John Fischer: Temper your politics with a love for people.
D.A. Carson tells Christianity Today what's next for The Gospel Coalition. (HT: Justin Taylor)
Read this quote by Phil Ryken posted by Ray Ortlund on his blog.
ERunner begins a series on his blog about anorexia nervosa.
Jared Wilson quotes Eugene Peterson in Pastors, pastor.
Skye Jethani asks if Richard Cizik - who's beating the drum for the church addressing environmental causes - represents the future or failure of evangelicalism.
Ed Stetzer interviewed Jethani about his new book The Divine Commodity.
Bob Thune riffs on Dallas Willard: "…most people can’t approach Sabbath because they’re so revved up and so distracted by so many things that they couldn’t even begin to think about it… once you have begun to experience solitude and silence, you discover that you actually have a soul and that there is a God. Then you can begin to practice Sabbath and that will enable you to re-enter community. You can’t have community without Sabbath."
Michael Patton's 10 questions he asks when reading the Bible.
Justin Taylor links to a Mark Dever talk at a recent Sovereign Grace conference on churches reaching out to their communities.
Taylor also interviewed Kevin Vanhoozer and Os Guinness (the latter about Francis Schaeffer).
One man's observations about church planting. (HT: Papias)
Audio from the recent Claris Conference at Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque with Sam Storms and Ray Ortlund is online. (HT: Justin Taylor, Ryan Kelly)
Tim Challies is live-blogging the Basics Conference at Alistair Begg's church in Cleveland.
Speaking of Alistair Begg, you can now download many of his messages for free.
Dan Edelen on the "People who listen to lying prophets about the date for the Rapture" and on never walking alone in the Christian life.
Challies reviews Dr. Russell Moore's book Adopted for Life and interviews Douglas Groothius.
Taylor linked to this sermon by Moore: The Devil Votes Christian Values: Why We’re Tempted to be Glorified Satanists Rather than Crucified Followers; transcribed part of it; and commended it to his readers.
Nathan Bierma: No Christian should make a six-figure salary; if so, give anything above $100,000 away.
Jason Boyett on Miss California, the kid suspended from his school for going to prom, them being in the news and what it all has to do with Jesus.
Get Religion's Douglas Leblanc on Carlton Pearson.
SteveG at XXXChurch on another fork in the road.
Jonathan Foster on the failure of church marketing (HT: Church Marketing Sucks).
Jonathan Dodson on keeping the gospel in your community.
Joe Boyd's observations on last week's VineyardUSA national conference.
Monergism linked to Art Azurdia's spring conference on the church.
Nathan Pitchford reviewed A Theological Guide to Calvin's Institutes.
Terry Virgo on pruning.
Justin Buzzard interviewed Kent Hughes (HT: Justin Taylor).
first!
Nathan sure doesn’t have much to say about his idea that people who make a lot of money should give most of it away. Where’d he come up with $100,000 as the cut off point and who in the world decided that a christian can not also be a millionaire?
Lame….
first
lol
about Carrie Prejean I listened to Focus on the Family and heard that Miss Prejean is a volunteer for people with disabilities and others for many years. She may be off with pagents etc but she is walking the walk far better then most. For those that tossed her on the trash heap because of implants and walking in those awful swimsuits. Roll up your sleeves and join her on the front line, because you are not on it. I always found it funny when doing disabled ministry for the elderly feeding folks at the homeless shelter etc. The doctrinal guards were never around, they were off on some debate, we were stuck with the Catholics, Pentecostals, vineyard etc. To be honest I enjoyed the company.
What!? No “Shack” reviews? Harrumph.
…shoulda thrown a
in there.
PS the Awful swimsuits were not awful because they are bekinnies or such, they were awful because they were awful. I dont watch pageants because they are worse then water boarding or 24 hours of boy George singing hehaw songs. Miss Prejean I apologize for the mocking I did in my heart to you, I am ashamed.
nathan bierma’s idea is random, arbitrary, and shallow. I’d take issue with his two dollar “fact.” Perhaps in third world countries…but we don’t live there. In industrialized, first world countries, the ability to make 100K does come with a stewardship, but anything that comes from the benevolence of God comes with a stewardship…including that two bucks I’d make in burma. So, why the hundred grand figure? What makes that the magical cutoff?
