Deer Camp - Texas Style

Bebe and I got an invitation to go to the deer lease this weekend.  One of the partners decided not to go, so we took his place.  It is not exactly what we pictured when we got the invitation (click on photos to enlarge).

This is the kitchen inside the main house.  The living area with the 50" television is visible through the portal.

Mandy, Bebe, and Chris swap lies at the outdoor kitchen.  Mesquite smoke wafts from the barbecue pit and bathes the supper burgers.

Chris, Mandy, Lola the camp dog, and I pose for Bebe.

 

This guy showed up near my blind and I snapped his photo.  It is not even rut yet and bucks this size are already showing up.

Here are three nice bucks and a two year old.  Even the youngster had a nice set of antlers.  We had a great weekend of good food and fellowship.

After a hard day of watching the animals, it was back to the camp to watch a little college football.

Not Exactly

This is probably the most recognizable symbol in the rental car world.  I know you've seen the commercials where someone rents a vehicle that ends up being a real disappointment and is asked if they used Hertz.  Their answer is usually along the lines of , "Not exactly."

I have been upset by a recent wave in many churches in our denomination including my own in adopting a methodology and philosophy of "doing church" which when examined with the question, "Is this biblical?" begs for the answer, "Not exactly."

The source seems to be a series of seminars put together by some mega-church pastors who feel they have come up with "getting in on what God's blessing...."  I have listened to the philosophy from our pulpit for over two years now and I have stopped going to our worship services.  To me it is like opening a below sink cabinet  and getting a slight whiff of something unpleasant and knowing something has missed the garbage can.  It may take some time to find it, but until you do, staying in the kitchen means searching until you find the source or eating out.

You may be experiencing angst if you have read the biblical purpose for the local church and know the biblical requirements concerning those who are leaders in the church.  I think we have all been complacent in allowing this type of teaching to seep into our denomination.  Each local church is autonomous and we often think this means we are immune to  heretical teaching.

A flippant use of scriptures by the minister can make the under-involved member believe that what is being said is the gospel.  However, when the passages used in support of a false premise are examined in the light of their original context, the true meaning is revealed.

The method used by ministers who buy in to this "scripture bending", to deflect critics, is to label them "whiners "  and direct them to "find another church" if they are not satisfied with the direction the church is being taken.

It is a philosophy that reeks of "neo-gnosticism".  Only those who have reached a certain level of spiritual awareness by following steps, laid out by those who have arrived, can receive God's vision for the local church.  The pastors are autocratic proclaimers of the "new way" and feel impervious to sanctions by those who differ from their slanted interpretations of the scripture.  I have obviously missed the boat because I abhor the approach and feel it is built on mis-use of scripture.

I am attaching a link in which the Christian talk show host does a good job of analyzing the philosophy in light of what is said in scripture.  The presentation takes about two hours to complete, so I would suggest that once you have the link up, you book mark it and then you can listen to it in segments if you don't have time to hear it in one sitting.

http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2010/02/special-edition-the-cultlike-hostile-takeover-tactics-of-the-purposedriven-church-transtioning-semin.html Chris Roseborough does an excellent job and adds "truthful humor" along the way.  

Veteran's Day

Out of revolution,

the grip of monarch’s rule.

Driven by freedom.

Necessity.

Founded on values

from God’s holy book,

the glue that binds,

in trust,

its varied masses.

America

Through fire of war,

without,

within,

was forged in strength

a strong republic.

America

And though the vision dims

in her prosperity,

she rises to the challenge

when tyrants seek

to quell her voice.

America

Blessed by God,

we must hold those

values close

that bound

our loose knit colonies

in their infancy.

America

Dennis Price

Thanks to all veterans everywhere.  America is in your debt.  May God richly bless you and your families.