There is SO much more to "standards" than just what we wear. There is honesty and
integrity, principals, how we treat and respect people. Standards involve every area
of our lives. There are moral standards, standards of the heart, etc.
We need the Spirit of the Living God to lead and guide us continually. IF we look to man
for our direction, we will get man's ideas. If we look to the Word of God and
depend on His Spirit and walk in, and are led by the Spirit of Almighty God,
we won't have to find out too soon, too late that we have been deceived. If we know what thus saith the Word of God, and have the Holy Spirit to
illuminate and open our understanding we won't be disappointed. We were
pointed to the Word of God all our lives. The Word of God was promoted big
time in our home and the church our late parents pastored.
My husband and I will celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniv. on July 11th. We
both received the Holy Ghost the summer of 1958. Dad opened the doors of
the storefront church he, with his wife and eleven children, founded, Nov.12,
1958, We married the following July 11th, 1959. We have never left. Five of
our six children and 16 of our 20 grandchildren still go to the church my late
parents founded. The other son and wife, with their four children, go to an
apostolic church in a neighboring city where they live. All of our adult children
are married to their original spouses. The youngest has been married 12 yrs.,
the eldest has been married 27 yrs. and all in between. Our middle daughter
and husband who pastor the church now, was married 18 yrs. ago yesterday.
God has been good to our family. Those good family values and all that goes
with it, has surely paid off with huge dividends.
No, our lives have not all been easy. We have had our trials and stuggles,
but God has been with us, by His Spirit from the beginning until now and we
have no doubt that HE will be with us all the way! He said HE would be our
guide, even until death. Psalms 48:15
Just giving God some Praise for all HE has done, doing and will continue to do,
in Jesus Name!
There is SO much more to "standards" than just what we wear. There is honesty and
integrity, principals, how we treat and respect people. Standards involve every area
of our lives. There are moral standards, standards of the heart, etc.
We need the Spirit of the Living God to lead and guide us continually. IF we look to man
for our direction, we will get man's ideas. If we look to the Word of God and
depend on His Spirit and walk in, and are led by the Spirit of Almighty God,
we won't have to find out too soon, too late that we have been deceived. If we know what thus saith the Word of God, and have the Holy Spirit to
illuminate and open our understanding we won't be disappointed. We were
pointed to the Word of God all our lives. The Word of God was promoted big
time in our home and the church our late parents pastored.
My husband and I will celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniv. on July 11th. We
both received the Holy Ghost the summer of 1958. Dad opened the doors of
the storefront church he, with his wife and eleven children, founded, Nov.12,
1958, We married the following July 11th, 1959. We have never left. Five of
our six children and 16 of our 20 grandchildren still go to the church my late
parents founded. The other son and wife, with their four children, go to an
apostolic church in a neighboring city where they live. All of our adult children
are married to their original spouses. The youngest has been married 12 yrs.,
the eldest has been married 27 yrs. and all in between. Our middle daughter
and husband who pastor the church now, was married 18 yrs. ago yesterday.
God has been good to our family. Those good family values and all that goes
with it, has surely paid off with huge dividends.
No, our lives have not all been easy. We have had our trials and stuggles,
but God has been with us, by His Spirit from the beginning until now and we
have no doubt that HE will be with us all the way! He said HE would be our
guide, even until death. Psalms 48:15
Just giving God some Praise for all HE has done, doing and will continue to do,
in Jesus Name!
Blessings,
Falla39
Falla,
My dear sister, you are absolutely right, it is and was those "standards of the heart" that build strength into our family. Mom and Daddy required these standards of their children, honesty and respect of those around us. I remember one of us sassing a neighbor, and Dad requiring a face to face apology to that neighbor. These things of character are honorable and make us respected by our community, and by the grace of God I see them in my own adult children.
As for balance, I will also acknowledge that there were some "standards" that were passed from the preacher that brought the "message" to our parents community that our parents eventually discarded. I know some folks that continued with those extreme "standards" that have wrecked lives because of the control and lack of freedom in Christ. Our parents found more balance but still maintained some fairly conservative standards, but not nearly as rigid as their first exposure to Pentecost. I believe those earlier extremes were false standards and discarding them in no way devalued our parents lives.
