Picture of the week...

One of our ladies made this neat Ginger bread "church" house. It is Spring Meadows. Notice the one close up below.

Look how Pennie did our "logo". There was also a HUGE church mouse. And in front of the building there was this goofy looking character that was more "smile" than anything else. She said that was me. Thanks Pennie - it was really, REALLY neat.

Brother Collins...that is all.

A good and great man has died. I was privileged to serve as Brother Willard Collins minister for about a decade. How do you describe such a man?

The "man with the voice" - even till his last few months his voice was as powerful and clear as in his prime. He was the man who loved the church. He loved the Lord's church so passionately and only wanted the very best for it. He was an encourager "par-excellence"!

He encouraged ever good thing. He seemed to always believe the best and at times when it became miserably obvious that something was amiss his heart would appear to break at confronting it. He encouraged me at every turn. I used to call him Granny White's ambassador. He traveled, widely, all over our brotherhood - teaching, preaching, recruiting, fundraising. And often people who visited Nashville for the first time would visit GW simply because they'd heard Brother Collins talk about what a great place it is. I remember visiting a couple who had visited us one Monday night, they lived miles from our building. I couldn't understand why they had driven all that way. They told us that night that they had moved to Nashville area from Colorado and couldn't wait to visit Granny White because Brother Collins had held a meeting there and talked about it. He loved the local church, on one occasion he told me: “It is impossible to preach the gospel without preaching about the church purchased by the blood of Christ…In advancing Christianity the action is to be in the local congregation…If the church moves, local congregations must lead in the march”

Here was this guy whose knowledge and abilities with the Word were tops in our fellowship and every week he'd encourage me in my work. When I moved to GW he was already a hero of mine, getting to know him up close and personal that respect did not diminish - he was the real thing. He blessed my life. When he said, "Brother Dale, the church needed that sermon, and I needed that sermon..." - I took special note ---I mean, what would you do?

He was a man who was simple. His words made me want to be better and do more while making me feel like I was a hero already. It was quite humbling. Brother Collins had a deep, deep knowledge of the text but he always chose to teach in ways that children could and would grasp! His grad degree was from Vanderbilt nonetheless, yet he used simple illustrations and words - are you listening? Our children at GW loved him. I remember one time their teacher was to be away and we asked who they wanted to teach their class - they wanted 80+ year old Willard Collins.

You never knew where he was going when he started - but he always landed the lesson with grace touched with a surprise that made you glad you'd listened. I will never forget the Wednesday night lesson on "the neon sign" - it was a classic on how to promote the church!

He moved people with his love and beliefs. He believed, passionately in the Lord and His plan of salvation and preached it with such vigor that people responded. Someone once told me his success was in that he began delivering the invitation the minute he stepped into the pulpit and didn't stop till the invitation song was over. It is no wonder he filled auditoriums where ever he went. From a very young man (he, Brother Batsell Barrett Baxter and Brother Ira North years ago would have lunch together every Monday and compare notes...and challenge each other to grow the congregations they worked with. Imagine being at one of those lunchs). The many area wide meetings he held led to the growth of the Kingdom.

His memory was unimpeachable: he would always ask about my mom and dad, my inlaws and people who they were associated with by name. How many such names must have resided in that database of his mind?

It was Brother Collins who envisioned the "We Believe" seminars as he truly believed that if Granny White, right next door to David Lipscomb University would speak out clearly on some of the matters troubling the church, people would take notice.

I could go on and on with story after story of this great man of God and his life - I've not even mentioned his tremendous sense of humor.

He will be missed - I will miss him - as will thousands of faithful Christians. I pray that as people consider his life they will consider his commitment to the Lord, His church and His Word; his optimism and his dedication to God's People everywhere. There is much concern in some quarters for the future, we could do with a dose of the simple, committed faith of Brother Willard Collins.

Here's the exhalted pad for the slab...

Looking from the pad back toward Duplex Road (north)...

Run The Ball, Vince

I’m not a huge fan of the Tennessee Titans. When I was living in Nashville I averaged going to about 3 games a year but have never had to buy a ticket. I like NFL football but no one team could really be called “my team” – I’ve pulled for the Dolphins (I remember that back in 3^rd grade when they had Tony Nathan and Dwight Stephenson both from Alabama), I pulled for the Steelers in the days when they rivaled the Cowboys so fiercely (I’m not sure if it was because my brother pulled for the Cowboys and I wanted to take a different team or if it was because I thought Bradshaw was the only real man who was playing football – he could have played defense for the Steel Curtain!). I pulled for the Broncos in the “Orange Crush” (in football, I’ve always loved defense). I’ve pulled for the Packers for tradition and the Seahawks for newness (as well as for Shawn Alexander). And, don’t tell anybody else but I’ve pulled for the Colts because of Peyton Manning – in spite of the UT thing, he’s just fun to watch.

And now we have Vince Young, Vince “National Championship, 6’5”, 233 pound, VY, NFL Rookie of the Year, Cover of Madden ’08, Pro-Bowl in his first year” Young! Following a 467 yard performance in the ’05 national championship game Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott said "Vince Young is the greatest quarterback to ever play college football.” USC coach Pete Carroll said "that was the best performance I've seen by one guy." Young finished his senior season with 3,036 yards passing and 1,050 yards rushing. His first year in the NFL he had an unbelievable six game winning streak at one point as a rookie starter. Young, on top of the world.

VY has unreal scrambling skills. He is magic on 3^rd and long or in any 4^th quarter game that is even close! A thrill to watch – power and finesse and cunning all combined to make greatness. Perfect coverage can’t exist, because the defensive back has to keep one eye on the strong possibility that Young may take off on a run. He is a dual-threat quarterback with the possibility of recreating the role – a proto-type of QB’s to come.

