"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Some questions:
- Anything about this passage strike you as remarkable or unusual?
- Is this more a passage about prayer or secrecy?
- Is the "Lord’s Prayer" appropriate for us to pray today?
Tell us about your prayer life. Is it good? Do you struggle? With what do you struggle?
Will you go over to our online prayer journal and post a prayer?
What else is on your mind this week?
51 comments:
Welcome home.
Annette
Thanks, it’s great to be back. Tony and I finished the 50K. It was a wonderful experience! I plan to do it again next year. The course is simply amazing and beyond my ability to describe. The first thing that comes to mind is “relentless rocks.” Every portion of the 31 miles had rocks imbedded in the trail; some large, some small, some sharp, some dull (hmmm just like some of the runners).
The scenery was amazingly varied; it never got monotonous. It was just mountainous. The hills were not as frequent as I thought they would be, but when they came they were long and steep. My favorite was “water line.” It comes sometime during the middle-20-something-miles. It keeps going and going and then you hit a point that you cross a really shallow water-covered ledged, which is high up on the side of a small mountain. Then you have to climb straight up several feet, using your hands to find roots and rocks to hang onto. Adventure.
Tony was an amazing picture of perseverance. He got sick at about the 20 mile mark; 11 miles to go to finish. It was a real gut check, and as he would say, “literally, visually.” And I would add, “Yeah and multiple times.” Anyway it was long tough finish, but he/we did it.
I will try post some pictures later in the week.
RFM (relentless forward motion) is a term that Allen & I used a lot in training for this event. This was a term that kept coming to mind after I started to feel bad and knew that it was really gonna be tough to finish if I sat down to rest. I can never remember being so physically expended while trying to climb some of the hills/bluffs in the later stages of this course.
May(?) consider this event again. It owes me one even tho I/we did finish.
Another "adventure/goal" completed!
Tony
What:
Valentine’s Dinner Party catered by Maple Street Restaurant
When:
Saturday February 10, 2007, 6 p.m.
Where:
Family Life Center (decorated and dimly lit – unmatched ambience; well, we’ll at least turn some of the lights off)
Why:
Do you really need to ask that?
How (much):
Only $6 per person (I think that works out to $12 per couple). [Hey, guys this is an unbeatable deal! Think of all the good points you gain by suggesting that you and your wife come to this, all that for only $12. THINK!]
Got this from a good friend:
A duck walks into a bar one day at lunch time. He orders a beer and a ham sandwich. After several days of the same lunch order the bartender says "Never saw a duck eat lunch in here before." The duck replies, "Well get use to it. I'm working on the construction job across the street."
A few days later the circus comes to town and the ringmaster comes into the bar for lunch. The bartender tells him about the talking duck that drinks beer and eats sandwiches. The ringmaster asks the bartender to send the duck down to the circus for a job.
The next day the duck comes in and the bartender tells him about the job offer. The duck looks surprised and asks "The circus is where animals do tricks inside a big tent right?" The bartender agrees. The duck asks, "What would they need with a drywaller?"
Hey, if you want to post a prayer, click here.
Describe to me your prayer closet? Where is it? What does it look/feel like? Is it locked? Who is allowed? Do you have more than one?
Well here I am at work and once again I have to drive home in the snow. Don't know when it started but at 2 45 am the roads in Bloomington were covered. I didn't realize it was coming. Radar doesn't look like we will get much more. Be safe everyone.
Annette
The snow is mostly off the roads now but the temp has dropped from 25 to 17 with wind chill of 9, the wind has increased and cuts right through you Brrrrrrrr. The roads are wet, hope there isn't any ice. I know, I'm a wimp.
