The Day Daddy was Too Late...

[warrior81680]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

The reality is ... this... gentlEmen ... more Apostolics own TV's than those that don't ... I guess your parable is 'non-Apostolic'
'

Originally Posted by Old Paths

Thank God, only in your tiny world.

Got proof, DA?

Yes, OP, I think he needs to get out a bit more. I've been a few places, as have you, and TV is not in evidence anywhere in those Apostolic gatherings.

[Carpenter]

Originally Posted by revrandy

Dan...

A couple things I have learned of late...

I can't live for God by what others do...
I can only live for Him the best I know how...
I can only affect those that God has given me..
whether they be few or many...

You know, this would be true in any other situation outside the Apostolic vacuum.

There is an unsaid (more and more preachers who believe standards but who insist they do not preach them) protocol among Apostolics where we have been conditioned to constantly look over our shoulders if we are outside the accepted dress code...even a little.

Over the years it is funny, I have seen people trying to literally hide from me when I was walking through the mall, and the first time I went to the store in my golf shorts, it was a horrifying experience.

You can say you don't live for God based on what others do/say/act/respond/attempt to influence, I just don't believe for a minute that it is true in a general sense.

[OGIA]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Let's look at the numbers ... let's take the 3 million plus the UPCI is reporting and the 5 million or more the AWCF claims ... plus the million reported by PAW ... not including the other independents ...

We can safely assume that 60% to 80% have a tv in their homes .... so YES .... MILLIONS

Originally Posted by OGIA

Where's the manipulation come in?

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

OGIA ... the parable is SATURATED WITH MANIPULATION ... that you call TRUTH.

So, what you're saying is that some 5.4 to 7.2 million people will read THIS THREAD, thereby being manipulated by revrandy and his story??

[nathan_slatter]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

You know, this would be true in any other situation outside the Apostolic vacuum.

There is an unsaid (more and more preachers who believe standards but who insist they do not preach them) protocol among Apostolics where we have been conditioned to constantly look over our shoulders if we are outside the accepted dress code...even a little.

Over the years it is funny, I have seen people trying to literally hide from me when I was walking through the mall, and the first time I went to the store in my golf shorts, it was a horrifying experience.

You can say you don't live for God based on what others do/say/act/respond/attempt to influence, I just don't believe for a minute that it is true in a general sense.

I'm reminded of when I was UPC and would go to Blockbuster. I would pull my cap down low to hide my face and stay away from those immense windows so that no one would recognize me. Often I would drive 45 minutes to rent movies.

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by Ferd

I am blown away.

First, by the GREAT story and the strong message! Awesome.

As a parent with a television I see the great need for vigilance and control. I appreciate the warning and the opportunity to discuss it.

Second, I am blown away by the reactions. I’m shocked that some here (Pastor Poster in particular) who cannot see the value in the message because it crosses the ideological divide. Bro, we tend to defend the same plot of ground on this esoteric philosophic battle ground but I think you’ve just attacked and ally here because of the subject and not the message.

Lastly the "typical scare tactic" comment. Sometimes reality is viciously scary. Sometimes blunt truth and a timely word shakes a person. I think this is one of those.

Just blown away. That is all I can say.

Wisdom speaks.

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I'm offended for the millions of Apostolic TV owners who are manipulated by a heretical few ...

I am speechless, lest I receive an infraction.

Many superlatives apply here.

It is amazing how zealously some will guard their tv's.

You can tell how important they are by the way they squall like mashed cats if anyone mentions them.

And they say they aren't idolatrous...

[seguidordejesus]

Originally Posted by nathan_slatter

I'm reminded of when I was UPC and would go to Blockbuster. I would pull my cap down low to hide my face and stay away from those immense windows so that no one would recognize me. Often I would drive 45 minutes to rent movies.

And then Netflix came along...

[nathan_slatter]

Originally Posted by seguidordejesus

And then Netflix came along...

BWAHAHAHAHA.... now that was funny...

[chaotic_resolve]

Originally Posted by revrandy

The family had just sat down to dinner and there was an excited knock on the door. Dad got up from the table and answered. There was some whispers back and forth and when he came back to the table his face was ashen. He said to those sitting at the Table "we need to pack" for we are leaving Egypt soon. His wife scoffed abit and said, " Isn't this just another ruse like the last few times we have packed and then had to upack?"

The Dad's face became more sullen when he announced that there was going to be something happening on a scale as had not happened before.
He told them there was an angel of death coming to take the first born of every family that did not have the blood of a lamb applied to the Entry of every home. Then he got up from the table and went to work leaving a family with shocked looks on their faces.

After work he was stopped by a freind and asked if he had got the lamb yet. He said no. There was plenty of time to find one later. He had some things to do. He knew that time was somewhat short but he figured he could do what needed to be done and then get the lamb. As he passed by others on the way home from work he could see they had already bought their lamb but he said to himself I've got plenty of time to get what I need and be ready.