Sometime along the way someone got in his head, “to be a great quarterback: they whispered in what must have sounded like a shout to him, “you have to be a great passer.” Early this season Young mimicked the naysayer by saying he wanted to be remembered as a great passer. And the result – disaster! Young has been awful this season. A young group of receivers no longer has the luxury of a running QB that gave them a cushion. The natural flow has been replaced by a reluctance, the result few yards rushing and a lot of incompletes and intercepts. Young is not using his talent.

I feel bad for Young (with his millions, I suspect he’ll be OK) but that’s just football.

I feel bad for Young but I understand. I had not been preaching long when I learned that many, if not most people, wish their preacher were someone else. They wish he was a previous preacher or a preacher they’ve heard on a lectureship, or seen on TV, or encountered in a meeting or revival. They wish he visited like Brother X or prayed like Brother Y or had the passion of Brother Z (and just in case you wonder there are 23 other letters we could ascribe a wish to). And, yes, Vince, I often found myself wishing I had the knowledge and scholarship of Brother A, or the zeal and recall of Brother B or the skill and soundness of Brother C. And sometimes I’ve tried to be them – always to the detriment of the abilities God gave me.

I feel bad for Young but I feel worse for the congregation that misses it’s most obvious opportunity for ministry, that can’t spot what it’s skills are and that wastes the talents God has placed there. That’s one of the real keys to church growth: identify what are your skills – friendliness, teaching, singing, families, supporting youth – and capitalize on them.

I feel bad for Young but (and here is why I’m writing) I feel worse for the Christian who has stopped using her strength: The saint that has allowed their gift to be benched, and their abilities to be sidelined. Friend, the church needs YOU and God has a plan and a place for you. He gave you what He gave you to use for Him – to return it to the Giver. And, when you do, you’ll find a satisfaction like none other. When you try to be what you are not you short-circuit His grand scheme for you. Get in the game – run the ball (both you and Vince)!

There - I've said it now...

If you follow this blog (you've not had much to follow lately - but thanks to Jason at TCS I'm up and running again), you know that we are in a building program at Spring Meadows Church of Christ ... it's an exercise in patience.

We have a sign out in front of the building we meet in now (ex hardware store, bar and grocery store) that proclaims "Temporary Location". That little building is Spring Meadow's third temporary location. It has been a blessing. Could any of you imagine trying to squeeze 250 folks into the "barber shop"? but it too is pretty much full now - we can get a few more folks in it but at 250 we have to put chairs out and parking becomes a real issue to. But it's the whole temporary location thing that is bugging me. Every time I say it, it bugs me.

The implication is that when we get to the Duplex Road property it will be a permanent location. It won't be. When we move into the "gym" it to will be temporary. And then when we eventually build and move into the auditorium, won't it too really be temporary.

Frankly for the Christian, isn't it all temporary here anyway? One of our major problems is that we begin to believe that anything physical, like a building, is permanent.

"...we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).

I like the old song: "this world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue..."

So, if you will, please pray for us as we prepare to move into our next temporary location.

Hmmmmm, I hope that made sense.... :)

What's Up...What's New.

It’s been a couple of weeks since last I blogged and there are good reasons. Well, one good reason, I’ve been even more swamped than normal. Another is that the last week and a half or so my computer has been sick. Not sure what is up with it – for some reason I can’t sign in to some of my websites, still working on it and am doing this from another computer. So just a few notes today:
1. Do you know about igoogle.com? If you do the internet much you need to visit and see what all you can do one that one page! It is super cool. g-mail, which will forward all e-mail from any account, widgets (not sure what that means, but it allow for really neat little tidbits of info like weather, stock, Spanish word of the day, RSS feeds.
2. Do you know what an RSS feed is? I don’t really either J, but I like it. A while back I noticed the term and wasn’t really sure so I ignored it. Now I like it a lot! There are a number of WebPages and blogs that I visit and follow. One problem is I don’t know how to keep up with them. Most don’t send out an email like I do to let people know when they’ve updated, so I forget them. I forget about Adam and his family, about Clayton’s newest news cheerfully and skillfully delivered … I don’t really forget them, I just forget to visit. The RSS feed tells you whenever a page you follow has been updated. It is one of my favs for ’07!
3. Spring Meadows, thanks for Trent, has a blog. In addition to our excellent website (www.smcoc.net) that has so much neat stuff this blog will be used to chronicle in one location our history. Trent (and I?) are doing it one month at a time. Add to, make suggestions, it can be edited. http://www.springmeadowschurch.blogspot.com
4. For you facebookies…there is also a facebook page. It is a place to post pictures.
5. The final one is that Trent and I are tossing about the idea of a weekly podcast. What all do you think it should consist of? We’ve got some good ideas but I’d like to hear from you…
Have a super week!!!!

Teepees And Chief Round Rock's* "Stuck" in a Comfort Inn

Well friends I'm in Kentucky this week.

The pics are of a local motel. The sign says "Sleep In A Wigwam" and they choose to house me in a Comfort Inn? Oh well, maybe someday.

My meeting is with the good folks at the Horse Cave church. It's a pretty neat area and a good church. Melanie, the boys and I visited here about 7 or 8 years back with the Farris family and saw Mammoth Cave.

I hope to do some exploring this week - today it's raining, but according to the weather it may be the whole time I'm here. I have a few meetings during the week and plenty to keep me busy. But in a rather unusual setting I do not have cell service here but do have Internet. I'm here to preach and hopefully souls will be saved. Pray that that will be what happens.

*Chief Round Rock explanation: http://dalejenkins.blogspot.com/2007/09/news-from-round-rock-and-other-stuff.html

Your personal tour...

When they finally got to moving ground they really got on it! In the few days they have cut the road and it's neat. They have pretty much completed the retention pond AND are you ready for this??? The pad is done! That means we can put down the foundation (slab, pad) and then put up the building. That's the exciting news. It is looking great out there.


