Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger's neighborhood?)
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Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger's ne... - 6/1/2008 11:13:31 PM
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pstrdebi
Posts: 597
Joined: 4/28/2008
From: So. Oregon, by way of So. Cal.
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I have read several posts from some folks that I would just LOVE to be my neighbors! Folks who take a stand against the compromising church... folks who are sick of the seeker friendly churches...folks who are tired of pastors 'pimping' Jesus from the pulpits, etc. We say AMEN!!
But where are you... and why aren't you my neighbor? We live in a small town of about 2500 people... and here is just a glimpse of what our neighborhood is like:
Down the street we have a church where the pastor never confronts his congregations sin. He does not seem to agree with that, and has a "oh, you're ok brother, God still loves you" attitude towards his members... and so, some of his members have still been seen dealing drugs in the parking lot after church. Why? Because they are never taught about sin.
On one end of the street, there is a small group of families who do not like Christians at all and will come against them in some of the most ridiculous ways, such as filing police reports when they think these Christians are driving 17 mph down a 15 mph road.
There is a "Christian" couple next door. He attends a Religious Science group, she attends a seeker friendly church. They are living together... do not want to get married... and are still collecting full SS benifits from the deceased spouses.
There is a "Christian" woman at the other end of the street who is a pharisee in her own right and does not believe in praying for her husband to be healed.
Three doors down from her is a "Christian" Pastor who is also a "Rabbi" and a "(Catholic) Priest"???? 
This is just the 'short' list. Yet all these folks claim to be devout Christians. We believe we were called here to minister the Gospel... yet so many do not want to hear the truths of the Word. David talks in Psalm 31:31 about being in a "besieged city," often we feel that way.
Many say that we shouldn't care... that, "that's just the state of our world." But didn't God tell us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven , and I will forgive their sin and heal their land." Are we not responsible to care and pray for the state of this world?
Tell me what you think. Tell us about your neighborhood... your town, your city. What about the churches today? What about the churches in your neighborhood? What about your church... and what do you care about?
Inquiring minds want to know! 
Edit:
I'm just asking about your neighborhood... your town. I'm not judging anyone.... simply making an observation about the area that I live in. I know there are wonderful towns and I know there are worse towns. And yes, we do and have been ministering to the people of our area... but they won't change until they are ready to be changed.
< Message edited by pstrdebi -- 6/2/2008 5:16:30 PM >
_____________________________
"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 2:14:37 AM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3574
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
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quote:
and so, some of his members have still been seen dealing drugs in the parking lot after church
A call to the police should stop this.
quote:
On one end of the street, there is a small group of families who do not like Christians at all and will come against them in some of the most ridiculous ways, such as filing police reports when they think these Christians are driving 17 mph down a 15 mph road.
There is a "Christian" couple next door. He attends a Religious Science group, she attends a seeker friendly church. They are living together... do not want to get married... and are still collecting full SS benifits from the deceased spouses.
There is a "Christian" woman at the other end of the street who is a pharisee in her own right and does not believe in praying for her husband to be healed.
Three doors down from her is a "Christian" Pastor who is also a "Rabbi" and a "(Catholic) Priest"????
One thing is for sure...as your neighbor I would be under a microscope.
quote:
Are we not responsible to care and pray for the state of this world?
I think so. However, the results are God's.
quote:
What about the churches today? What about the churches in your neighborhood? What about your church... and what do you care about?
Some churches with some different doctrines from mine do good works.
Many christian churches are out there doing great things.
I hear of these ear tickling heretical churches but I really don't know any. I am sure there must be some around...I just don't hear about it other than the tv ministries etc.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 9:27:00 AM
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inthysite
Posts: 630
Joined: 2/12/2008
Status: online
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quote:
Down the street we have a church where the pastor never confronts his congregations sin. He does not seem to agree with that, and has a "oh, you're ok brother, God still loves you" attitude towards his members... and so, some of his members have still been seen dealing drugs in the parking lot after church. Why? Because they are never taught about sin.
On one end of the street, there is a small group of families who do not like Christians at all and will come against them in some of the most ridiculous ways, such as filing police reports when they think these Christians are driving 17 mph down a 15 mph road.
There is a "Christian" couple next door. He attends a Religious Science group, she attends a seeker friendly church. They are living together... do not want to get married... and are still collecting full SS benifits from the deceased spouses.
There is a "Christian" woman at the other end of the street who is a pharisee in her own right and does not believe in praying for her husband to be healed.
Three doors down from her is a "Christian" Pastor who is also a "Rabbi" and a "(Catholic) Priest"????
This is just the 'short' list. Yet all these folks claim to be devout Christians. We believe we were called here to minister the Gospel... yet so many do not want to hear the truths of the Word. David talks in Psalm 31:31 about being in a "besieged city," often we feel that way.
pstrdebi please do not take this the wrong way, I do not know you nor the work that you may be doing, all I know of you is what you post. My response it not meant to offend in any way but is meant in love and respect.
