it. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" ( Romans 8:38,39).

Where Are Your Priorities?

The inspired writer of Hebrews spends a great deal of time in chapter ten explaining the blessings of the new covenant of Christ. "He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:9b-10). Because of the forgiveness of sins found in the blood of Christ, Christians can approach God with all boldness and confidence./1 It is in response to this new status that the Christian has certain obligations.
Christians are encouraged to "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" ( Hebrews 10:23). We can trust in, know, and anticipate eternal life based simply on the fact of God's promise. "Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast" ( Hebrews 3:6). This confidence does not come from our own merit or achievement; it rests in the faithfulness of God. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" ( Ephesians 2:8-10).
Christians are also commanded to "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" ( Hebrews 10:24). The Hebrew writer's emphasis is not on what a believer gets from the church, but rather on what he contributes to the church. He emphasizes this with an appeal toward faithful attendance at all functions of the congregation. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another" ( Hebrews 10:25). When we miss an assembly of the church, we are willingly ignoring God's commands. We are giving up meeting together. We are discouraging our brothers and sisters rather than encouraging and spurring one another on to love and good deeds. The proper attitude toward worship is found in the words of the psalmist, "I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the LORD" ( Psalm 122:1).
Besides the fact that faithful attendance is commanded and encouraged by God, there are also some practical reasons why we should be committed to the assemblies of the saints. One study shows that if both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful in attendance. If only Dad attends regularly, 55% remain faithful. If only Mom attends regularly, 15% remain faithful. If neither attends regularly, only 6% remain faithful./2 Most parents would never do anything detrimental to the life of their children, yet many parents do take chances with their children's spiritual lives.
It is time that God's family takes a serious look at their commitment to Christ and his church. Ask yourself this question and answer yourself honestly, "Would the same excuses you use to justify missing church services Sunday work on your boss Monday?" We spend too much time trying to figure out whether or not Bible Class, Sunday Night Worship or Wednesday Bible Study are mandatory or optional. It all boils down to priorities!
Where are your priorities?

1 Hebrews 10:19-22
2 Home Life Magazine August 2004

Proclaimers of His Majesty

"For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty" ( 2 Peter 1:16).

Today I heard someone use the phrase "too close for comfort"; it was just after I had been contemplating the above verse penned by the Apostle Peter. As he continued, I began to ponder if it was not also true that we could get too comfortable because we are so close.

I live in the fabulous hills of Tennessee, snuggled between the legendary Civil War battlefield of Shiloh and the fabled Natchez Trace Parkway. About ten miles from my home is a naturally made land bridge and about thirty miles from my home is the birthplace of David Crockett, yet it has been years since I have visited any of these places. People travel for miles around to enjoy the beauty and history that surrounds me yet I am seemingly oblivious to it all.

A certain blindness comes from knowledge and familiarity. Unless we take the time to focus on something, it will never become a part of our life. Just because I own a beautiful flower garden does not mean that I have ever stopped to ponder the grandeur of the single rose.

As Christians, there is the danger of becoming comfortable with God.

As Christians we can get in a rut, we go to church, sing the songs, hear the sermons, read our Bibles, and pray our prayers, but none of it really makes a difference in our lives. Jesus told the Christians as Ephesus that this, basically, was their situation. They were doing all the things they were supposed to be doing yet Jesus says, "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love" ( Revelation 2:4).

As Christians, we have something about which to be excited!

We need to let people know about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. While we are not in the position of Peter, where we can be eyewitnesses of his majesty, we certainly can be proclaimers of his majesty. We have a message worth sharing and that message is Christ's message.

We do not have to use "cunningly devised fables" or any other "heroic measures" when it comes to spreading the gospel. We have the power of God unto salvation if we will but use it to save those who are lost ( Romans 1:16). This power is the Bible and it is God's inspired word. "No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Peter 1:20,21).

There is nothing more precious, more glorious, more majestic than the word of God that can save mankind.

A proclaimer of the gospel, God wants you to be one; your neighbor is dying for you to be one.

Men's Meeting or Congregational Meeting?

Sunday night the church had a men’s meeting following services. I always get a little nervous before a meeting like this because you never know what might happen. When you meet with the elders, you pretty much have an idea how each one will feel on a given subject but with a group of people this large, you just never know. We have all heard the horror stories of men’s meetings going bad, I once read a newspaper article chronicling the story of one church’s men’s meeting that ended up in a fistfight and people going to jail! Although I have never seen a meeting go wrong like that, and pray that I never will, I have seen people get pretty upset and men leave with hurt feelings that took months to repair. The men’s meeting Sunday night was an example of how Christians should act when we meet together. One of our elders, Terry Bryant, led the meeting and did a fantastic job of relaying information from the elders. Terry also made sure everyone in attendance had a chance to speak. During the course of the meeting there were many great suggestion made and even some thoughts on how to improve some existing ministries. The best part of the meeting which was constant through the entire hour was all the praise and “pats on the back” given to various people for their efforts in working for the Lord. In my opinion, we do not encourage each other as we should. Some people are better at this than others are but we all have the ability and we should not be shy about doing it. All in all this was a very beneficial meeting. The men left with a clearer vision of where the church is heading and people left the meeting feeling appreciated for their efforts.

Some questions I have and would appreciate your thoughts on is, why do we have men only meetings? Do some of you have congregational meetings? Are there any reasons (biblically) why we do not invite women into the meeting? If there are not biblical reasons why, then are we acting properly toward women when we do not invite them? I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.