Protestantism

» pink101 - Put A Question Together

In response to Put A Question Together posted by Brother_Jones:
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Good advice.
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http://www.ecorazzi.com/?p=1008
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-- posted by pink101

» _Boanerges_ - Bringing out the Wendell in us all.

In response to Bringing out the Wendell in us all. posted by Brother_Jones:
haha..
great title!!....
I havent left the building so to speak... Im just downstairs sittin in the coffee shop, watchin the world go by as everyone who opposes the Bible argues about what God says, does, claims, etc, etc.. and they say we Christians are dogmatic preachers!...
All is well with me...
thanks, Brother Jones, for the nice compliment.....

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» Brother_Jones - Bringing out the Wendell in us all.

In response to Bringing out the Wendell in us all. posted by _Boanerges_:
as everyone who opposes the Bible argues about what God says, does, claims, etc, etc.. and they say we Christians are dogmatic preachers!...
We do need to turn down the firehose from time to time because some folk need a hug more than a sermon.
I was thinking about my best dog today who died several years ago because one afternoon she got so rattled by some kids that she went under the fence and bit one of the little rascals who was tormenting her. We put her down that night and it was just one of the worst nights for my family that I can remember. Any other time, they both would have been on better behavior, but on that afternoon, all the planets lined up to spell disaster so to speak. I guess God gives us these little tests to see if we truly would let someone else get their foot in the door before we get ours. It is hard sometimes to deal with folk who get so mad at dogmatic Christians like me, that they sometimes act a little bit unkind and start woofing at the fence.. I suppose we need to remind them that we push so hard and so long because we think Jesus would be out there on certain days in His best John Wayne personality and flat getting the job done without a bunch of whining and whimpering.
i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» redback - missing marbles

In response to reflux posted by pink101:

"Looks like everyone has picked up their marbles and gone home, Mate."

Tis a pity. I have a partly purple and odd shaped post-surgery nose, sore ear, leg, back etc...and need the distraction. But there's introspection here too as I'm sure I've given some Jeff's bio maybe 26,325 times. That shaped where I came from...not where I am.

I'm wondering following on from Brother-Jones suggestions, whether any thought has been given to what Christians WANT. Opposing groups have given ideas of what the other group NEED but to the extent you are a unified group, what do you want...that is so different from other faiths.

-- posted by redback

» pink101 - missing marbles

In response to missing marbles posted by redback:
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This recent upset was an eye opener for anyone who believes or acts as though they believe that "true believers" can be or are open minded.
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Newsweek magazine featured a discussion with Sam Harris, The End of Faith & A Letter To A Christian Nation, and the author of A Purpose Driven Live, Rick Warren who is pastor of Saddleback Church with 25,000 in attendance every weekend.
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It's a lengthy article and takes a little effort to read; but, I think it shows the problem we're having here.
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We can look at this site as an experiment.
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I don't have any idea what's going on in the minds of the participants who have vacated the site. Is it a temporary thing? Is it due to some other reason? Or, is it directly related to Brian Tubbs flare up? Hard to say.
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In the end, does it make any difference that Brian got upset in so far as our discussions are concerned? It shouldn't. If we're going to try to control each other by refusing to relate, that's too bad. Brian is no different than any of us. He might be at a different stage; but, so what? It takes all kinds of people.
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Hopefully, we'll be back to normal soon. I have high opinions of everyone who participates here.
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So your schnocker is out of joint? Here's hoping you will soon be past the recuperating and able to sneeze again. When they did the angioplasty on my heart, they entered the artery thourh a slit in my groin. After the work was completed and I was in recovery, they put a sand bag on the incision and I couldn't move my leg for six hours. About three hours into it, I had the urge to relieve myself. I'll tell you what. It is a miserable thing to be so still and quite for three more hours before you can get up and take care of the requirements of nature. ha ha.
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So, you're going to be up and at 'em again soon?
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:)

-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - missing marbles

In response to missing marbles posted by redback:

Opposing groups have given ideas of what the other group NEED but to the extent you are a unified group, what do you want...that is so different from other faiths.

I think anyone who has ever done a long indepth study of other faiths is going to see lots of things that we all have in common. We are striving to believe that our lives count for something and that our love and those we love will not perish. As to what is missing in other faiths, it would seem so obvious to those who are walking with Christ that He is the missing element. But that answer might appear too dogone easy or flippant. Its like trying to ask the question of why you went steady with your first girl friend. These days I guess we should add the significant other to the mix. It could be a not so good reason. Or it could be that you needed someone else in life that makes you better. Or your religion might be of the type that tells you to go live on a mountain somewhere and worship the sun, moon, and stars all by yourself.
I think Christians would say that the biggest thing they want in life is knowing Christ.

And Pinky, I don't think Brian has left or given up on the discussions in any way. I think he meant that this personification of the gospel idea doesn't really help him grow in Christ and has little to with Protestantism, and in some ways mitigates against the real thing of coming to grips with Jesus. At least that is what I got out of his post, and I think he may be right. Why settle for a substitute when you can have the real thing. Personifying the gospel in the way that the thread started seems kinda far fetched and gets pretty old. But maybe it is because the guys who are into the concept the most are tired of it too.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» pink101 - missing marbles

In response to missing marbles posted by Brother_Jones:
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Maybe I don't understand what it means for something to be personified?
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Maybe you want to put limits on what people can think about as far as things divine are concerned?
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - missing marbles

In response to missing marbles posted by pink101:

Well maybe so. Maybe there are some limits when it comes to thinking about God. Somebody thought up the Ten Commandments and put in there that we were suppose to worship just one God and so I suppose that it is not a really good idea to dance with a whole room full of gods or spirits from the spirit world. If you want to continue to personify the gospel, go for it. It's your deal. Maybe justice or mercy will sit down and have a cup of coffee with you. ABC.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» Brian Tubbs - Hey everyone

It would probably help jump-start discussions if we kick off a few specific, more focused threads. Seems like we kind of wander all over the place in these threads - and then forget where we are. I can't think of the number of times Pink or Paper Turtle or Migisi say to me: "Go back to post number 165 and re-read it." Or whatever. So, maybe a few focused threads. Pink is pretty good at doing this. Of course, he's also guilty (along with the rest of us) of taking those threads OFF-topic.

This is a really busy week for me, so I may be in and out a lot.

» redback - sandbagging?

In response to missing marbles posted by pink101:

I think Brian is pretty busy, is all. And suite101 is losing its capacity to attract general discussion, rather than article-triggered. I may have a nose for these things.

I would hope we inspire Brian in the topic or direction of his sermons even if we can't keep on track here. I recall one fella visiting my dear friend in Queensland. She was devout, he a heathen but of over-the-top generosity to strangers and an incredibly articulate and thoughtful guy. I know...it almost sounds impossible here.

The visiting priest had great discussions with him that he used in his preaching, even sending the heathen via my friend, a tape of it.

I think Brother-Jones is right that there are many things in common between faiths and hopefully in the practices therof. But they are shortlived topics here.

Anyway...it's already Good Friday here and perhaps I should be offline.

-- posted by redback