I am deeply sorry and fall on my face, I am not first, great another 10 K in therapy.
http://tinyurl.com/qle26b
I did a few runs on these units, where I spent most of my time at was with those kids / babies that were born with profound developmental disabilities. Its tough watching kids die, it really is. To be honest I count it among of my worst failures that I was not able to continue in this venue, I just did not have the ability to do it alone. Something came up about money an hour ago. I talk about money alot mainly because I am so ticked off at myself for not making enough to help my sister live out her life in a better way then she did. Being a special ed adult teacher is not a well paying job by calif standards. In a way I am extremely disappointed in myself for not being able to do that for her. Actually I feel like trash at times.
I do talk about money alot because I know what I would do with it and those I would help. I cant grasp 20 million dollar houses 230 K cars etc. I hold this as a personal failing on my part, it is most likely the deepest hurt I have ever shared here or in life in general. I did try to be there, day and night but I personally think I failed. I hope God has mercy on me for that.
brian — watch out you might end up cracking me up. I knew there was humor in there
I’m with you those things are awful from start to finish
I think I would rather be water boarded that be forced to watch a beauty pageants..
dmw
brian…you’re a smart a** that’s for sure. You have to be pretty fast to be first around here. There…dude…send me that $10K instead.
oh…I forgot this but figured you could read between the lines. Have to put it up before someone tells me to quit being “mean” to you.
brian: I am cracking up.
“24 hours of boy George singing hehaw songs”
LOL. That is funny.
Roy Clark and Buck Owens are surely a pickin and a grinnin or may be just grimacing at the thought.
Offered for what little it is worth, the Pope was in the “Holy land”. I was touched by what he did, as hard as it is to reach everyone in this situation. As a kid I met some Holocaust survivors numbers and all. My father was one of those folks that liberated those camps. It did something to him, I know a true Christian and follower of God would not have been effected. But my father was just a man, something that is unpardonable in the modern cooperation.
The way I look at it my father saw things most of us cant even understand, except God. My father never looked for an apologetic he tried to do what was right. Granted in the modern view that is just plain stupid but in reality he tried. I, vaguely mirror those struggles. in my life, I honor those whom have gone before, no actually I beg at their feet, they plead my case for my soul to God. I cant stand in their shoes. They dont fit.
I remember being in the room with someone who did not believe the holocaust, my fingers gripped the metal chair ready to apply some physical apologetic. That was wrong on my point, my father was never like that. He understood parts of God way above his son looking for an apologetic. I now watched the pope and others honor the memory of so many lost and just grieve. Jesus grieved, I guess, but it is so totally foreign to the modern evangelism.
One of the things that struck me as a new Christian, and I am sure it is a moral failing on my part, is the utter horror of grief, I mean the utter disgust of a believer showing grief, for any reason, for any length of time, outside of an apologetic. Of the many sins I struggle with, showing grief is one of the most vilest. If not the worst.
Interesting site a friend passed on to me:
http://www.iamsecond.com/
16th!
brian, you said “For those that tossed her on the trash heap because of implants and walking in those awful swimsuits. Roll up your sleeves and join her on the front line, because you are not on it. I always found it funny when doing disabled ministry for the elderly feeding folks at the homeless shelter etc. The doctrinal guards were never around, they were off on some debate, we were stuck with the Catholics, Pentecostals, vineyard etc.”
This is convicting…For me personally, God might be sending me opportunities to serve, and I’m rejecting them for whatever reason.
Lord,
help me to repent of that (and other things), and help me to step into those opportunities when You present them to me and do whatever I can. Amen.
Good morning, everyone…
The Shack reviews never die. Neither does talk of money.
Funny, I don’t normally comment here and I’m 18th.
Mark, welcome to Phoenix Preacher!
Re: the Shack and money….I suppose people have to have something to keep talking about
Thanks, Brian. The Shack review at my place never stops getting hits.
Mark, it still stirs up discussion here, too.