Now for the bad news. We are awaiting approval from the State Fire Marshall on codes. So we could be waiting a while. It could be a week, or a month or two month. The week sounds good and if that might be impossible then we need to pray about it. I mean, hey, if it's easy it would just happen, but sounds like we need some prayer power on this one. God's been good so far on this whole thing. So would you join me in praying that if this if His will it will happen fast instead of slow?


How'd you like a tour? I'll be honored to be your guide as best I can. The comments beside the picture will tell you what (I think) you are seeing.

The paved road is Duplex and the gravel will be the first paved road just after you cross I-65. It's the road I've been calling One Vision Way, of course that's not official or anything, I just think that'd be neat. It will be a two way road with an island in the middle.

Now we've turned onto One Vision Way. You are heading south toward the first building of the Spring Meadows Church of Christ. It will be a functional building but from what I can tell it will be very sharp. We do not intend on building something to be worshipped but a place where we can worship! A place for fellowship and service as well.

Heading on south in the near distance you might be able to make out where the "pad" is being formed.



















See the yellow machine near the center of the picture? Just to the right is the "pad". In fact it is pushing dirt up to build up the where the foundation will be poured. The tractor to it's right in the far distance is spreading what it is pushing up there. I think that little white truck you see is the truck that is supplying water to keep all that's being pushed from just being dirt that blows around. Just behind and to the left of the spreader is the retention pond.












OK this picture is for Braden, Zach, Bo and
others who like the big machines (I'm told at least those three like the dump trucks). See the next picture to see what it is doing.



















This big scoop is taking dirt from a wall on the back side of the development area and putting it in two big dump trucks (one is pictured above). It's a mighty big machine and, frankly, I'd love to play with it :). It is sitting on the Northeast side of where the building will be.


















Now if you look closely through the dust you will see that in the center of the picture is our dump truck. He just came from being filled by the scoop (out of picture to far right) and will dump his load of dirt so the bulldozer can push it as the "pad" is built up and leveled.
















Just a closer look at the scoop!





















Finally three beautiful pictures of the pad in it's completed form. You can see it pretty clearly here. Looking east.


























Hope you enjoyed the tour (and hope I got it all right :)).









We thank God for seeing us this far, all the glory is His.

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA - it's picture time...

We love to sing at Spring Meadows. Imagine our delight when the brothers and sisters from three area congregations in the area accepted our invitation to join us for a Sunday night singing. We were honored by their presence and hope to be able to do it again. It was a wonderful night of unity and, wow, the singing was awesome! What a spirit. Thanks to all who helped make it special. And while pictures will not show the full house well, nor capture the excitement that was in the air, I think you'll enjoy a few pictures.

We plan another blogpost tomorrow with pictures from the property and some exciting news. Want to guess what it is? Post away.

So you like the big toys?

OK...here's some pictures of most of the big machines that were on the Duplex Road property today just for the many of you who I know just love big toys!

Water and Dirt (doesn't that make mud?)

What a place! It's been a great Saturday. This morning we passed out 1008 "designer" waters (bottled waters with the Spring Meadows logo on them) at the Spring Hill Ham Festival. 1008 appreciated positive invitations. Thanks to many who helped to make it possible. We had a lot of good talks and met a lot of friendly people - God only knows the good that may come from these "cups" of cold water given in His name.

Friday and then again Saturday afternoon I took a few pictures of the work on the property. There's a couple of pictures here for those of you who like big tractors and then two additional ones that show the great work that has been accomplished so far. The picture with a part of the road showing is from Duplex Road showing where "our" road (remember: Vision Way) will turn. The retention pond in completed and now they are working on excavation work for the foundation. That's the retention pond in the picture to the right, right here. And the final picture shows the west corner marker looking along what will eventually be the back wall. This work should take about 8-13 good work days. At that point the pad will be placed and then things will really heat up. Please keep this work in your prayers. Pray specifically that 1. This building will lead us to even more receptive souls. 2. That we will continue to get our various "permits" in good time and order and 3. For the positive progress, in His time, on the building.

What they did right...

One of the things that public speaking does is it somewhat forces the speaker to think clearly or at least seriously about things they might not otherwise think about. A few weeks ago it was a high honor to join those who put on the excellent "Polishing the Pulpit" program held this year in Birmingham, Alabama. I was only able to be around for a few hours on the day that I enjoyed speaking a couple of times. One of the sessions I was a part of was a panel of those who have been blessed by Godly parents influence. Among the questions we attempted to answer was: "What did your parents do right?"


Let me give you the six that came to me without hardly thinking:

1. They did the right things right. Mom and dad were not perfect, they were human, but they did the right things right. Right was right and it couldn't be wrong. And we were "expected" to do right!


2. They drilled into us a love and respect for the church Jesus shed His blood for.


3. Mom supported dad's work. I've often said I'm a preacher because of my mom not my dad. While that has various "shades" to it, mom could have destroyed dad's work, instead she always told us, "Your dad is doing the most important work in the world" when he was away.


4. They taught us an unrelenting respect for God's Word. It is God's! It won't leave us along.


5. Dad modeled a tremendous respect for others: regardless of skin color, economic level, educational levels - people deserved respect. It wasn't taught as much as it was modeled. Enemies, those who might attempt us harm...other preachers...


6. They taught us to love the souls of men and women.


I am thankful for my mom (Mamie Inez Frame Jenkins) and my dad (Jerry Austin Jenkins)- but I know your parents did some things right too (I didn't have the only good parents). I'd be interested in seeing your list - I'm sure others would to, so log in a post away!

Why?

I've never claimed to be a scholar and I'm sure in the minds of many I'm nothing more than a simpleton but I can't help that is seems simple.

In the 1860's the church was united. Some came in and introduced some things that caused division (instrumental music, missionary societies, "higher textual criticism"). There is no doubt in any one's mind that the division would not have happened if the items were not introduced.

The group that brought in the things that caused division has continued to drift further and further away from that which resembles the church revealed in the Bible, it has also continued to shrink.

Some today are saying that the ones who stood patiently and waited for those who left to return need to repent and accept the things that caused division in the first place. This is leading to more fracture and division.

Why would we want to go down that road again? I'm told that in order to be seen as serious in the quest for unity I must compromise on the very things that caused division in the past. That just doesn't seem to add up...

Unity can be found by all returning to a church that in practice looks more like the New Testament church not less like it. I do not claim perfection (in fact I'm miles away from it) in my quest but I know that these innovations will not lead me closer to the practices of the New Testament church. So should I compromise the scriptures for unity? Where would that get me?

I'm not looking for a debate here. But in more than one blog my brethren who have determined not to accept these innovations are being labeled as the ones that are causing division. How can that be?

News from "Round Rock" and other stuff...

Hi friends. "Round Rock" here. This morning at Starbucks I was latched onto by a very disturbed man. He just started talking to me. I was trying to blog, to write a lesson, to plan a program and to answer an email from a person asking questions about our children's programs at Spring Meadows. I typed as he rambled. At some point he revealed he was an Indian Chief, that he was royalty too, kin to Lady Diana. He told me that the great spirit had spoken to me and told him to make me an Honorary Tribal Chief and to give me the name "Round Rock" (not to flattering considering that I'd already run my 6 miles this morning). How do I end up in these things? So, let's review, I have an honorary Doctorate, a symbolic key to the city of Hamilton, I'm an honorary African tribal chief and now I'm Round Rock, honorary Indian Chief. And none of these has yet netted me that Saturn Sky or an acre of land :)!

Now that my "ceremony" is over I can write what I intended to tell you about. What an inconceivable day yesterday was at Spring Meadows!!! I suppose only God could have known. Yesterday we christened our new property by having two baptisms on the property the very day we broke ground. Somebody suggested we could build a baptistery and then build a church around it - I doubt he realized the serious truth he stated!

And, yes, we did reach our goal! We had either 306 or 312 in attendance (depends on if you count the expecting women as one or two - who knows there might be some twins?). We had right at 300 for Bible classes and probably a little over 300 at the picnic and groundbreaking (as several came for those festivities that were not there for our services). A day of days. A day for the record book. A day to store up in memory.

I want to thank all of you who came at my invitation - it meant so very, very much to me - to us all. Thank you for sharing in our journey and dreaming with us of what might be.

I'd love to "hear" your "groundbreaking" memories. It was a grand, grand day. To God goes the praise and glory. The best is yet to be - "the future is as bright as the Promises of God."

It's Here

We've waited a year for this and now it is here. On Sunday, September 23, we will have our "official" groundbreaking! It's gonna be a day of days and we want you here. OK for all those dear friends who have been talking about coming to see us or coming back to see us - here's your day. I've suggested a goal of 300 for the day. I need your help to make it happen. So, write it down and be here.

Remember, our worship service begins at 9, Bible classes are at 10 and then we will head out to the property for the groundbreaking. I need you here! Write it down - go ahead - do it now.

Let's make it a day to remember...so, are you coming, how many folks will you bring with you?

How's It Going...

It is rare that a day goes by that I don't have the question asked me several times a day - in person, by phone, via email. How are things going at Spring Meadows. Well, with the glory and praise to God I must say - unbelievable! It is His work and what is happening is solely to His glory.

Attendance wise: Five of the last six Sunday's we have been over 225 and have pushed 250 hard three of those days - we've been having to put chairs out every week lately. Last week we had slightly over 90% of our worship crowd stay for Bible class. We have had four of our members go on foreign mission trips this summer. We recently had nearly 200 on a Sunday night. In the month period between late July and August we had 9 baptisms. A few weeks ago we had over 60 children ages SIX AND YOUNGER! Wow. There is a remarkable spirit of unity, energy and love here.

On the building. As you know we are building on the first phase of the 35 acres on the corner of Duplex Road and I-65. We have our building permit and are beginning to move dirt. It is our hope to start work on the foundation next week or the week after. The building will be a multipurpose facility that could possible eventually be a part of a Christian school. It will seat between 3 and 5 hundred and will have 17 classrooms.

Our five elders are shepherding so very well. They are growing themselves. I often pray that they (and we all) will be bigger than we are - for this work!

But the best stuff is evangelism - it seems to be becoming rather natural here. A young school teacher invites a friend to her church - the friend ends up at the "wrong church" - which turned out to be the right church and ends up bringing her husband, the friend who'd originally invited her to the other church, who bring her husband, she later invites a her hair dresser, who comes and brings her child and her mom, and then brings tells a customer about this "neat church she has found" who comes and brings her husband and three children. Another lady is having a medical procedure and tells one of the nurses about the church and she comes and then brings her two children and now her husband. Another brings a friend from work. Isn't that how it should be? Natural. People in love with the Lord and His church talking to others about it...THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF!

We don't know what will happen in the future - only the Lord knows that and as we like to say around here - "don't limit God." None of us would have ever predicted anything like what has happened so quickly here.

Personally, Melaine and I feel blessed (we always have felt that way), we are loving this new challenge and enjoying it. The Lord willing we will close on our house sale next Tuesday (September 4), the same day our Andrew will be flying out for a semester in Italy. Thank you all for caring and for praying (how could it have gone any way but this way with so many of God's People praying for this work?)

Remember: "The future is as bright as the promises of God!" Amen.

"Mom-isms..."

If my mom was still on this earth she would have turned 70 a few days ago. She is eternally young in my mind: even though she had a lot of health problems she had a young, playful spirit. Mom loved to bowl, play volleyball and softball (she could hit the ball a mile) and had a number of 200 games in bowling. While we tormented her with kidding she loved to play board games or cards. And yes, I miss her.

I'm not sure what prompted it but something I said or thought made me start thinking today about my mom's sayings. She had a bundle of them - just thought I'd share some of "her" (my) favorites:

10. My stars and guitars (not sure to this day what that means).

9. (When we were pretty young and us boys were always fighting, as little boys tend to do): "You sit there and don't move a muscle".

8. Your mama's as broke as a convict (we knew that meant she probably only had a couple of hundred dollar bills hidden somewhere :)).

7. You're mama's little angel...

6. You're killing me...(of course, when we weren't being mama's little angels).

5. "mairzy doats and dozy doats and little lambsy divey A kiddle divey, too. Wouldn't you?" (mom sang a lot - silly songs and spiritual songs - I still don't have a clue what this one means).

4. "I can't watch..." (when Alabama would be playing football and it was really close she'd go in the other room so she couldn't see).

3. "Can't never could..."

2. Moms proud of you.

1. If you will ____ (whatever she needed done at the moment) mom will dance at your wedding.

I know I left out some really good ones - she said so many fun and funny things. What were/are your mom's favorite sayings?

Why?

God is ...
...not a maniacal maniac
...not a colossal killjoy
...not a jerk

The commands/laws/instructions/rules for living that He gives are "For our good…" (Deut. 10:12-14; 12:28).

When God says not to lie there is perhaps more to it than just that He IS Truth. There is the fact that lying hurts both the one lying and the one being lied to. It is a stressful way to try to live life not telling the truth.

When God says not to steal it is not just that it damages His plans for how man should "get" it is that stealing harms every person involved. When someone takes what you have it discourages you, it can be frightening, it makes it where you can't "give" as much and it leaves the potential to sour you. It causes the one stealing to be disabled from their own productivity and leads them to misunderstand respect for others.

When God says not to commit adultery, it is more than just that He wants one man to be married to one woman, it's the pain it brings into so many lives. The quick and easy divorce hasn't brought happiness into the American life. The free love of the 60's has not minimized the pain of unfaithfulness. Both have complicated every aspect of life.

Bottom line...when it comes to how to live...God knows what He's talking about!

"and His commands are not grievous..." (1 John 5:3).

How about you?

Melanie was talking to a rather depressed friend the other day. This is a family that attends church every Sunday (not with us, so don't try guessing). The lady said that she was recently talking to her husband and said "our children have never seen us involved in church service..." What a sad statement. I seriously doubt those children will develop a strong faith as a result of their parents and pray that they will have positive influences on their spiritual lives.

I wonder about you and your family. Is yours like the one above or this one?

"Would you do me a favor, friends, and give special recognition to the family of Stephanas? You know, they were among the first converts in Greece, and they've put themselves out, serving Christians ever since then. I want you to honor and look up to people like that: companions and workers who show us how to do it, giving us something to aspire to" (1 Corinthians 16:15-16 The Message).

I know you may not be able to change your whole family, but you can set the example of one who "puts yourself out, serving Christians." God made us where there is something that every individual can do in His Service.

God bless you in that effort - it's a rewarding way to live!

A moose hunt?

I’m not exactly sure where or how to start this post – but it has been brewing for I’d say 25 years – so nobody take it too personally. I don’t react strongly to a lot of things (people purposely excluding others, anyone talking bad about my Lord’s church), but I have an instant “knee-jerk reflex” to negative anonymous letters (and now posts). It goes back a long way but the posts of the last several days have precipitated this specific post.

I appreciate all the comments. As I said, I was not happy about the decision to no longer allow people to post without going to the trouble of signing in. Some have given me fodder to mull over in my little brain: Especially opposing views. There were some very sensible comments some I agree with and some I don’t. But since the posters were anonymous I can’t respond to them personally to clarify prior to my response and I since I don’t know them I have no history from which to evaluate their intent, thereby setting the tone of my response.

One poster friend said: “I don't see what the problem with someone wanting to remain anonymous would be...what's the big deal?” Good question:

Every church I’ve ever worked with has had a sniper anonymous letter writer who sadistically and systematically did harm to the progress of the church. I meet with hundreds of preachers and church leaders every year. One “circle” group I meet with has had no subject over the last 10 years that has come up as often as the subject of anonymous letters. I’ve seen guys quit, I’ve seen grown, mature men cry, I’ve seen Satan work through negative anonymous letters. I know of NOTHING more “de-sailing”! Those who choose to work this way make themselves tools of the devil – I’m sure often unintentionally, but they are verbal terrorist blowing the heart out of others. I do not and I will not read anonymous letters. They present problems and offer no opportunity to solve them. I’ve NEVER read one that was accurate. In our culture unsigned letters speak of notes from terrorist (like the Unabomber) or kidnappers. I can’t communicate how hurtful such behavior is more clearly. Even as a result of one of the anonymous posts yesterday I had a call from a discouraged saint who was at the point of tears.

One of the many problems is it forces the reader judge and jump to opinions: See I have a sneaking suspicion that moose is an unhappy person who wants others to share in their misery – but I don’t know for all I know is what they wrote…Of the sort that they think they MUST find something wrong – something bad – something to worry about and they won’t be happy till everyone else is as miserable than they are. Now, none of that may be true but I can’t know as long as he/she hides. I wonder as I think about them: What do you have to fear? Do you not believe your statements enough to stand behind them? Is it not truth? And then I consider these questions: What if it is someone just wanting to cause dissention? What if it is the same person? The two posters could be one with different sign in names. I have an uncle who used to do that in chat rooms – show up as two people and ask himself the questions he thought should be asked and then answer them himself. What if the poster is just lying?

Now I want to address a few things in the comments section said by Any Nonny Moose and lightweight. I’d rather not address them openly but they by remaining anonymous give me no other forum through which to address them.

“what was posted was not harmful to SM in any way” I disagree. I think that which paints the Body of Christ in a bad light is harmful. See, the fact is, all we have to do is to start polluting the water for the spirit of this place to be besmirched.

“it showed an opposing view to the "everythings perfect" attitude that is in many of the comments on this blog.” Folks, I admit problems – yes I do (and we have some) – but I choose to see the very best-I love the church! Some refuse to see good happening – they find the cloud in every silver lining, they focus on the thorn and ignore the rose. Can we do and be better. Was what the original poster said of any merit – it was. And I have addressed it. And will further – but to get on and say things that may or may not be accurate serves no purpose. What did you hope to accomplish – “wowho…I convinced someone that not everything is perfect about the church. I slapped some sense of reality and discouragement into their silly little happy heads!” Well…good for you – aren’t you something? I know that sounds harsh…sorry. It’s how it strikes me and since I don’t know who you are I can’t check out what your intent was.

“that is the truth. it was not directly harmful or mean to Dale. in fact, he was not even mentioned” I do believe this is wrong. The original poster actually accused me of belittling or making fun of a person in front of the whole church on a Sunday (that is not the exact words but that’s how it came across to me and I can’t check it out). The fact is I did make a joke in the direction of that person – the two of us kid all the time – like I do with Tom on the length of his prayers and Kenny on being cheap and Eric on leading every song in the book every Sunday – and none of these guys take it wrong. In fact they hit back. It’s good natured bantering. You see – there is a degree of truth in each of them - the point of the barb is I love them anyway – in fact enough to totally overlook it. My friend Jerrie Barber says there is two ways to know if your “joke” has been offensive – 1. Are they laughing and 2. Check it out with them. So just to be sure, I did. . I wrote the guy that I was supposedly rude to and he said I have not been and that he too enjoys the kidding back and forth. If you could see the e-mail barbs we’ve sent to each other the last year you’d know. I love him and he loves me! Again, I don’t like being cast in a bad light (who does) but that was not the issue. I thought the post made THE LORD’S CHURCH look bad. I won’t knowingly allow that on this blog!

“Yo should check your comments guys, you defend something you have not idea about.” That’s mighty bold of you “moose” anonymously attacking people who are willing to sign their names. Also, what’s bad about coming to someone’s aid who you love. Why wouldn’t you? And further I don’t know that anyone (other than me) condemned the poster. How could we – we don’t know who it is!!!!!

“be careful about name calling” I would agree.

“I would ask Dale allow anonymous comments and deeal with the conversations as they come. if someone say something offensive, remove it. but don't remove comments just because they disagree with you.” I’m leaning this way. Of course it would be subjective. And I have not removed comments, ever, just because they disagreed with me. In fact I’ve only removed two comments of the 500 or so that have been made over the last year.

“one last statement about anymous comments and that is that when you dont allow them, you really only allow for people who will only speak about you in a positive way and agree with you. you can call them what you want but they are seen as sycophants.” This is a very fatalistic way to view life. You perhaps (but I don’t know you) reveal something about yourself. What you are saying in essence is that every statement not made anonymously is a lie.- what a miserable way to view life. I think unsigned comments lend themselves much more readily to lies. And I think it could be that by that very statement you are saying revealing that when you talk to someone face to face or in letter (when you sign your name) you are always telling lies.

Now to lightweight:
I think your comments are excellent. I mean that. I even agree with you. I’ve seen people who should be mature mistreat fellow Christians and it sickens me too. But by not signing your name I feel you harm your credibility for many of the reasons stated above. I also would rather you go to the people involved and at least try (I know it’s difficult and rarely successful) to help them grow and let them know they have hurt others. Thanks for your obvious tender heart in your approach but I do think you’d be more successful if you just tired the Matthew manner.

Now for a few other general comments in this now way to long epistle:

I would think that anything that could in any way be viewed as negative toward another or that if spoken plainly would hurt someone’s feelings is inappropriate. I suspicion most who post anonymous would too – else they’d sign their name. The text says we are to only speak that which is useful.

Knowing who it is helps me to know how to respond – I talk differently to my dad than my sons. I talk differently to a new Christian than one who should be mature (Hebrews 5).

I’d rather talk to you one on one than in a public forum on matters that could lead to negative contention. In other words if you have a problem with me come to me. I am not shocked when someone disagrees with me and I am often in the wrong. In fact if you listen to me preach for three or four years and never disagree I have to wonder a little.

When posting what I say can be misunderstood and what others comment may be as well. When you sign your name it gives the chance to clarify and/or correct. To deal with it. Anonymously you can twist what I say all out of context and I don’t know if you are just being mean or if we are just misunderstanding each other.

Wow this got long – I hope what I’ve said has been said in love – I’ve tried to make it that way. I know I was a little tough on moose – sorry. What I said I said not to start a fight but to make all consider what is said.

You can now reply and be as ugly as you want to be cause I don’t know who is saying it!

Remember this is "The Blog That Binds" it is not designed to bring people down but to lift them up. There's plenty in life to bring us down without Christians contributing to it.

Oh yes, one other thing. If I know who you are, regardless of your comments I will try to love you!

And let me do emphasize one last thing again: I will not allow my blog to run down my family or my Family!

Hmmmm....????

I made a decision tonight -it is not one that I am happy at all about but it is one I feel called upon to enact. Since I began blogging I have allowed Open Comments. At times there have been comments I have disagreed with and that is fine. There were two that were very harsh toward me directly -and while they hurt (sorry my skin still isn't that thick) I allowed them without comment. But today someone posted some thing that I believe were not necessary, that I do not believe to be totally true and that cast (in my opinion) the church in a bad light. And I don't take lightly to people criticizing the Lord's Bride or my Family whom I love.

The problem is that it is anonymous and that I do not know who or how to contact the person who said those things. I would like a chance to interact with them (and still would - they know my contact info -I don't know theirs). I like for anyone to be able to post but I see no way to respond when someone won't post their name and own up to their comments. See, one could say anything, claim anything, stretch truth or outright lie under the anonymity of the Internet.

I just don't believe there is good that comes from anonymous letters or postings. It leaves you wondering, it makes everyone a suspect and they usually hurt. I like the way a dear friend puts it - "I don't read anonymous letters unless they have money in them." To say it very frankly - they dishearten, discourage and take the wind out of my sails! They leave me with a sick feeling in my stomach for days and I become preoccupied with how to "fix" whatever it is but feel useless in trying to do so.

So, while I hate to do it, for now I'll go to where you have to log in to post - but any and all can still e-mail me. I know it takes a moment, but please register - and post - it's free and I want to hear from people who read these blogs.

I love open talk, even if it is sometimes critical - I've learned some of my most valued lessons from open criticism I do think people need to own up to their comments. So let me ask: Should I allow anonymous comments and leave them all? Should I delete the ones I think are inappropriate? Or should I just not allow them at all? TAKE THE POLL NEXT DOOR...

New blogsite launched today...here's the first post...

(This new blog will live at http://how-why.today.com/ or http://dalejenkins3.blogspot.com/):

I know - some of you are why’ers, some how’ers and some just what’ers.. So? Are you a "what" person, a "why" person? or maybe just a "how" person. This blog spot will be for "why, how and what " people. (I know you think I've lost it so I better 'plain myself).
A lot of folks don't want to know "why" something is as it is they just want to know what. “What” people: You don’t really care why, “Just tell me what must be done and I'll do it." That's my Melanie. I'm more of a "why" guy. Some of you, like me, delve deeply into the “why” question - you want to know, almost must know “why” before you will invest time or talent, much less treasure into an activity. ("Why'd you do it that way? Why do you want to do this? Why don't you do it this way? etc.). And then there are the "how" folks - "How'd you do that?" You want to be told plainly how it’s all done. Well, this is a blog for all of you, the How'ers, Who'ers and Why'ers, this is your source. As God continues to bless the Spring Meadows Church of Christ I get a lot of questions. We'll try to answer those here. Why are you doing this and why this way? How'd you do that? What all are you up to and what's next?
As most who would be reading this site know we (Melanie and I) began working with the infant Spring Meadows church about a year ago. It’s been a wild ride. We have been so blessed and the work has gone so well. I thank all of you for your prayers.
Some of you want to know why: why did a new congregation start in Spring Hill? Why did you decide to leave Granny White and go to a place where the auditorium was smaller than most of the classrooms at GW? Why are you all doing what you are doing how you are doing it? Why do you all do a mid-week prayer service?
Others want to know how: how’d you all outgrow two buildings and are struggling to get into your third? how do you do your Bible classes? how are things different there?
One of our cornerstones at Spring Meadows is that we strive to be totally open. So we'll try to practice that on this blog too. That means we’ll answer any question and that we’ll share any method. God has been good to us and that is why the work has prospered. All glory and credit go to Him alone. This is a practical site in which we will give some of the logistics, thought process behind and methods that have been incorporated at the Spring Meadows Church of Christ. Yes, I'll entertain questions on this spot. Just post them or e-mail me privately (dale@smcoc.net) and I'll give it my most honest and best shot.
I'll walk you through various processes - what’s, how's and why's of them - what we learned and what we might do differently if we had a chance to do it again. And you can post your ideas, thoughts or how you might suggest it all could be improved on.
One of the first meetings I was in at Spring Meadows one of the men spoke up on a matter and said: "people are watching what we are doing." And we've found they are - most have been very, very gracious. We know of at least one other congregation that is trying to get a jump start that has contacted us on a number of matters when it comes to starting a new congregation.
With as much humility as we can muster we say God has really watched over, had His hand on, BLESSED the Spring Meadows church. I suppose with all the "righteous" people who have continually let us know that they are praying for us all the time, it's not surprising. We'd have to work hard to mess up all those prayers. We are humbled and thankful. Please keep 'em coming.
Ask anything. Make your own suggestions. Share it with others. Welcome to Straight from the Spring - the Spring Meadows Story.

Why Do You Wait?

"Why do you wait dear brother, oh why do you tarry so long. The Savior is waiting to give you, a place in His sanctified home..." Remember that strong old song?

I'm sure it's not a new question, in fact I've heard it for years myself, but it came up again recently. When a person decides they want to be baptized shouldn't they do it immediately?

I remember years ago when I'd direct camp invariably we'd have at least one child who would come to camp knowing that they were going to be baptized there. They'd decided a month or two earlier and wanted to be baptized at camp. On the other hand we'd have a child who would want to be baptized at camp and when we'd call their parents (a wise practice that we learned to do from someone who is wiser than I), and the parent would encourage the child to wait until they got home or later in the week when they could get there.

I'm told that used to people would wait in much the same way until a Gospel Meeting. Which in a rather ironic way would explain why Gospel Meeting in many places are not as effective as they were at one time. Camps have become the modern Gospel Meetings.

BUT: In the Bible it seems that baptism always came immediately upon the acceptance of Jesus as God's Son, or the recognition of sin in one's life. In Acts 2 it was both - they realized that "this same Jesus" was God's Son and that they had with "wicked hands...crucified and slain" Him. In Acts 16 the jail keeper was baptized "the same hour of the night". In Acts 8 the nobleman from Ethiopia was immersed, it appears, as soon as he saw water, after having Christ preached to him.

