life lessons

Lisa Miller: Why I Think She Was Right to Surrender

Wherein I give possible good reasons for supporting her decision
Pray for Lisa Miller

The evening January 29, 2021 — having first secured permission to do so — I broke this story into the public Web: Lisa Miller Surrenders Into US Custody.

I included this:

I believe Lisa did the right thing to protect her daughter Isabella in the course of the last eleven years or so. I also believe she did the right thing in surrendering now that Isabella is of age. I commend her for that.

Before long, I was asked via Facebook as well as private email why I think it was the right thing for her to do.

Before I answer the question, I present to you a principle and a warning from Someone far wiser and experienced than I: Read it all

15 Facts About Personal and Church Drift

Fifteen significant things about drifting in individuals and in churches

Drifting -- a booklet by Clayton Yake, 1943; Mennonite Publishing House

Is your home congregation drifting? Maybe your entire denomination is adrift. Perhaps your concern has more to do with drift you see in individual people.

It might even possible that someone told you that you or your church are drifting…and you are wondering what that means and what you are supposed to do about it!

In the middle of the previous century, someone compiled these significant things about drifting: Read it all

The Church Assembling: The Community of Believers

How to tell if your church has too many regular services?

Interesting to shoehorn this

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

(Hebrews 10:25)

into the historical context of these verses from this morning’s SS lesson:

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,
and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house,
did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

(Acts 2:42,46)

Maybe by the time of Hebrews 10 they were slacking off to three services on the Lord’s Day, another on Wednesday night, and a Bible study on Friday night. So God had the writer issue His warning/command. 😳 😯 Read it all

The Bait of Satan

Your response to offense will determine your future, temporally and eternally.

Last year I listened to a sermon preached in a little church in Texas. I was so impacted by it, I shared it with a friend. The message is “The Bait of Offenses” (preached by the now-late Mervin Graber).

Not long after, my friend was in the book section of a thrift store and saw this book title: The Bait of Satan (by John Bevere). Curious by its similarity to the sermon title, he pulled it off the shelf and saw it addressed the same subject. So he bought it. And read it. And loaned it to me.

I was so impressed by the message that I read the book. Wow! Before long, my friend’s wife found another copy of the book in a thrift store. She bought it and my friend gave it to me for Christmas or my birthday.

You can listen to the sermon version “The Bait of Offenses” at my Anabaptists website. I urge you to do so. Please.

The rest of this post is more about the book as well as some excerpts from it. Read it all

How to Respond to Treachery in the Church

A determination to show love, forgiveness, and grace

What I say to treacherous, deceitful Brothers in Christ:

  • I love you.
  • I forgive you.
  • I don’t see you as my enemy.
  • I don’t trust you so much.
  • My trust is available for you to win back.

I want to say those five things consistently, dependably, and truthfully from my heart. Amen.

Glory to pass over a transgression (Proverbs 19:11) Read it all

Above all, love God!