Comments for Ralph Howe Blogs http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com Touching lives with the love of Jesus Sun, 26 May 2013 01:25:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Fresh Insights Into Apostles - Part Three by Ralph http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4168 Ralph Wed, 08 May 2013 14:35:10 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4168 Hi Jorin, Waiting in Russia for a meeting to start ... Apostles must be first recognized and called out by other apostles and prophets. Then they must be discipled, trained, equipped, and mentored for many years as they prepare for the work of their calling. At some point apostles and prophets must release them into their calling in consultation with a local church because the local church would best know their character ... and character is more important than gifting and calling. So, the recognition of maturity and the timing of release is accomplished by apostles, prophets and the elders of a local church where the person called has been connected and seriously involved. Hi Jorin,

Waiting in Russia for a meeting to start … Apostles must be first recognized and called out by other apostles and prophets. Then they must be discipled, trained, equipped, and mentored for many years as they prepare for the work of their calling. At some point apostles and prophets must release them into their calling in consultation with a local church because the local church would best know their character … and character is more important than gifting and calling. So, the recognition of maturity and the timing of release is accomplished by apostles, prophets and the elders of a local church where the person called has been connected and seriously involved.

]]> Comment on Day Three of Travel and Start of Teaching by Louise Howe http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=2008#comment-4161 Louise Howe Fri, 03 May 2013 16:45:14 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=2008#comment-4161 I am praying Honey Love you I am praying Honey
Love you

]]> Comment on Fresh Insights Into Apostles - Part Three by JRG http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4160 JRG Fri, 03 May 2013 05:48:07 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4160 On women as apostles, it is interesting Junia (Rom 16:7) is numbered among the apostles, and is a woman. Calling and governance don't always neatly fit together... much to the horror of us systematic types. :-) Appreciate the list of descriptors. One of my frustrations with some of the lit on the market is the lack of a good, working definition for apostle. Your definition is hardly concise, but I don't think there is much choice in the matter. Better a good, thorough answer, and I think yours is very helpful. One question these first 3 blogs begs, however: who recognizes one's apostolic calling? This isn't just a theoretical question, but given the lack of recognition of apostles in many quarters of the Church, and the broad confusion over the role in general, I have encountered few places prepared to release an apostle, let alone a prophet, much to the hinderance of the Kingdom work we should otherwise be doing. The model of Acts 13 is pretty clear, and your approach is in line with it: a call isn't about me deciding, but is about the body of Christ recognizing and embracing what God's Spirit has placed upon/in/etc, which does include an element of me knowing. Many Churches are kind of weak on this one... Sorry, sort of a mini rant, and a reminder of deeply held values God has carved deep. On women as apostles, it is interesting Junia (Rom 16:7) is numbered among the apostles, and is a woman. Calling and governance don’t always neatly fit together… much to the horror of us systematic types. :-)

Appreciate the list of descriptors. One of my frustrations with some of the lit on the market is the lack of a good, working definition for apostle. Your definition is hardly concise, but I don’t think there is much choice in the matter. Better a good, thorough answer, and I think yours is very helpful.

One question these first 3 blogs begs, however: who recognizes one’s apostolic calling? This isn’t just a theoretical question, but given the lack of recognition of apostles in many quarters of the Church, and the broad confusion over the role in general, I have encountered few places prepared to release an apostle, let alone a prophet, much to the hinderance of the Kingdom work we should otherwise be doing. The model of Acts 13 is pretty clear, and your approach is in line with it: a call isn’t about me deciding, but is about the body of Christ recognizing and embracing what God’s Spirit has placed upon/in/etc, which does include an element of me knowing. Many Churches are kind of weak on this one… Sorry, sort of a mini rant, and a reminder of deeply held values God has carved deep.

]]> Comment on Defence of Marriage by Karen http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1998#comment-4110 Karen Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:26:41 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1998#comment-4110 "If your child becomes a murderer, do you now condone and support murder?" Very good question! Having never been faced with the issue of a child of mine being homosexual, I can't quickly condem parents who 'accept rather than lose a child.' However, where do you bend, when do you give-in, what do you set aside until your claims to believe the Words of our Lord are an outright lie? This too, was, is, and continues to be sin, the same as all other sin. Sin is sin, and is the whole reason why mankind is separated from God. And man still continues to demand his own way and increase the casim between us and our Creator! “If your child becomes a murderer, do you now condone and support murder?”
Very good question! Having never been faced with the issue of a child of mine being homosexual, I can’t quickly condem parents who ‘accept rather than lose a child.’
However, where do you bend, when do you give-in, what do you set aside until your claims to believe the Words of our Lord are an outright lie?
This too, was, is, and continues to be sin, the same as all other sin.
Sin is sin, and is the whole reason why mankind is separated from God.
And man still continues to demand his own way and increase the casim between us and our Creator!

