What I Learned Watching Dad……from a child’s eye-view

Sara Starr Copple, is my step-daughter in law. I felt that her words of her Father, the late Bill Starr, deserved to be read by as many preachers as possible, especially Young Preachers, Young Evangelists and Young Pastors. I hope many will read it and be helped in being like this dear and blessed man.

Howard H Davis

What I Learned Watching Dad……from a child’s eye-view

by Sara Starr Copple

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD!!!

This Wednesday will be my Father’s birthday. I am celebrating by acknowledging the mark he left on my life and many others. He has been gone from us for almost 24 years.    He has not been forgotten. I often have people stop me and mention something he said or did or an attribute he had that is still an inspiration and a guiding light. I was the baby of 5 girls. His late in life child. I missed a lot of the early days of he & mom’s beginnings. When I came along… his life was very busy and in full swing.  He had a full time secular job, was a full time pastor & District Superintendent of Michigan District and filled many capacities on the national level. My sisters were married when I was very young. I was raised like an only child. I think I was probably the most challenging one- out of 5 girls for my parents to raise. Mom & Dad had the same purpose and what I say about him…applies to her also. She was the one home raising us and being with us day to day….when she wasn’t doing her various and many jobs as the Pastors wife, District work, Office, Advertisements, Finances/accounting,  Music Director,  Decorator, Secretary, Planner……teaching or taking classes, Real Estate, Artist, Speaker, Teacher, Builder, Sales, Fund Raising…you get the picture.  We knew what it was to be diligent in all you do.  I know he thought I was pretty strong headed at times.  As I reached my teen years I was least afraid of my sisters to debate with him.  I had a lot of questions and wasn’t afraid to ask.  I already had older sisters that claimed the good child place–guess I had to make my own way.    I’m sure I kept him on his toes.  I think when he would get me going really good…..he would start laughing….because the realization came to him….that his own personality traits were coming back from his offspring.

I observed many things that I didn’t understand then or even know were rare & valuable lessons.  He didn’t sit me down and tell me what I’m going to share with you……  And, he didn’t brag to others or even to our family.  He just lived it.  He was a dedicated Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ first and foremost.  A pastor, preacher, pioneer of churches….I know that he was devoted–because I saw his life at home.  He didn’t use a lot of words in our home- day to day….but he walked each day in honesty– with intent and purpose.  He woke up early every day to go to work at the secretary of state office in Battle Creek.  He came home for supper and was off to prepare for an evening service or to care for the congregation or a district church function or pastors who needed his counsel.  Some of his secular work was investigation, presiding over hearings & giving judgments for people with too many points on their license. That’s where he got the tendency to be called, “the Judge”.  In my early teens I would have a little side job of bending stacks of car license plates back & forth -until they were broke in half to be discarded. Don’t remember what my wages were though. ha   So I can unofficially say I worked for the Michigan Secretary of States office. ha.  He taught me how to work hard and to take care of my family.  I was sitting at a friends house one day and had to listen to a gruff man complaining about my dad taking his drivers license away for having too many DUI’s.  Thankfully he didn’t know I was Mr. Starr’s  daughter and I didn’t share that info.

Dad was gone all day to provide adequately for his family and……so that he could put all of the income from the church–back into the church.  We had all that we needed growing up.  Medical, dental, clothing, good food…..all of the necessities were provided for and then some.   He never wanted us to have a feeling of doing without-because of the church or of saying we were not being provided for because of a Pastors’s lack of income and so that we wouldn’t be the brunt of peoples jokes and rude comments if they felt we had too much.  He did the extra job to make sure that we had what we needed with dignity. He wanted us to love God and the Church and not have bad feelings because our needs weren’t met or that we’d feel sorry for ourselves– as he’d seen some preachers kids go through in the early years. He couldn’t be said of- that he mishandled the Church’s money. He was ethical and he was giving. He was careful and honest with his business and finances. He would hurt himself before he would cause the church to have a bad reputation financially and wouldn’t take advantage of anyone else. He didn’t have a shady financial trail following him around. He made good on his word and made wise decisions. Carefully thought out and not ever rash.

