Comments for scottpagel.com http://www.scottpagel.com Unsolicited Advice and Opinion Since 1971 Tue, 01 May 2012 02:13:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on The Invisible Gospel by Michael Haggard http://www.scottpagel.com/2012/04/30/the-invisible-gospel/comment-page-1/#comment-674 Michael Haggard Tue, 01 May 2012 02:13:59 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=169#comment-674 I am most generally in agreement and love this illustration. Also, St Francis' saying "Preach the Gospel, and if you must, use words sometimes." However, I still get stuck on two things: first that the Lord uses "words" so much and brings Revelation and Covenant in words. The Word (which I prefer to translate as The Logic) is all about words... that lead to actions. Second, anecdotally, I have seen the right words be such a powerful force in the lives of seekers... but both of these only when there is a Faith (the verb, not the noun) that leads one to consider that the words have meaning beyond platitude and motto. There is an almost "It's A Wonderful Life" similarity to the above Zen illustration and the classic Christmas movie. LIKE I am most generally in agreement and love this illustration. Also, St Francis’ saying “Preach the Gospel, and if you must, use words sometimes.” However, I still get stuck on two things: first that the Lord uses “words” so much and brings Revelation and Covenant in words. The Word (which I prefer to translate as The Logic) is all about words… that lead to actions. Second, anecdotally, I have seen the right words be such a powerful force in the lives of seekers… but both of these only when there is a Faith (the verb, not the noun) that leads one to consider that the words have meaning beyond platitude and motto. There is an almost “It’s A Wonderful Life” similarity to the above Zen illustration and the classic Christmas movie. LIKE

]]> Comment on Death Valley by Christopher Kirk http://www.scottpagel.com/2011/08/16/death-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-624 Christopher Kirk Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:17:53 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=158#comment-624 Nice blog! I think you would appreciate mine too. Been relational housechurching and planting for 30 years now. My blog is about Jesus, church and life in general. http://notesfromthebridge.wordpress.com Christopher "Captain" Kirk Nice blog! I think you would appreciate mine too.
Been relational housechurching and planting for 30 years now.
My blog is about Jesus, church and life in general.
http://notesfromthebridge.wordpress.com

Christopher “Captain” Kirk
Christopher Kirk´s last [type] ..Open Hailing Frequencies

]]> Comment on Death Valley by Jason High http://www.scottpagel.com/2011/08/16/death-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-616 Jason High Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:59:09 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=158#comment-616 Understanding the concept of organic church, reading tons of books about house church, and seeing the advantage strategically for missions, still doesn't make the journey any easier. The last statement of your post is quite significant. It is why after studying house church for 5 or 6 years we have not been able to reach the other side. It's hard going it alone and it's hard for other Christian friends to join in, basically because of the 4 sacred cows they can't comprehend leaving behind. Understanding the concept of organic church, reading tons of books about house church, and seeing the advantage strategically for missions, still doesn’t make the journey any easier. The last statement of your post is quite significant. It is why after studying house church for 5 or 6 years we have not been able to reach the other side. It’s hard going it alone and it’s hard for other Christian friends to join in, basically because of the 4 sacred cows they can’t comprehend leaving behind.

]]> Comment on The Language of Christianity by Russ Koelzer http://www.scottpagel.com/2011/08/08/the-language-of-christianity/comment-page-1/#comment-511 Russ Koelzer Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:35:26 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=157#comment-511 Scott, in our English Camp in Ukraine we have had the same feeling of frustration. It frustrates me because we don't seem to be opening our minds to new ways to communicate, meeting these students "where they are." thanks for sharing. Scott, in our English Camp in Ukraine we have had the same feeling of frustration. It frustrates me because we don’t seem to be opening our minds to new ways to communicate, meeting these students “where they are.” thanks for sharing.

]]> Comment on The Language of Christianity by Angie Pagel http://www.scottpagel.com/2011/08/08/the-language-of-christianity/comment-page-1/#comment-509 Angie Pagel Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:49:24 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=157#comment-509 Great reminder! Thanks. Great reminder! Thanks.