Annette
I was looking at the Lord's prayer again this morning and at the end I see two prominant action words. Lead and Deliver. We are His sheep and He is our shepherd. When we keep our eyes on the shepherd he can lead us and it is easier to follow Him because we know where He is and he knows where we are. When sheep take their eyes off the Shepherd and wander off to terrain that is dangerous and unfamiliar it is easier to get lost and hurt. We cannot stay in a shell in the world and we do have to go into unfamiliar pastures sometimes but we all know enough to know that you just don't step over into an area that holds danger to our souls without injury. We, like sheep have to stay away from areas that present a danger. Keeping our eyes on the Savior and in His word, allowing Him to lead us, will give us security knowing he watches over us. We will get injured and we will suffer loss as we live on this earth, our pasture, but he is there watching out and comforting our hearts and healing our injuries. And when we step into unfamiliar territory he will look for us and save us by His grace when we allow Him to. We are very willful and stubborn in wanting our ways but He has promised to lead us not into temptation and He has promised to deliver us from evil. We have to be humble enough to allow Him to have his way because he loves us and knows what is best. We can trust Him with every part of our lives. I will embarrass my grandchildren by telling you I raised goats from jr high through high school and they are very stubborn critters. If they don't want to do something, they sit down on their bare little knees and will not move and no amount of coaxing will move them and if they want to misbehave and jump a fence and get into trouble all they do is follow the leader or the rogue goat and trouble comes. They would follow me though if I offered them something good to eat. I learned so much raising these creatures. It taught me about myself, my stubborness, self-will and about God's loving care. If I had offered my goats poison oats, they would have taken it because they trusted me. When someone offers you something that you think is good just be careful in accepting it because if the offerer does not have your best interest at heart it could destroy you spiritually or physically. Only the Good Shepherd offers good food for our souls. I have wandered off too long in this pasture. Have a wonderful and blessed day everyone. Sherron
If you want to see some Mount Mist 50K photos click HERE. Warning: they have stupid captions.
Loved the pictures. You have such a beautiful wife.
Oh and before you think someone is ogleing your wife, that was from me, I forgot to write my name. I think we have a lot of beautiful women at church, Shawna, Rita, both Jamies, Amy Morris to name a few. They are also beautiful on the inside.
Annette
PS.. feeling just a little sleep deprived, don't know what made me bring this up
Hey Allen the pic was great and funny..especially the one with the, "what was I thinking" look on your face. When I use to work at the Mission in Savannah Georgia, once a week the director would take the guys out for a three mile run around the park and of course I was the one who decided to sleep in whenever they would get ready to go. One day the Director and some of the guys in the program urge me to go do the run with them, and like a dummy I went. Half way up the block I was ready to call it quits. A mile went by and I thought I heard the voice of an angel asking me was I ready to come on home. A mile and a half, I am now looking for a tree to hang myself from. Two miles, I was so weak that if I did find a tree to hang myself from, I wouldnt be able to do it. Two and a half mile, I'm no longer sane but a serial killer looking to kill everyone who talked me into running this pathetic run. Five minutes away from the finish line. I'm out of gas, everyone is cheering me on but my mind is wanting everyone to go to H***. Crossing the finish line, my body is on empty and my cheering squad is jumping up and down as if I just won the superbowl. No more will I ever run three miles again. My hat off to you and Tony. God bless.
Gino, you are one funny man! I’m glad you finally showed up to blog this week. I thought you might say something provocative to get the discussion going, but that’s OK! Ha ha ha. I must admit, however, that you created one the best weeks of blogging we have seen in a while.
My favorite “prayer closet” is Spring Mill Park, trail 7 to be exact. All of nature joins me in the closet.
I think my wife is the most beautiful person I know; she’s good looking also. Obviously very intelligent: she picked me. But of course we all do make mistakes.
Sherron, very good thoughts as usual. I really liked what you said about trust. It seems to me that so much of life really comes down to trust. Trust is the essence of faith, I think. We pray because we trust God. We entrust all of our lives to him. What other choice do we have, really? Evolution? I listened to Richard Dawkins a little today; he is an atheist and author of The God Delusion. It’s amazing how much trust he has in science. One of the things that struck me about the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was how Pirsig, in narrative form, effectively attacked the scientific method as THE means of acquiring knowledge. Here is a little excerpt (p.140):
If the purpose of the scientific method is to select from among a multitude of hypotheses, and if the number of hypotheses grows faster than experimental method can handle, then it is clear that all hypotheses can never be tested, then the results of any experiment are inconclusive and entire scientific method falls short of its goal of establishing proven knowledge.
Science is not THE answer to everything. It will leave people unsatisfied and lost. It all comes back to trust and faith in God. This is the world view that you and I embrace, and we need not be ashamed of it. We simply won’t know all the answers about life, so we trust, obey, and pray.
