UPDATE FOR OCTOBER 2007
Encouragement. Back in 1992 Harold translated a fine book entitled Encouragement, the Key to Caring by Larry Crabb and Dan Allender. This book went out of print, but now is back. The editor revised it completely and reissued the book. We had been discouraged because Harold?s efforts seemed lost, but now this helpful, encouraging text is back ? now we too are encouraged!
Men?s convention. Near Taranto in south Italy, 30 men gathered from a number of church of Christ congregations, and Harold went too. (The same organizers have a women?s convention in the Spring.) The theme this year came to grips with the Seven Churches of Revelation (chapters 2-3). We noticed a greater sense of fellowship among us, because we could identify with imperfect churches in the New Testament and examine our efforts with more objectivity.
The last session?s topic asked what we gained from the convention. Naturally, each one reported something different to take home. Harold was particularly impressed with the general attitude of love and openness he had experienced. He said, "We have studied these seven different, imperfect churches that had some very serious problems. As I go home, my question is this: if we had lived in that world of the first century (or if those churches were modern Italian churches), could we have full fellowship with them, as bad as some of them were? Were they 'churches of Christ' BEFORE Jesus wrote his letters to them, or were they 'churches of Christ' AFTER reading his letters, or both? Clearly, Jesus? corrections establish the true model, but how should we treat congregations like them in our own times? Jesus loved them and called them to repentance. Does this text reveal what WE should do with them? I am truly grateful for the love that you have shown me, imperfect and different as I am!?
On Sunday the morning speaker referred to these observations with approval. As we were leaving for our respective homes and congregations, one of the leaders approached Harold, saying, 'I had never thought of our church situation in the light of the churches in Revelation as you presented it. That gives us a lot to think about!'
Indeed it does!
Men?s convention. Near Taranto in south Italy, 30 men gathered from a number of church of Christ congregations, and Harold went too. (The same organizers have a women?s convention in the Spring.) The theme this year came to grips with the Seven Churches of Revelation (chapters 2-3). We noticed a greater sense of fellowship among us, because we could identify with imperfect churches in the New Testament and examine our efforts with more objectivity.
The last session?s topic asked what we gained from the convention. Naturally, each one reported something different to take home. Harold was particularly impressed with the general attitude of love and openness he had experienced. He said, "We have studied these seven different, imperfect churches that had some very serious problems. As I go home, my question is this: if we had lived in that world of the first century (or if those churches were modern Italian churches), could we have full fellowship with them, as bad as some of them were? Were they 'churches of Christ' BEFORE Jesus wrote his letters to them, or were they 'churches of Christ' AFTER reading his letters, or both? Clearly, Jesus? corrections establish the true model, but how should we treat congregations like them in our own times? Jesus loved them and called them to repentance. Does this text reveal what WE should do with them? I am truly grateful for the love that you have shown me, imperfect and different as I am!?
On Sunday the morning speaker referred to these observations with approval. As we were leaving for our respective homes and congregations, one of the leaders approached Harold, saying, 'I had never thought of our church situation in the light of the churches in Revelation as you presented it. That gives us a lot to think about!'
Indeed it does!
posted by Harold & Enid Fowler | 12:38 PM
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