Brad,
We do see some change, but people who have been gone and come back 
are the ones who notice it more.  They especially notice the music 
and the warmth and openness.  Some of the people are growing 
spiritually as well and a few are beginning to become community 
minded, I mean, beyond the walls of the church.  Our heart is for 
more of that though.  It is so hard to be patient, and, 
admittedly,   some are stubborn, not wanting to change.  There isn't 
much of that.  The resistance comes more from people just not knowing 
what to do, and fear of what's new,  but if the prayer ministry of 
the church would really take off, I believe that that would change as 
well.Kathy




At 12:07 PM 1/27/2006, you wrote:
>Very well said. That pretty much says what I feel. You guys are making a
>difference in your community. I remember your doubts a couple years ago. Do
>you see a difference between then and now being you guys are the ones in
>the up front seating?
>
>Brad
>
>
>
>
>
>At 10:43 AM 1/27/2006 -0500, you wrote:
> >Brad,
> >          While it hurts, I have to say that I do see how the Lord is
> >getting a lot of glory in our dealings with Chris.  Our congregation
> >consists of mostly older attenders, probably bordering on
> >the  depression generation.  Most of them have lost there kids, the
> >baby boomer generation to the faith.  Many of them feel like failures
> >and have given up trying to evangelize or talk about their faith at
> >all because, they are asking themselves,  if they couldn't convince
> >their kids, how can they convince anybody?  Also, their generation
> >was taught to keep a stiff upper lip and put a good face on things
> >so, even when you're burning up, smile and don't
> >complain!  GRIN!  Greg and I haven't done that.  We've been
> >real.  The people have seen me cry, in public, horror of horrors,
> >over our situation and they've seen us pray and continually try knew
> >things.  We share the successes, such as our dinner with Chris last
> >night, along with our failures.  While I wish it weren't us, I
> >believe that our lives have given them some encouragement to continue
> >hoping and praying, and in some cases, sharing the hope that is
> >within them to others.
> >          Also, Greg and I have gained a lot of sensitivity which is
> >finally moving us, maybe, in a direction, to help others.  We've just
> >started doing marriage counselling this week with a couple that is
> >really having a tough go of it, but we've been able to come at their
> >problems with an attitude of, we're walking with you, not above you
> >with all the answers.  They've been responding well and if this
> >family does manage to stay together, the Lord be praise for using us
> >as instruments of healing.  they've seen us be real and I believe
> >that that helps them to be more comfortable.
> >          I can't help but give God glory and praise when Chris shows
> >me what unconditional love looks like and I become amazed that, no
> >matter how low I'm willing to go in my love for Chris, Jesus went
> >even lower to love and rescue me.  I have learned so much about God's
> >love by parenting Chris and I am free in sharing   what I have
> >learned with others.  God gets the glory in that as well.
> >          With my blindness, while I don't really like being this
> >example, I know that other people are encouraged to keep trying when
> >they see how hard I work to try to master or achieve something.  If
> >I, through my weakness, can inspire others to try harder to serve,
> >then it is really God who is being served in the end and He receives
> >the glory for it.
> >          Don't get me wrong.  I'd rather be healed.  I'd rather be an
> >example of the miraculous power of Jesus Christ.  I get so confused
> >by the passages that tell us to, "ask anything in His name."  I ask,
> >but do not receive.  It reminds me of the song, "If I were a rich
> >man," from the musical, "fiddler on the Roof."  The father asks,
> >"Would it spoil some vast eternal plan if I were a wealthy man?  I
> >often ask God, "Would it really make such a big difference in your
> >vast scheme of things if I could see?"  The singer goes on to lay out
> >all the things that he could do if he were rich.  I talk to the Lord
> >about all the ways that I could be more affective if I could
> >see.  For now, I guess that the Lord's answer is "no."  I don't know
> >if it is because I don't have enough faith or because I am more
> >useful to Him in my present condition.  I wish I did know so that, I
> >could quit bugging God and just move on.  but, I don't know, so I
> >continue to make my request and still serve and do what I can and
> >pray that, I will get my anser.  I'd prefer it in this life and I'd
> >prefer it to be what I want, but my head tells me that I may not be
> >afforded that luxury.
> >          In our devotions the other day was this quote, "Keep
> >praying, but be grateful that God's answers are wiser than some of
> >your petitions."  (William Culbertson)  I guess that that is what I
> >have to trust  in in the end.
> >Kathy
> >
> >
> >At 08:33 PM 1/25/2006, you wrote:
> > >Kathy,
> > >
> > >I need to soon stop my posts on this lol, I'm well past my promise bad me
> > >bad  me. hahaha. But I have a question.
> > >
> > >You wrote...
> > >
> > >"...           Anyway, Greg made a comment that I thought that I'd pass
> > >on.  He said that God is given glory when a person who has every reason to
> > >be mad at Him for what is seen as unfair treatment, loves Him anyway.  It
> > >put me in mind of  Job and how so much happened to him and he never was
> > >able to convince his friends that he was innocent, but in the end, God
> > >defended him and blessed him abundantly.  While the friends never lost
> > >anything, they didn't gain anything in the end either.  If we 
> could see how
> > >God got the glory in that situation, perhaps we could understand 
> better how
> > >God also gets the glory in ours."
> > >
> > >Comment and question. Although I don't understand, I still love and honor
> > >god. I feel I have no choice. Now the question. do you and Greg feel you
> > >understand how God got, or is getting, the glory with Chris' 
> situation? And
> > >does that change your desire for a change in that situation?
> > >
> > >Brad
>
>Brad
>
>    A successful relationship isn't finding the right person; it's being the
>right person