Again (did this quote a few weeks ago), I quote from Luke Timothy Johnson in Creed.
Christians need to begin by insisting, first of all to themselves, then to each other, and finally to the world, that faith itself is a way of knowing reality. They need to insist that faith establishes contact with reality in a way different from, but no less real than, the very limited (though, in their fashion, extremely impressive) ways of knowing by which the wheels of the world’s empirical engine are kept spinning. Christians need as well to cultivate practices that reveal and reinforce perceptions of the world that include “things invisible” as much as “things visible.”
And how about these thoughts?
Hebrews 11:3 — By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
Hebrews 11:6 — And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Thanks Allen, I feel blessed to get the wooden spoon award plus a compliment in a two weeks span (tears running down my cheek). Well ever since last week I had to deal with a little tongue lashing from Annette (go ahead ladies and cheer)and having her tell me how some of the ladies at the church was upset with what I wrote. Any way, let us move on to the topic of prayer and secrecy. When I started working at the mission in Los Angeles I did most of my praying walking up and down the car lot or in the office when no one was there or around. Today when I pray I have no place to pray in secrecy but within me. Example. There are times when my heart will turn sour and my mind starts to wander off where it shouldn't be (stinking thinking)and instead of waiting to get to a secret place, I will start praying right there and then. I love praying because I know that if I pray (talk) to God, God will pray(talk)to me. Even though I know that God knows every move I take and all the wrong I am going to do in my life time, I know that I can talk to him and not worry about anything. I don't ask people to pray for me because I know that God is listening and will answer on his time.
I have such a battle with forgiveness. Not in the little things, but in the life altering, life shattering type of experiences. How can I say, "I forgive you" and then you just walk away and I am left with all the pieces. Yes, I intellectually understand the concept. I visually and emotionally understand the price that Christ paid for us, but somehow I just can't seen to wrap myself around how to forgive someone for incredible wrong. It seems so easy for the one forgiven. It doesn't cost him anything, but I have to live with the results of the trauma he caused. Yes, of course, I see the spiritual parallel, but I am here and I live and breathe everyday with the price I have to pay for someone else's actions. It is something I struggle with every day. The anger and heartache are such close companions, both to me and to each other. Perhaps at the heart of the issue is my own intense anger at God for allowing such heartache into my life when I was so sincerely trying to serve Him. I'm not exactly sure, but I do know that this issue of forgiveness in a huge stumbling block in my desire to fully serve God.
I can't remember the last time I prayed! My prayer life SUCKS! I try all the time to improve it but always fall short and then I am just more frustrated with myself and feel more like a failure.
I just got done reading the blog after mine and I pretty much understand about the forgiveness part because the two people who I thought I could trust more than anyone in the world was my mom and my stepfather. My mom lead the church choir and God had blessed her with a voice that could actually melt icecream with. That is how good she is. But outside of church my mom was a drunk who beat the hell out of me every chance she got. I use to sit in church and watch her sing and praise the Lord week after week hating her and eventually hating God. I stopped praying after three years of abuse and actually told God to go screw himself. I was 13 years old, hating God and my parents. Years went by and I was a bitter person. My mom had divorce my stepfather and even asked me a few times to forgive her. Of course I wouldnt forgive her believing that if I didnt forgive her, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life. It was 1996 that I forgive my mom and let me tell you something. Forgiving her had opened up a door of relief. The day that I forgave her, I felt so much weight vanish off of my shoulder that I cracked a smile not knowing that God was about to do some work in my life. After getting saved in 97, I learned more about forgiveness through the word and I had no problem asking God to forgive me. We all are going to go through problems in life. Forgiveness is not easy but if you do, God will take the stress off of your shoulder. You just have to believe in him. Trust him. I know that I do. Forgive him or her and watch how things will change but you must do your part first and that is to forgive.
Here is one my favorite stories about forgiveness. It comes from Corrie Ten Boom in The Hiding Place. [Everyone should read this book.]
It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, a former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie’s pain-blanched face.
He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. “How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein.” He said. “To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!” His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.
Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. “Jesus,” I prayed, “I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.”
As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.
Don’t give up. I have seen some amazing (miraculous?) instances of forgiveness in my life. It CAN happen; keep trying to turn it over to God.