I also know of many who maintain even the less rigid standards, yet lack the "things of the heart" and their lives are just as wrecked.
My point is: It is those things of the heart that made the difference in our family, so I have to believe it is those standards to which you are referring. And from that perspective I totally embrace and agree with all that you have presented.
__________________ For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. (Romans 14:11- NASB)
There is SO much more to "standards" than just what we wear. There is honesty and
integrity, principals, how we treat and respect people. Standards involve every area
of our lives. There are moral standards, standards of the heart, etc.
We need the Spirit of the Living God to lead and guide us continually. IF we look to man
for our direction, we will get man's ideas. If we look to the Word of God and
depend on His Spirit and walk in, and are led by the Spirit of Almighty God,
we won't have to find out too soon, too late that we have been deceived. If we know what thus saith the Word of God, and have the Holy Spirit to
illuminate and open our understanding we won't be disappointed. We were
pointed to the Word of God all our lives. The Word of God was promoted big
time in our home and the church our late parents pastored.
My husband and I will celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniv. on July 11th. We
both received the Holy Ghost the summer of 1958. Dad opened the doors of
the storefront church he, with his wife and eleven children, founded, Nov.12,
1958, We married the following July 11th, 1959. We have never left. Five of
our six children and 16 of our 20 grandchildren still go to the church my late
parents founded. The other son and wife, with their four children, go to an
apostolic church in a neighboring city where they live. All of our adult children
are married to their original spouses. The youngest has been married 12 yrs.,
the eldest has been married 27 yrs. and all in between. Our middle daughter
and husband who pastor the church now, was married 18 yrs. ago yesterday.
God has been good to our family. Those good family values and all that goes
with it, has surely paid off with huge dividends.
No, our lives have not all been easy. We have had our trials and stuggles,
but God has been with us, by His Spirit from the beginning until now and we
have no doubt that HE will be with us all the way! He said HE would be our
guide, even until death. Psalms 48:15
Just giving God some Praise for all HE has done, doing and will continue to do,
in Jesus Name!
Blessings,
Falla39
You are a blessing and inspiuration as always.
Quote:
There is SO much more to "standards" than just what we wear. There is honesty and
integrity, principals, how we treat and respect people. Standards involve every area
of our lives. There are moral standards, standards of the heart, etc.
Part of the problem is that when most people in the movement regardless of position on the sliding scale betwixt ultra-con and liberal is that the word "standards" brings to mind the big list with "no pants on women" up around the top and "no open toed shoes" down around the bottom under the "may or may not apply here" section.
It becomes all about outward. And sadley in many places the outward is the only thing preached.
Most of the biggest standards not preached or argued about are the moral and standards of the heart.
Even many of the outward ones, though not directly biblical, have nothing wrong with them. If a pastor, watching for peoples souls holds a higher standard of modesty than what the world considers modest, what of it? It has never caused me pain, embarrassment or mental anguish to never wear shorts or a t-shirt in public. It didn't traumatize me when the preacher preached "don't go to the movie theater". I don't even think about those things because I have walked in this way long enough that it is just my nature to do stuff that others seem so up in arms over.
There is nothing in the Bible about smoking cigars either, so one could say that is a preacher preaches against smoking a cigar, he is making an extra-biblical rule.
Even though a number of years have past since your upbringing it hasn't vanished from the earth. Having higher standards is a good thing and has benefited my household tremendously and I am blessed. My wife is loved where ever she goes because of her kindness and generosity, the folks she works with know where her lines are drawn and don't violate them, not because she might haul off and hit them with a holy stick, but because the love and respect her. They can count on her.
My 18 year old daughter is still pure, liked and respected by her peers and teachers alike, loved by the young people in church that she is an example for. And, me. Well I am just me. Nobody likes me...
I wouldn't trade all that just for the ability to wear a speedo at the beach, or any other so-called "liberty" that is available. I place value on what we have and will keep it no matter who does what.