I have not read the book, and it’s not because I’m opposed to the premise or swayed by the negative reviews. I haven’t had time, and there are a ton of books already on my to-read list. I might get around to it after Young writes his third sequel
BrianD,
Cool link to the Basics Conference. I used to listen to Alistair on CSN (Pre-PP
), and he always struck me well. I read the review of the Theological Guide to Calvin’s Institutes, and put it on my order list.
On a personal note (First rabbit-trail!!
),
IRT the ten questions that Patton referenced, he stated in there that he has been led to study the bible without the preconceived ideas that have been taught or inferred by himself.
I’m being led the same way. I want to read the Scriptures as though I haven’t been taught anything, and just allow God to speak to me through His word.
Does this strike anyone as odd?
I understand standing on the shoulders of those that came before and I do not want to find some magic kernel of “new revelation”, but I truly want to come to His word as unencumbered as I can.
Any suggestions?
Tony, you can download two of Piper’s sessions from that conference at desiringgod.org
Shouldn’t we always try to read the Bible through the lens of the Spirit, and not the lens of our ideas, or other men’s ideas? Seems like a given…yet I do read certain verses thru the lens of Reformed theology, certain verses thru the lens of the charismatic movement, certain ones thru the lens of the holiness teachers…am I making myself clear?
“24 hours of boy George singing hehaw songs”
Bwahahahahaha….. Now “THAT” was funny.
Brian….you just made my day. Thanks.
BrianD,
Crystal. And yes we “should” read through the lens of the Spirit. But don’t you find your study usually incorporates the “over-the-shoulder” of past pastors, SS teachers, commentaries, blog discussions, etc.?
This is some of the baggage I want to lay aside (not necessarily discard), as I pursue the Spirit’s guidance in my studies.
Tony, all of it.
brian,
Showing grief as a Christian is not something horrible, it is part of life and should be viewed as such. I grieved mightily for Fred when he passed away, and it still chokes me up some today. Just because we are saved doesn’t exempt us from humanity and feeling, but it does give us One on whom we can rely in those moments of grief, sadness, doubt, anger, etc..
Sarah,
Interesting site.
When I was a kid, Gale Sayers autobiography was called “I Am Third”.
God, family, them himself.
That concept changed my way of thinking to this very day.
TonyP,
“I want to read the Scriptures as though I haven’t been taught anything, and just allow God to speak to me through His word.”
I think that it is impossible. As soon as there is mention of God or Jesus, all of your previous thoughts and knowledge will come to mind. I doubt you will say “which God?”
I highly recommend Challies interview with Douglas Groothius.
Challies engages Groothius in discussing the “Soul in Cyberspace”.
This book was written in 1997 before social networks were developed.
I remember reading the book back then. There is much insight and corrective wisdom in what Groothius reveals about his knowledge of the soul and the counsel that we need to interact with our technology saturated culture.
Thanks again BrianD.
FYI, Rich Abanes link has been removed by demand not by spite.
MLD,
Michael,
Any input on the guide to Calvin’s Institutes? Have you read it?
TonyP,
I have and recommend it highly.
Often when reading Calvin or other classic theology you come away wondering what you just read.
This book is very helpful in distilling and explaining exactly what you missed.
Michael says: “Shouldn’t we always try to read the Bible through the lens of the Spirit, and not the lens of our ideas, or other men’s ideas? Seems like a given…yet I do read certain verses thru the lens of Reformed theology, certain verses thru the lens of the charismatic movement, certain ones thru the lens of the holiness teachers…am I making myself clear?”
Sadly, I’ve come to see that as impossible. Over my years as a Christian, I’ve witnessed to much fighting over passages of God’s Word to see that as a possibility. I so wish it were possible as I’m discouraged to the point right now of having little use for church. I’m not attempting to justify my views and I’m depressed to the point of tears. We are mortals, saved by God’s grace…..we get things wrong. I have to live with that….and sometimes it stinks.
sadkat
Kat,
Maybe its time to realize that you need to let God run the show in your life? I got to the point after a couple years of making bad choices after coming to Christ, that I realized that when I ran things and made my own choices that I always really screwed things up. I realized why and what the scriptures mean when they say that we are to die to that old sinful nature within us and let Christ live His life through us. That is really when the sun began to shine in my life, in a metaphorical kind of way. Does that make sense to you? I can happen in your life if you just surrender to Him and His will for you.