I think a lot of people don’t pray. Don’t be too hard on yourself, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I am going to end my sermon on Sunday with a story that might be helpful. I think maybe just relaxing and understanding that God is still in love with you and in pursuit of you could be helpful. God is still faithful when we are not. I’m sure others have some helpful words?? Please share them.
OK, it’s time for some silly new stuff.
I came across an article this morning about how the Japanese are mixing milk with beer.
Milk beer called 'Bilk' to go on sale in Hokkaido
NAKASHIBETSU, Hokkaido -- A brewery here has succeeded in producing a low-malt beer with milk, after the drink was suggested as a product that would help use up surplus milk.
The drink, called "Bilk" will go on sale on Feb. 1. It reportedly has a fruity flavor that its brewers hope will be popular among women.
The idea for the drink was conceived after dairy firms threw out a huge amount of surplus milk in March last year. The son of the manager of a liquor store in Nakashibetsu, whose main industry is dairy farming, suggested the idea of producing the milk beer to local brewery Abashiri Beer.
IF you want to read the whole article click Here.
The other article involves the flushing of toilets during the Super Bowl. The headline is:
Miami Braces for Super Bowl Halftime Flush
IF you want to read it click HERE.
I am very interested in generational differences. As I get older I am very concerned to NOT become one who dismisses people or groups of people or generations of people because of differing ways of viewing life, especially when it comes to viewing/doing church. I am always wondering if we are being effective with all the generations that make up our church family?? I think that’s a tough thing to do, but I think this is the idea of community: unity in/out of diversity.
I came across a nice, easily-understood article yesterday about generational differences. The main focus is on Gen. X, but it gives an overview of other generations which I think is pretty helpful. You can read it HERE. I would love some feedback, especially from Xers.
Thank you, Gino, for your story on forgiveness. The person that tore up our family has also asked for forgiveness and is sincere. Sometimes I think I have done it, but then the hurt comes back in such waves.........I don't know what I am missing.
Whoa! I am looking for some positive comments about a pretty good article about generational differences. I think the last two comments about Gen X are over-generalizations, inflammatory and unnecessary. That’s coming from the guy who lets a lot of stuff go on this blog.
I, like most everyone else, have frustrations with other people, even groups of people, or even generations of people, BUT I have been called to unity and to be a peace-maker. That being the case I have made a conscious decision to look for the good in others, to see my own faults and biases, and try to understand the flaws in others. I think the article gives me some help with all that. We do not need to start generational wars in the church; we need grace, mercy, understanding and the desire to connect with those who are different. By the power of the Spirit we can do it.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called–one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
(Ephesians 4:1-7)
After reading again a couple of the earlier posts regarding Gen X. I have decided to delete them. I am disappointed that such comments were made. I did not read them very carefully until a few minutes ago. I should have deleted them earlier. Building community is difficult always, but comments such as those only lead to division.
OK, should the days of anonymity be over? There are some who have been saying, and are saying again this evening, that we should no longer allow anonymous posts. I am really struggling with this one and do not know what to do.
What do the readers of this blog say? Remember, if you are opposed to anonymity you need to sign your name.
Here is my opinion, and it is only that. If someone wants to remain anonymous to post a comment from the heart, share a struggle, express a fear or sin, etc., that is fine and we should all respect that. If an anonymity is used to criticize or complain about a person or group of people, especially of our community, then the comment should be deleted.
Kedra
I post anonymously because I can share some of the deepest feelings and struggles of my heart. I have a huge issue about trusting people because of experiences in my life. It has been very precious to me to be able to let out some of my pain and listen to ideas and thoughts from other believers. If you need to change this, I understand, but I have appreciated the form to speak - even without signing my name.
OK, I’m back from Ben’s last basketball practice. Yippee! I’ve been really unsettled, disturbed for the last couple of hours, thinking about this space. I think the issue will resolve itself pretty soon. I kinda like the idea of no negative posts without a name, but allowing anonymity if it is a heartfelt, secretive thing. We have had many beautiful touching posts on here that were done because a person did not have to reveal an identity. I think back to some of the things that were said about divorce, for example. Anyway, please keep expressing your opinions. I am new to this blogging thing and am still learning.
