A mixed pot of questions

Tonight is a various listener's question episode, so there will be a variety on discussion. So any thoughts about these questions feel free to leave in the comments. We have been asked to make our responses brief, so later I will do two posts, one as I will send, then one with much fuller answers. 

So here are the questions:

1.  from Jonathan:   I've heard many people say after something has not happened: "It wasn't meant to be". Is this really true? Was it not meant to be? Or on the flip too, when people say; "It was obviously meant to be".  I'm not sure how to answer people who ask me about fate and destiny.

2.  from David: Could a congregation Biblically justify setting parameters by which "membership" is determined?  For example, someone decides one Sunday to worship with a particular congregation. After a few weeks, the elders of the church speak to this person and it is determined that they have already obeyed the gospel as God has commanded. The person expresses their intentions to worship with that congregation for the foreseeable future.  When should that person be considered a member? Immediately? Should there be specific parameters set other than obedience to the gospel? Should the elders meet to decide to let this person claim membership? 

3.  from Steve: 

a. Is it sinful for women to cut their hair (based upon 1 Corinthians 11)

b. Is it sinful to have Bible classes

4.  from Bob: What should be used to define "worship"?  Could some, or all, of the '5 acts of worship' be omitted and the even still be called worship?  Does worship only happen on Sunday, or can it be other times?  Some use the Wednesday night Bible study as an example of worship that incorporates on some of the '5 acts'.

5.  from Deborah: In Acts 22:4 Paul says he persecuted "this way".  Is this where "The Way" church came from?  At what point did the word 'way' change from a direction (adverb) to a proper noun?