What america thinks about

CHURCH!

"Most people have some sort of religion, at least they know which church they're staying away from"

Gentle Reader,

What you see is a building! Duh Not a church!!! Although most people (including many Christians) think that's what church is all about. In America, I get ask all the time "What denomination are you?" As if you can put me in the same box that you try to put God in. Well I never seem to have the right answer for some. "I'm a child of God" " What do you mean by that?" I am a Grace believer" "So where do you preach" "I am a bible teacher" "I never cared for Sunday school!" "No, no I mean I study the Bible, the history, language, customs, I have spent some 30+ years in the Study of the Word of God." "Couldn't find a real job, huh"! Sweet working only one day a week!"

 You see, gentle reader, many Americans think that church is a place to go or stay away from one day a week, or to go a couple times times a year!

 And America prides itself on that fact they have the biggest churches, largest congregations etc, etc. But you see Scripture teaches differently.

Stephen, before going down under a hail of stones said(being killed by the religious people of his day) "The Most High God dwelleth not in a temple made with hands" But of course the world hasn't heeded this at all-the Christian world. And they still go on making temples and houses for God! And why? Well, I think it's a wee bit more convenient if they can put God somewhere off in a house where He can stay alone and people can come to Him, Oh once a year at Easter or maybe more often at Christmas. But He's not wanted in the home, that's the whole thing. The social life, He isn't wanted there, or in business, He has no place there. So a building is made for Him, and it is called THE HOUSE OF GOD, and they just hope He stays there.

 How about you do you know where God lives?

Love,

Denis

The Irish church

The Book of KellsThe history of the early Irish Church is connected with the history of the Church in Britain. The British Church evangelized Ireland, for instance with the arrival of the Briton Patrick. (5th century)

After some years it was the turn of the Irish to bring the Gospel back again to Britain, of which Colum Cille is a good example. (563)

Then it was the turn for Rome to launch a mission into Britain with Augustine (596). At the synod of Whitby (664) the Celtic Church in Britain was defeated by this new order.

In 1166 King Henry II – with the blessing of Pope Adrian IV and on request of Dermoth Mac Murrogh King of Leinster - invaded Ireland and after 6 years the new decrees were passed at the synod of Cashel (1172), finishing the independence of the Irish and the Irish Church.

In the sixteenth century the reformation changed the scene in Britain, but in Ireland the reformation was imposed with act of Parliament rather than with the Book of God. When after 80 years a more sincere effort was made, the people had decided against it. The Reformation had come in English cloths - Ireland did not want it in this form!