Have you read Lloyd-Jones’ papers on the Puritans (placed into one volume)? Fantastic stuff! Therein he speaks about the “essentials” of the faith. A very good read.

Thanks for the excellent comment! You’re right about the odd juxtaposition of these last two posts. Even when working alongside those who are committed to the same Gospel, there are times of frustration (even a little hair-pulling and nail-biting) just like real flesh-and-blood families experience on an almost daily basis. We do and say stupid things that make others feel uncomfortable: sometimes even angry.

That was the case with me on Tuesday evening. It was SUCH a great evening together, but I felt it was nearly spoiled by the cultural insensitivities of the visiting pastor. I’m sure it was unintentional on his part and certainly his team is to be commended for bring 58 people to do missions in Wales at a personal cost of nearly $2,000 each. All in all, it’s worth the risks involved, even if we find ourselves a bit unnerved by some of the stuff that goes against the grain of our own personal bias/preference/methodology.

I’m glad you were refreshed by your brethren in the Lord. Now…have you noticed the irony/difference between the last two posts?

Cooperation is a must in our rural small town. We started a youth group in cooperation with the AG church. We generally lead the teaching, they generally lead the “worship” and together we have in attendance ranging from 50-90, with an average of 70. Our local jr hi/high school has about 180 in attendance. We also cooperate on the AWANA program. Our church sponsors it, but the commander is from an independent church and we have AG, Lutheran, Episcopal, Independents, Methodists and Nazarenes and Baptists working together to share the gospel and disciple the young people of our community. We average around 50 kids (mostly boys by the way) out of 180 at the grade school. The point is not to brag. God has done this.

I will make a another comment. I hear a lot of folks bemoaning the state of cooperation. Maybe what you need is a change of scenery. Try Wales, or the Northwest US, both are mission fields. Or maybe the answer lies in thinking of your town as a mission, where cooperation is a must in trying to reach the lost and disciple believers.

Now, I don’t need any folks screaming about the slippery slope of ecumenism. How we will soon be fallen under the evils of __________ church. I know all this, I am a bapist! However, if a simple bunch of coutry bumpkins in the middle-of-nowhere can work this out to the glory of God, perhaps it can be done in other places too. Why, because we can humble ourselves and let God do it.

I’m starting to rant and ramble…it is time to go.

Keith