Tom Allen

As a member of a Bible-believing, conservative, uncompromising church, we think of ourselves as having pretty much nailed it theologically.  I think we would agree that we are God-pleasers rather than man-pleasers.  We take some politically incorrect stances because we want to be true to God and his Word rather then being palatable to the world.   For instance, just a few of our beliefs include: *The inerrancy of Scripture *The virgin birth of Christ *The reality of Heaven and life eternal *T hat salvation is by grace through faith *That Jesus is the only way to God However, there's one essential belief that is strangely missing from our list.  The belief in a literal Hell. I see I've got you a little ticked off.  Well, just hang in there, partner. Have you seen the accounts of the news when a fire breaks out and someone, possibly even a total stranger, goes running INTO  the burning house, simply because they believe there may be someone alive inside that home?  T

If you are a people-watcher, it really doesn't get any better than this.  You've got the captive audience of those sitting around you, acting busy, trying to look important (seriously, I'm writing this blog just so I'll have a reason to have my laptop out so people will think I'm necessary.  I'm hoping they're thinking I'm swinging some multi-million dollar deal, when in reality, I'm just writing a blog.  I assume my secret's safe with you.)   Then, there's the never-ending stream of people arriving and departing, so there's a constant supply of humans going east and west down the center of the terminal.  And, they're all different.  There goes a guy with shorts, dress shoes and black socks.  I feel it's important to add he's in his 20's.  Admit it, that's not where you were going in your mind.  Some are dressed-up like they're meeting with the president.  Some have obviously mistaken this place for a gym.  The

I was recently given a course of action to take by an authority figure.  In my generation, authority figures are important.  Doctors and lawyers and police officers...you don't question them...you just follow them.  Period.  So, I did.  And, at least in my eyes, it wasn't working so well.  So, I did what any red-blooded, 21st Century man would do...I consulted the Internet. Wow, everyone has an opinion and the Internet is where most people go to share them.  Many of them sound very qualified, but seldom list their qualifications.   Here's what I discovered: Opinions are like buttocks.  Everyone has one, and most of them stink.  Hope that wasn't offensive.  Just an observation. So, I asked my wife.  (Smart) But, I soon realized she likes me.  Not that that's a bad thing.  It's a GREAT thing.  I hope she keeps up the good work. (GO WIFE!)  However, when looking for a truly objective opinion, sometimes the person who loves you most and only wants the best for y

My middle son played football at the University of Oklahoma.  When two things collide, it makes for a very intense situation.  In this case the two factors were 1) A tremendous history of football success over decades & 2) There's really not a lot to do in Oklahoma.  Factor those two criterion together and that makes for serious football fans (fan is the abbreviated version of fanatic).   On one particular away game, (That's important because, even though this may have happened at a home game, it would gone unnoticed.  Those days there were usually 90,000 fans in a stadium that would comfortably seat 75,000.  Away games...OK, I'll admit it, it was a Baylor game...there was plenty of room.) I noticed two ladies sitting behind us enjoying a bag of M&Ms.  However, they would eat a few and then throw one on the ground and crush it with their feet. This was peculiar even for OU fans, and being the "stick your nose into everyone's business" (or as I like t

I seldom get to attend any church but my own.  They say if it's your house (church, business, etc.) you can fail to see what's wrong right in front of you.  Recently, I had a broken gate at my house.  That's never good, but, it's really bad when you own a pool.  A solid gate is a must to keep anyone from wondering into your back yard at all times.  It was broken, and even though I noticed it, I didn't.  They say if you can ignore something for 14 days, you can ignore it forever.  It becomes invisible.  I'm pretty sure there's lots of invisible things at Crosspoint  Church.  My hope was to be a real VISITOR and, hopefully, look at church through VISITOR EYES.   We did the whole nine yards.  If the church asked visitors to turn on their flashers, we turned them on.  Parked in the Visitor Parking.  Got the tour and took the mug home.  Let me share my experiences at two different churches, as well as my translation into "Visitor-ese". OBSERVATION: