It has been busy around here. I preached a gospel meeting in July for the Kerrville congregation in Texas this past July. The brethren there are absolutely wonderful. I was so uplifted by their hospitality and association. Dan Gatlin is the preacher and a great friendship was established. Dan is solid in the faith and courageously stands for the truth. Dan informed me later, a week after the meeting, that a contact made during the gospel meeting obeyed the truth. Great news !!
We started painting our house. The outside of the house just had to be done. Thanks to Tony and Hannah, Christi (my wonderful wife) for the help so far. It is a slow job to do a good job.
Thank you Tim. I keep up with Hannah's posts and know that you and Christi must be missing her (as well as Jordan) about now. The transition has been hard for me, but I'm glad that at least you still have Cody at home! Give the family love from Jeff and I!
Tim - make sure you sign in on your blog first, before trying to get onto my blog. If you don't sign in first you won't be able to see my entries because they are private. You and your family are all on my friends list. :0)
Hey Tim. Thanks again for the water and grapes. In considering your topic from the other night, sin indeed is what causes division in carnal desires. People are incompatible in relationships because of sinful desires causing them to desire things other than unity. This is true in the marriage relationship, friendship, and among spiritual brethren. Thanks for such a great topic on how people can become and remain more compatible by walking by the spirit.
Thank you Mr. McPherson for your input on the election controversy. I always thought it was just a given that a Christian could not vote for such a man or allow fellow Christians to support him. Not only that but I never dreamed that I would be put down (by other Christians) because I believed that! You are much better equipped with scripture than I to argue the point.
Hey Mr. McPherson, you don't know me (but you've met most of my family!). I'm friends with your son. Anyway, I just wanted to say "amen" to your comments on his blog. Well stated and backed up with Scripture. Not much of that has been going around lately.
I'm not going to delete your comments. I don't believe in censoring someone or trying to shut them up. You said what you believe and I hope you stand by it.
Well, I was just going to type an answer to your comment on my blog, but she already typed it out there. So, maybe you could go look at that. Haha, I know, I'm lazy.
Hey Tim! Hope things are well your direction and that you all have a happy thanksgiving! just happened to notice something that you may not have..I clicked on the Bible research library link I had and it's no longer there. Thought i'd bring it to your attention.
Hi, Mr.McPherson, this is Kaylah, I don't know if you remember me or not. Anyway, I'm in the process right now of studying out the divorce and re-marriage issue and I'm trying to get different opinions on it. Do you believe that even if the person put away is innocent, that they can't marry again after that? If you prefer to e-mail instead of talking about it on pleo my address is guppypuppy@alltel.net Thank you
Ok, thank you! It helps a lot. Just one more thing, in the context of Matthew 19:9, I've had some people say that "if you read it carefullly, the beginning of the verse indicates that anyone being divorced has committed adultery. So they say that the second half of that verse, "Anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery," is specifically talking about a woman who was divorced for adultery. Thus, they reach the conclusion that even if you were put away, so long as you're innocent...then you're free to re-marry. How would you reconcile that?
Wow! That's right, I never even saw it that way before. That is crazy. I've been studying that passage up and down and when you just said that and I read over it a light bulb went off. Man, thank you so much. That makes a lot of sense. The part about in Matt 19:9 saying pretty plainly that the innocent should be the one to divorce. Thank you!
Isn't it wonderful to know that brethren are so loving all over the place. Of course, they are what they should be. Las Vegas Drive church of Christ has a great group of Christians. I've been treated with such care, love and respect.
The prayers have been so wonderful. Some of the men here offer prayers that are so dedicated to the needs of one another. They mention many by name and genuinely ask God to help them find work, care for their travels, their needs if pregnant, etc, etc... I have been enriched by the time they spend to go over each others needs in prayer.
The brethren talk with one another and spend time copying the lessons for distribution. One thing that really impresses me are the questions different people ask, and the attention they give to wanting to know certain things. Such a quest for the truth and to know more about the word of God.