I appreciate your testimony and fine example you have set with your life!
For the Benefit of others let me big an bold here: I am talking about much more than clothes, I don't even see the whole shorts-no movie theater thing as even being a standard, just a thing I do that I don't hold anybody else too.
__________________
Last edited by John Atkinson; 06-17-2009 at 08:34 AM.
Your a blessing Sister Falla and your wisdom in living for God is just more than most can comprehend. Thank God for you and thank you for your standards and the example of what His light in us is capable of .
__________________ You can't reach the world with your talents. People are sick and tired of religious talents. People need a Holy Ghost annointed church with real fruits to reach out and touch their lives. ~ Pastor Burrell Crabtree
In fact I think that the insinuation of "hateful" Pentecostals is coming mostly from the fertile imaginations of bitter, backslidden ex Apostolics who are constantly trying to find a way to justify their actions. ~ strait shooter
Things like honesty and integrity, principals, how we treat and respect people, etc. are commandments and teachings directly addressed in Scripture. No one challenges "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." No one challenges "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The only "fuss" is in relation to those outward standards that are not Scriptural.
In fact the notion that these clear teachings of Scripture are regarded as "standards" and not "teachings" or "commandments" is a bit unsettling. We cannot confuse the the two.
Things like honesty and integrity, principals, how we treat and respect people, etc. are commandments and teachings directly addressed in Scripture. No one challenges "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." No one challenges "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The only "fuss" is in relation to those outward standards that are not Scriptural. In fact the notion that these clear teachings of Scripture are regarded as "standards" and not "teachings" or "commandments" is a bit unsettling. We cannot confuse the the two.
And we don't want to forget the first and greatest which is to love the LORD, our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Every man is responsible for his own house. You are responsible for what you teach your children. Not anyone else. You are responsible to GOD for what you have sown and birthed.
My dad took that responsibility more seriously than any man I have ever known. He never felt adequete to do it alone, always seeking the face of his MAKER, through the leading of the Holy Ghost he received at age 15 yrs. He learned to go to His God before he married, looked to God for a wife, and when their children (11) came along. He did the same when he was inducted into the U.S. Army and was sent overseas, leaving behind a young wife and four children under 7 yrs old. He learned to trust his God on the front lines of battle in WWII, not willing to carry a weapon, but chose to carry two medical bags instead, to treat the wounded and help carry the dead off the front lines of battle..!
He came home and raised eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, raising them in the fear and admonition of his GOD. Founded a church, put eleven children through high school and most have had some additional education, etc. Pastored while working a full time job, in order to support his
large family. Never shirked his responsibility in providing his family, with both physical and spiritual needs. He took his questions to God in prayer in a back bedroom where he would come out with red rimmed eyes where he knew he
could find answers for any situation in regard to his family or church. There is
SO much I could say about this man we called "Daddy". I probably should have started a "Fathers Day" thread instead of posting this here. But I didn't....!
Yes, the standards (measure of excellence) for everything we are today, started in our home. Dad didn't buy everything someone said. He found his answers elsewhere. I am my father's daughter. The only reason I am on this forum in just maybe,... I can help someone along life's way and my living will not have been in vain!
And we don't want to forget the first and greatest which is to love the LORD, our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Every man is responsible for his own house. You are responsible for what you teach your children. Not anyone else. You are responsible to GOD for what you have sown and birthed.
My dad took that responsibility more seriously than any man I have ever known. He never felt adequete to do it alone, always seeking the face of his MAKER, through the leading of the Holy Ghost he received at age 15 yrs. He learned to go to His God before he married, looked to God for a wife, and when their children (11) came along. He did the same when he was inducted into the U.S. Army and was sent overseas, leaving behind a young wife and four children under 7 yrs old. He learned to trust his God on the front lines of battle in WWII, not willing to carry a weapon, but chose to carry two medical bags instead, to treat the wounded and help carry the dead off the front lines of battle..!
