Not a Camouflaged Soul

Author: Jon Wellman

  • Not a Plus-1 Family

    Tony is eight going on nine. He has been out of town for almost three weeks.

    Specifically, he is with his dad.

    I’m his stepdad. I’ve never written about it, but I got to thinking about him while I was mowing the lawn (I get a lot of thinking done out there).

    I also don’t talk about it much because I really don’t think of him as my stepson. It’s not a thought that pops in my head much.

    I’ve known him practically all his life. I met his mama when Tony was two. He gave Jamy away at our wedding.

    I know my role. Families like ours are becoming the norm. His dad and my wife were never married, and his dad is still in his life.

    We have really missed him these past weeks. It really isn’t the same around here without him. He keeps us on our toes.

    See you Monday, Bubby. I love you!

  • Sunday In Review 080110

    A few thoughts about worship today…

    1. One person saved, one public profession of faith, four baptized, four joined the church, other decisions… what a blessing!

    2. The music today was really uplifting. The Spirit moved. Special thanks to the Celebration Choir and Orchestra for a wonderful job. Speaking of the choir…

    3. Today was the choir’s first Sunday back from summer hiatus. They sounded wonderful! So glad we are back in full swing. Christmas music has been handed out and prep has already begun.

    4. Pastor Bryan preached a wonderful message in the sermon series, “Crucified with Christ.” He spoke about what it means to have Christ living within us. A powerful word.

    5. Great attendance today. MANY visitors, as well as some of our own back from vacations.

    6. Youth worship was great this evening. The praise band played Monster by Skillet (I got to play bass, which was a lot of fun), and one of our college students gave his testimony and talked about his desire to serve our community.

    Another brief thought…

    Perry Noble said something that got me thinking earlier this week. He tweeted the following…

    If you are not excited about your church service this Sunday then satan probably is!

    We NEED to be excited about what will happen at church! To lack excitement is to belittle God’s potential to impact our lives, and THAT is a mistake. Something to think about.

  • Seinfeld and Cherry-picking

    Pastor Johnny Hunt of First Baptist Church Woodstock often says that he rarely has an original thought. I’m the same way. Thus…

    Jonathan Acuff posted the following video on Stuff Christians Like…

    You know what that video is missing? Laugh track? Yes. Continuity? Sure.

    Context.

    In context, every single one of those scenes is hilarious (have I mentioned that I am a HUGE Seinfeld fan?). But take bits and pieces out of several episodes and the humor is masked.

    Christians and non-Christians alike try to do the same thing with Scripture. Non-Christians use verses out of context to add to God-breathed doctrine or to take away from the Bible’s meaning. Christians will “cherry-pick” verses to justify their own behavior or condemn someone elses.

    We’ve all heard examples of both situations, haven’t we?

    Judge not, so you won’t be judged.

    People use this to castigate anyone who ever forms a negative opinion about someones sin.

    God is love, so He wouldn’t send people to hell.

    God IS love, which is why He sent His Son to die so that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

    God won’t give me more than I can deal with.

    Actually, the verse says you won’t be TEMPTED beyond what you can ESCAPE. God FREQUENTLY stretches us spiritually.

    Understanding scripture is vital. We have to know what the Bible actually says so we can be prepared to put it into practice when the time comes.