Thoughts on clothes line preachers

[Steve Epley]

Those natives might get the Holy Ghost buck naked but if they get it they won't remain that way. I have heard wonderful stories of conviction falling on African natives who tried to cover themselves as the Holy Ghost entered the service.

Forget it...

[Sister Alvear]

You are right they don't remain naked. But they don't wear white shirts and ties either! (Sister Alvear smiles)
I "invented" this title to get everyone's attention to try to get us all thinking about what is most important to God and that is the saving of souls. I am painfully aware of the standard issue and many of our differences. I have noticed and maybe because women seem to notice details and men seem to see the wide view that my input might help.
Far too much time is spent fussing and fighting over things that don't amount to a hill of beans. Things such as what color to wear, hose or no hose, hair up or down, chap stick or no chap stick, medicine or no medicine and on and on...It is alright to have what we feel the Lord requires of us but it is not right to sit and judge others...work in your field...do your best.
Fuss about who is more spiritual...who goes to Disney who goes to Epcot...and on and on we go.

Let me say this is not directed at Elder Epley. I have utmost respect for him and I would say on a personal basis there is little difference in his church and my church. This is not directed to those in either field...as a personal attack. I respect those that are different. I try to learn from them and many glean a gem or two from me.
One of the greatest lessons of life I learned or maybe I should say was said to me by a Jehovah's Witness friend. This was years ago but I mentioned maybe someday leaving the mission field...she looked at me and said, How can a person leave what Jehovah has called them to do..." I was going through the GREATEST trial of my life...and here a JW comes to my door to tell me about planet earth where they plan to clean up and in our talks all of a sudden we begin talking about the call that Jehovah gives people...She did not know what I was going through but GOD did and I might have made the wrong decision if it had not come from the mouth of someone that knew nothing of what I was going through...God spoke to me through her...She never even knew for many years that her words caused me to make a choice and it was the right choice...
God uses different people...I do not feel because of that my friend is saved but I do not tear her down. I disagree with what her church teaches.

We must look for Jesus in everybody. Some have become bitter over things and their writings reflect bitterness yet we must not respond on the same level. We must try to bring them to a higher level through our words, our writings and our deeds.
There are things we all hold dear to us. I am from the old school. I still like to sing, I'LL fly away...my son hates it! I have two choices to try to understand his song that I have to listen to a dozen times to even understand some of the words or bury my head in the sand and sing I'll fly away...So I tell him, Son that is an interesting song you just sang...(interesting because we speak the same language and I just didn't quite get it) his eyes shine...he strums d and starts singing, I'll fly away...(winks at me and says, " for you mother")

I will never "agree" to something that I feel is wrong but some things are not wrong.

He just got him a motorcycle...My do I hate that thing...that noise, that attention...but he loves it...I am not going to tell him I hate his motorcycle. I told him it sure was a pretty color...and he works in my office so it is faster to use and cheaper than going by bus to do errands.

My friends "be an encourager".
Look for Jesus; he often appears in strange places...

We cannot teach people until we go...the go is before teaching...

I would not be afraid to put my people up beside any "strict" church in America...Our people are christians and that is what I spend my time teaching them everyday, to be a christian. Live what you believe, believe what you live...We will die for our convictions but seldom would anyone die for a preference.

Maybe more later…packing to go to the jungle…my time is very limited…I love you folks where ever you are camped out I love you.

[Sister Alvear]

sorry for being so scatted...this is written in between classes and lines of people that have came to talk to me today...

[Scott Hutchinson]

Certainly the Bible teaches modesty but if people are listening the Holy Ghost it will lead them into Bible Holiness because The Holy Spirit is a Holy Spirit.
Some preachers are like a broken record ,because all they know is what makes them sound holy in the pulpit ,rather than feeding the sheep.
I certainly recognize the fact that Pastors must teach on Holiness.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Certainly the Bible teaches modesty but if people are listening the Holy Ghost it will lead them into Bible Holiness because The Holy Spirit is a Holy Spirit.
Some preachers are like a broken record ,because all they know is what makes them sound holy in the pulpit ,rather than feeding the sheep.
I certainly recognize the fact that Pastors must teach on Holiness.

