Iron is needed by the body to work properly

I don't think staying busy from 8:00 this morning to 11:00 tonight would have been so bad had I not stayed up until 2:30 last night reading "Taggarung" (or something like that spelling). I almost didn't blog tonight because I was ready for bed. But don't worry, my iron will and decisiveness made me get up and post for all you lovely fans out there.

Other than to toot my own horn about how much I work today ( I happen to know that my mom will laugh at what I consider 'work'. ), I did want to mention part of a conversation I overheard yesterday as I was shopping at Lowes. Two people were talking to a cashier and they were apparently from the same church. The older couple was telling the cashier how some person should be asked to leave the church because he was starting to move away from the Reformed position. When I heard that statement I had several reactions right off the top of my head. i.e. They came to me over the last two days.

(1) The Bible only uses expulsion from fellowship with believers as a last recourse for a believer who steadfastly refuses to repent, or simply said, is in a state of rebellion against the Church. Theological differences do not count as a rebellion against God.

(2) I could see asking the person to not be a member of a church if the church statement of belief for members requires a particular theological position, but that is far different than asking the person to part with the whole church body.

(3) A verse my mom really likes is Pro 27:17, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. " When there is an honest disagreement between friends, especially the close friends within a church body, there is a growth of understanding. Proverbs 27 doesn't say that the opinions of either person will change or the disagreement will be solved, only that the understanding of both people will be improved, and it states that as a good.

(4) This is what we do in everyday life. We like to hang around people like us, who think the same way, and people who act the same way. The Bible does say not to be too buddy-buddy with non-Christians, but when we deal with other Christians, we should be willing to listen to other points of view with an open mind - and Proverbs says that we will be sharpened.