Just Having Church!!!!!!!!!!

[Thad]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

Shame on you...

LOL! why is that ??

I get busy too you know

I can't say much with my meager little 436 posts... but most of us enjoy seeing you around, Thad, and notice when you're not here!

[ILuvFPC]

nothing like some good ole shouting music.

[Thad]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

I can't say much with my meager little 436 posts... but most of us enjoy seeing you around, Thad, and notice when you're not here!

Aww thanks steadfast. i've just been going non stop. just when i think it's going to slow down i take on more responsibilties and then we are back to square A all over again lol

i appreciate that

[OGIA]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

jshorts,

I'm seriously NOT getting that mentality from OGIA's post... especially the last one! It would appear to me that he's saying that sometimes we can rely too much on the music to get things going.

He's a big boy and can correct me if I'm wrong. I also didn't get that he was taking a pot shot at POA or its leadership. The statement seemed pretty cut and dry to me: would we have the same involvement of worship if it wasn't for the music.

Thanks, Stedfast. You read me correctly.

Would we have the same involvement in worship (btw, I consider it more praise when done this way) without the music? Would it be the same with an old piano or organ or guitar? Could we maintain the worship like they did at Azusa street or in our grandparents day without a "thump, thump, thump" of the drums and bass and an organ crashing down in our ears? I have to be honest and say I seriously doubt it. Music is as much our cheerleader as is the song leader. Neither should EVER be required to 1) start us praising the Lord or 2) keep us praising Him.

Hey, I love music... I play 8 different instruments and my drummer used to play for Kirk Franklin before we got him saved ( ) so music is important to us. But not as important as truth in our preaching.

Speaking of POA, one night last summer Bro. Mangun got up in the middle of a good ol' drum-thumpin', electric guitar-grinding and keyboard-electrifying praise session (I was at the first step to the platform, right in the middle of it) and stopped the whole thing and told the congregation that he HAD TO preach and that we could continue later, but that it was time for what God laid on his heart.

Yes, I do respect the man. I LOVE the music there! If you haven't gotten the new CD from the choir, you are missing a GEM! But, I pray that the music does not drive the praise and worship of that or ANY church. When it does, we've substituted it for what ought to really drive us ...... HIM ....... music or not.

[Steve Epley]

We have the combination very high church and very slow Bible classes. When it is high it is high and when it is slow it is slow. No one ever filled their cars going 90 mile an hour down the road you have to stop. It is NOT one or the other it is both.
I am sorry to say you are baptizing 800 folks a year what percentage are you keeping?

[Hesetmefree238]

Originally Posted by Whole Hearted

Sounds like they lose way more than they keep.

And what church doesn't? All of our churches would be busting at the seams if all of the backsliders came back!!

[Hesetmefree238]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I am sorry to say you are baptizing 800 folks a year what percentage are you keeping?

What do you mean, you are sorry someone is baptizing 800 folks a year? That is a great thing. It sounds like someone is preaching Acts 2:38 to me!
As for the percentage ,they keep or any of our churches keep, we all have
our problems making new converts stick. If this Sunday all of the backsliders
came to our services, I doubt any of our churches could hold the crowd.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

We have the combination very high church and very slow Bible classes. When it is high it is high and when it is slow it is slow. No one ever filled their cars going 90 mile an hour down the road you have to stop. It is NOT one or the other it is both.
I am sorry to say you are baptizing 800 folks a year what percentage are you keeping?

What does this matter? Maybe they are filtering in to other churches...God help us when we try to keep people in one place when it is God's will that we preach and teach to the whole world? The church is bigger than the building or the number of people in one church!
Blessings, Rhoni

[The Dean]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

We have the combination very high church and very slow Bible classes. When it is high it is high and when it is slow it is slow. No one ever filled their cars going 90 mile an hour down the road you have to stop. It is NOT one or the other it is both.
I am sorry to say you are baptizing 800 folks a year what percentage are you keeping?

In view of this entire thread I would say this single line should cause all of us rip roaring Pentecostals to pause and think.

This is a statement worth remembering.