BUT: Believing what I believe (and I imagine most who follow this blog) about baptism and the significant step that it is - that is believing what the scriptures teach (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21; etc) - we've said it is the most important decision we make in life. And that day is the most important day of the person being baptized life. So would you missed the most important day of your child's life? And that question might raise a couple of more: Is a child ready to make such a decision - we don't send 10 year old's out into the world with cars, guns or wedding licenses. LaGard railed on this "green house" effect in "Radical Restoration". While LaGard made some very valid points, how do you sit a child in services of the church for week after week and have them hear lesson after lesson of how important baptism is from people holding the Word of God and telling you this is what God wants for your life and that without it a person will be lost and expect them not to want to be baptized. By the time I was 10 years old I'd heard the plan of salvation from the pulpit at services roughly 2000 times. The "age of accountability" - well, that's another blog for another day - one friend jokingly says that if the child's feet can't touch the bottom of the baptistery then they're too young! There's a lot you can do to help assure your child is prepared when they are ready to become a Christian (including my favorite of having them write a paper about why they want to be baptized - saving that paper for them to read later if the question should come up if they were ready), but the bottom line might be that when they are ready there isn't much you could do to keep them from it or convincing them to wait!

Another issue might be the "helicopter parents" of today. There are parents who think that their child will be warped if they (the parents) miss any event of their child's life! I sometimes wonder if that is more warping than the other. Trust me parents, be there if you can...but if you miss one T-ball game or social your child can still eventually function as an adult!!

The other question: Is that really the most important day? In a sense, yes. But isn't that mentality the same that leads people to think that if they've been put under the water they are fine and no need to really continue to grow? Wouldn't it perhaps be more important to teach that every day after that day becomes increasingly more significant. It is our attempt at faithful living for and faithful loving of God coupled with His grace that is required?

So would you wait? Would you be upset if your child didn't wait for a time you could be there (I heard of one parent who demanded the preacher baptize her little boy a second time because she wasn't there)? I've got a lot more thoughts on all of this but I'd like to hear yours...

DON'T WASTE BLOOD...

Sunday while partaking of the Lord's Supper something struck me. The reading was on Jesus blood being shed for us. I had a very small cut on my thumb last week and it bled...maybe a drop or three. I don't like giving my blood. Even a couple of drops.

I give blood but it better be for a good cause and it better not be wasted. Wish I'd kept up with how many times I've donated blood. How many pints/gallons I've given. I'm not a needle guy and once I fainted getting up too quickly from the "bloodletting" but I've continued to donate. And I certainly like the feeling that it gives me when I've given. But I don't want it wasted.

As Americans we are conditioned to believe that in a disaster we need to give blood. Truth is that is the time we probably need to least give blood. Only 5% of eligible donors give blood but in time of disaster there is such a "glut" so to speak that we can't even handle all the blood given. Blood has a "shelf life" of about 42 days. When 9/11 occurred literally 10's of thousands of gallons of blood could never be used - estimates are as high as 300,000 units that had to be discarded.

The Department of Health and Human Services actually wrote a statement asked that Americans stop giving and come back in 3 or 4 months. Because of the politics involved that statement was never released. When it came to light that blood had been wasted many Americans were outraged so much so that a slump in donations followed from which blood donor organizations are still reeling.

I don't waste my blood. But of much more value is the blood of Christ. One who turns on His sacrifice (Acts 20:28) and counts His blood as insignificant is in serious danger (please read Hebrews 10:26-31). When you forsake the services of the church, when you do not use the gifts he has given you for His work, when you speak evil of His church and His people...you are throwing away the blood of Christ. When you commune with Him and His Family you are a partaker of His blood which in turn flows through you.

Don't waste blood - especially His.

READ THIS BEFORE YOU VOTE!!!

The voting is over - I don't know who, if anyone, stuffed the ballots but we had 316 total votes. That's not too shabby. I never anticipated as many entries as we had and while one of the proposed titles clearly came out on top there were several that got a lot of votes. So here's what's next. This week I will post the top six vote getter's (six because that is how many got 10 votes or more). You will be able to vote one time and only one time. I want your comments. I want to hear WHY you think the name your propose would be the best. I'd recommend you read the comments before you vote. Find out who is saying what about their favorite name. Your choices are:



1. THE VISION or VISION 20:20 - Between these two names there were 119 votes. The obvious field favorite. VISION is part of our "tag" line "Spring Meadows Church of Christ - A Place of Vision" and if we went with the 20:20 part it could denote Acts 20:20 - "Daily and from house to house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."



2. FIELDS OF GOLD: I'm not sure who nominated this one but it has gotten a very large number of votes (62). Meadows - Fields of Gold. I see the connection.



3. The Millennium Falcon - I know who suggested this one - I don't think they were serious and it is possible THEY PERSONALLY voted for it 51 times. Not sure what the connection would be - but if it wins it...no.



4. OUR CHURCH BULLETIN: Plain, simple....not exactly what we are known for, but it was a top five vote getter.



5. SPRINGBOARD: This one came from outside the our congregation but I like the concept. Our bulletin as something to "Spring" us forward.



6. PIZZA ANYONE: I also know who nominated this one. Pretty unique. It would keep folks on their heels and people might read it just out of curiosity. It comes from a sermon I preached early on here I titled "What do you want on your pizza?" Again, if it won it would be like us to come up with something that "out of the box".

There were other suggestions including: NO LIMITS! or LIMITLESS (I liked that one a lot too - a write in campaign for it could sway us. It is again another of those Spring Meadows sayings that has taken root). Spring Meadows Minutes and Foresight were also suggested.



OK, we really need to hear your voice on this one. Let us know what you think. We will be open for the next week on this one.