Should be: It can happen in your life
You can’t read the scriptures without using your tradition’s glasses. Not possible. And not even a good idea.
If you were stranded on the proverbial desert isle, armed only with an ability to read and a copy of the scriptures and no familiarity AT ALL with Christianity or Judaism, do you think you would independently come up with the idea of the Trinity? The two natures of Christ? A coherent theory (sorry) of the Atonement? It’s only because of Holy Spirited-guided tradition that each of us doesn’t have to figure these things our for ourselves.
And even if this was a valid method for understanding the doctrines of Christianity, what about those who, for reasons of era, geography, station in life or mental capacity cannot read the scriptures for themselves. Someone will have to explain these things for them and Bingo, you once again have a tradition.
Michael,
That was what I was hoping to hear. I’m getting ready to tackle the institutes, should I read them in conjunction? Or will my head explode?
Xenia,
Excellent point and one that shows your historical training.
We all come from one or more traditions that have different ways of explaining the text.
I just wish that people would take the time to find out which tradition their views come from…
TonyP,
You will profit greatly by using them together.
Take it slow…this is information to chew on and digest, not just read.
TonyP,
I think your head will probably explode anyways.
puzzletop
Tony,
just kidding just kidding
puzzletop
kat, per your 9:30 post: blame me for that quote, not Michael
puzz,
Probably, but then I’ll be famous!
“The news at 11:
Man’s head explodes due to too much study! What does this mean for our schools?! Is this a sign that igmnorance truly IS bliss?”
I am not overtly throwing out the idea of tradition.
Does not every orthodox tradition include the primary and direct activity of God the Holy Spirit as the foundation and substance as to how one discovers theological knowledge and formulations?
Could I not surmise on my own upon the simple foundation of God the Holy Spirit by reading John 1 that Jesus existed prior to creation, possessed and practiced exclusive attributes,purposes and creative power of deity and then at a point in time entered history with a humanity like ours?
I might need some help with clarity and I might have benefited from hearing someone enunciate similar or complementary truth prior or during my discovery; but does every discovery of existing truth from the Bible today have to be associated with preeminence a dependence upon some recognized and formulated tradition?
Xenia,
Excellent points, thanks. I’ve pretty much determined the same, but I had been wondering on the other approach.
The Holy Spirit opens the Scriptures for us, so in theory if I WAS on a deserted isle and a bible washed up would I not be able to come to the truth?
Now Jesus commanded to go and teach, preach, and baptize which denotes the idea that the apostles and their disciples were to bring the truth through their teachings and writings, no? So if their teachings are encompassed in the Scriptures, then could I not come to them with no preconceived notions and find the truth of Christ?
Now I understand that I personally DO have preconceived notions and teachings, and I am where I am because of them (which is a good thing). My general question is IS there a way to let God’s word speak more clearly for itself and less with external influences?
I ramble a bit here, but hopefully I am getting my basic point across.
Did not Holy Spirit guided tradition start with mere men like us?
The apostolic writings bear a unique and distinct authority in terms of doctrine.
Outside of that, do we not all have the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit?
Cannot Holy Spirit tradition continue in the same manner with a man on an island with a Bible?
vic,
Exactly.
Sorry BrianD,
The trail seems to have legs….
JimB, God DOES run the show in my life…..it’s folk here and on other blogs who battle to the point of severe verbal blows. I’m not judging, just way, way sad. Even my post has now been misunderstood and you have judged me. Proves a point that quite frankly I wanted to be wrong about. NONE of us have all the answers, only God has those
Xenia: Most helpful input I’ve read in awhile…thankyou.
BrianD: first, my post was not a slam to Michael, nor to you. I’m SO sorry if it seemed that way. I have tears over this, not judgment, not anger, just a bit of a heavy heart. WHY must my intentions be so willingly twisted? What I thought were Michaels words were wise…..it’s just that I don’t see it working! Am I a miserable, unhappy person? I am not, I just get frustrated like the rest of you.