I want to apologize again to the Gen Xers for allowing those two negative posts to stay up for a little while. I am on a quest to better connect with all people, and I especially want to connect to Xers. You are the future, and many of you are doing wonderful things now. I am thankful for you and want to know you better. That is why I wanted your reaction to the article I posted earlier today.
One last thing before I seek my beauty sleep (I know, I obviously need to get more sleep). When Wayne became an Elder I said to several, “Watch out! The devil is going to try extra hard to disrupt the wonderful things that are beginning to happen in this church.” Today, in my opinion, was an attempt. We won, I think.
Oh, and one more last thing. I am going to wear blue on Sunday. I hope you will too. Go Colts!!!
I'd like to share a quote from one of my favorite authors, Philip Yancey in his book "CHURCH:WHY BOTHER? MY PERSONAL PILGRIMAGE". Yancey uses several metaphors to describe the church and finally returns to Paul's metaphor of Christ's body. He says,"As I look around on Sunday morning at the people populating the pews, I see the risk that God has assumed.For whatever reason,God now reveals himself in the world not through a pillar of smoke and fire, not even through the physical body of his Son in Galilee, but through the mongrel collection that comprises my local church and every other such gathering in God's name." He goes on to say," No church I know of today fulfills the promise of all the metaphors I have mentioned here. Yet every church represents that promise and offers a whisper of hope. Imperfectly, to be sure,we all reveal some aspect of the shape of God's body.How does God view the church that gives such a distorted image? Perhaps as Malcolm Muggeridge suggests,"as God has looked at His creatures through the aeons:disappointment without end weighed against inexhaustible love."We humans cause God great pain,yet God remains passionately involved with us.Should not I have something of that same attitude toward the church around me?"
Sorry this is so long , but this book has made me look at my fellow Christians in a new light. I believe that God wants his church to be diverse else why would He make us so different?
As for anonymity I stand opposed on principle. I believe there should be a standard rule that all blogs be signed and Allen does not have to make any judgement about which anonymous blogs are acceptable.
If you take off the anonymous option, the blog will dwindle to 5 or 6 posters.
First, this is Ryan writing. I have to sign in under "anonymous" due to the settings on this computer that I am not allowed to change. However, I try to always sign off as I know some others do.
There is a freedom that is valuable to some to post thoughts or comments here that they would not otherwise feel they could say. those however, are not the devisive or damaging posts that Allen is speaking of. For those that post anonymously and do so with a spirit of hatred or such, remember we on this blog may not know you or who you are but God knows and he knows the secrets of your heart. Enough about that.
On to Allen's post about the generations. Very ironic you bring that up. Weds night in class I was sitting there thinking the same thing. Tdub who I love dearly, and Mike are great examples of the X type. Wayne and Fred ( sorry) fall in the Boomer area. Yet, I have been amazed and so thankful to the meaningful discussions we have in that class. In fact I really intended this session to go to Marc's class but I could not leave your class Allen because of the "family" there. It in my opinion is very beneficial. I do think the X description is fairly accurate. I will share a little story here that goes along with that. Several years ago while attendind another congregation, the minister at that time, taught the "young married" ( all Xers) class on Sunday morning. He and his wife totally understood the make up and Xer mentality. He encouraged us to question things and even said that in our journey with God it was ok to go back and ask yourself why. it was ok to question why you believed what you believed. personally, i have done that a lot and i feel that has brought me closer to God because of it. so although some may see the Xers in a negative light and may see the typical lack of respect for authority or tradition as wrong, I think it makes them stronger in the long run as they find the answers themselves. truth is a journey not a destination.
RR
The only thing (not really) that I thought was true about Gen X was that I have worked all my jobs 3 yrs. Bender Lumber 3 yrs, PRD Inc. 3 yrs, Hoosier Uplands 3 yrs, and Hospitality House just 1 1/2 yrs, so I have decided that I am giving them my 2 weeks notice....and to say that we lack committment Joni
You have such a way with words Ryan, what would we do without you?
When you ask why then go seach and find, it means a lot more to you. I'm not a Xer but I have always been this way myself. If you question anything at church all you have to do is ask God and He will reveal it to you. I think you gain a deeper understanding when you do this. Truth is Truth, if you aren't sure its a Truth then ask for clarity and you will get it.
