Cogitations

I had a thought from our Sunday Bible class. It has to do with wearing costumes. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

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Tony Brewer,

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So, Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. This fact seems to have ramped up the posts on facebook to eleven. I have some thoughts on this, I know, surprise! Take a moment to listen and maybe share some of your thoughts as well. 

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Tony Brewer, DIGITAL SUPPORT:www.patreon.com/nearchurcheswww.buymeacoffee.com/cogitations PAYPAL: [email protected] You can also send me crypto:@tonycogitationson my Coinbase WalletBTC: bc1qqrj8khghfsxkkna2gtgndpq9sqcxxynj4ujaumUSD: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672 [ERC-20]ETH: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672UST: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672 

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This episode is my thoughts about a post on Facebook. Take a listen an let me know what you think. Here is the post:

 

Stop the Anonymous Complaints

by Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

How can we make our local congregations stronger? Stop allowing members to hide behind the elders and instead, encourage reconciliation. Teach members how to confront other members in the spirit of humility, mercy, and love. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard about elders confronting members or the preacher with a complaint from another member. Oftentimes, this confrontation is done while keeping the complaining party anonymous. And so, the confronted member sits in an elders meeting being on the receiving end of comments like:

• We’ve been told your children made a mess in the teacher’s workroom.

• We’ve had complaints that your sermons are too short/long.

• Someone came to us about something you put on Facebook.

• We’ve had complaints about your children running through the building.

• The sermon you preached offended some of our members.

• Someone came to us about your daughter’s immodest dress.

And the list goes on and on and on.

Sadly, when you ask who the complaining party is the common response is: “They have asked that we not reveal their name.” As a result, the person who is confronted never has the ability to fully explain to that person their side or more importantly, to reconcile. (Instead, the confronted party spends the next 24-hours trying to figure out exactly who brought up the complaint—and bitterness often ensues.)

I know personally of 2-3 elders who have positioned themselves in various congregations as the person to "go to" if you have charges against someone else. They are quick to hear complaints. Sadly, these same men are not pursuing reconciliation between members. They are simply trying to be people pleasers and smooth things over. While they may believe this anonymous approach is most beneficial, simply put, it does not work—and it goes against the biblical principle of reconciliation. (It also goes against Matthew 18 when sin is involved.) Instead, it turns the situation into a big battle of “he said/she said,” with members trying to determine whose side the elders are on.

Proverbs 18:17 says, “The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him.” Solomon recognized that the first person to complain “seems right”—but he recognized there are two sides to every story.

Imagine the changes that would happen if elders refused to hear these complaints, and instead directed the complainer to the person who offended them. Don't like something the preacher said? Let's go talk to him and see if he really meant it the way you heard it. Imagine how many relationships could be salvaged if the leadership of the congregation just facilitated a face-to-face meeting between the two parties.

For instance, imagine this hypothetical situation: A woman comes to the elders complaining about someone’s children making a mess in the teacher’s workroom. She demands they confront the mother of the children, put a lock on the door to the workroom, and make an announcement that children under 16 are no longer allowed in the workroom.

Imagine the difference that would happen if the elder she approached asked her to meet with him and the mother of the child. Maybe before the meeting he studies with her on humility or loving as Jesus loved. Imagine if the mother of the child was allowed to apologize and offered to have her child clean up the mess or offered money to replace wasted supplies. Or imagine if the mother pointed out that while she and her children were in the workroom, it was actually the youth minister who made the mess.

The point is this—bringing the two parties together allows both sides to be clearly explained and allows for the chance of reconciliation. If we want our local congregations to be strong, we must be able to confront one another in the spirit of love—realizing we a

This one was pretty volatile, folk. Aaron and I ended up discussing a very controversial topic. take a listen and let us know what you think. Where were we wrong? ______________________________Tony Brewer, DIGITAL SUPPORT:www.patreon.com/nearchurcheswww.buymeacoffee.com/cogitations PAYPAL: [email protected] You can also send me crypto:@tonycogitationson my Coinbase WalletBTC: bc1qqrj8khghfsxkkna2gtgndpq9sqcxxynj4ujaumUSD: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672 [ERC-20]ETH: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672UST: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672