Thinkin’ I’ll do Michael the favor of going back to very occasional lurking.
BrianD…..finally noticed the smiley…..I’m sorry and embarrassed. Sigh……I’m in need of grace, and thanks be to God, He provides.
kat, I said it with a smile. All I wanted to convey was I said the quote, not Michael…and if anyone wanted to pick it apart, to pick on me because Michael gets enough grief as is
It is so easy to be misunderstood on a blog, and in real life, even amongst believers in Jesus. I know you meant no harm. The fighting over points of theology is frustrating to me also…and my point remains: when I read the Word, I believe what it boils down to is God wants me to hear His word above all else, not Calvin, Wesley, Finney, Henry, Dake, Spurgeon, Warren, McGee, Smith, MacArthur and a host of other men (and women) we invariably are all influenced by.
Blessings to you.
TonyP:
“My general question is IS there a way to let God’s word speak more clearly for itself and less with external influences?”
Nope! Simple to answer; even the desert island would effect how you read scriptures. This is why the importance of history, setting and the most simplest viewing of scripture, context have to be applied.
You might also notice the Apostles more than once interpret the prophetic in light of their times and surroundings. Peter’s interpretation of Joel in Acts is one of them.
Now am I saying to doubt? Nope!
I am saying I believe God gives each person a measure of faith and understanding which is often different from their neighbor. I also believe most want to standardize faith to our personal understanding rather than our neighbor’s.
I think you hinted on this when the subject of elder qualifications arose.
Boy this should blow things up, I was really interested in what Dallas W. had to say about Sabbath.
Nice bit by Eugene Patterson about pastors on that guy’s blog.
read this Patterson bit about the church on ASBO the other day. Think it is quite good also…
“The churches of the revelation show us that Churches are not Victorian parlours where everything is picked up and ready for guests. They are messy family rooms. Entering a person’s house unexpectedly, we are sometimes met with a barrage of apologies. St. John does not apologise. Things are out of order, to be sure, but that is what happens to churches that are lived in. They are not show rooms. They are living rooms, and if the persons living in them are sinners, there are going to be clothes scattered about, handprints on the woodwork, ad mud on the carpet. For as long as Jesus calls sinners to repentance – and there is no indication yet that he changed his policy in that regard- churches are going to be an embarrassment to the fastidious and an affront to the upright. There is nothing particularly glamorous about them, nor, on the other hand is there anything particularly shameful about them. They simply are.
Much anger towards the church and most disappointments in the church are because of failed expectations. We expect a disciplined army of committed men and women who courageously lay siege to the worldly powers; instead we find some people who are more concerned with getting rid of the crabgrass in their lawns. We expect a community of saints who are mature in the virtues of love and mercy, and find ourselves working on a church supper where there is more gossip than casseroles. We expect to meet minds that are informed and shaped by the great truths and rhythms of scripture, and find persons whose intellectual energy is barely sufficient to get them from the comics to the sports page. At such times it is more important to examine and change our expectations than to change the church, for the church is not what we organise, but what God gives, not the people we want to be with, but the people God gives us to be with – a community created by the descent of the Holy Spirit in which we submit ourselves to the Spirit’s affirmation, reformation, and motivation. There must be no idealisation of the church.”
Yeah Kat- if you would only get your life together like I have and you’d just interept God’s will for your life the way I have intrepreted it everything would be just fine don’t ya know!
whoa….
VIC..your 11:01
I so agree. I have made the personal decision that I am not going to listen to sermons on the radio or internet or anywhere else unless God clearly directs me to do so.
The reason is because I’m tired of receiving 2 minutes of actual Bible knowledge about the character of our God and an hour and a half lecture on history, geography, psychology, how to raise my kids so they will be more like the speakers kids, etc.
I do realize that there is wisdom to be gained by listening to others but it just gets dizzying and nauseating after awhile.
I will trust God to bring wise folks into my life to fellowship with and leave the lectures for those who wish to listen.
ANd I will direct my listening more to God Himself than to other men.
