I finally got to it.

In January I stated that I would be posting more well I finally got around to it.
  What six things do we do that does not enhance Church growth?
 What six things should we do to enhance Church growth?

Growing Your Church

Well here I go, this is my first blog of the year talking about Church growth.
It is my intent to discuss scriptural Church growth much this year.
If we all will look around us at what is happening to our churches we will have to admit that they are much weaker than they use to be. The Church in any community was once the focal point of that Community. that is not so any more.
There are those who would blame the times We live in, or many other things for the condition of our Churches. two preachers have even told me "We do not have the power of God that we use to have." I beg to differ on that, Jesus said " All power is given to me" " Go Preach The Gospel". well I believe Jesus. There are a lot of things We should be doing.
At Heritage Baptist Church We are in the learning process.
If you would like to join our prayer team just reply in the comment section.
Also there are other ways you can help. If you would like to know more Leave contact information in the comment section and I will contact You privately. Marlin Freeman.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! how many former bloggers are still out there?
IF YOU ARE THEN COMMENT, AND LET ME KNOW.

Opinion please.

Is the Church Covenant an "outdated document?" What do you think?
Marlin Freeman.

Texas Camp # 1

We sure had a gerat time, worshiping the Lord, Fellowshiping, playing games. At Camp # 1.
The preaching was the best yet. We had 33 saved, mostly teenagers.
A general spirit of revival prevailed.
I found out one thing, The camp is properly called "youth camp" it is hard for some of us older guys to keep up with them.
Maby we need a SENIOUR division of youth camp. It could be called "Youth at heart" What do you think?

Will be back soon.
I have a few things to discuss as soon as I get some time.

IDIOTS

I have a personal opinion to express. I think that a" so called" preacher named Jones who loves to stir people up by burning the Koran is a complete idiot. this man brings shame on all Americans. This land has always prided its self on being a land of "freedom of religion" there is no call what so ever to enrage people to the point of causing death, because you do not agree with their religion. I would suggest sending this guy JONES to one of the Muslims nations as a missionary. What do you think?

LETS TRY AGAIN.

WOW, it has been a while since I blogged but I plan to more often than in the past. This year has been really busy for me so far, there has been so much going on besides the things that I wanted to be going on. For instance I have been involved in 5 funerals in the past two weeks and was notified of another one this morning. I did not conduct any of these but they required my time any way. So what is going on with you guys who have remained faithful to discussing things with brethren that we at least casually know? I have gotten on face book, but it seams a little too" juvenile" for Me. I think I would like to get back to some "meat" and solve some problems or cause some. what do you think?

Blogs and Bloggers.

I really cannot understand why some people set up a Blog, then make comments that they know are controversial, and when they get comments that do not agree with them they remove them from the comment section.
What is the problem? If you want to talk to your self, and are not interested in the thoughts of others, why don't you just go out to the front porch and sit and talk to your self. What do you others think?

Churches and finances

OK Here we go again, New subject, so far I have visited three local Associations this fall. There seems to be a general concern being voiced, in the Devotionals, and messages. that is the lack of growth in the Churches. there also seems to be a concern that the Churches are declining. The reports from the Mission projects all show concern for lack of support.
Are we out spending the ability of the Churches to give? What do you think?

Silence broken

Well what should I say? the blog has been silent for far too long,
I have not quit blogging, You guys have been saying it all and I have been LURKING, and posting replies on your blogs, that way I do not get credited with stirring up trouble.
There are a few subjects left to discuss.
1. How do you think evangelism should be done?
2. is the church the personal representative of God commissioned to Cary out His kingdom's business until Christ returns?
Well I guess that is enough to get started on. What do you think?????