I thought dad was too simple and conservative financially. But, now I can say….Wow, I was a lucky girl to have such a smart dad!  I remember how dad always bought used–American made cars.   #1- he was loyal to the Michigan Car industry.   #2-he refused to drive a flashy car or to spend money for a status symbol.  Dependable was all he required.  My first car he picked out- made me cry. lol   He went to an auction I think.  It was a $500- black Bobcat, no air, nothing automatic, no radio……hot in the summer, cold in the winter. I spun out more than once on the ice…the tires were thin and the car so light weight.  But, now I really don’t care what I drive. I don’t need a Mercedes to feel important. I leave the car buying to my husband. ha.  I don’t have to have new or the best of anything…..as long as it works.  I have a lot more possessions now than I did then.     But, I honestly could be happy without it–because I had a happy life in simplicity & careful economy.  He had humility–he was content with the simple things.  Mom decorated our home beautifully, creatively–but not with a lot of money.  She used her ingenuity.  Now decorating from my heart is my favorite. Don’t need brand names or a model home copy look. I like to pick things that are sentimental in feeling.  Because mom did. Love makes a home.  Our home wasn’t new and I would ask him often….”hey, why don’t you build a new house or get one in a nicer neighborhood where the new homes are–all the other Pastors seem to be living it up????ha.   He had no intentions of living high- even if he could-he wanted to live balanced and maybe even lower than most….he was pretty sure that’s what Jesus would do.  He had simple clothing–didn’t buy much.  Even if we bought him a fancy sweater he’d really feel it was too much.  He had a few same simple gray suits that he wore daily. Dad reminds me of Matlock.  ha.  He liked predictability. He taught me to be content with what I have.

I would go to conference, dressed nice….but didn’t know name brands to save my life.    My purses, shoes, clothes didn’t have a brand name–didn’t come from Nordstroms or Macy’s.  I remember being with pastor’s kids on a national level as they sported their designer wares with pride …….and status was sought after….I was very disinterested and didn’t understand it at all. That wasn’t a part of my world.  It didn’t mean anything to me.  My dad taught me there were more important things to give value to my life. Like loving  & serving people, learning new things,  enjoying good conversation, working toward goals, finding the gold in various types of  interesting people–and not in running after the “in” crowd of flashy personalities that seem to draw a group of eager followers…….but to cast my lot in genuine people who were loyal & sincere….they were always my favorite.    Sometimes they were the unpopular or maybe a quiet elderly friend who had many unseen, interesting skills and stories. One of my best older friends can cook a mean country breakfast and is an expert at wringing a chickens neck. ha. Those are the ones who I find interesting and who you will never hear them speak or read about their great exploits. Simple-but great. I looked for the ones who didn’t like you for outward reasons……IE. because of your popularity, what you could do for them or their name, because they think you have a good name or high financial status—or that they considered you important for their social climbing–rather I looked for those who liked you and were interested in you-just because….they liked you! ha.  I keep at arms length the back slappers, braggarts, and social climbers.  I guess because I watched that be a value to my dad.