They were sitting at Dinner that night and his wife asked him.."Did you get the lamb today?"
He got somewhat angry that she should question him.."No" he replied.. "But I will soon"..

His oldest son looked at him but didn't say a word. He knew not to cross dad when he got home from work. He trusted that Dad would provide for them when it was time. He trusted that Dad would make the right decisions for them. He didn't have any doubt that his father would let him down. He loved his Dad and Dad loved his time.

Dad left the Dinner table and told the family I'm heading down to the Inn.
Dad always did this after dinner. He would leave Mom to clean up and the kids to play. He needed his time alone and the Inn had other things to offer that his family couldn' t provide. The Inn was a bustling place of entertainment, things to watch and people to see. There often was a fight and often women who would tell off color jokes. The Inn was a source of rest for Dad who worked long hours and when he didn't want to deal with the wife and the kids he would head for the Inn. He was enjoying his time at the Inn so much he somewhat would forget or could forget what was real and time would fly by. Soon it would be night and then his youngest son Eli would come and at times would have to drag his Dad by the hand out of there. Other Times Dad would be startled and rush his little guy who had come to get him out the room for what was going on there was too much for the child to see. But the child saw.

Dad would get home that night somewhat pleased by the night's happenings. He saw things at the Inn he never saw at home. He just considered it his guilty pleasure but things never went as far as to cause him to join in. He just liked to watch. He told himself he would never do the things he saw at the Inn. He walked thru the door as usual and his little guy went to his room and fell asleep. He went up to where his wife was laying tried to rouse her but she was fast asleep. Just another night of the same he thought. Tomorrow he would get up and go down to the where the Elders gathered and forget the night.

The first scream troubled him while he slept. He thougth he was dreaming then there was a second scream. A terrible blood curling scream in the night that when from two to a thousand. He awoke and listened to the screams. Then his wife woke up beside him and said to him, "Thank you for getting our lamb"..

He broke out in a cold sweat and could feel pain running thru his body. He jumped out of bed and threw his clothing on as fast as he could. His wife sensed something was wrong. He looked at her with despair and said,"I forgot to get the lamb" She screamed at him,"HOW!!"

He said he didn't know. He had been down at the Inn and while there it made him forget all his troubles.

"YOU GO TO THAT INN EVERY NIGHT!!" she screamed... "How could you forget?"

Their yelling woke up the kids....
He didn't have time to explain. He knew the corral was a mile away from where they lived. He didn't have time to talk or explain. He ran as fast as he could all the while his wife was sreaming.."WHY?"

As he was running he begin to curse all the time he spent at the Inn. All the hours wasted. The time with his son's would come to get him and he told them to leave, that he wasn't ready to go yet. All the time he had missed out on games his family had played. All the times he had to shoo the kids out because of what they would see at the Inn. He cursed the Inn in the night loudly.

He got to the corral and there many lambs there but he couldn't see in the dark. He had to squint just to make the lambs. He just picked one that didn't have spots and began to run as fast as he could back home. While he ran he began to cut the lambs' throat he knew that if he could just get his hands bloody he could apply the blood to the door post of the home and get back into bed and everything would be alright.

He heard the screams getting nearer and nearer and could see his wife standing at the door screaming for him to run. He ran for all he was worth but he wasn't very fast. His time of sitting and eating at the Inn had placed a toll on his body. He was fat and out of shape. He had gotten fat at the Inn. He cursed his time there. He screamed out against the Inn.

He got to the house and threw his bloody hands against the door post of the home raking them and cutting them by the rough hewn wood. He made it and he would get into bed and wake up and everything would be okay.

He walked into his home and his wife was strangely quiet and tears were dripping down her face. His oldest son was laying on the bed barely breathing looked up and him and said, "Dad, you were to late to save me"..

The man dropped to his knees to beg God for mercy but mercy never came.

and the next night the man was back at the Inn and his family was at home but the oldest boy's bed was empty.

Fathers Don't be Too Late... Make right Decisions Now....

What Television can provide for you today may Cost you Tomorrow..

Just some thoughts...

*sigh*

Great story . . . TERRIBLE ending with the loser line about television . . .

In fact, that one line wrecked the whole story for me. Were other things included, such as golfing, eating at the buffet, fishing, hunting, working at the church office, AFF, the internet, shopping ---- and a hundred other things, maybe I wouldn't have been turned off as I have been.

I agree with ILG - "TELEVISION????? I read all that just for a propoganda smear on television??????"

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

I am speechless, lest I receive an infraction.

Many superlatives apply here.

It is amazing how zealously some will guard their tv's.

You can tell how important they are by the way they squall like mashed cats if anyone mentions them.

And they say they aren't idolatrous...

It is amazing how zealously some will will guard their tunnel-visioned hand-picked tradition .... and you can tell how they yelp like pelted dogs if someone unmasks them ....

And they say they aren't idolatrous .....