I've never heard it with the context of reading newspapers. I've always heard it in the context of listening to "worldy music," watching television, watching sports, etc... usually things the minister disapproves.
Regarding wanting people to read their Bible more... I just shake my head at that. It's a spirituality brownie badge. Show people the real Christ and watch them fall in love. And they just MIGHT increase their Bible reading, but that's not really the point.
Max--did you read the first post? He definitely mentioned the UPC in the first sentence, and he said the preacher mentioned reading the paper.
It's not a spirituality "brownie badge" to read your Bible more and encourage other people to do so. Getting into the Word is one of the BEST things new converts can do, and it's definitely something Christians should do on an ongoing basis. What on earth is wrong with wanting people to read the Bible more? It's helpful to THEM to do so! I understand that motivating them in the way mentioned on this thread won't work, but surely you don't think encouraging people to read the Bible in general is wrong?
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
Yep, it's not for everybody but those that do it are better than the rest.................. SERIOUSLY??
Did I say that?
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
That's what I'm screaming! The people saying these nutty things need to use their brains.
You've heard this sermon before:
"Some of these churches want to watch movies and television. My God! Why waste such time when you could be reading the Bible and memorizing the 12 disciples! Who can tell me their names?" It's an illogical method of attacking something they don't like.
If the message is "remember to keep God first," or to encourage people to "redeem their time" then go for it. But the former argument could apply to anything, and seems to suggest memorizing scripture is the goal, when really, keeping Jesus as our center of worship is the goal. I suspect getting the congregation to agree that watching movies/television is the goal when this is often said though.
I've never heard a message that said you can't have any fun whatsoever, no recreation, no newspaper, you have to read your bible 24 hours a day
Sorry but I think this person is exaggerating and you are all taking his word for it. This doesn't merely sound like an anti-TV message as per the original post but a "you can't do anything at all that is fun, you have to read the bible 24 hours a day"...and I think he is exaggerating. The message may have been on that topic, but I think it's being exaggerated to the extreme
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
Or... he could be telling the truth, and we could accept the fact that there are some pulpits that say crazy things like this.
Or he could be embellishing or exaggerating the truth for whatever reason. Come on 24 hours a day? You don't think that was a little embellishment or exaggeration? Really?
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
I'll sure enjoy driving my blue mini cooper with cream leather interior and white racing stripes.
ROFL, we were at carmax in Hartford Saturday looking for a car for my wife, and they had one of those Smart Cars. Mt daughter was all over wanting one.. I told her.. convienient. When you kill yourself in it we don't have to buy a coffin, just dig a slighty bigger hole.
I think you are exaggerating or you just didn't understand what the preacher was saying :-)
No I think this is what he was saying cause me and my wife felt bad, like we are not good enough? I just want to know where is the line Balance. I always keep my mind on him and of course want to draw closer. We should strive to enter in at the strait gate right? My wife took of work today cause she felt bad . We take the bible seriously and always want to please him. But say like Charles Stanley, we feel accepted and loved. So see the diffrence what I am talking about between the two.
Yep, it's not for everybody but those that do it are better than the rest.................. SERIOUSLY??
Those apostles! What do they think they are better than everyone else?
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
A perfect example is like Charles Stanley vs The message I started to talk about. Charles stanley rebukes, but he is like more tender. Anyone know what I am talking about. I dont feel guilty when I hear him.
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
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