To be clear: not condemning anyone in particular or anyone who enjoys listening to sermons. Just a personal choice.
London, regarding your 12:31…..roflmao! Thanks for the upper and the laugh! I SO needed it. Any chance you’ll come out to E-Fest?
Yup, time to fall into lockstep and get my sleezy life together.
We just had Art Azurdia here for 3 days teaching a preaching practicum for about 7 CC pastors. It was awesome.
Well…accept for Hopkins’ jokes.
Wow 7 guys . Must have been great interaction and attention in that group. I was in a five day workshop with Haddon Robinson but that had about 40 people in it.
However, we did not get to practice any preaching before the group.
But as you can see on this thread I have already formed a network of pastors who are all going to plant churches on remote islands and study with just their bibles.
Cash:
“The reason is because I’m tired of receiving 2 minutes of actual Bible knowledge about the character of our God and an hour and a half lecture on history, geography, psychology, how to raise my kids so they will be more like the speakers kids, etc.”
Sounds like many preacher/”teachers” and what they give on Sunday AM.
However, don’t stop fellowshipping every week “as is the habit of some.”
Just think, if everyone would read the scriptures through the lens of the Holy Spirit, ya’ll would be baptizing babies and eating/ drinking the real body and blood of Jesus.
MLD,
Do you use fermented grape juice or Welches?
hi family
Hi Dusty
Hugs
Hi Dusty!!!
Drew: No worries! I’m not a “some.”
hi INOF
hi Cash. How ya doing?
In need, thanks for the hug.
Hi Dusty.
I’m down by the river (which is a little high) reading a book.
good for you Brian. I know you like being outside. it was a blustery day(as Pooh would say)here.
It was a bit windy and a little rainy here Dusty but the sun made a cameo appearance a couple of hours ago.
I’m glad that the sun came out for you.
We had a bit of sun yesterday. I was able to cut the grass. Well, most of it anyway. Our neighbor felt sorry for me and cut the front and the rest of the back with his riding mower.
Our riding mower quit on us the summer before last and we have not been able to get another one yet. I thought it might be a good way for me to get some exercise if I used the push mower (gas powered). We have about a 1/2 acre…it was a lot of work doing as much as I did…not sure I would be able to do it every week.I guess I am a wimp. Guess we need to start looking for another mower. lol
Dusty
Save yourself all that trouble and let the grass grow
Dusty!!! I have a lawn service. Even gave away our lawn mower. Guess I’m stuck with them! If you’re ever in the OC you can mow our lawn.
Hi Dusty! Can I tell you how I mow the lawn? I use Round-up!
Are you familiar with it?
HAHA yeah Dusty, you DO need to get a new mower..one named Jim Bob who lives down the street..
I’m a-doin’ well..and how you be?
BrianD-You’re down by the river..sounds like an old blues song.
Nene, round up? haven’t heard of it. I was thinking I should get a llama. I heard they make good ‘guard dogs’.
Silly Cash.
Glad you are well.
I’m good. Got to talk to Sis tonight for a little while. Been missing her lots. I was happy to get to chat with her.
Cash, BrianD is at the river!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3DDQMMVUOU
EBrother, ha you are funny.
Want to know the real reason Buster doesn’t like me to cut the grass?
One day I was cutting the grass with the riding mower…usually when Buster cuts the grass I hold the swings from little misty’s swing set out of the way so he can mow in and around the swing set…well, I was home alone and thought I would surprise him by having it done when he got home…I thought I would just hold the swing out of the way with one hand and drive under with the mower…the mower got caught up on the swing…before I knew it the whole front end of the mower was in the air…front wheels were off the ground…
Don’t ask me how I got out of that without damaging the mower or the swing set…never did that again.
EBrother, still want me to do your lawn? Maybe we should take Brian’s suggestion and let it grow. lol
ya’ll can stop laughing now… hehe
E-why would you do that to me, bro?
Holy Cow, those bellbottoms..haha now they call them “boot-cut.”
Dusty, Your story is too funny..one time I got some baby goats. Turns out they jumped the fence, and went into the traffic! (I saved them)I’m thinking a llama might just work!
