Comments for cultural dichotomy

Comment on Failure by Grady Bauer

Grady Bauer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:10:21 +0000

Our first term sounds very similar. Guy, I took your words as encouragement as well. We finish up our first term in Jan and will be transferring into WE for our second….I believe much of the “success” of the first term has been to prepare us for the next term as well. Too bad most of the “success” didn’t feel like success at the time….more like heartache and disappointment. Interesting the way God works.

Comment on Quotable by ray

ray — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:32:07 +0000

I agree Jason…and it’s a scary ghetto. Not one I’m comfortable hanging out in.

Comment on Failure by ray

ray — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:30:56 +0000

Thanks Guy. Your words are an encouragement. I’ll remember the Chambers quote. Very good.

Comment on Failure by guy muse

guy muse — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:53:10 +0000

Some of us are called to plow hard rocky ground. Others to fertilize that plowed ground. The task of other servants is to plant the Gospel seed. Others to water the planted seed. Many are involved in pulling weeds that grow up side by side with the growing plants. And then there are those busy with gathering in the harvest.

The only ‘failure’ is when we fail to glorify the Lord of the Harvest where He has placed us.

I like the way Oswald Chambers says it, “God puts his saints where they will glorify Him, and we are no judges at all of where that is.”

Comment on Quotable by Jason

Jason — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:31:45 +0000

Wow. Very true. American Evangelical Christianity has become in many ways the Evangelical Ghetto.

Comment on Suffering and Work by ray

ray — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:51:47 +0000

@Mordecai - thanks for stopping by. I agree when you say that suffering, as a result of following Jesus, can happen in very different ways. At the risk of sounding post-modern I think suffering is relative. What might be suffering for me, may not be for the next guy following Jesus.

Comment on Suffering and Work by Mordecai

Mordecai — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:04:34 +0000

I think following Jesus means suffering, in very real, very hard, very different ways. I think I sometimes I forget this, and so I’m glad you blogged about it. I think I forget from time to time that the cross is a tool used to inflict very real suffering and, ultimately, death, not unlike an electric chair.

Within the church, we’re so familiar with the cross as a symbol that we sometimes forget what it means. It means suffering. It means death. But thankfully, as you pointed out, this suffering, this dying, can be for His Glory.

Comment on A Simple Question by Meriwether Lewis

Meriwether Lewis — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:17:25 +0000

Well, for a long time now, I think we (the American church) have gravitated toward a “inviting someone to church is a great thing, not a bad thing” kind of mentality; however, the ‘invite’ has to be accompanied with action. You might agree that there have been many, many times where that invite (to church) has turned into something great, including salvation. We shouldn’t discount the invite, but we need to realize that it is really the least amount of work we can do. We should not only invite to church, but we should invite into our home, and not leave it up to the church to do the work we should be doing (if we say we’re the church, shouldn’t we be the ones doing the work). There’s an entire element of young parents with kids that don’t go to church, starbucks, or anywhere else for that matter. We’re simply not going to meet them at the local coffee shop. But they ARE our neighbors, and we must reach out to them.

Secondly, I think it is easy to say, “well, I’m doing something at least.” I have to admit that this is exactly where I am right now. My wife and I think it is so neat when we have the opportunity to tell someone about our church. I don’t really care to sit down and eat with them though. They aren’t like me. The only problem is that it is not real. As our pastor pointed out on Sunday, it is like highlighting the verses in my bible, having the knowledge without the accompanying actions. I’m great at pointing out passages and verses, but I have to evaluate whether or not I remember what I look like in the mirror (James 1:23-24).

By the way, your post makes me feel like total dirt. I guess you could say it is challenging, in a good way. I agree totally, you cannot say you are living missionaly unless you are willing to do not only these things, but willing to be obedient in the things that will be uncomfortable.

Comment on What’s My Ministry by Darwin

Darwin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:00:03 +0000

Sorry sb. but your an idiot ! If a “christian” has “thunder” then he or she isn’t “doing ministry”. Ministry is simple, a service for the cause of CHRIST. It’s simple it is just so-called christians who try to use the word to make their lust for money curve off the radar of the irs, or other christians etc. Check out their fruit . What comes out of their mouth jesus or, “my product” ” my book” ” my service” me me me. I guess most of the time it’s me-inistry. It has nothing to do with holy it’s focus and cause. In the name of JESUS ministry, to call yourself a “biness man” for jesus so I can dress like a PIMP, then it’s obvious whazz up Playa Jesus doesn’t need pimps or whores or those who dress like it with a sad jarry curl, get it? Just look, you will know them by their fruit peeriod.

Comment on Lessons from the ER by ray

ray — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:34:57 +0000

@guy: thanks for stopping by. I agree, it is hard, but very rewarding.