So I am in a festive mood! I had a thought this past Sunday about the best Christmas present one could give the local church. I did not want to be too gimmicky so I did not go with my original title which was "about the best Christmas present for your elders." Anyway, take a listen and let me know what you think, 

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Tony Brewer, DIGITAL SUPPORT:www.patreon.com/nearchurcheswww.buymeacoffee.com/cogitations PAYPAL: [email protected] You can also send me crypto:@tonycogitationson my Coinbase WalletBTC: bc1qqrj8khghfsxkkna2gtgndpq9sqcxxynj4ujaumUSD: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672 [ERC-20]ETH: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672UST: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672

Have you ever read the story of Clever Elsie? It is a Grimm's Fairy Tale about a young girl who is told that she is very clever when she is not. It as, forgive me here, grim. Take a listen to the episode here and let me know what you think and whether or not you got any other moral from this story other than what I got. _____________________________________

If you want to hear the story, click here:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8spowhqSsh4

______________________________________

Tony Brewer, DIGITAL SUPPORT:www.patreon.com/nearchurcheswww.buymeacoffee.com/cogitations PAYPAL: [email protected] You can also send me crypto:@tonycogitationson my Coinbase WalletBTC: bc1qqrj8khghfsxkkna2gtgndpq9sqcxxynj4ujaumUSD: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672 [ERC-20]ETH: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672UST: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672

This episode is from an article from Apologetics Press. I really like their material and I hope you garner something to think about and that would help you as you navigate this topic with people you meet on a daily basis. _____________________________________

 

Tony Brewer,

 

DIGITAL SUPPORT:

www.patreon.com/nearchurches

www.buymeacoffee.com/cogitations

 

PAYPAL: [email protected]

 

You can also send me crypto:

@tonycogitations

on my Coinbase Wallet

BTC: bc1qqrj8khghfsxkkna2gtgndpq9sqcxxynj4ujaum

USD: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672 [ERC-20]

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Have you ever met someone who always gets under your skin? Have you ever met anyone who pushes your buttons. Have you ever lost your temper? Is loosing your temper the same as setting healthy boundaries with these types of people? Take a listen and let me know what you think about what I have to say on the subject.

_____________________________________

 

Tony Brewer,

 

DIGITAL SUPPORT:

www.patreon.com/nearchurches

www.buymeacoffee.com/cogitations

 

PAYPAL: [email protected]

 

You can also send me crypto:

@tonycogitations

on my Coinbase Wallet

BTC: bc1qqrj8khghfsxkkna2gtgndpq9sqcxxynj4ujaum

USD: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672 [ERC-20]

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Don't throw stones just yet. All I am trying to do with this episode is to get us to make better arguments and have more profitable exchanges with folk who do not hold the same beliefs we do. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

 

_____________________________________

 

Tony Brewer,

DIGITAL SUPPORT:

 

www.patreon.com/nearchurches

 

www.buymeacoffee.com/cogitations

 

PAYPAL: [email protected]

 

You can also send me crypto:

@tonycogitations

on my Coinbase Wallet

BTC: bc1qqrj8khghfsxkkna2gtgndpq9sqcxxynj4ujaum

USD: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672 [ERC-20]

ETH: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672

UST: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672

This episode is inspired by an article written by a friend of mine. You can read it here and find more of his daily blogs:

https://centeredonchrist.substack.com/p/a-plea-to-sunday-morning-only-christians?fbclid=IwAR1usP3asxUufjmhiOKhE1ZcQ4t34W6DC8r7whg9PjG_jfVDYH925MTCtIQ

 

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Cogitations now has a Facebook page. If you want to contact me for show ideas or questions I can turn into a show it is now easier than ever. Please like and follow the page so we can build a community!

https://www.facebook.com/tonyscogitations

 

 Tony Brewer, DIGITAL SUPPORT:www.patreon.com/nearchurcheswww.buymeacoffee.com/cogitationsPAYPAL: [email protected] You can also send me crypto:@tonycogitationson my Coinbase Wallet BTC:  bc1qqrj8khghfsxkkna2gtgndpq9sqcxxynj4ujaum

USD:  0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672 [ERC-20]

ETH:  0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672

UST: 0x4d4C623187Ebc44ACF7688ee3A11141f76D02672