He loved all people. He loved all cultures and he loved their different foods-he like to try something different. ha.  He treated all people as valuable. He loved the common man.  He was well loved in our city from the city officials to the drunk. He would stop for a young person that wanted to get his advice or see his viewpoint and give them his undivided attention.  He loved young people. He loved to spend time with young preachers.  He cared deeply for the poor, widowed, fatherless, prisoners….unknowing to me at that age…. there is a scripture that admonishes us to be thoughtful and attentive to people in need.  We often had drifters and addicts that would get our home address or the church’s and show up on our door step asking for money. If they were drunk….Dad would take them out to the local Big Boy for a coffee and a meal to sober them up before giving them cash that could be used for more alcohol.  At Thanksgiving he would load his car up with a basket of Turkey dinner fixings and drive them out to the poor families of our area. Years later the children of these families would grow up and be in the service industry in our city and do special favors for our family because they remembered my dad being kind to them as a child.  I remember as a really little girl–watching dad leave to personally deliver Christmas gifts to the disadvantage families he knew….. and I was crying with jealousy–wondering why those weren’t MY TOYS!!!!! ha.   Now, that I’m older….I can’t help but try to give something away every day.  I can hardly stand to hear of a need and not do something to fill it myself.  I look every child over to be sure they look whole,clothed, fed, and loved….if not that “Starr” trait seeks to find a solution if it’s at all possible.

He was my favorite preacher.  He hit the pulpit with fire and excitement and his thoughts were always a result of deep study and understanding of the Bible. He got his Masters’ from the University of Michigan early on and he used his education to study…but he said he didn’t use it to speak. He would speak very common and used current stories, humor and illustrations in a way that anyone could understand. He made me study all the preachers credential study materials to become a minister & take the classes– -he was hoping to have one preacher in the bunch.:-)  He had a love for learning and gaining new knowledge….he was the first person in his family to seek a University Level Education and wanted to be sure his younger siblings had the same opportunity. He went into the service to help pay for his education and sent his G.I. money home to his parents to help out with his younger sisters and  brother.  To be sure they had shoes and the things they needed and to help with college. He wanted to make sure they were all taken care of.    His interest was varied.  He loved sports but he never talked about it.  He’d listen on his radio in his car or on his own.  Of course UofM was his Alma Mater and team. He wasn’t artistic–but he loved art….he took me to museums in High School to give me an appreciation for art. We spent time at the Library and I gained his love for books & reading.  He wasn’t musical and couldn’t sing at all….but he coached me in singing….how to project my voice-to look people in the eye and connect and sing with feeling and passion.  He was a loyal friend. His best friend until he died was his old school buddy.   Howard Cole-an attorney-had shared many school experiences and memories…Howard wasn’t of our religious beliefs or a part of ministry-but the respect & friendship was a lifetime gift. We tend to lose tract of those who are not in our same career path or just like us.  But, they had a deep love and respect for each other that lasted through the years and he was there at dad’s funeral to speak in honor of him.  Loyalty to a friend—even if you are very different–was a trait I gained.  Dad liked good snacks–he could skip a hearty meal for a delicious snack……. and his all time favorite ice cream was Haagen Daz, Vanilla Swiss Almond….that is my number one favorite.  I guess because I remember sitting by him waiting for him to put a spoon full in my mouth and thinking it had to be the greatest thing he certainly acted like it was.  I can pass almost anything…until I see it’s Haagen Daz, Vanilla Swiss Almond and I can’t pass it up!!!!

My husband preached a moving sermon titled, “HUMILITY”  It wasn’t easy to preach.  It’s definitely not a popular subject.  Jesus wasn’t rich or famous….he was homeless and all about doing good to those he came in contact with and following the will of God above all –he was one that ate with sinners…..prostitutes and thieves……….Our congregation was greatly moved to examine our hearts and motives.  I told him- ‘you just don’t hear that preached anymore.’   Tom told me the mental picture he had when he thought of Humility…..was of my Father.  Dad did do many great things……….But he never twittered it, or facebook statused it or announced it or televised it….he just lived it in meekness and honesty.  Not many quote the scriptures on being meek or selfless….verses like–” Let another man’s lips praise you and not your own.”  Today it’s all about the Business Model of Ministry–Promote Yourself–Sell yourself–(guess they’ll hear about Jesus later???)   Try to look more Polished and Successful than your so called competition–Say it even if you haven’t yet done it–look it so others will think you are important….   Celebrity Status of Preachers is suppose to be the thing now….Promoting themselves and being braggadocios to get a following or gather members from other church’s instead of reaching for their own.  My dad exemplified an upright man of ethical practices, selflessness, faithfulness, justice, righteousness, meekness in strength, care for the lowly.  That is a very rare combination in our modern world.  I got very sad when I grew up to see the common thread of many Ministers is egotism…… pride and self promotion are the main traits of their ministry ……and then to find that ethics and honesty are not important to many today was disconcerting.  Mentally I look toward the shadow my dad casts and see that I had greatness leading me…. in the quiet/simple years of my childhood and didn’t know it.  Now, I realize all the richness that I have received early on.   Much more valuable than a monetary inheritance.  The Bible teaches us that…… a good name is rather to be had than great riches.  He gave me eyes to see the really important things…..that’s what I learned while watching my dad.

