Auf der anderen Seite des Grossen Teichs

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... es ist eben in der NAK ueberall anders, aber doch gleich.

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Report: We Care - China Earthquake Relief Day

(27/06/2008) Thank you for your extraordinary response this past Sunday for the China earthquake relief. A total offering of $94,907.87 was collected and has now been placed into the hands of the Canadian Red Cross earmarked China Earthquake Relief. On your behalf, a cheque from New Apostolic Church Canada for $91,146.07 was delivered to the Canadian Red Cross at 3 PM EST on Monday, June 23, 2008. The Canadian Red Cross filed the necessary documents in time to qualify for the Government of Canada matching donation. The Government of Canada established a fund to match all individual donations received by registered Canadian charities by June 23, 2008 for this relief. A follow up cheque from the Church for $3,761.80 was delivered to the Canadian Red Cross on Thursday, June 26, 2008 to cover additional offerings reported for this cause. As a result of your special offering and effort, approximately $185,000 has been added to support the relief effort for the victims of this terrible disaster.
Aus dem NACboard

"Shaquille" meint:

That can more properly be characterized as a "generous donation" than the $10,000 sent by Freund.

That the conservative Canadian NAC is showing the US how things should be done speaks volumes as to where the US church is financially and philosophically.

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Wie ein Musikbeauftragter (music director) fuer die NAC U.S.A. die ehrenamtliche Mitarbeit sieht.

In the thread about the new hymnals, Deaconess ask why volunteer organists need to pay for an organ copy to practice at home. The answer is given in this sheet that Peter Wagner gives out at his seminars. It is no longer good enough to be a volunteer.



The difference between volunteering and being called into God's service:
1 Chronicles 15:16-19... Colossians 4:17... 1 Timothy 1:12


1. A volunteer looks upon rehearsal as another commitment he/she has been obligated to fulfill, but someone called of God looks upon rehearsal as another opportunity to be used by God.

2. A volunteer looks upon any constructive criticism with indignation, but someone called of God is grateful for feedback because he/she wants to be the best they can be.

3. A volunteer puts in minimum effort, but someone called of God puts in maximum effort.

4. A volunteer sits back and complains about this and that, but someone called of God leads a personal campaign to improve that which needs improvement.

5. A volunteer feels threatened by the talents of others, but someone called of God feels secure in God's direction of his/her life.

6. A volunteer does no outside practicing or preparation (after all he/she is just a volunteer) but someone called of God comes to rehearsals and a performance as prepared as possible.

7. A volunteer wants to quit at the first sign of adversity or discouragement, but one called of God digs in and perseveres.

8. A volunteer is oblivious to the needs of his ministry, but someone called of God prays over the needs of his ministry.

9. A volunteer is more prone to jealousy of others, but one called of God praises God for distributing gifts and talents as he chooses.

10. A volunteer shrinks back from resolving personal conflict, but someone called of God seeks to resolve all relational conflict to preserve the unity of the team with which he serves.

11. A volunteer's main source of fulfillment is his talents and abilities, but someone called of God knows that being used of God is the most fulfilling thing you can do with your life.

12. A volunteer can't handle being put into situations where he's going to be "stretched", but someone called of God responds to God's call with humble dependence on him.

Aus dem Thema "Musical Notes" im NACboard

Peng.

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idea hat einen Artikel ueber die religioese Landschaft in den U.S.A. veroeffentlicht. Zusammenfassung: die protestantischen Kirchen verlieren weiter an Bedeutung, die katholische Kirche leidet trotz Zuwanderung aus traditionell katholischen Laendern unter aehnlichen Einfluessen, den groessten Zuwachs haben die Nichtglaeubigen.

Die Studie von "Pew Forum" mit 35,000 Befragten ist hier im Original zu finden.

Most Americans agree with the statement that many religions – not just their own – can lead to eternal life. Among those who are affiliated with a religious tradition, seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life. This view is shared by a majority of adherents in nearly all religious traditions, including more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches (57%). Only among Mormons (57%) and Jehovah’s Witnesses (80%) do majorities say that their own religion is the one true faith leading to eternal life.

Most Americans also have a non-dogmatic approach when it comes to interpreting the tenets of their own religion. For instance, more than two-thirds of adults affiliated with a religious tradition agree that there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their faith, a pattern that occurs in nearly all traditions. The exceptions are Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, 54% and 77% of whom, respectively, say there is only one true way to interpret the teachings of their religion.

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"A group of armed men kidnapped a Muslim and 16 members of New Apostolic Church including two pastors on the night of June 21 in Peshawar, the provincial capital, 145 kilometers west of Islamabad.
(...)
According to Shams Naveed, 35, a Peshawar Catholic, "religious bigotry" was the "driving force" behind the kidnapping. "The building was previously used as a madrassa (Islamic seminary). Siraj rented it to eight Christian families last year, who later started holding regular prayer meetings and singing hymns," he said.

"Local Taliban have been threatening them, telling them not to hold such gatherings," he told UCA News. More ...

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Perspektiven und Standpunkte

paradigm shift

I was just thinking about the evolution of some of the regular posters on the NACBoard (actually, I think we've all morphed since joining) and how our responses to someone that might very well be in the writer's "old shoes" can sometimes reflect a very strong internal reaction to a belief-system turned upside down. Maybe what might appear to be ridicule of "someone" is, in a very round-about way, an open reminder to themselves to never return to that way of thinking. By verbalizing the "idiocy" of their old thoughts and beliefs, it reinforces where they're presently "at" now as far as what they presently do or do not believe.... and why. Is it some sort of validation process?