Can you picture Erunner’s yard with a llama in the front? lol
btw..round up is a spray poison.
why can’t we have you tube videos of these incidents, Dusty and Nene?? WHY???
ha Cash…I am allergic to the camera.
Dusty,
My dear wife is the same way. There are very few pics of her. I like to say she’s either a CIA agent or a vampire!
She’ll smack me!
Anybody else watch the foolish show “Lost”?
….Like I am right now…
Sorry, Captain Kirk, but I will be
watching an episode of that great
classic, comedic western from before
you were born - Laredo. If you have
never seen it, you really ought to!
Dusty, Doing wheelies with the sit down mower!!
That’s very uplifting! 
So you were high on grass??!! 
Cash, You love the Osmonds! Come clean!
Erunner,
You are old enough, do you remember Laredo?
E-
I do love the Osmonds! Love that they’re done recording and performing, that is.
Glenn, I was about 10 or 11 when it first aired. I never did watch it that I recall but I love westerns. The Rifleman, Branded, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and all sorts of movies. I imagine it’s on Hulu which seems to have everything.
Cash, You gave up the Osmonds for the Jackson 5!!
E-Buddy–
Yeah i was digging the J5 when you were going through your N SYNC phase!
Who are you enamored with now? Wasn’t it the Jonas brothers??
Dusty, this summer in Oregon, I am looking forward to riding my cousin’s lawnmower. Should be fun mowing the 5ish acres…..just hope I don’t mow down his young trees…..I want to live!
Cash, My passions in music are from years gone by. I bid you good night with a classic!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skU-jBFzXl0
I have an update from Please Note…he is is much pain. Please continue to keep him in prayer.
E-youse a funny man!
Kirk, why did you say are you lost? Everything all right?
Dusty, is Please Note ill?
Heavenly Father,
Please take away Please Note’s pain, heal his wound and give him strength. Comfort him, Father. And, Mrs. Please Note. Praying the medication help relieve the pain, sleep friend and rest. Jesus, hear our prayers. Amen.
Praying for PN!
I am so sad to hear about Please Note having pain. Lord, be with PN right now, comfort him, and relieve this pain, amen.
Please note I offer this for what little it may be of use. As a person whom deals with chronic pain I can tell you I understand that aspect of it. When I got a virus in one eye, most likely would migrate to the next eye, the pain was incredibly immense. The usual eye pressure is 14 mine was 85 they wondered what kept me from blacking out. I remember the doctor asking me I said that is not an option, one does not black out, have a need etc. He looked at me with a rather strange look. I left it there. But it was from the heart, from day one, when I became a “Christian”, personal pain was just not an option. It really was not, and I am not the only one. Pain is messy, faith based groups loath mess. May I add, with a vengeance.
In my own “story” I can say grief, physical pain, weakness of any type, spiritual pain, etc were all “events” that were viewed with great disrespect if not anger. As the “public / political” church (pardon the phrase) prostituted themselves out for a temporal power, many were left out. As one of those I hold my voice, to yours to our God, have mercy. Think on that, have mercy. I can tell you from personal experience, that is often seen as evil, even satanic to have mercy, for any reason, outside of an apologetic or public venue, raising funds etc, that would not ever be tolerated.
I reflect on the day I was booted from “ministry”, I had lost sight in one eye, and dealing with the potential in the other eye, I thought I may have MS. I felt totally alone, I went and wept, to my shame, to another in my ministry. The first thing I remember was the deep sigh before the brother answered me at the door. He is a good man, and just one more frustration was a bit much. I understand that, he is not a bad guy at all.
I relate to your pain, but I say to the Church, often Chronic pain, be it emotional or physical is often met with, well disgust, with a vengeance disgust. Church leadership, brothers and sisters, our spiritual leaders, will stand against the “gay agenda”(tm) what ever that is, evolution, prayer in school, removal of “in God we Trust” on our money, go figure on that one, etc but never do the big dogs deal with the abandonment of those in the body, faithful, that are abandoned, often with great passion. Christ did not want this. Personally I am ashamed, truly ashamed.
Please note God be with you, He is, always.