There is a very familiar Edgar Guest poem that says, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way;  The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear, fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear!”

Dad

SUB-MERGING CHURCHES

I want to thank all of you who made a comment on last month’s Article, the Culture Changers. I feel there is a need to continue in the same vein of thought.

SUB-MERGING CHURCHES

There is no such thing, as “The Emerging Church”

Those who are Following this cunning Deception are not Emerging ……… They are Sub-Merging, into False Doctrines, Love of the World, Immodesty, casting away Holiness Standards and Rules; … plunging themselves and their churches into a Deep Void of Fantasy, into a PIT of the beggarly elements of the FLESH.

I read where one such person said He had made a deep study of Holiness Standards, and He rejects them. What He went down deep into is Rationalism; once you go into that PIT, there is no way out, except …REPENTANCE!

Jesus Christ, Himself, made it clear that He is the builder of His Church, and IT would neither be hid or become a victim of Hell, …………………………period!  Matt. 5:14

Such are they that have turned to Rationalism:  **It’s the principle or habit of accepting reason as the supreme authority in matters of opinion, belief or conduct. **The doctrine that says, “Human reason, UNAIDED BY DIVINE REVELATION, is an adequate or the sole guide to all attainable religious truth.”

Some Preachers are buying into the teachings of Freud, Weber, Friedrich Nietzsche and such like; their teachings have spawned such lies as, God is Dead; Situational Ethics; We have been delivered from the Bondage of Standards; and now, the so-called Emerging Church lie. Certain preachers, are Promoting the lie, saying, in essence, that THE CHURCH has been buried under “Man made Rules and Standards.” Hear me, Loud and Clear, THE CHURCH of Jesus Christ, has never been SUB-MERGED, and has no need to Emerge. It’s evident, that the source of the emerging church lie, are those false teachers, who have been born and raised in man-made Trinitarian churches. Surely, they DO NEED to climb out of the damning situation. They must repent of their Sin, they must be Baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of their sin life, and receive the Holy Ghost, evidenced by them speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit of God gives the utterance, just like Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, needed to do, in the upper room. Acts 1:12 through Acts 2:38. Doing so will give them a New Birth, and place them in the TRUE CHURCH. Matt. 5:14

Jude, in his epistle, called these kind; “filthy dreamers, who DESPISE Dominion, and speak evil of Dignities. {Even Michael, the Archangel wouldn’t do that.} But these, speak evil of those things which they know not: Woe unto them! These are SPOTS in your feasts of Charity, {church services} feeding themselves without FEAR: {Bold in their backsliding} clouds they are without WATER, {devoid of the Holy Spirit} carried about of WINDS; {FALSE DOCTRINES} trees whose fruit withers, WITHOUT FRUIT, {God will not recognize their fruit] TWICE DEAD, PLUCKED UP by the roots; {no connection with God} Raging waves of the Sea {full of Satanic fury} foaming out their own shame.” Isaiah 57:20, “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it can not rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” At the Sea shore, you see drift-wood, paper cups, bottles, cans, all kinds of Scum being foamed up on the sand.  Denouncing Truth and Purity may seem like the right thing at the time. You may trick yourself into believing that you are on the cutting-edge of having Real Church.  But, deep down in your heart, you know what you are doing is NOT RIGHT. Stop! go back, before it’s too late. Go home and get it right next time. Repent, you know you are not right.