]]> Comment on Willard’s Theological ‘Acid Test’ by Darren http://www.scottpagel.com/2011/07/14/willards-theological-acid-test/comment-page-1/#comment-423 Darren Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:32:55 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=145#comment-423 Sorry but calling Willard's statement "juvenile and pedestrian" is juvenile and pedestrian. :) The aspects of an omniscient, omnipotent, and a totally just God in no way change the God of love who extends his grace to us. +1 for Willard Sorry but calling Willard’s statement “juvenile and pedestrian” is juvenile and pedestrian. :)

The aspects of an omniscient, omnipotent, and a totally just God in no way change the God of love who extends his grace to us. +1 for Willard

]]> Comment on Introvert Camp by Aubry Smith http://www.scottpagel.com/2011/07/18/introvert-camp/comment-page-1/#comment-319 Aubry Smith Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:50:23 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=150#comment-319 Thanks for the shout-out! And thank you for making the distinction between "shyness" and thoughtfulness/quietness. I'm actually not incredibly shy, but I get labeled that a lot. Can I just think before I speak, please? :) I hope the camp goes well and you find some much-needed alone time to recharge. Our church starts VBS tomorrow and I'm in the thick of it! I'll need to go into an introvert coma by Wednesday! Thanks for the shout-out! And thank you for making the distinction between “shyness” and thoughtfulness/quietness. I’m actually not incredibly shy, but I get labeled that a lot. Can I just think before I speak, please? :) I hope the camp goes well and you find some much-needed alone time to recharge. Our church starts VBS tomorrow and I’m in the thick of it! I’ll need to go into an introvert coma by Wednesday!

]]> Comment on True and Better by Tyler Payne http://www.scottpagel.com/2011/07/15/true-and-better/comment-page-1/#comment-309 Tyler Payne Fri, 15 Jul 2011 20:54:11 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=147#comment-309 My church here in Columbia played this a few weeks ago during the service. It's a great video. It's catchy too, I find it gets stuck in my head like a song. My church here in Columbia played this a few weeks ago during the service. It’s a great video. It’s catchy too, I find it gets stuck in my head like a song.

]]> Comment on True and Better by Angie Pagel http://www.scottpagel.com/2011/07/15/true-and-better/comment-page-1/#comment-305 Angie Pagel Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:05:51 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=147#comment-305 Cool! My Jesus, He loves me. And I love him. Cool! My Jesus, He loves me. And I love him.

]]> Comment on Willard’s Theological ‘Acid Test’ by Michael Haggard http://www.scottpagel.com/2011/07/14/willards-theological-acid-test/comment-page-1/#comment-287 Michael Haggard Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:14:01 +0000 http://www.scottpagel.com/?p=145#comment-287 Though it sounds nice, it is juvenile and pedestrian. :) The God who is totally sovereign is not going to make everyone jump up and down for joy. The rebel will see no love in a fully just God and the authoritarian will see no kindness in a fully merciful God. The depravity of sin, even when it is not total, blinds us to God's nature. Even the elect cannot fathom His action and sometime cry out to Him in what is seemingly his injustices and pragmatic plan. But we just don't understand; like a toddler being held down by mommy at the doctors office because it hurts, we can't know the meaning and purpose of the pain. We view the doctor as unloving, cold and impersonal. It is only maturity that changes that. So, yes, God is loving... but to only present him in a way that the masses of the blind will SEE Him as loving will deny presenting Him fully as a God of omniscience and omnipotence. In the end, though it is my goal to teach a loving God, what I will read from the Bible will bring seekers and sinner to ask, "How can that be love?" because we are terrible judges of what love really is. The beginning of wisdom is not love... it is respect (fear) and then the perfect love LATER casts out all fear. Though it sounds nice, it is juvenile and pedestrian. :)

The God who is totally sovereign is not going to make everyone jump up and down for joy. The rebel will see no love in a fully just God and the authoritarian will see no kindness in a fully merciful God. The depravity of sin, even when it is not total, blinds us to God’s nature. Even the elect cannot fathom His action and sometime cry out to Him in what is seemingly his injustices and pragmatic plan. But we just don’t understand; like a toddler being held down by mommy at the doctors office because it hurts, we can’t know the meaning and purpose of the pain. We view the doctor as unloving, cold and impersonal. It is only maturity that changes that. So, yes, God is loving… but to only present him in a way that the masses of the blind will SEE Him as loving will deny presenting Him fully as a God of omniscience and omnipotence.

In the end, though it is my goal to teach a loving God, what I will read from the Bible will bring seekers and sinner to ask, “How can that be love?” because we are terrible judges of what love really is. The beginning of wisdom is not love… it is respect (fear) and then the perfect love LATER casts out all fear.

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