Stop and Think

[Darcie]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Sorry for resurrecting a thread that probably needs to bite the dust. But, I've got to say this to someone... if to no one else, then to myself. I just spent the last few minutes picking the remainder of my wifes hair out of the shower drain. I cried the whole time, and still am. But a voice... No, a Voice said this:
Psa 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

When we weep while doing a task... we will rejoice when we reap the benefits. I hold to the promise that one day through all of this, we will rejoice. Thats God's Word for me today.

Yes and Amen

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

STOP AND THINK

Words to live by. Years ago, while serving as an evangelist., I was invited to speak at an Apostolic church in what I will call an "unnamed city". I was young and unlearned (as opposed to being old and unlearned, as I am now) and was ready to fill the shoes of some of the great evangelists of days gone by (so, so I thought). I "felt led" one night to preach on holiness . Actually, I had something to prove. I was a "new evangelist" at this church and, as all "new evangelists" know, somewhere in the meeting you've got to prove to everybody (especially the pastor), that you are a bonifide "100% One God, Apostolic, Jesus Name, Tongue Talkin' Holiness or Hell Preacher of the Full Gospel of Jesus Christ". So, that was my night. I was gonna preach on Holiness. So, and as we all do (come on, admit it), during the song service I looked around in my judgmental, self-righteous place of "authority", to survey the crowd to pick up some good points for my sermon. There was a man... his hair was a little too long. There was a woman with exposed elbows.

But there... right there near in the ails in the middle of the building was what I zeroed in on. A woman with hair shorter than mine! So... I did what any good holiness preacher would do, I focused on this "harlot" and spent the biggest part of my sermon declaring how sinful this or any woman was for cutting their hair off to look like a man. (Oh, I didn't single her out, but she knew.. and everyone else knew, I was preaching to her).

It was unusually quiet that night for an Apostolic Church, but, hey, I must be steppin' on some toes, and bless God, if they don't like it... so I just lambasted this woman even harder. Until she got up and walked out crying. Boy, howdy, did I feel good about myself. Got the devil mad enough to make this woman walk out. Man, was I a preacher!

After the service, I found out why it was so quiet. That woman was a member of that church. She was saved as a little girl there... had been baptized in Jesus Name and was filled with the Holy Ghost. She had never, ever cut her hair.

She had cancer. Lost all her hair in radiation Treatments. Her cancer was in remission and her hair was just growing back. I didn't know that. Because I didn't stop to think. And I cried.

Whats the point?
Yesterday, my wife cut her hair. For the first time since she came to the Lord. She doesn't (nor do I) condemn those who cut their hair. It has been her choice to maintain the Pentecostal tradition (and thats all it is) of not cutting her hair. But yesterday, she cut her hair. Because she has cancer and her hair is coming out. She cried. And so did I.

Whats my point...
Nothing. Except to say, STOP AND THINK.

This is sad, but you were young and made a mistake. Too often this haapens. I have seen it were some young preacher has to prove a point. All they end up doing is making themselves look horrible. A message of affirmation on standards usually tears down fences because not everyone sees eye to eye.

I am sorry to hear about your wife. My wife actually cut her hair for the first time in about 18 yrs about 2 months ago. It was a tough time for her, but now she feel good about it. It was causing massive head aches and she was losing her hair becuase it was too heavy and was just falling out. Now it is health and look better than it ever has. Now it looks glorious before it was not good.

[Darcie]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

This is sad, but you were young and made a mistake. Too often this haapens. I have seen it were some young preacher has to prove a point. All they end up doing is making themselves look horrible. A message of affirmation on standards usually tears down fences because not everyone sees eye to eye.

I am sorry to hear about your wife. My wife actually cut her hair for the first time in about 18 yrs about 2 months ago. It was a tough time for her, but now she feel good about it. It was causing massive head aches and she was losing her hair becuase it was too heavy and was just falling out. Now it is health and look better than it ever has. Now it looks glorious before it was not good.

Seriously whether they want to admit it or not that is the case with most apostolic women who do not cut their hair. That was my case. The constant pulling the hair to put it in a bun or whatever takes a massive toll on the hair. I lost alot of hair, and I'm now trying to fix 32 yrs worth of damage.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

This is sad, but you were young and made a mistake. Too often this haapens. I have seen it were some young preacher has to prove a point. All they end up doing is making themselves look horrible. A message of affirmation on standards usually tears down fences because not everyone sees eye to eye.

I am sorry to hear about your wife. My wife actually cut her hair for the first time in about 18 yrs about 2 months ago. It was a tough time for her, but now she feel good about it. It was causing massive head aches and she was losing her hair becuase it was too heavy and was just falling out. Now it is health and look better than it ever has. Now it looks glorious before it was not good.

Funny thing is: I've never preached again.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Funny thing is: I've never preached again.

Well that is not a good sign...you may be able to get in with us Charasmatics now.