Some of our young Preachers, are leaving Good, Wholesome, Oneness, Pentecostal, true Apostolic Churches, and have become incognizant victims of Nietzsche’s philosophy; he was a German philosopher listed in the Encyclopedia Britannica, as a father  of, “Free Thinking.” He spewed-out the same diabolic doctrine, that Lucifer pawned off on Adam and Eve, namely, there is no real authority; there is no absolute right or wrong; there are no boundaries; YOU DECIDE FOR YOURSELF! “YOU DECIDE” may be Okay with FOX NEWS, for politics, economy and etc., but never with the Word of God. Fox News says, we report and You Decide, but, with God, it’s, We report and God Decides. God’s Word, is forever established in Heaven. It wont change, not even for you.

Nietzsche, in 1888, at the age of 44, was pronounced hopelessly insane and remained that way until he died in 1900. His teachings were and are the theory of nihilism, which says, “TRADITIONAL VALUES AND BELIEFS ARE UNFOUNDED AND THEIR EXISTENCE IS SENSELESS AND USELESS.” According to, The Dictionary, nihilism is, “The belief that there can be no social or economic progress, until, all existing institutions {standards, Church Government} have been destroyed.” Those who speak evil of Traditional Values in the Apostolic Church are in agreement with Satan. John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to DESTROY:” If you want to BACKSLIDE, we can’t stop you. GO, whole hog, for the World, but, please; Don’t Play Church, saying, “we’ve been delivered.” God keeps a record. You WILL repent, or God Himself will remove your Holy Ghost gift. He will blot your name out of the Book of Life.

Jesus, said, in Matt.16:18, “… I will Build MY CHURCH; and the gates of Hell shall NOT Prevail against IT.” Neither, the Lake of Fire, or, the Grave, will change what Jesus said. He said, “Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but my Words shall not pass away.” If Hell and the Grave, can’t prevail, it’s a sure thing, that words spoken by so-called Free­-Thinking Intellectuals, or, Laodicean Apostolics, who are on a fast-track to Apostasy, are no more than sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. As my little Mother used to say, “their words don’t amount to a hill of beans.”

These Preachers, have left their first love, like the Church at Ephesus, it was a love for Truth; Holiness; God’s-HOLY-Spirit; Righteousness; Truthfulness; Integrity; adherence to a code of values, and etc.. It was a Sweet Fellowship with true Pentecostal Preachers and Saints. Just think, these young Men are giving up all this, for Scum. Jesus, told the Ephesians, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT, and do the first works; {go back home} or else, I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place, EXCEPT THOU REPENT.” Jesus warned the Pastor, and Saints of the SMYRNA Church, of lying blasphemers who claim to be Jews {these today call themselves Christians} but were not, but are the SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN. Awake, young men! I fear for your souls. Those of you who are associating with these non-Christians, who claim to be, but in reality are as Jude said, “Likewise,” {like the angels who God cast out of Heaven, and the Sinners of Sodom, who He destroyed with fire} These are, “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own SHAME; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Wake up, young man, if you continue following these Pied Pipers, you will be judged with them. And, God will hold you accountable for all the Souls you lead astray. When the HEAD is sick {backslid}, the whole body {your followers} are sick {backslid}. And, when the BLIND lead the Blind, they both {Preacher and Saint} fall into the DITCH {LAKE OF FIRE}. Proverbs 14:14, “The Backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways:…”

COME HOME YOUNG MEN; FORGIVENESS AND FELLOWSHIP AWAITS YOU

Apostolic Times Restored

It has been a good number of years since I published The Apostolic Times. For approximately 20 years, every month, 3000 copies of the 10 to 20 page tabloid were mailed out to Preachers across the USA, Canada and to Missionaries on the field. I was careful to hold true to Bible Doctrines. When it came to things of Holiness Standards, and my honest heart-felt beliefs, I made it plain. I wasn’t mean spirited in the things I wrote, nor, did I water-down or side step any issue that I felt needed a voice of challenge and response. Sure, I received responses. Some Pro, and some Con, mostly Pro. I can only hope for the same, as I feel led, to once again venture into publishing words of challenge to some of the false doctrines and unholy practices, which are being promoted among us today.

