Worship: Always Special

Growing up in the Church of Christ has been a true blessing. Growing up in the Church of Christ and being able to worship with Christians all over the United States has been an even greater blessing.

I have attended worship services in hundreds of Churches of Christ in several states, coast to coast during my lifetime. I have attended churches with over 4,000 members as well as churches with 20 in attendance. I have worshiped in special settings with over 15,000 Christians in attendance. I have worshipped in the inner city as well as in small towns and country family churches. I have attended worship conferences, lectureships and even attended a Christian College for two years as well as taught at one where I experienced a daily worship service.

It still amazes me with all of the experiences that I have encountered, that Sunday morning worship for the most part looks the same in churches across the U.S.

This is what you usually experience: announcements, three songs and a prayer, a song, communion, contribution, a message, then a closing song and prayer. Not much difference across the country. Right?

I have seen changes the last few years in worship among Churches of Christ. Most, I feel, have been positive changes. Ones that have taken us out of our traditional comfort zones and made us focus more on why we are doing some of the things that we are called to do through scripture.

I am happy to see more scripture being emphasized. I am happy that we are emphasizing more praise and worship songs instead of the songs that tell stories that sometimes don't glorify the Father or aren't even scriptural words, but we sing them anyway because we have for years.

I am happy to see a more significant importance placed on the Lord's Supper. I am happy to see God's Word being preached boldly with grace being emphasized.

Many times, on Sunday as I worship, my mind thinks back to Acts 2 and the early church. Wonder what worship was like for them? I can't help but believe it was even more of a special time because they actually beheld the Son of God. You think their worship services were emotional? You don't think tears flowed and hands were raised to the Lord of Lord's?

I hope we never forget that powerful event. I hope we don't become so callous from the many years that have passed that we don't emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually see the sacrifice and feel the pain our Savior went through for us. Thank You Lord for the opportunity to worship YOU!.

Thank you for the cross Lord,
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace
Thank you for this love, Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

Happy Secretaries Day Ruthann

Central is blessed to have so many special servants but the one that is the backbone of our congregation is Ruthann Souder. Yesterday was Secretaries Day. Ruthann not only serves as our secretary but she also is a prayer warrior, counselor, encourager and true servant.

Thank you Ruthann for the love you have for the Central Body and the love you have for God. It shines brightly everyday!
We love you.

A Special Woman

When I met her 28 years ago, I believe I was picking up her Volkswagen Bug with my friend Tim Walton and hiding it in the church parking lot after a devotional.

She has been a special person ever since.

I knew there was a reason why my dad retired from the Navy, and moved our family from San Diego to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I thought I had gone to the end of the world! But it was because God had a special woman there that I would meet, fall in love with and begin a life time journey together.

Her birthday is today. She is more beautiful today then when we met in 1977. She constantly teaches me lessons about life; about ways we need to treat others, about generosity, thoughtfulness, contentment, her compassion towards others and her love for God.

Thank you dad for moving us away from “Gods Magnificent Beauty of San Diego” to give me the “Beauty of My Life”.

Happy Birthday Debbie! I Love you!

Your Life On Display

How would you like everyone to know everything about you? How much you make? Your entire personal life always in the limelight? Anything you say could be placed in a newspaper?

That's me. My entire life is on public display every minute of every day as a school superintendent. Each person in my community has an opinion of me. Good or bad.

A Christian's life is always on display also. God sees everything. Not just the community, but God Almighty himself. He also knows my heart. That’s what is troubling at times. He knows those thoughts of mine that sometimes I don't want anyone knowing about. He knows each mess I’ve made…………

I love the lyrics to the following song:

For All You've Done
By Clint Lagerberg

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made
Upon the hill our places trade
Stretched on a cross Your body crushed
By human hands You formed from dust

Chorus
How wonderful Your mercy is
How awesome are Your ways
I come, I come
To worship You
For all You've done

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made
Your boundless love for me portrayed
With patience for my learning curve
By holding back what I deserve

Chorus

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made
With everything at Your feet laid
I watch as all my cares erode
And from my soul these words explode

Chorus

Send Your Rain

Thank you for the rain today!

Send Your Rain(Kelly Carpenter)

Send Your rain oh Lord
Send Your rain oh Lord
Send Your rain to your people

Send Your rain oh Lord
Send Your rain oh Lord
Send Your rain bring Your Kingdom

Chorus:
Soften our hearts and pour out Your Spirit
Fill us anew, let Your rain come
Soften our hearts and pour out Your Spirit
Fill us anew, let Your rain come

May Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
On the earth as it is in heaven
May Your kingdom come
And Your will be done On the earth,
bring Your kingdom

Mentoring (Part 2)

The first martyr in the history of the Lord’s church was Stephen, a faithful preacher. The death of this faithful man is recorded more fully than the death of anyone else in the New Testament except that of Jesus.

