me too... I received the H.G. 3-21-75 along with 10 other youth... I am the only one serving God today out of that ten.. and even out of my youth group... only one besides myself is serving God...and he moved to another city.
The retention rate has been horrible imo.
I personally think it has been a lacking of knowledge... not knowledge of the doctrine Acts 2:38... we got it down pat... but knowledge of everything else in the book.
As I was reading the old Testament, over and over God spoke to my heart that the knowledge of him through his word was going to make the difference. An example is as in the book of Nehemiah, when the Word of God was given to the people.. God opened their understanding...there was a change...
I know I'm having trouble saying exactly what I mean... but we really have to get past the sacred cows and really start getting into bible... realizing how much we are lacking in what it really says about things.
I know that many people are doing this... and I have to trust that God will honor the willingness and desire to know more of him on a personal level...
The more you seek him, the more you find him... the more you find him.. the more you love him.. and the experience of a very personal knowledge of him...you will never get away from.
How can we truly know him without listening to him .... and he gave his Word for us to know him better. The Holy Ghost experience should lead us there... but I feel some choose to experience and go no further.
Excellent post Lisa!
__________________ Smiles & Blessings.... ~Felicity Welsh~ (surname courtesy of Jim Yohe)
Many saints seem to not care if their kids are not in church every sunday after they turn 15...
My parents had us there everytime the doors opened...
My parents had ME there every time the doors were open, which was an average of 4 nights a week for a good 5 years. I do not think this was a good thing because it has created a Pavlovian-type response in me that has lasted for over 20 years. And not in a good way. Church attendance, along with all the other things, was right up there with things to do in order to be saved. Do these things and you are -regardless of OTHER more-important things that may be lacking. To this day I go into certain churches and hear certain songs and I feel an extreme urge to "flee".
This was a HORRIBLE time in my life because of school and all my required church attendance almost made me end it all. I thank God He got me through DESPITE all the required service... I do not give credit to the church for this.
Many saints seem to not care if their kids are not in church every sunday after they turn 15...
My parents had us there everytime the doors opened...
That is Pentecostal Rumspringa
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
It is weird to think on March 13th 2008 it will have been 30 years since my Dad, Bible teacher and evangelist John A Eckstadt passed away.
Since his death here are some changes in Pentecost.
1. Sermon's on the soon coming of Christ (almost gone).
2. Sermon's on Sin (Not standards) sin.
3. Those week long revivals.
4. Young men growing up with a desire to be a minister (Who's hero is a minister)
5. Bible teaching is a lost art.
6. We have exchanged Bible teaching on Wednesday night for coffee cake and gossip night. We call it home fellowship night.
7. Fellowship used to be at Stuckey's or Steak & Shake on Sunday night after church. That is where we as kids in the past generation made our friendships.
8. We had smaller churches and buildings but we used them more.
9. Pastor's I am convinced spent more time on their sermon preparation.
10. We have moved into the Google a sermon generation. Many of the young ministers could not tell you who Matthew Henry or Charles Spurgeon was...
11. The King James version of the bible has been replaced with the Instant Message version. Jesus said, "I AM" not "IM".
12 We exchanged the word in our sermon's from "faith" to "Sow".
13. The word "faith" was in relation to Moving spiritual mountains, the word "Sow" today that replaced "faith" means prosperity with a sprinkel of health and well being. Today you only reap what you sow when you give, not with what you do!
14. The modern day book in the religious section of the book store quotes Zig Ziglar more than Jesus.
15. Sermon's from the Old testement are old fashioned.
16. Songs are written less about Jesus and more about how to be his friend.
17. Preaching on hell is a thing of the past. Most modern day Pentecostals believe in Angels but would tell you demons are not manifested beings.
18. Just flat out good preaching seems to be dying out. That has to be one reason for mega churches. If you are one of the few to have it they will come.
19. Busing is a thing of the past.
20. Dressing your best each service is the thing of the past.
21. Popping into your pastor's office without an appointment is the thing of the past.
22. That one usher that all the kids were afraid of is a thing of the past.
23. Those sunday school teacher couples that you remember the rest of your life is a thing of the past.
24. The move of God is more modern. I remember when even in the 1980's that when the move of God started in a service. We would see men praying with each other. Woman would be praying with each other.
25. Some of the real not Benny Hinn miracles, I have witnessed were seen in a spirit filled church march.
26. How about the service in your church that you will remember for 30 years.
I remember some but they are 20 years old. Our memories of the move of God are short anymore.
I think we now live in the moment and have forgotten that God does not live in a single moment.
He transends time and it is about time we start building memories that help substain the next generation....
One of the big changes I've seen is the shrinkage of so many of the country/rural churches.
Churches that used to have large numbers of youth and children now have hardly any resulting in churches full of grey or white hair. Well, excluding those who discovered Lady Clairol. LOL.
__________________ Smiles & Blessings.... ~Felicity Welsh~ (surname courtesy of Jim Yohe)
Many saints seem to not care if their kids are not in church every sunday after they turn 15...
My parents had us there everytime the doors opened...
Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWayne
My parents had ME there every time the doors were open, which was an average of 4 nights a week for a good 5 years. I do not think this was a good thing because it has created a Pavlovian-type response in me that has lasted for over 20 years. And not in a good way. Church attendance, along with all the other things, was right up there with things to do in order to be saved. Do these things and you are -regardless of OTHER more-important things that may be lacking. To this day I go into certain churches and hear certain songs and I feel an extreme urge to "flee".
This was a HORRIBLE time in my life because of school and all my required church attendance almost made me end it all. I thank God He got me through DESPITE all the required service... I do not give credit to the church for this.
I believe in balance. And I believe that children should be taught the value of church attendance along with the personal relationship with the Lord outside the church walls.
Oftentimes the youth who just came because they were made to come by their parents... were the children of parents who didn't have much spiritual going on once they left the doors of the church after service.
This was my observation growing up.
There has to be something at home, to instill, inpart, and back up the church attendance.
My parents expected me to go to service, but they never had to argue with me over it. I saw their lives every day, living out what they believed. I thank God for this on every remembrance of it.
(disclaimer Randy.. not saying your parents weren't instilling this same desire in you... just giving my observations from my own youth)
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
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