I am a locomotive engineer who works for Union Pacific Railroad. I have raised 6 children, my two boys have both served time in the military. I have a daughter studying for to be a medical doctor, and I have 2 children still at home. During my spare time I lead this Bible study over the internet. My schedule at work changes daily, so I hardly ever work the same shift two days in a row. As a result of this, sometimes I email the studies in the morning, afternoon, night or even the next day, so bear with me on this. You may find it better to follow one day behind if you are blessed to have a regular schedule.
Our numbers are growing daily, we have a good mixture of railroaders and church people involved in the study. Anyone is welcomed to join us. We have a registration page built for this purpose, feel free to fill out the information and join the study. I hate junk mail with a passion, so if you get on the study by mistake or catch yourself deleting the studies without going through them, please contact us and have your name removed from the list.
We are committed to reading and studying the Bible daily. I will email out a schedule when it is updated, and at the same time will post it on the internet. The idea behind the study is that there are three passages listed on the schedule, the first one is the one we go in depth on, the second two are for reading only. I will write and comment only on the first passage, email it out and post it on the Bulletin Board. Everyone is invited to respond, but due to the nature of the internet, we are going to protect the list of recipients, keeping the master list secret. I have listed the names on the members webpage in order that we know who is on the study. My main resource is Logos Software Scholars Edition, available at www.logos.com for a price, they also have smaller editions which may be more to suit your needs.
We are constantly adding and changing the study as we are felt led to do so. My passion is to encourage you to take what you learn and apply it to your life. Then when you go back to your church, you will spread the truth of the Gospel to many more people than I could ever dream of reaching. Join me in learning and applying God's word.
Remember, this study is constantly under construction as the needs change in our lives, bear with us and grow with us. I am planning to add a photo album to this page eventually, which will show what my mug looks like, along with my family. We hope to add photo's from the members eventually, I can add a photo to your name on the member's list if you like.
Lots of stuff going on, I work on this in my spare time, so be patient on the updates.
My dream, vision, or whatever you want to call it.
I would like to open a store-front Christian fellowship, with an alternative method of reaching out to people.
First, the name will be something along the line of “Let’s Talk”.
Second, the setting of the front of the fellowship will be couches, tables and chairs, and a home type of atmosphere. I’d like to have a desk available to study on during the day. The idea is to plant this next to a Starbucks, or coffee house of some type where people are welcomed to walk in and sit down. Hopefully there will be a coffee-maker, hot pot for tea, and snacks available free of charge.
I hope to play contemporary Christian music, so that the quality of Christian artists can be used to draw in both the Christian and non-Christian into a soothing atmosphere where people are not threatened with stereotypes or with a demand for response. In other words, it needs to be a place of comfort where talk is encouraged.
I want to offer the Bible study on a daily basis. It would be a time of sharing, open to the public where we would study through the Bible following the same format that I have developed in the on-line study. A Sunday service is not out of the question, possibly a Sabbath service as well. Yep, I’m talking about a church, but one with a twist. Reach out to the world first, minister to those who want to learn more. But the focus is not to draw members, but rather to strengthen and build up members of other churches so that they can return to their fellowships to infect their churches with an excitement and zeal to draw others near to a close relationship with Christ.
On the side, I’d like to see a running club develop. This will offer outreach to the community. A food pantry for those going through tough times. Beach trips and outreaches to local kids. And to draw in others who are willing to share with others about Christ.
I would also like to offer advice and be able to share concepts from the Bible with people to help them in their daily walk. The goal is to build up believers, not to draw them away from the fellowships that they are already involved in. Our country is suffering from an epidemic of broken marriages, broken homes and poor relationships. I hope to influence people to draw near to biblical standards, repair and offer hope to people by teaching them to build relationship in their marriages instead of autonomy which ultimately results in divorce.
Big dream, big obstacles in the way. First, I work for the railroad, it’ll take a miracle for God to provide a way to leave my job. Second, I don’t have backing from any church or denomination, just like the on-line Bible study, everything is carried and financed out of pocket. I hope that as you read through this thought, this dream, that you will take the dream as your own, and open a fellowship like this in your neighborhood. If you do, pleas email me and let me know how it goes.
Joe Turner.