Here is a man dying for the cause of Christ, dying by the hands of wicked men, but dying in grace and dying graciously for the glory of God. Why did Luke identify just one of Stephen's murderers?

Those who stoned Stephen "laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul." I wonder if Saul was the man who examined Stephen and had been baffled by his speech when he stood before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:8-10)?

Here is the best part of the story of Stephen and Saul. Both of them are in glory now. One cannot help wondering how Saul felt when Stephen's smile met him at the throne! What a joyous meeting they must have had. Stephen and Saul embracing one another! But in Acts the two men are far apart. They had nothing in common. Stephen was about to die. Saul was holding the clothes of those who stoned him. Saul was proud and self-righteous. He was proud of his heritage, his learning, his works, his religious position, and his great reputation. Stephen was a broken, humbled sinner, saved by the grace of God, whose only hope was in Christ. Saul was wrapped up in himself. Stephen was wrapped up in Christ.

With all of these differences, I believe Stephen became a lasting impression on Saul. Stephen became a mentor of Saul’s even after his death. The cause of Christ, his church, his truth, and his glory were of greater value to Stephen than life itself. Stephen was gracious to the end, ever truthful, gentle, forgiving, and self-sacrificing. These were attributes and beliefs that Saul had, when he was converted, that became his life ministry.

Stephen had a significant influence on Saul (Paul) the rest of his life. We can be an influence as well. We can be a mentor to many individuals that we come in contact with each day. Our kids need positive role models. New Christians need teaching and training as well. Mentoring takes time and commitment. I appreciate the time and commitment that Stephen gave. He gave his life because he believed in the ultimate giver of life, Jesus!

Thanks Guys!

I am very fortunate to work with three extremely talented building administrators. They are good people. Honest. Sincere. Hard working (my favorite attribute, a 24-7 person). High morals. Ethical. Loves kids. Admits mistakes. Church going.

My three building principals are the best in the world. I wouldn’t trade any of them. We can go in a room and disagree and argue points back and forth but when we leave the room, we’re unified and respect and appreciate one another.

One item we enjoy discussing is religion. We all have different religious backgrounds but we all have two common bonds, we love God and we love people. We discuss on a weekly basis our worship services as well as our Bible class times, but many times we talk about the people we worship with.

I love the chance to talk about Central. The many gifted people that love serving God and others on a daily basis. I love describing the servant hearts and attitudes that make up the body. It's my prayer that everyone would have the special blessing that I have.

A great work environment where God can be discussed. If you ask any of my administrators, prayer is a must for all of us to get through the battles and struggles that we have on a daily basis. It sure doesn't hurt to pray for each other when we know a situation has to be taken care of that is very delicate and complex.

Prayer in school? Been going on since day one.

I am fortunate to work with good people who have a heart to minister to hurting kids and families on a regular basis.

The Unity Principle

"The union of Christians is the will of God, the prayer of Jesus, and the means of bringing the world to believe in Jesus, therefore it must be right. That man is then engaged in a righteous work, who labors to promote this union, by removing every obstacle to it; ... But the man who acts a contrary part must be wrong, and engaged in a work in opposition to the will of God, the prayer of Jesus, and the salvation of the world"

(Barton W. Stone, 1872)

Pure Was The Mind of Christ

I love the words to the old hymn that is one of my all time favorites, “Where He Leads I’ll Follow.” The words are powerful: “pure was the mind of Christ, sinless I see, He the great example is and pattern for me”. Every time I sing these words, “pure was the mind of Christ” I never really comprehend that His mind was pure. So often we struggle with the filth that comes into our hearts and minds from a world that is not pure or holy that we forget that our Savior did overcome, and with His help, guidance, and encouragement, we can overcome, live, grow and mature in Christ. He was the great example and pattern for me. Because of that, I want to give him my very best daily. I want to follow Jesus Every Day!

Unity is a Blessing

Ephesians 4:2-16
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

The Easter Story

The Story of Easter
As Told in the Gospel of Luke
Luke 23:50-24:53 (KJV)

And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered his words, and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.
Amen.

Easter

Easter. A special day. A day of hope. A day of power. A day of resurrection. A day of life. A day of surprises. This Sunday our worship will center on Luke 23: 26-49. It was a day of surprises for those that were present when Jesus died.