]]> Comment on Fresh Insights Into Apostles - Part Three by Rachel Blevins http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4063 Rachel Blevins Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:37:07 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4063 Thanks,Ralph. I was very curious because you usually make references to men in this role. I appreciate you taking time to respond. Rachel Thanks,Ralph. I was very curious because you usually make references to men in this role. I appreciate you taking time to respond. Rachel

]]> Comment on Fresh Insights Into Apostles - Part Three by Ralph http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4062 Ralph Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:01:26 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4062 Hi Rachel, Good question. And, for me, not a touchy area but it is touchy, it seems, for many in the Church worldwide today. Biblically there is absolutely no problem with woman as apostles. The Bible clearly states that "in Christ there is no male nor female..." And, the function of apostle is a gift to the Church from the head of the Church, Jesus Himself (Ephesians 4:11). So, He calls those who occupy this role within the Church and He certainly calls women. In the Bible there are a number of woman who were known as apostles and the same is true in early Church history. So, I see no issue with woman being called and functioning within this role. Those that take issue with it seem to fit into two camps. First, those who say that the first apostles were all males and thus it is a role that only males can fill. Secondly, those who have trouble with women in "governmental roles" within the Church and the position of "apostle" is certainly held to be governmental. The same issue arises with five-fold prophets it seems. However, I know of a number of women who are apostles and some who are prophets and I personally have no issue with that - biblically, historically, or in current day practice. Hi Rachel,
Good question. And, for me, not a touchy area but it is touchy, it seems, for many in the Church worldwide today. Biblically there is absolutely no problem with woman as apostles. The Bible clearly states that “in Christ there is no male nor female…” And, the function of apostle is a gift to the Church from the head of the Church, Jesus Himself (Ephesians 4:11). So, He calls those who occupy this role within the Church and He certainly calls women. In the Bible there are a number of woman who were known as apostles and the same is true in early Church history. So, I see no issue with woman being called and functioning within this role.
Those that take issue with it seem to fit into two camps. First, those who say that the first apostles were all males and thus it is a role that only males can fill. Secondly, those who have trouble with women in “governmental roles” within the Church and the position of “apostle” is certainly held to be governmental. The same issue arises with five-fold prophets it seems.
However, I know of a number of women who are apostles and some who are prophets and I personally have no issue with that - biblically, historically, or in current day practice.

]]> Comment on Fresh Insights Into Apostles - Part Three by Rachel Blevins http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4061 Rachel Blevins Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:01:08 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4061 My question should have asked: Are apostles always men? Oops! I know this is a touchy area but I would like your input. My question should have asked: Are apostles always men? Oops! I know this is a touchy area but I would like your input.

]]> Comment on Fresh Insights Into Apostles - Part Three by Rachel Blevins http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4058 Rachel Blevins Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:34:21 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1982#comment-4058 Are apostles always women? I have known a couple women who operate as true apostles alongside husbands who are called to similar ministries. Are apostles always women? I have known a couple women who operate as true apostles alongside husbands who are called to similar ministries.

]]> Comment on Fresh Insights Into Apostles - Part Two by Karen C http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1974#comment-4056 Karen C Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:34:17 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1974#comment-4056 Far too many people in North America are 'ministry seekers'. It is tiring to watch countless people over the years who may have a legitimate Word of The Lord spoken over them, launch themselves into ministry (usually against wise counsel) and try to make it happen on their own, only to eventually crash and burn. "Unless The Lord builds His house . . . . ." Selfish, insecure, unrepentant, proud people, run ahead of God, seeking fame and glory. Obviously we have learned nothing from the story of Ismael and Isaac! Far too many people in North America are ‘ministry seekers’.
It is tiring to watch countless people over the years who may have a legitimate Word of The Lord spoken over them, launch themselves into ministry (usually against wise counsel) and try to make it happen on their own, only to eventually crash and burn.
“Unless The Lord builds His house . . . . .”

Selfish, insecure, unrepentant, proud people, run ahead of God, seeking fame and glory. Obviously we have learned nothing from the story of Ismael and Isaac!

]]> Comment on Can This Really Be Happening by Bob http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1966#comment-3968 Bob Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:46:14 +0000 http://blog.ralphhoweministries.com/?p=1966#comment-3968 Hi Ralph - I live in Saskatoon and am appalled that so much media attention is given to this man and his complaints. I have spoken to many who are not part of the Christian faith and they find the whole matter senseless - especially the matter of the city buses carrying a "Merry Christmas" greeting. This one man seems to be on a crusade to make his form of belief (ie. aethism) more promenient than any other faith. But our nation has decided that we are a pluralistic nation allowing many cultural and religious expressions. We need to pray for our civil leaders and that or religious freedoms are not removed based on a single man's complaints. Bob Hi Ralph -

I live in Saskatoon and am appalled that so much media attention is given to this man and his complaints.

I have spoken to many who are not part of the Christian faith and they find the whole matter senseless - especially the matter of the city buses carrying a “Merry Christmas” greeting.

This one man seems to be on a crusade to make his form of belief (ie. aethism) more promenient than any other faith.

But our nation has decided that we are a pluralistic nation allowing many cultural and religious expressions.

We need to pray for our civil leaders and that or religious freedoms are not removed based on a single man’s complaints.

Bob

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