Perhaps someone is just standing in the doorway... looking at a whole new way of thinking before them. It's kind of scary... to leave behind something familiar...something where all the pieces of the puzzle "seemed" to fit. Who will I become if I venture there? Maybe resoluteness... or an inability to accept new ideas is more a result of being paralyzed by fear of change... fear of becoming an unfamiliar "me"....

"Deaconess" im NACboard

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Vicar orders two-year-old out of church for talking during his parents' wedding

By Andy Dolan
Last updated at 10:10 PM on 06th July 2008

Ashley and Vicky Thorpe claim their wedding was ruined when Rev David Cameron ordered their two-year-old son to leave the church for talking.
A couple have accused a vicar of ruining their wedding after he ordered their two-year-old son out of the church for talking.
Jesus said 'let the little children come to me', but his words apparently failed to inspire the Reverend David Cameron.
The vicar, who is understood to have two grown-up children of his own, halted the marriage of Ashley and Vicky Thorpe after their son, Cameron, began repeating his father's name.

The vicar stunned the 100-strong congregation by halting the service and announcing: 'This is a legal ceremony and I cannot proceed with that (Cameron's chattering) going on. Will somebody please take him outside?'
More ... click!

Aus dem Thema "Insanity is not confined to the NAC".

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The Need for Scriptural Connection

AK wrote:
One should not judge the validity of a restored apostolate based on a lack of scriptural prophecy of the same. The first apostles could not have predetermined their ministry from previous Scripture.

At last, concession of a point I raised many, many pages ago--there is no scriptural support for a latter-day apostle ministry. Even though the re-establishment of the ministry is, according to the NAC, an absolute necessary for salvation, you will find not one scriptural reference to this monumental event in Christian history. In the absence of scripture, the claims to a continuation of the original apostle ministry is wholly dependent upon latter-day revelation of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the NAC lays claim to its calling in the same manner as, say, the Mormon church: God's Spirit has sent leaders who proclaim his word today and scripture is, at best, secondary to what they say God says through leadership.

The critical problem with a church doctrine not tied to scripture is that there are no spiritual checks and balances. Leaders, empowered by its membership to be the final word on all things spiritual, can make any proclaimation they choose unfettered by scriptural limitations or even Christian tradition. They are not even challenged within their own faith-community to justify their proclamations--hence a CA can declare God will come "in my lifetime" and members must accept the statement without question, and change their lives accordingly. Worse yet, even in the face of the failed prophecy further proclaimations dismiss the old as a change in plans by God. Or leaders can develope an entire "doctrine" on evangelism and forgivenss of the dead. Once again, members are not to challenge but to follow the invented teaching. Simply put, a faith system not tied to scripture or Christian tradition is one that will careen from one aberrant teaching to another. After all, you can't argue with people who contend they speak for God.

In the absence of any scriptural support, how then should we judge the assertion of the NAC that its apostle ministry is required for salvation? In its doctrinal statements? This thread alone has highlighted inconsistencies in such statements, including statments made by the CA that contradict current doctrine. Shall we judge it by the works of its apostles? The NAC is virtually invisible in the Christian community, having zero presence in seminaries, Christian writing circles, or religious organizations. This from a church that asserts its ministry is necessary for salvation. Shall we judge it by its success in the Great Commission? The church continues to contract in members and congregations, unable to even retain a status quo of membership in the US let alone bring in the un-churched. Shall we judge it by the strength of its leadership in the community? By its charitable work? By its missionary success?

The NAC would better serve God by dropping claims that an apostle ministry is essential to salvation. It can retain its identity by continuing to preach what the ministry represents in the church, while opening itself to the general Christian community. By changing the focus from an apostle-based salvation to Christ and His salvation, the church has a chance to touch the hearts of those who look for a relationship with Jesus. Tearing down the walls of exclusivity and subjecting church doctrine to open discussion and true scriptural analysis will provide a sorely needed spitituality check to leadership's' latter day proclamations. Finally, it would compel members to examine whether the church is meeting their spiritual needs, and free them to find the best environment for their growth in Christ. After all, the ultimate goal is to prepare the bride of Christ regardless of whether that soul hangs his/her spiritual hat.

"Shaquille" im NACboard

Hat nicht jemand einmal gesagt "Sola scriptura"?

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Einweihungsgottesdienst der Kirche in Parsippany, New Jersey mit Apostel Hammer, obwohl die behoerdliche Abnahme fehlt.
Mehr ...

I called Parsippany, New Jersey Building Permit department this morning, regarding the property owned by the National Organization of the New Apostolic Church of North America located at 819 Edwards Road.

They have not received a Certificate of Occupancy.
They have not had any final inspections, including Fire Inspection.

I filed a complaint, leaving my name and phone number.

"Deaconess" im NACboard

The church must act as a responsible citizen in the community. Filling a building with members prior to fire inspections and obtaining at least a temporary occupancy permit is reckless behavior. It shows a total disregard for community standards. Church leaders should be held accountable for violating the law and publicly disgracing the church.
"Shaquille", ebd.

Es ist ein klarer Verstoss gegen die dortigen Gesetze, ein Gebaeude ohne behoerdliche Abnahme zu nutzen:

Certificate Requirements

(a) New buildings: A building or structure hereafter erected shall not be used or occupied in whole or part until a form of certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the construction official.
New Jersey Permits

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Jetzt haben wir die Antwort auf die hohen Treibstoffpreise: Aktionen an den Tankstellen !
E're you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?