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Letters July 16, 2007 For those of you who have not been “in-the-know” of late, but there have been a lot of activity on our two new blogs Notes (music & songwriting) and Word (books & writing). If you haven’t, you need to check those out!
This Summer has been different for me. First off, I am babysitting two girls. They are in elementary school, so they keep my son busy and aggravated at the same time. Another thing is I went camping for the first time in my life. It wasn’t that bad and I was actually excited about it; however, I don’t think I will be running to the store to buy lots of camping gear! And while I don’t have any camping gear (except for a cool remote light), I had to borrow a couple of sleeping bags for Saturday because my son and I spent the night at the zoo—under the stars no less!
These experiences have taught me that it is always good to get out of your comfort zone. It opens your mind, expands your thoughts, all the while making you thankful. Sleeping under the stars (of which I have never done) all the while looking at the heavens—I know this experience will solidify once again what an amazing God we all serve!
Re: “Theresa Huff”
Your article was so heart touching. It makes Heaven more real to me.
Good-bye world, good-bye will be a reality very soon. I have had the Holy Ghost for 75 years, and very soon it will take me to a better place, and when we get there, there will be no more good-byes.
Bermadine Caldwell, Illinois
Re: “T F Tenney an Enigma”
I met Bro T. F. Tenney at a camp meeting in Ocala, Florida many years ago and several things he said have stuck with me and even influenced several sermons of mine.
But to call him an “enigma” is hardly the right word. As a long- time editor and publisher of Apostolic literature, I had an immediate negative feeling toward the word in connection with Bro. Tenney, since I understood it in a less than complimentary way. So, just to be sure I did not misunderstand the meaning of the word “enigma,” I looked it up in my Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary where I found that “enigma n. 1. An obscure or ambiguous saying. 2. Anything that puzzles or baffles. –Syn. See Puzzle. [<L < Gk. ainissesthai to speak in riddles.]”
I hardly think that fits Bro. Tenney. Unique, one-of-a-kind, straightforward, honest, even charismatic would seem to me to be more appropriate to Bro. Tenney.
Re: “Got Doctrine? in Notes”
The sister makes very good points. My main comment is that as a retired minister still very active in Gospel Literature publication worldwide, I still drive a taxicab and while driving often listen to “gospel music” on the ol “Christian” FM station. In the last few years, in particular, I have heard less and less music that seems geared to praising our Lord Jesus and making us want to “tear up” and weep in worship to Him. A vast majority of the modern “Christian” music has only a veneer of Christianity over a totally secular theme, it seems to me, and the goal is to sell albums and make money and fame.
My wife attended a women’s conference and several other meetings connected to women’s ministries in Hawaii UPC and most of the song CDs she got were good, but even they exhibited less of the deeply moving, worship-inducing themes, lyrics and music that would make you want to fall to your knees and pray like many we used to sing 20 or 30 years ago. I really miss that kind of worship in the churches of today.
Rev. Samuel M. Smith, Hawaii
ninetyandnine.com
© 2007, ninetyandnine.com
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