Sailors, Take Warning!

Especially Christian sailors on life's sea, sailing toward eternity

To whom it may concern: East of Hubbard, we have high hopes to see the sun.

But maybe we will see the Son instead…

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

(Matthew 16:1-4)

(About the title: Red sky at morning)

Seven Things You Can Do to Cast Down Gentile Power in the Church

How to rein in an unbiblical reign in your congregation

“Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them” (Mark 10:42).

That’s what I call Gentile Power.

“Power. Authority. That’s pretty heady stuff! Too often, those who have it want to preserve it, and those who don’t have it want to acquire it.” (Mark Roth, c. 1994)

Gentile Power infects churches, church committees, and church boards. That’s because it infects disciples. Even disciples of Jesus. Read the context and background of the verse above if you doubt me.

Over the weekend I finally posted an article I wrote on this subject. In it I mention five categories of people according to their response to or perception of this evil. I also offer seven options for the consideration of those weighing their response to such use of church authority.

Along the way, I ask:

You have… You have… You have… But that person — minister, chairman, whoever — continues to use his position as license to exercise Gentile Power.

What are you supposed to do?

Jesus' disciples, watching Him closely

I eventually offer the challenge to choose between two other options. Then I advise:

Choose well.
You’ll pay dearly for either one.
But only one will reward you handsomely.

I invite you to read my full article (Gentile Power in the Church) then come back here and extend the discussion below.

Two-Vehicle Crash East of Hubbard

Thankfully, all three people in them survived.

The car sped past our place, headed for Hubbard, Oregon, about two miles to the west. Despite its apparent high speed, the car didn’t get even a tenth of a mile closer to town than our house sits.

We heard the thump.

crash east of Hubbard

None of the power poles were hit! The skid marks are unrelated. Notice the dips in the road. I wonder if the car’s apparently high speed and relatively light weight caused it to “float” enough when it got into those dips that the driver didn’t retain full control for a scant second or two…

crash site east of Hubbard

The car ended up a good distance beyond the SUV, I was told.

first responders working Whiskey Hill Rd crash

The second ambulance, ready to transport the male driver of the SUV.

Hubbard, Oregon -- crash site

This happened on Whiskey Hill Road five minutes or less before two this afternoon. The speeding car was a Jaguar driven by a very young fellow. The vehicle he somehow managed to hit was a newer SUV of the smaller sort with an older couple (perhaps around the age of the couple that lives in this house) in it.

The couple were trapped in their smoking SUV. Their extraction required Jaws of Life. They were eventually transported away via ambulances.

The young fellow got out of the very ruined car and seemed to be physically fine, but devastated. A report I received from the scene said the only part of the Jag that wasn’t ruined was the area where he was sitting! (I tend to suspect that is overstated at least somewhat.)

I thank God for their survival! And I’m thankful all over again for police and other first responders. God bless and keep them all!

Oh, and my apologies for the inferior quality of the photos. I was quite a ways away and couldn’t hold the camera steady enough on zoom. (I was directing westbound traffic to turn around in the parking lot of Hopewell Mennonite Church.)

Now it’s 9:08 pm and I’ve corrected some of the info above. The young fellow rolled the car several times…but I don’t know if he rolled prior to or as a result of the impact with the SUV which was coming toward him (ie, eastbound). As it sits in the photos, it’s aimed west… So my theorizing above might not be all that off.

The damage to the SUV is of that typically sustained in a head-on collision. Not so with the car. Did the car spin out due to insufficient traction for the speed, weight, and dips…and was broadsided into a roll? I don’t know.

And updated a little more at 9:28. Now I’m done. There are other details I know, but that’s enough for here.

I had to revise this somewhat again at 7:30 am on Thursday, November 2…

If Jesus Is the Christian Woman’s Lover…

Who is my lover?

Some of my sisters in Christ believe they have a sensual dimension to their relationship with Jesus. They even use sexually suggestive language in speaking of it.

I think the Christian woman with such a perspective gets there by using the Bible like this:

  1. When I became a Christian, I became part of the universal church.
  2. Jesus is the bridegroom of the church.
  3. The Song of Solomon graphically depicts a very sensual relationship between a man and a woman — romantic, passionate, sexual.
  4. The Song of Solomon pulls back the curtain on the relationship between Jesus and the church.
  5. Jesus wants me to have that kind of relationship with Him.

My beloved is mine, and I am his. -Song of Solomon

If you are a woman who sees Jesus as your Song of Solomon lover, please answer my simple question:

Who is my lover?

Read it all

How to Disagree With Anyone

Why I disagree (and why you shouldn't take it personally)

The young man asked to talk to me privately about church matters. He seemed to have two main things on his mind:

  • Why didn’t I go along or fall in line or be agreeable in certain matters?
  • I underestimate the influence (on some people) of the opinions and perspectives of “Brother Mark.”

I assured him that when I disagree, it’s on principle. I told him I don’t make such things personal. He seemed surprised. I was surprised and dismayed at his surprise. And I wondered what he had been “fed” about me.

That was several years ago. As I recall, it was during a recess from an all-day, heavy-duty men’s meeting of our church. It may have been in that time period that I posted this on Facebook on January 26, 2014:

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? (Galatians 4:16)

“Am I therefore become your enemy,
because I tell you the truth?”

(Galatians 4:16)

More recently I posted this on FacebookRead it all

Above all, love God!
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