Order of Worship for Easter Sunday, April 16
"A Day of Surprises"
Luke 23: 26-49

Welcome: Roger Hamm

Worship Leader: David Carriger

Doxology

Glorify Thy Name

Hosanna

Prayer of Praise: David Carriger

Introduction: Jerry Myers

Lamb of God

#1 Jesus Death was A Day of Surprises: Rex Allen

Nailed to the Cross

#2 Jesus Death Was A Day of Stupidity: Gary Souder

Ten Thousand Angels

#3 Jesus Death Was A Day of Salvation: Roger Hamm

Communion

Contribution

Closing Remarks/Invitation: Bill Carriger

Invitation Song: I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Announcements: Roger Hamm

He Arose

Closing Prayer: Roger Hamm

LTC

Off to Kansas City for another Leadership Training for Christ (LTC). Always enjoyable watching our young people display their talents in a variety of spiritual activities.

Be in prayer for our young people and sponsors as they travel to Kansas City.

Mentoring (Part 1)

Interviewing students at universities has been one of the benefits of my position as a school administrator. They are young, have fresh new ideas, energetic, they love kids, will work 18 hour days, and they love education. When I interview a prospective teacher candidate, they “pump” me up. They energize me. They encourage me. It shows me that there are still individuals in our society that wish to serve and work in helping educate the youth of America.

One of the trends the past five years in education is mentoring. Mentoring has always been a part of the work place. Mentoring individuals to become even better in business and the work place have often resulted in greater dividends and benefits for companies.

It has also benefited schools. When new teachers are placed with experienced teachers, positive results usually follow. New teachers are given vital survival skills as well as a vast array of knowledge about past experiences, which might have resulted in positive and negative teaching aspects in their classroom. Mentoring also makes the experienced teacher feel needed, revitalized and important. They are able to share their life’s successes with someone new entering the profession.

In the Church, mentoring is such an important aspect of the Christian life. I had some excellent mentors in my younger years. My mom was a great mentor of mine that encouraged me in my Christian life. My youth ministers and elders in the church that took us young people and taught us the importance of service and worship and living Godly lives.

Today I still have mentors. Those individuals that I call on a regular basis to dig deep into their knowledge that they have experienced over many decades of their Christian walk. I appreciate their encouragement but also appreciate their correction from to time as I grow in Gods Word.

Each of us need mentors. We need to be actively involved in the lives of each other. Encouraging and teaching thorough the experiences we have encountered.

Scripture is full of mentoring events and situations.
My next blog will describe some of those mentoring experiences.

Character Assassination

Ever been accused of something you didn’t do? Ever been called out for something that you know is completely untrue. We live in a world of character assassination today. Whatever people think or believe, it must be right. And what’s worse, decisions are made on this type of thinking all the time.

Jesus experienced the same type of situations and individual mindsets himself. He was accused, laughed at, tormented, spat upon, beat and finally crucified just because He was who He said He was. People didn’t want to believe that. They were looking for what they thought and believed in, not a simple carpenter born in a manger in Bethlehem who proclaimed He was the Son of God.

Character assassination hurts deep. It tears our hearts. Many times we just want to go away and forget the names or accusations. Many times we decide to fight and stand up for what the truth really is.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:44:
"But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you”.

Not easy to do, but you become better for it.

If you do pray for those that persecute you, you will be able to say what Paul said in Romans 5:3-5: And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Dear God:
Help me today to forgive those that wrong me. Help me not to accuse others, slander others and talk badly of anyone. I have enough problems and struggles of my own that I need not tear others down. I want to live for you. I want to be like your Son. Help me do that today.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.

Yes, Jesus Did Walk On the Water!

Jesus Could Have Walked on Ice, Scientist Says
Sara GoudarziLiveScience Staff WriterLiveScience.com
Tue Apr 4, 2006

Rare conditions could have conspired to create hard-to-see ice on the Sea of Galilee that a person could have walked on back when Jesus is said to have walked on water, a scientist said today.

The study, which examines a combination of favorable water and environmental conditions, proposes that Jesus could have walked on an isolated patch of floating ice on what is now known as Lake Kinneret in northern Israel.

Looking at temperature records of the Mediterranean Sea surface and using analytical ice and statistical models, scientists considered a small section of the cold freshwater surface of the lake. The area studied, about 10,000 square feet, was near salty springs that empty into it.
The results suggest temperatures dropped to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius) during one of the two cold periods 2,500 –1,500 years ago for up to two days, the same decades during which Jesus lived.

With such conditions, a floating patch of ice could develop above the plumes resulting from the salty springs along the lake's western shore in Tabgha. Tabgha is the town where many archeological findings related to Jesus have been found.

