A Discrepancy in Language

I know this could be a vast topic including a huge list of words. But at this point I really question only one.

PASTOR

This word in the bible refers to "shepherds" of the church, overseers, or elders. Today in most churches the word is used, more or less, to describe someone who speaks on Sunday mornings. I question some of the differences here and if they really are something that truly matter, something that we ought to make a big deal about and say things like, "Well, we really should call them ministers." Or something like that.

There are a few things I'd like to point out.

• As far as I know the "denomination" Church of Christ is the only "denomination" that chooses to call it's speakers/teachers/preachers ministers.
• I know that Baptists, most non-denominational (or community) churches, and some others call them pastors.
• Then you have Catholics, Episcopals, Anglicans, and such who call them Priests (which is arguably a completely different role than teacher/speaker).

A suggestion of why these "denominations" who call their speaker/teachers pastors is justified is that they more specifically will call them "leading pastors" or "teaching pastors." By that, they mean that they are one of the many pastors at the church and they have been assigned (by the other pastors) the role of leading and/or teaching the congregation.

Anyhow, once again -- I wonder if this language discrepancy is really worth fussing about at all. What do y'all think?

Sovereignty of God

Is God sovereign?
Is His supremacy so great that He knows every day and every moment of my life? (Psalm 139:16)
Does he know the hairs on my head? (Matthew 10:30)
Does he determine my steps? (Proverbs 16:9)

True Love Waits?

After talking to some friends of mine from church, I had this theory about love. Everyone knows what earthly love is: one person really caring about another. We would talk about, for example, how we feel about girls. Every guy has had a crush on a girl, it's natural. But sometimes, you would feel more than just a crush for her, and each day, you would eventually feel more in love with her. Therefore, you experience a deeper love for her.

God always shows great love for us. Remember that "Greater love has no man than this", which refers to Jesus. My theory is that you will constantly experience a deeper love, rather it be for that special someone, or for God. When your level of maturity in your love increases to a point, that may be when you see Jesus face-to-face: true love. (That may also be why the good die young.)

What are y'alls thoughts on that?

Drawing a Line...?

Yesterday I was having a discussion with a girl. Let me go ahead and say that she is a Christian who actually works at her church in a daycare sort of place for children. When we were talking about what we plan on doing after high school is over she told me she either wanted to go into Ministry or EMS (Emergency Medical Services). So, obviously she has a very Christian background. But during our conversation we started talking about something that, until we talked about it, I didn't realize could possibly have so many different ideas and philosophies about it. What we were talking about was sex.

Both of us believed that sex was to be between one man and one woman. Although we believed it for different reasons. This was pretty clearly understood between us. But where we started having some different ideas and philosophies was in the blurry line that is between sex and not-sex. I started talking about how it was important to "draw a line" somewhere so that when you got there you would know not to cross it. She believed that the only way she could live was to not have a line and to venture wherever she felt until she knew she wouldn't be able to go any further; until she knew that God was telling her to stop. I thought that didn't sound like a very good idea, but it brought this question up in my mind about how many teenagers or young adults that there might be out there who might have similar beliefs. People who might have beliefs and philosophies that God actual wants them to "test the waters of sex" if you will.

Before I really shout out the conclusion that I've come to I just wanted to read some of your philosophies on this matter. I want to have a conversation of what you've come to believe, and then I'll unpack what I believe. Do you believe that drawing a line is important? If not, why do you believe that? If so, where do you draw it and why do you draw it there? Let the painting begin...

Click here to view this painting on the Google Groups and take part in the discussion.

A New Medium for the Painting

Hello! I know that I'm probably the most annoying person ever. But I've found a better medium for discussion than a blog. And that it a Google Group. So, I've started using the Google Groups for Our Painting. Please join me as we discuss our faith.

http://groups.google.com/group/our-painting

The Truth About Truth

What exactly is a lie? I mean, I know that it is not telling the truth, and that it is a "no-no" in the scriptures, but are there certain "lies" that are okay to tell? For example, if you are having a surprise party for a friend or family member, and you can't tell the person about it or say that there isn't going to be a party to conceal it, is that okay? And if you are joke-lying or being sarcastic or something, is that okay or should you avoid all of those things completely?

Jesus' Return- In the Morning?

I've been looking through a lot of church songs, and they all refer to the Second Coming as taking place in the morning, such as:

"I'll fly away IN THE MORNING" - "I'll Fly Away"

"The MORNING of the rapture" - "I want to stroll over Heaven with You"

"On the bright and cloudles MORNING when the dead in Christ shall rise, ...
And the MORNING breaks eternal, bright and Fair" - "When the Roll is called up
Yonder"

"There is NO NIGHT there" - "In the Land of Fadeless Day"

There are many more songs, too. My question is why it takes place in the morning. It is true, however, that early morning is the best time of day, and that may be where they are getting it from. But is there any biblical refrence to the rapture taking place in the morning? Of course, only part of the Earth can experience Morning at a time.

(I apologize for my randomness.)