Now, that the dust has settled, the apology made,   forgiveness received, and the hurts healed; let’s get back to the battle of the “Culture Changers.”

There are Changes being promoted among UPCI Churches, by young, and some not so young, Preachers. These CHANGERS want to totally change the form and order of Church Services, and are ACCOMPLISHING it in some Churches. I understand they don’t think doing so will do away with Godly, tried and proven Church services. Services which are a breath of Heaven. Services filled with Holy Dignity and Order. Services in which the very presence of the Lord is felt, and the Glory of God comes down with conviction that brings sinners to repentance and Salvation. These CHANGERS seem to be totally unaware that they are catering to rebellious, hippy mind set, drug infested, immoral, street living Worldlings. These Worldlings have been steeped in, and engrossed in the {deafening-hype-noise} music of the World. They don’t need some misguided people trying to save them, by offering the same STUFF, in any kind of a Church Setting.

For the most part, I find that they are men who have inherited a Church from their Father, or, a good Godly Holiness preaching Pastor, that has given his very life to build the Church. These Men have on the most part, inherited good solid Churches. Churches formed and built on solid Bible centered Teaching, and powerful Preaching. That Pastor gave His life fighting devils, false doctrines, and sometimes false brethren, to build the Church. These Changers have never SWEAT-OUT the building of a Church from the ground up. Therefore, they don’t know the worth and preciousness of a real God fearing Holiness Church. A Church that has been taught [hopefully] SEPARATION from the World.

1^st John 2:15, “Love Not the World, neither the things that are in the World. If any man love the World, the love of the Father is not in him.” Also, The Holy Ghost said, 11Cor. 6:17, “come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.” Again, the Spirit of the Lord wrote, Rev. 18:4, “…come out of HER, my people, that ye be not PARTAKERS of HER SINS, and that ye receive not HER plagues.” God in His love, has instructed us, yes, commanded us to COME OUT of THEM. {Q} Who is the THEM? {A} The WORLD, of course. Then He commanded us to COME OUT of HER. {Q} Who is the Her? {A} The last days FALSE CHURCH. The so-called Emerging-Church is right in the middle of the last days False Church. IT IS NOT AN EMERGING CHURCH, they are SUBMERGING. All that go that way are submerging into worldliness and false doctrines. Step {1}, leave Holiness. Step {2}, leave Sound Doctrine. Oh Yes they will! God Himself will see to it. Read II Thess. 2:11-15.

So, our wonderful and lovely Saviour, Jesus Christ, commands us to SEPARATE ourselves from the WORLD and the FALSE CHURCH. He said, don’t love the World, don’t love the Things in the World. Think with me my dear Brethren, if ROCK and HEAVY METAL music {noise} is not a THING of the WORLD, there is no validity to what Jesus commanded us. Also, He commanded us, don’t touch the UNCLEAN THING. If ROCK and HEAVY METAL type music, in an Apostolic Church is not an UNCLEAN THING, there are no unclean things in this world. I believe some of the men who have set out to “change” worship in Apostolic Churches are sincere, but they are so woefully wrong. They don’t know what horrible damage they are doing to their Church, when they infuse this wicked practice into it. Any Church that becomes engrossed, drowned and buried in this practice will find themselves members of the Laodicean False Church, of these LAST DAYS.