Brethren, I am very concerned about the lack of growth in our Churches, some seem to be on the Verge of death and there seams to be many people who think that is just natural.
Do you think that we should put more emphasis on re-building? or what do you think we should do? Marlin Freeman

Politics

I usually let the political pendants take on the public officials. BUT this is too good to pass up. Senator Barbra Boxer to a U.S. General. I would prefer to be called senator rather than Ma,am. Seeing as how her last name is Boxer, Pit Bull might be more fitting. What do you think?

It is all about time.

I have noticed that too many Preachers are in too big of a hurry to rebuild a Church. They go into the process trying to change fifty or more years of tradition with just a few weeks or months of " this is the way it should be" messages, and some progress will be made over the short haul, but all will be lost over the long haul. A lot of times just one in opposition can destroy a years work. In the past few years I have witnessed several churches and pastors self destruct, because of moving too fast. one rule to follow. [ every one must be on board before we pull out of the station]. What do you think?

Small Churches, Should We rebuild them?

In the last three years or so I have been very interested in rebuilding small Churches. At this point in the post we need to identify what we term small churches, They are the ones which are in danger of extinction. We in the Missionary Baptist ranks have gotten so accustomed to "small" Churches that We often equate the size with "holy" and that is not the real case. The real trouble with letting Churches stay small is that it can go out of existence very fast. Case in point, In one local Association that I have researched, In the last ten years there have been five Churches closed up. The local Association has lost over four hundred in Church Membership. I would say that this is cause for alarm. I would like to hear your opinion.

Your opinion please!!!

In I Cor 14 there is much information given to us about "tongues" Many today translate tongues as other languages. if all this be true would it be correct to actually say that this section of scripture teaches the need for us to communicate clearly today? Your opinion please.

Why so long?

It has been a while since I have posted. I am not about to to bury my blog but have been limited for a couple of reasons. One was health related, two,and three. were weather related, the most devastating was a storm hit and destroyed My office and all my electronic helpers, IE computer, fax, printer, two phones,and every other electrical thing that I had. But I am back, now ready for some more"spirited" LOL, conversation. from my very own equipment. SOOOOO. let her rip.

Where were You???

Where were you.??? On 9-11-01. The memory is still etched in My mind. I was in a motel near DFW Airport. standing on the patio drinking My morning coffee, and watching the planes leave out of DFW. there was a plane taking off about every 45 seconds. Suddenly they stop ed, and I casually wondered why? My Wife and I were in Dallas that day for a business Meeting. Only a short time passed until we learned about the Trade center, and the Hi-Jacked planes and the mass destruction. We knew first hand what a major disaster this was. We also had learned several years before what such an event does to Dallas. We were there when President Kennedy was assinated. Margaret was only a block away as the President was Killed. Remembering that time We cut our Business short and prepared to leave Dallas and head for East Tex. We found the Expressways Bumper to Bumper but moving, for the next 40 Miles it was 30Mph. but no stops. We will always remember those two days in Dallas.

The way it once was

I remember doing some research several years back, in preparation for My Masters Thesis, and remembered some things I found to be rather common in the 40s and probably much earlier. A church would set the beginning date for a revival, some called them "a protracted meeting" and not set a ending date. the meeting would go until one of the Deacons would stand and make a motion to end it. Then there would be a motion to schedule a Baptism service, and motion to schedule an annual Conference. During this conference an opportunity would be given for any one to make "Acknowledgements" or be turned out of the Church. Then the "doors of the Church" would be opened to receive members. those who had been Baptized, and others who wanted to join said Church, were received. Another item was to call a pastor for the following year. All this and more was done in the annual meeting and it took all day to do it. How would You like to go through that? One good thing it only happened once a year.

First love/First work

In the Letters to the seven Churches in Rev. 2&3 the very first Church Ephesus is the only one that received the threat of loss of authority to be a Church. if that be the case then is the greatest violation against the Lord the love that has grown cold,and the desire for soul winning, our "first work" that has waned, caused the most grief to our Lord? and for this reason He is most unhappy with us ? Then by this, should We make Soul winning our top priority above everything thing We do, and put all else in line behind this? What do you think?