Bro. Scott I probably run with what would be called the most strict group in Pentecost. However I have preached in an out of churches of all sizes and places and go to more meetings than I need to. But very seldom as a rule do I hear much said about outward standards true at times when an issue arises it is certainly dealt with and yes some may go overboard. But the places I preach and the meetings I go to the doctrine is preached-Christ is exalted-saints are blessed and encouraged. What happens is someone shows up at a meeting that is not use to hearing anything and sure enough something is said it might be less than a minute in an hour message and the only statement made during a whole meeting and the person leaving will go quote that like 3 days and nights were spent preaching about so & so. I have had folks tell me I heard the whole meeting was about so and so and it would take a minute for me to realize I was at the meeting and had no recollection and had to jolt my memory and then faintly remembered maybe ONE statement and I myself might not have agreed with it. Just my take.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Bro. Scott I probably run with what would be called the most strict group in Pentecost. However I have preached in an out of churches of all sizes and places and go to more meetings than I need to. But very seldom as a rule do I hear much said about outward standards true at times when an issue arises it is certainly dealt with and yes some may go overboard. But the places I preach and the meetings I go to the doctrine is preached-Christ is exalted-saints are blessed and encouraged. What happens is someone shows up at a meeting that is not use to hearing anything and sure enough something is said it might be less than a minute in an hour message and the only statement made during a whole meeting and the person leaving will go quote that like 3 days and nights were spent preaching about so & so. I have had folks tell me I heard the whole meeting was about so and so and it would take a minute for me to realize I was at the meeting and had no recollection and had to jolt my memory and then faintly remembered maybe ONE statement and I myself might not have agreed with it. Just my take.

True that people usually hear whatever they want to hear. And that goes for both ends of the spectrum. Sometimes people will stop Eddie and ask him about something that he said in a sermon, and he knows he never even said that, but that's what they heard when it went through their personal "screen".

[Sister Alvear]

Well, for those with doubts, I am taking some clothes to the jungle saints...

(smiling)
love you folks...In fact my husband said tell you his wife will take anything she can pack in this little car...let me see I have clothes for them, bibles, tracts, pictures, bible studies, candy, and a few other items...

Towels to leave with them, sheets to cover us in the hammocks to leave with someone...
But never enough...

[Scott Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Bro. Scott I probably run with what would be called the most strict group in Pentecost. However I have preached in an out of churches of all sizes and places and go to more meetings than I need to. But very seldom as a rule do I hear much said about outward standards true at times when an issue arises it is certainly dealt with and yes some may go overboard. But the places I preach and the meetings I go to the doctrine is preached-Christ is exalted-saints are blessed and encouraged. What happens is someone shows up at a meeting that is not use to hearing anything and sure enough something is said it might be less than a minute in an hour message and the only statement made during a whole meeting and the person leaving will go quote that like 3 days and nights were spent preaching about so & so. I have had folks tell me I heard the whole meeting was about so and so and it would take a minute for me to realize I was at the meeting and had no recollection and had to jolt my memory and then faintly remembered maybe ONE statement and I myself might not have agreed with it. Just my take.

Pastor I do respect you ,and yes you minister in more places that I proably will ever go.

[TalkLady]

I think if we build "it" they will come (stop thinking about FOD)..If we build "the fire," people will come to see what is going on. ....Back in the 70s, things were so different. ...Even the doctors and lawyers sometimes came out to hear the evangelists or just for regular services...Now it's hard to even get the "regulars" to be at church. You said we major in the minors sometimes and how true that is. ....I get so sick of people disfellowshipping others because of watch or no watch, color of pantyhose, what you call yourself, the way you wear your hair - up or down, internet or tv, short sleeves or no short sleeves, and on and on....I can tell from my own posts that I don't need to be online tonight...LOL

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I really do not know anything about fusses and fights on the west coast so whatever I personally say is not in anyway to belittle anyone...I live thousands of miles from the west coast and have no contacts that give me news from there. Really as a mother in the church I leave those kinds of things to the men...I speak out only as a church mother and a lifetime missionary.
I just get the feeling that many of the places I go, the meetings I sit in even though we may "look" different we are far removed from the early church and its ways and practices.
One concerned saint said to me, Sister Alvear, we have no miracles in our mists...signs and wonders are almost a thing of the past in some "solid" churches...not to mention the gifts of the spirit. The first Church was filled with signs and wonders. The first church had the gifts and the fruit of the spirit.
My friends we need to seek God, lift up a cry for God's spirit and His rightousness in our mist. The first church WENT everywhere preaching, read Acts 8:1-5...
The first chuch HAD the fruit of the spirit. They were known NOT for what they professed to believe BUT for HOW they lived. They were consumed with love even for those that hated them.
Read some church history. It was not forms and fashions and endless traditions BUT they earnestly sought to "bring" Jesus back in their day.

More later...