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?