O, honestly!!

Why do you talk so down to those who do not share your opinion? In 
mine, you are self-righteous!

IN HIS MATCHLESS NAME,

purple Mari



At 05:01 AM 5/8/2007, you wrote:
>You know Phil,
>         I get the point of this message, but what I think that we 
> all miss is the fact that prejudice isn't just a sin of the rich 
> and well dressed.  It also belongs to the poor and more 
> casual.  These types of stories are always cast to make the rich 
> look like the bad guys.
>           When Greg was in seminary in Chicago, we provided special 
> music to different churches around the area to help pay the 
> bills.  One time, we were asked to sing at a church and we forgot 
> to ask if the dress code was casual or formal, meaning suit for 
> Greg, and a dress for me.  Well, we decided that it was smarter to 
> dress mor formaly, just in case and, when we arrived, we were out 
> of place, clothing wise, that is. Sure enough, the dress was 
> casual, not because of lack of money, but because that was the 
> basic attitude of those who attend.  Sure enough,  we got looks.
>           There are people who believe that they are more spiritual 
> because they dress casually.  That can be a form of pride in 
> itself.  To say that God had never been in the church in your story 
> because, in the cowboy's opinion, the people were too focused on 
> clothes, is a prejudiced statement.  The cowboy couldn't know.  He 
> didn't talk to the people to find out where their hearts 
> were.  Perhaps they choose to dress well to show honor and respect 
> to the Lord.  Sure, the preacher was making some prejudiced 
> assumptions of his own, but, in my opinion, he may not have been 
> the only one at fault here.
>Kathy
>
>
>
>At 02:24 PM 5/7/2007, you wrote:
>>      One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before
>>services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were
>>spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt, and boots that
>>were very worn and ragged.  In his hand he carried a worn out old
>>hat and an equally worn out bible. The church he entered was in a
>>very upscale and exclusive part of the city.  It was the largest
>>and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen.  The
>>people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive
>>clothes and accessories.
>>      As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No
>>one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled at
>>his appearance and did not attempt to hide it.
>>      The preacher gave a long sermon about Hellfire and brimstone
>>and a stern lecture on how much money the church needed to do
>>God's work.
>>      As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher
>>approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor.  "I surely
>>will, Preacher," the old cowboy replied pleasantly, "Ifen I ken."
>>      The well dressed preacher said, "Before you come back in here
>>again, have a talk with God and ask him what He thinks would be
>>appropriate attire for worship."
>>      The old cowboy assured the preacher he would do as he
>>requested.
>>      The next Sunday, he showed up for the services wearing the
>>same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, hat, and worn Bible.  Once again
>>he was completely shunned and ignored.
>>      The preacher approached the man and said, "I thought I asked
>>you to speak to God before you came back to our church."
>>      "I surely did do so, Preacher," replied the old cowboy.
>>      "Well, then," the preacher said indignantly, "if you spoke to
>>God, what did He tell you the proper attire should be for
>>worshiping in here?"
>>      The old cowboy smiled respectfully, shifting the tooth pick
>>to the left side of his mouth, and said slowly, "Well, sir, God
>>told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear.  He says
>>He ain't never been in this church before."
>>
>>
>>It Sounds Like God To Me.
>>www.SafePlaceFellowship.com