"We simply explain that unique freezing processes probably happened in that region only a handful of times during the last 12,000 years," said Doron Nof, a Florida State University Professor of Oceanography. "We leave to others the question of whether or not our research explains the biblical account."

Nof figures that in the last 120 centuries, the odds of such conditions on the low latitude Lake Kinneret are most likely 1-in-1,000. But during the time period when Jesus lived, such “spring ice” may have formed once every 30 to 60 years.

Such floating ice in the unfrozen waters of the lake would be hard to spot, especially if rain had smoothed its surface.

"In today's climate, the chance of springs ice forming in northern Israel is effectively zero, or about once in more than 10,000 years," Nof said.

The findings are detailed in the April 2006 Journal of Paleolimnology.

Unbelievable!

Why do scientists have to theorize everything? Why don't they have faith in God's Word? Why didn't the Pharisees and Sadducees believe in the One that walked among them came from God Almighty? Why do we lack faith at times?

God Is In Control

A good friend of mine has experienced a very difficult week professionally. I have felt sorry for him. I hope I was able to cheer him up a little.

We all have those weeks where we ask "where is God when I need him?"

The answer is right beside us like He always is. The problem is the complexity of our daily endeavors which flaw our true vision of the One who can truly be the answer to our problems.

Twila Paris wrote a song called God Is In Control. Many times I think about the words of the chorus in my difficult daily struggles:

We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control

Psalm 25

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
In you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

A Great Coach and Godly Man

If you have never met this man or heard him speak you have really missed out. I have been blessed to hear him speak on two occasions and met him once when I was a junior college basketball coach.

Here is an article about a very great and humble man.

TO AN ERA SO QUICKLY FORGOTTEN - TO OUR DETRIMENT

From a Rick Reilly Sports Illustrated Column

On the 21st of the month, the best man I know will do what he always does on the 21st of the month. He'll sit down and pen a love letter to his best girl. He'll say how much he misses her and loves her and can't wait to see her again. Then he'll fold it once, slide it in a little envelope and walk into his bedroom. He'll go to the stack of love letters sitting there on her pillow, untie the yellow ribbon, place the new one on top and tie the ribbon again. The stack will be 180 letters high then, because the 21st will be 15 years to the day since Nellie, his beloved wife of 53 years, died. In her memory, he sleeps only on his half of the bed, only on his pillow, only on top of the sheets, never between; with just the old bedspread they shared to keep him warm. There's never been a finer man in American sports than John Wooden, or a finer coach.

He won 10 NCAA basketball championships at UCLA, the last in 1975. Nobody has ever come within six of him. He won 88 straight games between January 30, 1971, and January 17, 1974. Nobody has come within 42 since.

So, sometimes, when the Basketball Madness gets to be too much-too many players trying to make Sports Center, too few players trying to make assists, too few coaches willing to be mentors, too many freshmen with out-of-wedlock kids, too few freshmen who will stay in school long enough to become men-I like to go see Coach Wooden. I visit him in his little condo in Encino, 20 minutes northwest of Los Angeles, and hear him say things like "Gracious sakes alive!" and tell stories about teaching "Lewis" the hook shot. Lewis Alcindor, that is ... who became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

There has never been another coach like Wooden, quiet as an April snow and square as a game of checkers; loyal to one woman, one school, one way; walking around campus in his sensible shoes and Jimmy Stewart morals.

He'd spend a half hour the first day of practice teaching his men how to put on a sock. "Wrinkles can lead to blisters," he'd warn. These huge players would sneak looks at one another and roll their eyes. Eventually, they'd do it right. "Good," he'd say. "And now for the other foot."

Of the 180 players who played for him, Wooden knows the whereabouts of 172. Of course, it's not hard when most of them call, checking on his health, secretly hoping to hear some of his simple life lessons so that they can write them on the lunch bags of their kids, who will roll their eyes.

"Discipline yourself, and others won't need to," Coach would say. "Never lie, never cheat, never steal," and "Earn the right to be proud and confident."

If you played for him, you played by his rules: Never score without acknowledging a teammate. One word of profanity and you're done for the day. Treat your opponent with respect. He believed in hopelessly out-of-date stuff that never did anything but win championships. No dribbling behind the back or through the legs."There's no need," he'd say.

No UCLA basketball number was retired under his watch. "What about the fellows who wore that number before? Didn't they contribute to the team? he'd say.

No long hair, no facial hair. "They take too long to dry, and you could catch cold leaving the gym," he'd say. That one drove his players bonkers. One day, All-America center Bill Walton showed up with a full beard.