If you have the stomach for it, go to Youtube, bring up Apostolic Church Worship, you will be absolutely shocked at what you see being passed off as worship in an Apostolic Church. A pitch black  auditorium, loud screaming and yelling, just like a Rock Concert, presumable by Holy Ghost filled young people. Totally ignorant of what they look and sound like. Super loud drums, keyboards, bass, guitars, growing louder and louder, suddenly there is an explosion of blinding and stabbing lights on the performers, lights rolling and oscillating across the ceiling and stage props, all this accompanied by great leaping flames of fire, 3/5/6 feet high on several areas of the stage, guys out on ramps among the kids, swaying and playing guitars. You ask, where did these children learn this stuff? They have been watching it on TV, the Internet, or worse yet, they have been going to Rock Concerts. In light of this, The Beach Boys, and their ilk, will have to hang their heads in shame. Astounding! Disgustingly putrid, to say the least.

Apostolic????????????, Fat Chance.

Unclean, unclean cries the Leper. This practice is to me Spiritual Leprosy. It is the spirit of error and it is, Unclean.

They, the “Changers” have for the most part, paid nothing nor sacrificed their life to bring a Church into being, so, they blindly introduce a Rock Concert with all of its noise and shameful carrying on, and call it Apostolic. Their word is, The Culture! The Culture! They say, we’ve got to work with the Culture. It is a different day and time, they say. Listen to me Brother, every generation thinks it is a modern generation. When I was discharged from the U.S. Navy, in 1946, that was THE modern generation for me. It was just as modern to me, as 2010 is to you. However, let me tell you, when I went to the UPC Church in Fresno, California, where Brother A.V. Kelley was Pastor, I didn’t say to him, this is New Generation, and we young men, I was 22 yrs old, don’t want to have this old Church music and songs. Nor did I say, “Pastor, the Church will have to change so we can reach this Modern Generation.” First, let me say to this pitiful kind of reasoning, HOGWASH! And, let me tell you what the Pastor would have said. He would say, “you see that door you came through? It swings both ways.”

The church of Jesus Christ didn’t change for me, and it’s not changing for you or anyone else. We, of my generation, didn’t display the gall, audacity, insolence and bare faced ignorance to try to change the Church to fit our generation. No, we came in, out of a mod generation, a changing time all around us, we were happy to find refuge in the Church of the Living God. We never gave it a thought, we dropped the worldly music that we danced to, played pool to, went the movies and parties to, yes we dropped the worlds music like a hot potato and loved the Church music, the standards of Holiness and conduct. We were so thankful just to find Salvation. This generation will do the same, if they are taught right, and not catered to, to their flesh. If they are witnessed to by Holy Ghost filled Young People that are not afraid to say, I’m Pentecostal, here is how we dress, here are the songs we sing in Church, thereby giving Glory to our wonderful Saviour.

There will be, no doubt, lewd ungodliness following this Change in the appeal to the Culture.  Instead of Godly Church Music; loud stadium twanging, ear splitting sounds. Tinkling cymbals and sounding brass; shock waves of sounds that insult the intellect. Soul and Spirit polluting gyrations of flesh gratifying hard-acid-rock NOISE. Theatrics, instead of a Holy, sincere, heartfelt worship service. Some Churches that were once greatly blessed, have now, because of these CHANGERS, become barren waste-lands of ungodly sounds and practices. There is not even a ghost of resemblance to their past Holiness. If the Pastor, who gave his life building an Apostolic Church were to see his life’s work now, he would be SHAMED, SHAMED, SHAMED.

We are bombarded daily, by politicians yelling about “Political Correctness.” I’m not concerned with  so-called political correctness. I am concerned with “Biblical and Holy Ghost Culture, Correctness.”

According to Isaiah 1:2-4, Holiness is the most essential element of God’s Nature. {J.S.}

The direction being taken by these Fellows, will lead to similar conditions, in the House of God.

Away with all the CULTURAL TRASH.

Let’s get back to Holy and modest Church Services, and the preaching of God’s Word. Let’s please the Lord Jesus, by returning to HIS CULTURE.

Amen