FHU Lectures Day 2 Open Forum Live Blog

********* Most Recent Posts Listed First ***********

- The forum is over. Ralph did a good job for the day. Time for dinner.

- Ralph goes into a rant on how we are not relevant because we are perceived to be anti-women. He says we are not growing like we are supposed to. What does that have to do with anything? Who gets to declare what makes us relevant or not? Are we really going to use numbers to justify our faithfulness or relevance? If we are merely going to use numbers then we have never been relevant or faithful. Maybe we need to look to a new standard????

- We had the daily Elkins appearance.

- Some guy gets up and makes a statement about women take the authority behind the scenes. It was.... ummmm.... Interesting. Ralph moves on.

- Question about worshiping Jesus and the HS. Ralph says the HS and Jesus are God, therefore they are worthy of worship. I appreciate Ralph mentioning this. This is the core of the question and is often overlooked.

- Next guy gets up and gives a mini-sermon. Doesn't really contribute anything new.

- Someone comes up to the mic and asks about a woman signing to the deaf. Ralph basically says that it's OK because women are better translators. Ralph says she doesn't have a pulpit she just has a place to stand.

- There are more questions about when a woman can speak, address the congregation, etc.... One of the questions has to do with reading the Bible out loud. He mentions that it is all a matter of authority. He is very vague... which seems to be a theme.

- Now a serious of questions on womens role and prayer. Ralph mentions women praying in the home is different than any other setting. The reason being that he learns more about what his family is thinking. The problem is what biblical basis does he get this idea from? You know I feel better when I worship with an instrument, therefore it's ok??? When you get down to it Paul still says “In every place.” This common argument for women leading in the home is funny to me because where is the first place that male spiritual leadership should be upheld? Is it not the home?

- Next question has to do with disfellowshipping a congregation. Ralph says that in scripture disfellowship is done to individuals. Then he mentions that in times of change like we are in we sometimes have to withhold our fellowship from congregations and schools.

- Next question has to do with singing to Jesus etc.... And baptizing in the name of Jesus. Ralph points out that Jesus was worshipped all through his life. He mentions that Jesus was worshipped in the Revelation. Ralph points out Acts 7:59 and Stephen addressing Jesus in prayer.

- The first question has to do with answering the accusation that the Bible just copied from the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ralph gives some of the similarities and differences between the Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ralph says nobody has been able to prove they are dependent. And the Bible is true.

- Ralph opens with the old how much how long joke. When will they end?

- Lipe gives the standard intro and says no more discussion on MDR.

- E. Claude Gardner opens with a prayer.