It appears to me that you are spending more time judging the people around you rather than ministering to them. None of us are perfect and while some of the things you mentioned are atrocious (the dealing drugs in a church parking lot comes to mind) if you place a microscope on anyone's life you will find sin, it's just our nature.
My question is what are you doing to minister to these people? By your own admission you say that you were called there to minister the Gospel;
quote:
We believe we were called here to minister the Gospel... yet so many do not want to hear the truths of the Word.
So what are you doing to do that? Remember Jesus faced rejection everywhere he went, so did Peter and Paul and everyone who preaches the gospel. Jesus warned us that we would but we still need to preach.
Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isa 55:6-11 NASB)
_____________________________
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer - Psalm 19:14
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 10:39:17 AM
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mvic
Posts: 1046
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Dear pstrdebi,
It seems to me (and I may well be wrong) that you are where you are because God wants you to be there.
As you know, Jesus associated with the sinners and the outcast in society.
Maybe God is asking you to do the same. If so, what a privilege and honor you have to be doing what He has asked you.
God bless.
_____________________________
http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
Welcome to my Blog
MEI VITA INDICO CHRISTUS
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 12:00:15 PM
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Kat_D
Posts: 3187
Joined: 9/2/2005
From: Where We Shake, Rattle & Roll!
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Yep...Jesus addressed this in the Gospels...
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." -Matthew 7
We are called to be examples to those types of "Christians" by doing the "will of (the) Father"... that (prayerfully) those who witness our example will be changed. You are the "light of the world" therefore, "let your light so shine" in your neighborhood...wherever that might be.
_____________________________
~Kat
"...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes...no more death, sorrow, nor crying."
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 12:00:51 PM
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sparkleingsnow
Posts: 3689
Joined: 1/9/2007
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I'll tell you about my neighborhood.
I live in a small area (to small to call a town lol), with about 250 people, less in the winter, more in the summer.
There is a cult in my area, the members follow the teachings of someone who has been dead for several hundred years that is tranced by the leader. There are the drug users and most likely drug dealers. There is the bar group, who will only step foot into the church for funeral.
There is no Mr Rogers neighborhood. Not on this earth. But we must reminber that we are in the world not of the word. As someone posted above, we all have sin and won't hit perfect till we get to heaven.
So how should I react to these people? With love. Try to live my live in such a way that refects Him. To reach out and respond to them in love.
_____________________________
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 3:45:58 PM
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delete123
Posts: 681
Joined: 6/1/2005
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My neighborhood is a smaller city and some residents still refer to it as a town.( the population is now over 42k.)
I think drugs run rampant everywhere and actually the street my church is on there are 3 known crack houses. Ironically enough 1 is right behind the courthouse.
The kids have come to the church at times, mainly during the summer for VBS type class.
We are inudated with homeless, but this town/city does not allow shelters, so many you can find in the woods, rr tracks, behind supermarkets, etc...
Most churches in my particular neighborhood are 3Catholic, 1 heritical Baptist (It was a normal one until the pastor decided to do separation and now you can only go by invitation.) 1 Methodist, 2 Episcopalian (they were actually one and split, but use the same name.) 1 non denominational, 1 Penticostal, 1 American Baptist, 1 2nd Congregational, I Unitarian and a Synagogue on the border line.
There are two others on the road going out of "town" The denom. of 1 I am not sure and the other changed their name, but was a Missionary Alliance.
Most of the churches do food pantries and some serve dinners (some do both). I, myself live in sort of segregation from the town, because I live in an apartment community. In my building I know the one family downstairs is wiccan(She brings her daughter to the Unitarian), but across the way go to the American Baptist Church. My neighbors next to me are non practicing elderly Catholics. Her neighbor across the hall goes to the 2nd Congregational. I only know 2 families above me and the one are newlyweds and belong to the family below me and beside her is the new family who are Coptic. (I went to their baby's baptism. Which was really interesting.)
The re-elect mayor is trying to make it a sleepy town, non industrial, no homeless, no poor, end of story.
I know a lot of folks here, but a lot of times I isolate myself. So welcome to my neighborhood
CRH
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 4:59:55 PM
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pstrdebi
Posts: 597
Joined: 4/28/2008
From: So. Oregon, by way of So. Cal.
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SonInMe1
quote:
and so, some of his members have still been seen dealing drugs in the parking lot after church
A call to the police should stop this.
Believe me... they know. No-one does anything... it's really sad.