We have had several visitors each night and this has been exciting to me.
I have had hospitality upon hospitality which translates into pounds upon pounds (I hope not), but the visitations have been so enjoyable.
I thank them all for sharing and blessing the gospel meeting efforts. I have been in the home of Tony and Liz Barajas, Marco and Cory Barajas, Steve and Jennifer Barton, Diana and Shawn, and today for lunch with Jim and Bobbye (yes,she spells it like that). This has been a real treat.
The home I've stayed in has been such a place of comfort and care. Dwayne and Terri Ratzell, with their daughter candice, have been the kindest hosts. I have fallen in love with their massage chair. I must have one. It is indescribable. It soothes every ache and pain. They are the best of family, my brother and sisters in christ.
I preach my last sermon tonight and board a plane at 1:00 AM to begin my journey home. Lord willing, I'll be back in Columbus at 10:48 AM Saturday morning and then a 2 hour trip by car home to West Virginia.
Please pray for my travels, and thank you for prayers while here.
So thankful to hear that your week has been a good one and you have witnessed such warm hospitality. I'll pray for your safe return as I pray for Jeff's (he flew out this a.m. for a weekend meeting in Lansing, MI).
haha thx She hasn't been showing her pain as much...I think she's getting used to it. My dad pointed out to me that I have a concert the same day of her surgery! :(
Listen, twelve blazin hot wings, yes, 12 wings "burning hot" with NO water allowed, no ranch dressing allowed, no celery allowed to easy the pain. All twelve wings had to be eaten in 6 minutes. He sat there and watched us. I DID IT.
I won the coveted T-shirt which states: "I survived the Wall Of Fire 12 Blazin wings in 6 minutes. The Few, The Proud, The Insane!"
Ha, even Tony Barajas did it. Adrain did it. I did it. Sadly the challenge was not met by Zack. He tried but could not get it accomplished. A very good effort.
I have my T-shirt to prove my day of glory. I AM A HE-MAN, EH ! Ha
However, as one guy said, "The battle is only half over". Now comes the burning ring of fire (if you know what I mean).
I'm so happy to be with the good brethren at Vegas Drive. They are very encouraging and so enjoyable to be around. I've been with them in spiritual fellowship (our worship together) and it is wonderful.
We had a pot luck on Sunday afternoon (after the tragic event) and it helped get our mind off of what had happened. Monday night I went out with Marco and his wife Cory (with their precious tiny baby in hand) and Brian Rosenfield (a wonderful guy) to the Cheese Factory. Man, I didn't know their sandwiches were so big. I had the turkey pastrami ruben and was it ever good. We had a great time. Last night the meeting went real well, a few visitors and good attendance. I was in the home of Steve and his wife Jennifer, with their son Randy, for supper. Steve is a chef and I mean he really knows how to cook. He prepared an oriental chicken and rice dish (mmmmm mmmm good, with pineapples, peppers, great sauce.) Jennifer is from Vietnam and love the traditions of her native home. We had a great visit.
In a moment Liz and Tony will be taking me out for breakfast. it is 8:30 AM their time, three hours behind eastern standard time.
Tonight the "Guys" of the congregation, a few of us strapping young men (notice myself included) will be going out for buffalo wings. The challenge is on for us to tackle the blazin hot wings and get my picture on the board. Can I do it? My manhood is being challenged. I must be strong, eh !!!
Continue to pray for this meeting. The most important aspect is the encouragement of one another spiritually as we strive to the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. I want us all to be together in heaven where we will be free from this sinful world. This is the desire of these saints also.
Wow I'm jealous! ;) Just kidding; I'm glad you're having such a great time with all the brethren! They really know how to treat you good, huh :) You're young at heart, Dad...you can smoke 'em all at that challenge ;) Please don't describe the adverse effects to us when you get home, however :P
