Additional note on Epiphany Feb 18
18
Feb
Building Community– When My wife and I first moved into a trailer park, trailers were still small and very mobile. Few people got to know their neighbors because they were basically bedroom communities where people slept, but they worked and shopped elsewhere. Similar conditions existed in many of the cheaper apartment complexes. In addition, people were very mobile. It was easy to hook up a trailer and move it somewhere else, or move out of an apartment, so your neighbors didn’t stay very long. Many of the families had problems with alcoholism and drug abuse, spouse and child abuse, and crime. Very few had any church connection. I began visiting the families there and in nearby apartments to minister to any needs and start Bible studies for those who were interested. Most of those who lived in houses in stable neighborhoods owned their homes and knew many of their neighbors. Stable neighborhoods were much safer. People did not move frequently and home ownership was preferred over renting. Trailers and apartments were for the people who were mobile or those not able to afford to purchase. Since then, people have become very mobile and that includes many who own their own homes. It is not unusual for someone to sell a house and purchase a new one in their new location when they move to another area. In addition, there has been a big shift from owning to renting. In many places, more people live in trailers, apartments, and rental homes than in homes that they own. People are far less likely to live long-term in the same place. As a result, the people are far less likely to get to know each other so the same problems that prevailed in trailer parks and apartment buildings, have moved into more settled communities. In addition, businesses have moved away from residential areas so even stable neighborhoods have become bedroom communities. Christian families can become a catalyst for restoring a sense of community in their neighborhoods as they get to know their neighbors and help them get to know each other.
Social Media-B-A-B
17
Feb
It helps if churches put their worship times on their website as well as their address and location so those who wish to visit will know where and when they are. My wife and I travel on weekends sometimes and seek out a church near the motel to attend on Sunday but without an address and directions, we don’t know where they are or how to get to them. In addition, I often receive invitations to conferences and special speakers and programs from the vast network of churches I work with. I usually go to the church’s website or Facebook page to learn more about the event to see if I want to attend. Without an address, I don’t know if an invitation from a church comes from a church in Bowling Green, Oh, Orlando, Florida, or somewhere in Texas. The first I might attend, the others probably not unless it’s a really good event. It does little good to promote a program without informing people of where it will be.
Social Media-B-A-A
17
Feb
Facebook pages and websites are a good way to keep your members informed about activities at the church and let visitors know about your church. If so, be sure to keep it up to date. Nothing is more frustrating than to go to a church website and see it advertising an event that took place 2-4 years ago with no information about current events. One wonders if the church doesn’t do anything or just forgets to post its activities. It costs nothing to post an upcoming event on Facebook where members can check to see what is happening, saving a great deal on postage. But, be sure to offer the option of getting a mailing for those who don’t have access to a computer.
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11
Feb
Immigration is a big topic today. Many people differ on how many immigrants we allow in. Many feel we should let in anybody that wants to come because we need the workers while others feel we need to regulate who comes in so we don’t get the wrong kind of people. Therefore, this course is designed to examine the effect on our country and on the people who come in to find a policy that benefits as many people as possible and hurts as few as possible. We are currently offering our course “Immigration” for free until 3/12/2026 to the first 100 who sign up at referral code
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Sixth Sunday of Epiphany–Feb15
11
Feb
Building Bridges– Today, many neighbors are isolated and do not know each other. In the past, neighborhoods were close knit communities where people worked and shopped nearby and helped each other in times of need. Increasing mobility has separated housing from office and shopping areas and has made even stable neighborhoods into bedroom communities. People work and shop elsewhere and only come home to have supper and sleep. Extended family used to provide support but many live a long way from any family members an increasing number are not having children or only a couple and have no one to help after their parents are no longer able to. They have no one to reach out to in an emergency or in time of need. By getting to know your neighbors you can build bridges that help you be there when they need help and it opens opportunities to share the Gospel with them.
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05
Feb
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Voting-3-A
05
Feb
To make a valid decision on what to do about the current situation, a voter must also know how things work and what has worked or not worked in the past. Education is important. Liberals today discount history and focus on the present. They support what they call situation ethics. You look at the present situation and make a determination. Yet that determination requires some idea of how things work and what works and doesn’t work or it is meaningless guessing. Too often lately the news has come out with statements on an event that later prove false because they didn’t have all the facts. They ran with the story because it fit their agenda. The abortion issue is a perfect example. Before Roe vs Wade, the majority of people opposed abortion because most people assumed it was a baby from conception but the number opposing it has dropped as they are told we don’t know if it is. Many kids know about sex from sex education classes but do not understand conception and the baby’s development in the womb. Women are led to believe it is not a baby until just before birth. Once a woman sees an ultrasound showing her the baby in her is fully formed, most women reject abortions. In addition, those supporting abortion concentrate on the fact that they want to help a poor girl in distress but few people understand that she is in distress because sex education taught her to have sex but did not tell her about the consequences of it. It implies that she can have sex without worrying about getting pregnant because contraceptives prevent it and abortion takes care of any accidents. Good girls used to avoid sex outside marriage because of the disgrace of unwanted pregnancy, but after Roe vs Wade, many felt free to engage in it because their sex education classes fail to tell her about the high failure rate of contraceptives and the fact that abortion is not as safe as they are told. An abortion can have serious consequences physically and emotionally. It is the same with many issues today. The schools teach names and dates and either don’t teach the consequences or twist them to support their agenda so voters cannot make educated decisions about policies they want their representatives to pursue. As a result, voters must educate themselves. In addition, liberal politicians are often not open about the policies they support or proclaim support for policies the people want but then vote the opposite.