[ampaterry]

BlackEagle, I once read that Humility is the most difficult part of Christianity, because as soon as you think "I have it!", you've lost it.

For today:

I have said many times that I have some problems with denominational churches, not the least of which is the list of rules which most of them adopt. Now they usually claim they are from scripture, and can usually point out a scripture verse somewhere which can be interpreted as giving them this or that rule, but very often you can read the rule, then read the scripture verse, and think “How on earth did they get THAT from THIS??” I have always preferred to get my list of rules direct from scripture, not re-written for my benefit. I have even pointed out that, in my experience, the list of rules which a church adopts is usually composed of things which the leadership of that church never had any problem with anyway!

Well, I have said that for years, but I just found out that I am not the first to say it. I read where Walter Arnold of the National Geographic said: “When people decide to take up reforming, they first find something that won't interfere with their style of living. Then, brother, can they reform!”

Jesus tells us about judgment:

Matthew 7:1-5 (KJV);
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”

At my church you won’t find a list of rules on the wall; we think the book of rules called the Bible is sufficient for our purpose, and we do our very best to apply it to ourselves first.

I will talk to you again tomorrow - and may God RICHLY bless you.