_____________________________
"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 5:16:15 PM
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frankman
Posts: 220
Joined: 4/12/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: pstrdebi
But where are you... and why aren't you my neighbor? We live in a small town of about 2500 people... and here is just a glimpse of what our neighborhood is like:
 I guess geographically speaking, I am your Mr. Roger`s neighbourhood. The only difference between my town and your town is I can add one more 0 to the population, making it around 25,000. As far as sin goes, your town would describe my town very well. My town a few years ago was a lot smaller and was known as a poor conservative community with more Churches in it and surrounded by more Bible Schools then anywhere else in North America. However today we`ve become a very rich effluent society as our city has become the hub of the oil patch. Yes, it is true, every time your gas prices increase, some (not all) are getting very much richer out here.
Misfortunately things have also changed for us spiritually. Today most of our Churches are empty on Sunday mornings, as our people are spenting their time and oil money at the lakes and beaches instead of in God`s house. In fact some Churches even close their doors completely for the summer months. Our biggest Church in town hired it`s first homosexual lead Pastor a few months ago and the board members think it`s great because now they`ll be able to fill their empty benches with all our homo-sexual married population. In my country these types of marriages are now legal and some of our ministers are performing them. Even though according to our law minsters are exempt from having to perform same- sex marriages, our Justice of the Peace is not, as last week one was fined $2500 for refusing to marry a same-sex couple on religious principals.
We can best describe ourselve as a people that the Judges describes as "everyone did as he saw fit." (Judges 12:25) Even though we`re not Americans, we are your neighbours. (note how I spelled neighbours,  don`t spell it with a 'u".) In fact I believe the people in    are also our neighbours. The whole world is our neighbourhood. Christ died for all peoples. The Gospel is to be proclaimed "to those who live on the earth- to every tribe, language and people." (Rev.14:9)
On the positive side we have more people praying for revival in accordance to the O.P. verse from 2 Cron.7:14 then ever before. In my town we have a split ministerial, as working together with the more liberal Churches would be a compromise. However if you were in our town at Easter time you would find that Churches of all denominations, with a common belief in who Jesus is, whether Baptist, Mennonite, Pentecostal, Presbyterism etc. worship as ONE, under one common roof with thousands in attendance, as we worship and pray together for our city and for our neighbours around the world. Our motto is John 17:21 "that all of them may be ONE, Father, just as You are in Me and I in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me." What a testamony this oneness in Christ is to the unbelievers in our town!
 I believe if we as believers lay our differences aside and unite in prayer for our neighbours everywhere, we can make a difference.
_____________________________
"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8 Greetings- Frankman
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 5:40:31 PM
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pstrdebi
Posts: 597
Joined: 4/28/2008
From: So. Oregon, by way of So. Cal.
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quote:
ORIGINAL: inthysite
pstrdebi please do not take this the wrong way, I do not know you nor the work that you may be doing, all I know of you is what you post. My response it not meant to offend in any way but is meant in love and respect.
It appears to me that you are spending more time judging the people around you rather than ministering to them. None of us are perfect and while some of the things you mentioned are atrocious (the dealing drugs in a church parking lot comes to mind) if you place a microscope on any-one's life you will find sin, it's just our nature.
My question is what are you doing to minister to these people? By your own admission you say that you were called there to minister the Gospel;
quote:
We believe we were called here to minister the Gospel... yet so many do not want to hear the truths of the Word.
So what are you doing to do that? Remember Jesus faced rejection everywhere he went, so did Peter and Paul and everyone who preaches the gospel. Jesus warned us that we would but we still need to preach.
Well, no you don't know me... nor do you know about the thousands of unpaid hours we have poured into this community and it's people...
But regardless... your comments are offensive.
This thread was simply a statement regarding the state of the "church"... the body of Christ... which is in every single community in America, including mine.
My neighbors are not under a microscope... they expose themselves quite well without anyone having to seek them out.
However... if it please the court:
The gentleman who is dying... and his wife won't pray for healing... My husband has spent hours upon hours with this man as well as alone in his prayer closet, crying out to the Lord for him.
There is a "Christian" man who is an alcoholic... has lost his wife, his kids and his job. We counsel and minister to this man at least 20+ hours per week. That is not counting the 2 am phone calls when he is deep in depression.... or the times we have spent 7 hours straight on the phone with him talking him down from shooting himself.
There is a "Christian" woman who is a meth addict and has her children taken from her by CPS... yet we still poured all of hearts and strength into her for 6 weeks straight... bringing her to our home, counseling with her, ministering to her, loving on her... only to have her stab us in the backs.
I don't think I need to go on. We are PASTORS. We were called here and we serve here. The thread was not about OUR state... the thread was about the state of the body.
_____________________________
"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 6:03:48 PM
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inthysite
Posts: 630
Joined: 2/12/2008
Status: online
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quote:
Well, no you don't know me... nor do you know about the thousands of unpaid hours we have poured into this community and it's people...
But regardless... your comments are offensive.
Sorry to have offended you, that was not my intent. As I stated I do not know you nor your efforts. I based my reply solely on what you posted. You did not mention your ministry efforts, only the condition of your "neighbors".