I think those deleted comments could apply to all of us in a way. I didn't notice any of those myself, but all of us should take care to show respect by being on time and also by living the life at home as we live it at church. And quite personally I believe my generation were too free to say what we felt at home IN front of our children(which we would never had said in front of anyone else)and that could very well have helped to make them like they are.
I love the mix of all ages in class too, it adds such spice to our class. That was very touching Ryan, what you said about not being able to leave the class. I wouldn't want to lose you to another class, selfish of me I know.
Annette
Part of me says to take away the anonymous posts then people who would post something detremental to the church because they are anonymous might not post the same thing when they have to give their name. But then on the other hand, even I have posted anonymously something deeply heartfelt that I wanted to say but didn't necessarily want everyone to know it was me.
So I like the idea of Allen deleting posts that are damaging to the church. Then it leaves the door open for people to post from the heart with out everyone knowing, and it protects our church from the evil one.
Very well said Erin, I think I will have to agree with you. Though it will make Allen's job maybe a little harder.
Joni, you showed too much responsibility when you said you would give a two week notice, you should have said when work finally called you when you didn't show up for work that 'ah I just don't want to work there any more'. I have to admit I used to think your generation was lacking in work ethic. In looking back though (thinking of those people who made me feel that way) it had nothing to do with a generation of people at all. I think my generation, the ME generation, once again did not show a good example to our younger generation. Maybe we didn't walk off a job, but we sure voiced it at home. My parents however did not talk about things like that in front of me, ever. They kept things private and between themselves. It makes it harder tho, when you have single parent families and there is no one else to talk to except your children.
Annette
Oh and by the way, I am very proud of my daughter Ashley, (who was very lazy at home) she has worked two jobs at once at times while going to school full time. You never know how your kids will turn out. Ashley has turned out to be more like me than I would have ever thought, maybe too much...
Ryan..thanks for making Wayne a Boomer.Actually he fits into the silent generation age group. I understand he doesn't always seem so silent, but there you go...different personalities in every group. As I was trying to go to sleep last night,I kept thinking how smug I sounded about the anonymous blogs. I still stand by my convictions.I could never put anything in black and white for everyone to read without signing my name. Is that a generational thing also? Maybe. Does anyone else see the irony in this discussion,since Allen has been discussing Anonymous giving and secret prayer? Does God condone secrecy in any other area of our lives? Just wondering. anyway I think Allen has provided everyone a great avenue for posting our innermost feelings and pain in the online prayer journal. There is no need for names since the One being addressed knows who we are.
I think everybody's too worried about the "anonymous" thing. Divisive, hateful posts don't happen all that often, and we're all grownups. In everyday life, we encounter people with different, sometimes extreme, viewpoints. Why should the blog be any different. Let's just take it with a grain of salt, and go on.
I read the generational article, and I'm not too impressed. I think a lot of the traits assigned to each group have more to do with age and stages of life than what was going on in the world during their youth. Our thinking and values evolve considerably as we mature, and I think that explains most of the differences.
And, not for the first time, I'm going to disagree with Ryan :0) and say that truth is not a journey. That makes truth too subjective, more of a matter of perspective. Truth is objective and eternal.
Donna
I had a blog written and my computer crashed. Is that a sign?? First of all I read the Gereration article and find these studies troubling. I really dislike catagorizing human beings into slots as a result of events in history and it reverts back to how the world judges and not how God looks at us - at any age, in any situation we find ourselves in or coming out of. It makes it too easy to judge one another by our ages and everything else that makes us different and very unique and takes away from our commonality. I found myself in each catagory listed and I know all of you did too because we are God created human beings. I grew up very different from most of you and you from me in life experience and outlook but I still bear the same feelings, needs, regrets that we all basically have. We are called to unity and we should not put our heads in the ground and say differences do not exist but we are enabled throught Christ to co-exist in love and respect for one another in those difference based on the principles set out for us and the example Christ left. Lets look for what makes us the same and focus on that instead of what makes us different and therefore isolates us. The world out there does that to us every day but we are called to unity. (Sorry the first blog was much more articulate) Sorry for the redundancy. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. I love you all and have appreciated everything you have had to say. It makes me feel closer to you and feel more compassion for each of your situations. Sherron--born in the USA 1944 in Greene County, IN just so proud to be here, as Minnie Pearl would say.
