My first comment to this group. I am a Presbyterian (PCA) and the title of
this newsgroup caught my attention. I have excised a good ****tion of the
original text..
> There is a very large church about a half mile from me; "Desert
Vineyard."
> I don't know what larger denomination it aligns itself with, but it is
> very big;
Google found several hits for "Desert Vineyard" but I believe I am
referencing the one you are talking about. I could not discern the
denomination, I assume that it's non-denominational or independent. The
pastor knows the language but I wonder at his slight rewording of the
Shorter Catechism, which the church pur****ts to believe in:
=======================
The historic confessions of our faith acknowledge that humanity's great
purpose is "to know God and glorify Him forever."
=======================
The actual wording of the answer to the first question is: "Man's chief
end
is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."
Okay, it's a small thing, maybe, but I'm more aware than ever of slight
twisting of established Church doctrines and creeds, and reinterpretation
of
clear biblical teachings. Desert Vineyard seems to emphasize its Coffee
Ministry (Starbucks, no less) as an outreach to people who may be
interested. I guess that's all right, but it reminds me a good deal of
those churches like Willow Creek that go all-out for "seeker services" and
may -- please note I say "may" -- provide spiritual milk when they should
be
offering meat and potatoes.
BTW, Desert Vineyard has a very impressive website, well done and
obviously
expertly maintained. Personally, I am wary of very large churches; they
usually have many op****tunities for service and teaching (as does Desert
Vineyard) but it's easy to get lost in them. I am a member of a church of
less than 200 wor****pers and though I'd like to see it grow a little bit,
the present size allows me to know most of its members by name.
Ken Bland
it bought and remodled a strip mall--grocery store, drug store, all of
> the small stores that went with it--and added to that. It has a school,
> offices, shoot, I think you get the picture. They have actually done a
> pretty good job of turning a strip mall eyesore into something that
looks
> very nice, indeed.
>
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