GC...Saturday Night
 

Ouch! This preacher, MJ, is really laying it hard.

Oh yes he is! Did you notice some of the "elders" sitting on him when he was talking about sitting on the platform? Whew... :uhoh

Talking about too much celebrity status within the org... talking about men who have desire to be seen and noticed so they put on the most restrictions...

Who is "MJ"?

Mark Johnston

Who is he? Where is he from? How about a bio? Conservative, Mod, or Lib?

I was so focused on the speaker that I missed any reactions...

Don't know if he still is, but last year he was youth prez in Delaware. Can't tell if he's conservative, mod, or lib...but from his preaching he sounds moderate. HE AIN'T JOKIN' TONIGHT! He's basically saying it doesn't matter what clothes you're wearing or whether you sit on the platform or not, it's all about whether you're winning souls or not! :hanky

Everyone's on their faces....he really hit home!

Wow, I thought what mattered was your relationship with Jesus.

seems like many are pricked in their heart...

I think that's the crux of his message....if you have a relationship with Jesus, you're gonna be winning the lost, not caught up in fashion, politics, etc.

Jeremiah didn't win one soul. He just tried, that's all. I guess I'm just making that point. I'm not watching the preaching.

He was speaking to the ministry for the most part and their attitude and motives...


whether they wanted to be celebrities or Heroes?

Hmmmm......I only caught the last few minutes of his sermon but he wasn't "saying" anything. He was screaming some things though!!!

I just don't understand why UPC preachers cannot be emphatic and strong speakers without the screaming.

What else is he saying?

This likely is the reason you are not capturing the theme of the message.

I tuned into GC last night for about 3 minutes and turned it off because I couldn't tolerate the screaming. It's seemed like so much emotionalism. I sure have a different viewpoint than I did a few years ago.

I suppose. I just remember, in the UPC, that everything was about winning souls all the time.

Stop worrying about what the Jones' think of you? In other word, stop worrying if you (as a minister) have celebrity status....stop worrying about what seats you have at General Conference....basically shooting down the attitude that has a deep longing and desire for significance....


....MJ rather be a sinner's hero than the UPC's celebrity...and things like that.

Sounds like a good message.

MJ questioned why 10 yrs ago the attendance at GC was the same as it is today....he is inferring that there is something wrong when there aren't new souls filling the place.... said something about continually preaching to saved folks rather than being out there affecting your own community and neighborhood....stop making extravagent goals (i.e. 1 million converts in 10 yrs...didnt use this specific example, I am using to make his point) and consider, John, Jill, Karen and Mike who are your neighbors....

Wow!

I am gonna have to buy that video.

Sounds wonderful.

Yeah, I liked that part. Quit saying you're going to win 100 souls; say you're going to win your neighbors. That's good for ALL of us!

Pretty impactful, bro....I just wonder how effective it is....do ministers actually walk away correcting some of the defects he pointed out and making an about face...or does the celebrity status feel too good to let go....

the need for significance is a very strong human need for many...

...how often does a message like this have to be given before it starts having lasting affect? just wondering... years?

Oh so true.....

That's it....I've seen your husband's avatar as he just joined AFF recently and thought to myself "that face looks familiar"....and now I realize it's because I have seen him in your avatar....

Good questions J.

I think it takes time and great leadership to change a mindset.

He mentioned something about being okay to be driving "station wagons"....

...I guess as opposed to BMWs.

Are there plenty of ministers that are driving BMWs & Mercedes? I cant imagine...

yeah, he has one of those faces......:bolt

j/k, dear!

Does MJ also get a rebuke from UCs for "bashing" the ministry in his talk tonight?

Only if he posts it here.

Actually, J-Roc, I believe there are more driving pickups and SUVs that cost as much as a BMW or Mercedes than there are driving the Mercedes or BMWs1:killinme:killinme

Do you have a Mercedes SUV? :saycheese :killinme

Only in my dreams that were dashed tonight by the potency of the appeal from MJ...

I actually have little desire for material things... not because I am spiritual... just because I so most of those things as necessities and if the need is met then I don't need anything more than that.

I drive a comfortably appointed Toyota Camry 3500 miles a month. I am quite happy and I can't imagine how a BMW or Mercedes or a 50K dollar pickup truck could improve on what I have.

Do I get a gold star for my humility now?:hypercoffee

Last week I spent the day taking around a Chinese businessman who is my company's Director of Strategic Planning for Asia.

He was on a quick four day trip to the USA from China. Before I took him to his hotel at the end of the day he wanted to stop and look at the Harley Davidson motorcycle dealership we had passed by earlier.

As we were walking to the dealership we passed by a brand new black Cadillac Escalade in the parking lot. I noticed him looking at it and I said "That is what you need!". He asked me "so what does that cost, $30,000?" I laughed and told him it was more like $60,000+

Amazing message.

Absolutely convicting and inspiring at once.

He also made a comment about spending more time on the internet criticizing your brother than reaching out to lost souls...

Yes he did...and I was checking "New Posts" at that time.

I audibly said "Oops"....

That was when he commenced meddling!:hypercoffee

He must have been talking about CAF or WS.:hypercoffee

We don't do that on AFF.:sshhh