He came home and raised eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, raising them in the fear and admonition of his GOD. Founded a church, put eleven children through high school and most have had some additional education, etc. Pastored while working a full time job, in order to support his
large family. Never shirked his responsibility in providing his family, with both physical and spiritual needs. He took his questions to God in prayer in a back bedroom where he would come out with red rimmed eyes where he knew he
could find answers for any situation in regard to his family or church. There is
SO much I could say about this man we called "Daddy". I probably should have started a "Fathers Day" thread instead of posting this here. But I didn't....!
Yes, the standards (measure of excellence) for everything we are today, started in our home. Dad didn't buy everything someone said. He found his answers elsewhere. I am my father's daughter. The only reason I am on this forum in just maybe,... I can help someone along life's way and my living will not have been in vain!
Hugs,
Falla39
Falla, I guess I just believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. If there isn't a short sleeve standard, a facial hair standard, a dress color standard, an open toe standard, a split standard, etc. in the Bible.... I'm not impressed with it because it's just a fleshly religious set of rules instituted by man. It's carnal and worldly. It's no more impressive to me than seeing the very conservative Muslims from the Middle East. It's all just flesh.
Falla, I guess I just believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. If there isn't a short sleeve standard, a facial hair standard, a dress color standard, an open toe standard, a split standard, etc. in the Bible.... I'm not impressed with it because it's just a fleshly religious set of rules instituted by man. It's carnal and worldly. It's no more impressive to me than seeing the very conservative Muslims from the Middle East. It's all just flesh.
Bro. Aquila,
Some of your statements in your last two posts concern me. You say you
believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. The Word of God is very important
but without the SPIRIT to lead and guide, we're sadly lacking.
I don't know a lot about you but guess you to be a fairly young man, maybe
a couple or so children, perhaps pre-teen ages. Just guessing!
And although I was born just prior to WWII, my parents were the children of
those who came out of the Great Depression, and we were the children whose
parents went through the second world war. Yes, we were the children who
didn't question everything and everybody. Tom Brokaw wrote his book, "The
Greatest Generation", the one my parents were from. And they call us, their
children, "The Silent Generation". We were the children who were told to list-
en and learn. And listen and learn we did. We were fed the Word of God un-
til we could feed ourselves. The Word of God IS quick and powerful and
sharper than any two-edged sword even to the dividing of soul and spirit.
But, Bro. Aquila, I wasn't just a part of that or those generations, I've been
here ever since and am still very much alive! in Christ, that is!
I could go through all the various arguments, etc.,etc as to why this and
why that. But I would invite you to come back here when you are almost
70 yrs. (I will be in Sept 09) and after you have been married 50 yrs. (will
be July 11,09) and after you have raised your children and they have been
married for years and have children and are raising your grandchildren.
Brother, all I can say is you had better have the Spirit of Truth, the HOLY
GHOST, to lead you and guide you. Without the Spirit of Christ leading, we
would be hopeless. The Bible is the Guidebook. The Spirit is The GUIDE!
I mean no offense, Bro. Aquila! I just know that until we have been some-
where, we will not be a reliable source to tell someone else how to get
there. ALL I know is somehow by HIS GREAT mercy and grace we've come
this far by faith.
We've come this far by faith,
Leaning on the LORD.
Trusting completely in His Word,
He's never failed us yet.....
Falla, I guess I just believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. If there isn't a short sleeve standard, a facial hair standard, a dress color standard, an open toe standard, a split standard, etc. in the Bible.... I'm not impressed with it because it's just a fleshly religious set of rules instituted by man. It's carnal and worldly. It's no more impressive to me than seeing the very conservative Muslims from the Middle East. It's all just flesh.
Bro. Aquila,
Have you seen me mention clothes standards one time! A light (lamp)
doesn't sit on the desk, etc and shout, "Look at me! I'm a light". See me
shine! It just shines, by the power within. It shines the brightest in the
darkness.
I "fuss" about them because of all the unnecessary bitterness caused by extra-biblical "standards" that people have created.
People already have enough trials in life to have someone else had "sleeve length" or some rule involving sports made into a heaven or hell issue. These things are often the straws that break the backs of those who may have STAYED in the church had it not been for the added pressure.
Hybrid Mode