Donna, you know I have to respond. Ha!
So you feel that your values evolve as you age but the "truth" is always the same? Is this "the" truth, or truth as you know it? I would agree with the values changing because there is emotional attachment to values and than can be attributed to age. For example someone in their 40s values the time they spend with their parents more than they did when they were 18-20.
However truth has to be a journey because for it to be truth you must know that is it proven and fact. That is part of the aging process, part of the maturing. For example at your age or mine (40's) we know that if you stick your hand on the wood stove it is going to burn you if there is a fire in it. As a two year old unless we have touched the stove all we know is that the old folks have told us that the stove will burn. The fact is that it is going to burn but at that young age we have not experienced the fact and have only what we have been told to draw from. Same way with God's love. As a kid we hear all the Bible stories and the adults tell us about God's love and grace but until we live a little we don't experience that love and grace. As we go through life, his love becomes fact and we then begin to know the truth. Along with that we can read it is unending but again until we experience it again and again (more life more lessons) we don't have the fact to support it as truth. That also ties into the values.
RR
I think this blog is a good thing. At the moment words fail me when compared to the words of wisdom from Sherron or the words of conviction from Neva.
In my opinion, the Blog should be left as it is. The unsigned comments have evoked some of the most meaningful responses (both signed and unsigned) on these pages.
I believe they were heartfelt and I hope they will provide some fuel for change to meet the commenter's needs.
Some comments may have been placed here in an effort to inflame or incite...maybe they want to know how Christians react to such things.
I think to require signatures would show them we are afraid and don't "practice what we preach".
Mike Church
But, Ryan, "values" and "truth" aren't the same things. You're also confusing "truth" with empirical evidence. "Truth" stands outside me, and outside my personal experiences. God exists whether I ever personally encounter Him, or not. "Truth" doesn't sit around, waiting for me to prove it in order to be "true."
Donna
Good stuff, bloggers. I really think a lot of good happens here. That being the case, Satan will raise his stupid head periodically. I want to make sure that I don’t become the instrument he uses.
Click Here for a nice article about the Super Bowl coaches.
I think that truth is normally true, but i hate it when it's not. tw
Confuscius say
Terry Wayne
He funny everyday
Somebody say
Terry Wayne
he no joke
so Confucius say
I no know
many pardons
(Confuscius thinking...humm it sound like joke, it look like joke...I say it joke. Somebody play joke on Confuscius. What should Confuscius say ????? Somebody not funny like Terry Wayne, I say let somebody have his day)
Confuscius say
Somebody play joke
I laugh now
til I choke
you funny
holy cow
I make bow
have a good day now!
John Madden was in Chicago to announce a football game one weekend
when he noticed a special telephone near the Bears' bench. He asked
QBGrossman
what it was used for and was told it was a hot-line to God. John asked
if
he could use it. Grossman replied, "Sure, but it will cost you $200."
John
scratched his head, then thought, what the heck, I could use some help
picking games. He pulled out his wallet and paid $200. John's picks were
perfect that week.
The next week, John was in New England when he noticed
that same kind of phone on the Patriots bench. He asked what the
telephone was for and Tom Brady told him, "It's a hot-line to God. If
you want to
use it, it will cost you $500." Recalling last week, John pulled out his
wallet and made the call. John's picks were perfect again that week.
Last weekend, John was in Indianapolis for the Colts-Patriots AFC
Championship game, when he noticed the same kind of telephone by the
Colts bench. He asked Peyton Manning , "Is that the
hot-line to God?" Peyton said, "Yes, and if you want to use it, it will
cost you 50 cents." John looked incredulously at Manning and said, "Wait
a second, I just paid $200 in Chicago and $500 in New England to use the
same phone to God! Why do the Colts only charge 50 cents?"
Peyton looked at John and replied, "Because in Indianapolis , it's a
local call."
anonymous...okay,okay,can I say I'm sorry and change my mind(a woman's perogrative(sp?)).I like you after all. Since I was born at the end of the silent generation and the cusp of the boomers(Nov. 1942 if you must know) I will be optimistically practical and go along with the consensus of the hierarchy.We need you.
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