SSB Sunday Gathering

SSB Gathering – September 20, 2015

Kathi

Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.

 by Kathi

larches

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Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fail;

God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see the works of the Lord,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,

he burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

***


***

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you from the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.

***
Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?

***

photo credit: Brian – sunrise on the larches – Washington

50 thoughts on “SSB Gathering – September 20, 2015”

  1. Thank you, Kathi. I am not at all sure that I will make it to corporate worship this morning. The last few days have been MS and other symptoms all over the map. I can’t drive when I get like this. I wouldn’t do that to the other people on the road. Today I woke up to an all over my head headache. So if y’all would pray for me I would appreciate it. Lord willing, I really need to go back to work tomorrow.

    Julie Anne, I hope that your gathering in Moscow was successful and God was in your midst. I would have loved to be there, but that is quite a hike from Michigan.

    Last week in our not-so-small group at church discussion for now is on our present culture and how we as a church are going to handle situations that we know will arise at some point. During that discussion 1 Thes. 4:11 was brought up. The portion “to mind your own business and work with your hands” was what was elaborated on. The majority went with this to mean that we should only be concerned with what is going on within our own local body. In my head, I was seeing the 3 monkeys: hear, speak and see no evil. When the church is using books written by Matt Chandler, Sproul Jr and Nancy DeMoss, I believe there should be great concern. This local body may be doing a lot of things right, but letting these folks in the door will lead to trouble. Even if the books were completely Biblical, folks are going to be ok with reading other books written by them that aren’t. I question the use of any of them and strongly challenge that any authors should be checked out as thoroughly as possible before using their literature. That fell on deaf ears while there heads are in the sand.

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  2. My prayers are with you today, Brenda. May the pain in your head and neck subside as well as pain throughout your body that is hard to define. May you be able to relax and rest within.

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  3. Praying for your physical needs, Brenda and also how you can handle the spiritual condition of the church. It’s so discouraging when others ‘just do not desire’ to even consider our concerns when we warn them of questionable authors, etc.
    I’ve had to walk away and rely on the internet for teaching/preaching but continue to seek God as to a corporate setting. This is why house churches are often started; in fact, when first saved that’s exactly where much of my Christian growth occurred; a little band of believers desiring to really understand The Word by spending my more time together “in the Word”. And thankfully, one woman was musically gifted in order to complete song worship time. Alas, sin(s) crept in. Obviously the Lord could not tolerate this and the group disbanded.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Today is college move in day for my oldest. My husband is gone on a planned trip since last year so it’s me and my son moving my daughter. I’ve been crying off and on for two days now. I know it’s all good and I’m so excited for her, it’s a change for all of us. She’s nervous, but I know this will be good for her.

    The moment we’ve waited for….raising children to be good adults and off she goes. Deep down I feel like I need to call my parents and apologize to them. My daughter will only be an hour and a half away. When I left for college I got on a plane and flew thousands of miles away.

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  6. Kathi, praying for you. Yes, phone your parents. The Lord will bless your intimate honesty with them.
    Years ago, after the Lord had saved me and the little ones were entering into my life along with an emotionally abusive marriage; I apologized to my mother for various issues from the past. She seemed almost embarrassed and blushed as I calmly but forthrightly explained that “she had deserved better”. This was the start of a healing in our relationship that the enemy had attempted to destroy.
    Even when there is a fairly healthy parent/child relationship; conversations including apologies can only help to strengthen the bond of love which will surely affect the generations to come.

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  7. Thank you all for your prayers.

    Kathi, It is hard letting our children go. All of mine are gone now and I so wish one lived in the area. Praise the Lord for all of the technology at our disposal. Praying for you, knowing that you raised her right and now she has to learn to fly on her own.

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  8. Hi Folks, Some more Black Gospel to share with you!

    Some of Dr. Margaret Douroux’s songs being sung at the Gospel Legends. She is the daughter of a pastor, a prolific Gospel songwriter, and a California educational psychologist. The late Billy Preston is playing the organ. Jennifer Holliday, the singer/Tony-award winning actress from “Dream Girls”, sings “If It Had Not Been” (based on Psalm 124) – the third song. That woman has a powerful voice!
    Psalm 124King James Version (KJV)
    124 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
    2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
    3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
    4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
    5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
    6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
    7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
    8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

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  9. Oh, Kathi, I hear you. It is difficult and was emotional for me, too. My relationship with daughter #2 improved after she went to college. It’s new and different, and I think it will be the same for you. You’ve got to do Snapchat, Instagram, and/or Twitter. College kids don’t seem to like FB anymore. (How do you think I learned how to do silly selfies like the one I posted publicly on Twitter from Moscow, ID)? It’s fun! hugs to you. You know my #.

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  11. Hi Brenda R.,

    I am sorry you woke up with a headache. I am praying for you.

    Some other time, when you are feeling better, could you let me know more about Nancy Leigh DeMoss. My former authoritarian church also used her books as well. I found lots of problems with her teachings and stance. I would like to hear more about your thoughts on the Off-Topic Discussion Board when you are up to it.

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  12. Hi Kathi,

    Hugs to you as your daughter starts college and you have a hole in your home and heart from her absence.

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  14. Thanks all for the thoughts and prayers!

    The day went well. We got there early, moved the tiny room around and got her set up (then started making a list of all she forgot!). At this point, my only worry for her is her roommate. I’m hoping it will be at least a tolerable arrangement. When I told her we needed to head out she said, “But you could stay, right?” No, dear. It’s time to spread your wings.

    So, yes, Julie Anne, I will need to get on Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram. I guess it took my daughter leaving home for me to get up to speed on social media. Do I need to think of a clever name?

