Zdras!
One is that our former fearless leader is heading to Kiev, Ukraine on the 26th of this month. Heard a report about it and then read it in Russian. I guess that Steve Johnson will be giving the sermon in two weeks. This would put Churches of Kip on every continent except Australia. Considering that Shawn Wooten, one of the gang of 85, was recently appointed by the European Missions Group to be an ‘evangelist’ there, sounds like he may have his hands full.
Speaking of Working Together
The 12th Annual Great Paperchase has been planned. They key book, by F. LaGard Smith, talks about five levels of fellowship with those professing to be Christians. I have not read it,yet , but I hope to have it read soon. From what I have read so far, I see a lot of similarities between the author and me.
Mr Smith receives tremendous criticism for some of his views, especially from more conservative sections of the Churches of Christ. Lest you believe that he is weak (yes it is in italics) on doctrine, he recently added an appendix criticizing Max Lucado. In case you do not know, Max Lucado takes some heat within the Churches of Christ for his ‘evolving’ view of baptism. Both men have been marked as false teachers.
The reason I mention this at all is the fact that some number of folks from the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches will be in attendance. It’s almost tempting enough to go myself. I mean that seriously. Even if I do not attend, I would encourage others to do so. It is the beginning of something that should have happened years ago.
An Aside (with spleen)
I am beginning to wonder if the former ‘Teacher Group’ is beginning to have Little Man Sydrome. What I mean is the unhealthy perspective that you are perpetually small, ineffective, persecuted, or placed in the role of the underdog. More later…
The Good News Is…
I still encourage people to go – the event will allow for all kinds of connections to be made in a unique setting. It is also a challenge to the status quo of saying that we have brothers in other denominations and actually doing something with them. We need the outside perspective and help. We need to come home and enjoy our family again. Here are folks from other parts of the Restoration Movement that are friendly to us coming to our event. (Why wait until next year? Let’s go to their events this year. I couldn’t make ACU, but the NACC is nice.)
If I decide to go, I’ll let you know about it. I wish it was still a part of the big Evanglical shindig as originally planned, but this is the next best thing. I pray God blesses this effort.