There are a lot of people who post here who do nothing but complain about the world around them and do nothing about it so I asked, rather politely I thought, what it was that you were doing. That is all.
Again, I apologize.
_____________________________
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer - Psalm 19:14
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/2/2008 9:12:04 PM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3574
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
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quote:
our Justice of the Peace is not, as last week one was fined $2500 for refusing to marry a same-sex couple on religious principals.
This is wrong. Very wrong. Its against the basic principles our country was founded on. I think....the pastor was a coward and should have paid the fine and gone to jail than marry homosexuals....that...is what I think.
Our neighbors are always going to be fallen. Our responsibility is to be like Christ to them. Christ did not condem them. He told them the truth and loved them toward it.
Is there someway to have some interfaith gathering where you can expose these other church people to the truth?
The best way to witness I believe is living it. To be seen as Christ. Is there a way to expose yourself more? Tv? Radio? Promotions? I don't know but if you are the ones with God's truth, getting that to the people would seem to be paramount over anything else esspecially if a lot of perversion of the truth is rampant.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/3/2008 7:36:18 AM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3574
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
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I stand corrected. JP's are wholly different than pastors.
Got no comment on the canadian thing....
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/3/2008 8:46:19 AM
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sparkleingsnow
Posts: 3689
Joined: 1/9/2007
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Hi pstrdebi, I came back to ask what was the point you were trying to make with this thread, but I found my answer here,
quote:
This thread was simply a statement regarding the state of the "church"... the body of Christ... which is in every single community in America, including mine.
and going back to the OP, here.
quote:
Tell me what you think. Tell us about your neighborhood... your town, your city. What about the churches today? What about the churches in your neighborhood? What about your church... and what do you care about?
Inquiring minds want to know!
I forgot to tell you about my church. (See the rest about my neighborhood in my post above.) It's a small church. About 12 to 14 people most Sundays. It's Sourthen Baptist, but we don't use that in our name, because we want everyone to feel welcome, and I think most of us concider ourselfs christians, not baptist. (Being a Baptist won't get you to heaven. Only faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and you don't have to be a baptist to have that.) 
We are the only church in our small community, and try to reach out the neighborhood. In some ways it seems like the only light in a dark place.
You might enjly hearing about our VBS's. To be so small, we put on a big VBS. Usually have 20+ kids, and 15 or so workers.
I don't think the neighborhood speaks of the church though. (Not discounting that there are many christians who suffer with drugs, alcohol, and many other problems.) The neighborhood is of the world, the church should be of the body of Christ.
< Message edited by sparkleingsnow -- 6/3/2008 8:53:13 AM >
_____________________________
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/3/2008 9:03:09 AM
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deliveredarling
Posts: 1733
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My neighborhood is asleep. We have rampant homelessness and drug addiction. We have churches who would rather do good works than save souls. We have compromised the biblical principals to allow the sleeping ones to continue sleeping. We don't shout that Jesus is the answer. We've stopped relying on prayer to heal. We have stopped praying for the lost. We allow the addicts and homeless to continue in their lifestyles because we drive by with blinders on. We don't "see" these things because we might get dirty just by looking. if some of us "Christians" do look and lend a hand, they announce it to the world and hire recruits to do the job for them while they take all the credit.
To be fair, we do have a homeless mission who operates as it should-Jesus driven! Jesus is preached and taught and His hands reach out to the lost, the love the sinners-good and bad alike. the feed the hungry with His food and nutritious food for the body. The offer drink for the thirst. His spirit is never quenched.
The sleeping society occurs with the helpers ans well as the helpless and they are content that way. The flock that lives in my neighbor must be a sad sight in His eyes. There are but a few who heed the call. Bless those that answer. Selfishness is rampant, the darkness prevails here. We preach a different Jesus that appeals to the masses. My former church is an example. the preacher preaches to appeal to our small congregation, so as to not lose the handful we have. the fruits of the members tell the sad truth. We have a gay ordained minister, we have an active gambler. It is a church of misfits who do not believe that the need to change anything because they are forgiven. this is not an exclusive massage preached to this former church-it's quite common to the area.
As I said before, my neighborhood sleeps, very loudly.
_____________________________
"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed: but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light."
Luke 8:16
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RE: Won't You Be My Neighbor... (or where is Mr. Roger'... - 6/3/2008 5:32:13 PM
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I'm not sure what "basic principles our country was founded on" would apply in this case (although Canada does have freedom of religion, too). 
So how are our young people to ever learn what`s right or wrong? Another thing that worries me is we had a minister on 100 Hundley Street (a Christian daily T.V. program on Global) warn us that even though at the present time God may be blessing us, slowly our weather conditions etc. may begin to change as God`s blessing is withdrawn from us. He said if this doesn`t happen to us God would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah for destroying them.