"It's my right," he insisted. Wooden asked if he believed that strongly. Walton said he did. "That's good, Bill," Coach said. "I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them, I really do. We're going to miss you." Walton shaved it right then and there. Now Walton calls once a week to tell Coach he loves him.

It's always too soon when you have to leave the condo and go back out into the real world, where the rules are so much grayer and the teams so much worse. As Wooden shows you to the door, you take one last look around. The framed report cards of his great-grandkids, the boxes of jellybeans peeking out from under the favorite wooden chair, the dozens of pictures of Nellie.

He's in his 90's now. You think a little more hunched over than last time. Steps a little smaller. You hope it's not the last time you see him. He smiles.

"I'm not afraid to die," he says. "Death is my only chance to be with her again."

Problem is ... we still need him here.

"There is only one kind of a life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere. Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters."
John Wooden

CNN

Here is the discussion with Grace and Ruble Shelly on CNN:

GRACE: Is the Church of Christ a cult? Is it cult-like? Did that play into this murder in any way? With us, Dr. Ruble Shelly, professor of philosophy and religion at Rochester College. He`s a Church of Christ minister. He knows the Winkler family. Let`s take a look. Single leader, cult-like qualities, trying to isolate members, members happy and enthusiastic -- I don`t think that`s a bad thing -- experimental rather than logical, hide what they teach, say they`re the only true group. Dr. Shelly, response?

DR. RUBLE SHELLY, CHURCH OF CHRIST, PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY: It certainly doesn`t fit the criteria you just gave. We certainly have never created those charismatic personalities. We`re a network of independent, local churches. And your guests so far, I`m the only one who has to plead guilty to being a member of the Church of Christ. And Churches of Christ certainly are not cultic in any of that classic sense. We`re a conservative, religious group in the Christian tradition. You`d ask one of our members, and we`d say we jump right off the pages of the New Testament. Historically, we come out of what`s called the American Restoration movement, but the cultic label -- I can`t imagine anyone sticking that label.

GRACE: Dr. Shelly, what is the role of women in the Church of Christ?

SHELLY: Well, we believe that God created the human race male and female in his image and that Paul said there is no male or female in Christ. There are some male leadership options, in terms of elders of churches, and most preaching ministries that are reserved to males, but that`s not a cultic fact.

GRACE: Why? Why?

SHELLY: Well, that`s because of a biblical interpretation issue that Southern Baptists and many other groups share in common with Churches of Christ about male leadership in local churches. Churches of Christ are a conservative religious group.

GRACE: OK, wait, wait, wait. Dr. Shelly, no offense, by why, why only male leadership? Does anybody remember Mary Magdalene, ding ding?

SHELLY: Well, Mary Magdalene was not an apostle. All of the apostles were, in fact...

GRACE: Well, Judas was, and that certainly isn`t saying very much.

SHELLY: Well, we don`t want to quarrel with gender issues, with regard to salvation. And probably, I`m more broad-minded and a bit more liberal in terms of things that I would affirm that women have a right to do in church leadership than some of the people in our churches, but generally...

GRACE: OK. Dr. Shelly, let me move on, because I agree with you.

SHELLY: No, you asked the question as to where it came from.

GRACE: Yes, and I`d love an answer.

SHELLY: First, Timothy 2:11 and 2:12 talks about male leadership in churches. And that text has a great deal hung on it by religious conservatives to say that fathers in homes and elders in churches as male leadership, protective leadership, not abusive leadership.

GRACE: Dr. Shelly, do members of the Church of Christ church believe that that is the only way to heaven?

SHELLY: No. Churches of Christ began in an historical movement whose slogan was, "Christians only, not the only Christians"...(CROSSTALK)GRACE: No, no, no, wait, wait, wait, wait, don`t need a history lesson, as much as I appreciate it. We`re only an hour long. Do you believe that Jews and Muslims...

SHELLY: Well, you asked the question. The answer is no, because our slogan is...

GRACE: ... will also go to heaven?

SHELLY: Christians only, not the only Christians. We don`t believe we`re the only Christians or the only ones going to heaven. GRACE: OK, now, you know...

SHELLY: There may be individuals who do.

GRACE: You have got a great sense of career as a lawyer.

SHELLY: Churches of Christ are a loose network of independent churches. And I suspect you could find someone who believes most anything on your scale.

GRACE: Reverend, yes, no, do you believes that Jews or Muslims can go to heaven?

SHELLY: I believe that Jews and Muslims are to be shared the gospel of Christ. Now, that`s a much larger issue.

GRACE: Gotcha, OK. All right. I get it.

SHELLY: I do believe that Jesus is the only path to heaven, of course. Conservative Christians believe that.