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  15. Thank you, Kathi, so much for putting together today’s Sunday Gathering when you were helping your daughter get settled at her new college.

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  19. Doin’ chores and listening to Jazz: Lizz Wright singing at the Newport Jazz Festival.
    Thought others might enjoy it too.

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  21. Velour, You get my vote for Disc Jockey!!

    Thank you all for your prayers. I did manage to get into work even though I fell and scraped up my knee on my morning walk. My 84 year old walking partner got me up off of the ground. He may be 84, but in great shape. It could be worse though. I’ve fallen and hit the top of my head twice in the past couple of years.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Brenda, I wouldn’t have noticed it if I wasn’t searching for something! I found what I needed & noticed that it happened the week before. I love it! I wish it was June, but would love another August do-over. As you know it gets really cold & snowy here in MI. ( :

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  30. Velour,

    Thanks, I shouldn’t complain too much. My youngest daughter lives in LA. Last winter we spent 2 months there, it was gorgeous, we are headed back again in Jan. Brenda, we are having a beautiful September though. ( :

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  31. Velour,
    I’m going to spend much of November in FL at my daughter’s house. I should get home in time for the snow and wind to begin. I thank you for the sunshine and warm breezes. I will think of that as I dig my car out. lol

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  32. Glad you ladies (Brenda and Gail) are getting some fun in the sun somewhere!
    I’m a native Californian. When the temperature drops below 68 degrees, I put on a sweater!

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  33. Oh my gosh did I seriously put August as the date of this post?! All I can say is that my mind was obviously thinking about a lot when I put this together. Shesh!

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  35. HI Julie Anne,,

    Long time since I posted anything,, been very busy in Alaska during the Summer,, but I wanted to comment on JD Hall,, as I notice by appearance at times he shows of being corgial in the way he communicates to you,,,

    I think he still has some serious issues that he wants to hang onto,, it seems that 90% of his gripes are targeted at non-Reformed theologians..

    I haven’t seen him give the Hyper-Reformed Westboro gang the kind of attention he has to the likes of non-Calvinist Peter Lumpkins,,

    If JD has repented with his pathetic behavior with Ergun Caner he certainly didn’t show any signs of it before the Summer,,, as you can see he was targeting Peter Lumpkins for the tragic downfall of the University Caner was President, as you recall Caner resigned shortly after his son passed away,,

    Of course we know JD Hall was relentless in doing anything he could to humiliate Caner and debating his young son provided him another way to move in for the kill

    Below is a copy and paste, of a Google Headline I discovered just now,,when I was looking up SBC Tomorrow.. from JD’s pulpitandpen site,, written long after JD’s supposed repentance,,

    “Lumpkins Leaves Brewton-Parker in Ruins He Helped Create
    pulpitandpen.org/…/lumpkins-leaves-brewton-parker-in-ruins-he-helped…
    May 15, 2015 – According to his Facebook page, Peter Lumpkins is moving along from Brewton Parker College to “First Baptist Lavaca” where his son-in-law “…

    It appears JD has conveniently denied any roll in his part of Caner resigning, ignoring his relentless approach of bringing Caner down and his bad judgements in how he communicated with Caner’s son… If anything Lumpkins was trying to help Caner navigate through the turmoil JD Hall was exacerbating,,

    In my view, JD didn’t share his burden’s with the HOLY Spirit and his main motivation is strictly targeting non-Reformed Theologians,,

    The only way I can be convinced that JD repents is end that rag PulpitandPen and stop being in all social media sites..

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  36. @Mark,

    I appreciated your post about JD Hall. Very informative. Spot on. JD Hall needs to repent of all of his hateful words. He sees nothing wrong with his lack of love for others. We are supposed to be conformed to Christ’s behavior, not buff and shine our own flesh.

    I come back to that old saying, about Piper, Driscoll, JD Hall, and countless others: “There is no fool like an old fool.” Proverbs is replete with warnings about fools. It’s a shame when people don’t mature, are actually aging and show zero maturity for their years, and bring a reproach upon themselves and the cause of Christ.

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  37. My daughter who lost her baby at 23 weeks in April went into the hospital yesterday afternoon. Her cervix is shortened from her last ultrasound 2 weeks ago, which is setting her up for a miscarriage. Please pray that the docs will do something to prevent this from happening and give them wisdom to do so. I am afraid this will be her final attempt at having the child they so desperately want. Financially, adoption is not an option for Joy and Mike.

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  38. Brenda, It’s difficult to find words to express how agonizing this trial must be.
    “Dear Lord, Please bring peace and understanding into this family’s life. Help them to trust You. Guide the doctors. You have gifted them come alongside those whose spirits are aching.”
    Hugs to you Brenda as you cry out to the Lord.

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  40. Hi Brenda,

    I am praying for Joy & Mike, you, the doctors, and your extended family over the loss of this baby. Also, your family should do research for “adoption funds” as such funds do exist to help couples adopt children and are set up to help churches and their members.

    Love, hugs, and prayers,

    Velour

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  42. Good News,
    Joy had a procedure to close her cervix without any issues. She and the baby are doing well and can go home sometime tonight. If all goes well, the pregnancy will be able to go to term. She will begin injections that will help prevent premature labor, also in 2 weeks and through to 36 weeks. The stitches will be removed and the injections stopped at that point. They say she should go into labor 12 days after that. The Lord has answered prayer and we will continue to pray for a successful pregnancy.

    Liked by 2 people

  50. Welcome Brenda R. for the tunes! A shout-out to Joy and Mike: We’re all praying for you folks.

    < [sign of the fish]

    Velour in California

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