If you read the comments on the "Change" article of Wednesday, you will note a couple of volleys with a reader named John. I don't know John's last name so I don't know if I know him. What I want you to see are my article, his comments, and my volleys.
What I want you to note is two men seem to have some differences. Some of the differences could be found to be saying the same things. Others.....not. What little I know about John and what lot I know about myself is we are both alike; frail mere men trying to evaluate the mysteries of God.
Be encouraged to do as we both are. We are trying to fit ourselves into the brilliant schemes of God in the most effective ways. We are likely right on a few things and wrong on others. Probably we would both be surprised at God's point of view.
I appreciate the unknown writer named John because he is simply sharing a slant to something I may be missing. He is no threat and certainly not an enemy. I would assume him to be a believer serious about discipleship. It just isn't ever a matter of who is right. It matters greatly who is receiving the glory....and it is neither one of us.
Keep reaching for God's style!
6 comments:
well said! As I re read my last comment to that post, I hoped that I was not perceived to be too strident in my tone. I am very passionate about this, and I humbly apologize to you and to John if I offended. I believe what I wrote, but I do not want to be antagonistic! God Bless you, John, for your faith and steadfastness and your willingness to discuss...
tm
Tim,
I thought your comments in the former post were right on target. The words were well-framed and the good spirit was obvious.
Your sensitivity to this post merely reflects the Holy Spirit flowing through you.
Thank you!
Anyone, and I mean anyone, and I hope one of them would be "anonymous" John, can connect to the link below or choose not to. WE ALL MAKE CHOICES EVERYDAY AND EVERYDAY OUR CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES, GOOD or BAD. Some choices have greater consequences while other choices have lesser consequences. And again these consequences can be either good or bad. My choice to attend Bible class this morning was a good choice and out of a good choice comes a good consequence! We could talk all day about this very thing itself. but i won't go there!!!
http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2008/09/24/news/top_stories/doc48da99bc23563266391483.txt#comment
A couple of days ago there was a, I believe a, nationwide "See you at the Pole" event. At least I think it was nation wide. The link takes you to a story about see you at the pole. I made one of 7 comments and am putting my comment here: share it anywhere you want to, to anyone you want to.
Jim Cooke wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:30 AM:
"Kathleen, I did not introduce myself, but I am sure you were the reporter that was at Midland High School, and asked me questions. I should have given you my name, Jim Cooke, and maybe you would have published a quote or two of mine. After talking to a friend of mine last night, I realized bigger (than) Texas, that I am not ashamed to call myself a Christian, and express outwardly my love for Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. I still wish you would put some of the quotes I shared with you in a story b/c I can't totally remember what I even said to you. I know I told you that those gathered around the pole were most if not all Christians, who know that the only true way to God and Heaven is Thru Jesus Christ, the only way. He is the truth, the life, and the victory we have assurance of for our salvation and entrance into His Kingdom when we die, while others don't call on Him, don't know how, or just ignore Him. We are called to be salt and light to a world of hurting people and if we don't live for Him, those around us may not live eternally as we will. There are consequences for not accepting Jesus and living for Him, and the most horrifying truth is that those that don't call upon His Name and become one of His Disciples, will face the eternal lake of fire. satan is real and he will try to do anything and everything to keep those of us who know Jesus from following thru with the greatest commandment and that is to "Go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. and the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself." Praise and glory be to God for sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die a gruesome death upon the Cross of Calvary, and give us the gift of eternal life, the free gift, that all men can have if they will submit to Him and follow Him daily. In Christ, Jim Cooke"
Kathleen, the reporter, later sent me this. My thoughts before you see what she sent me. THIS ONE TIME COMMENT BY ME TO AN ARTICLE, DOES NOT MEAN I AM A GOOD EVANGELIST. But Jesus is alive in me thru the Holy Spirit, and if it weren't for a good church I attend, Golf Course Road Church of Christ in Midland, TX, I would not be as mature as a believer right now. But I have not arrived yet. JOHN IF YOU READ THIS, THE MUSLIM FAITH IS NOT AUTHENTIC, REPEAT, IT IS NOT AUTHENTIC. IT IS A FALSE RELIGION AND I DON'T PRACTICE RELIGION, I PRACTICE FAITH WHICH DEEPENS MY SPIRITUALITY UPON GOD AND MAKE ME MORE DEPENDENT ON HIM AND NOT SOME MAN MADE, EXCUSE ME, "GARBAGE", THAT WOULD SEND ME TO AN ETERNAL FIRE.
I HOPE YOU KNOW THIS: I would rather die with Jesus and my Christianity and find out there is not a God, then to die without Jesus and find out there is a God!
Mr. Cooke,
I apologize I was unable to use any of your comments, but without a name I was unfortunately unable to use any of your quotes. I hope the article was not unrepresentative of the events.
I’m glad there’s someone like you at Midland High, I know it wasn’t always easy to find a teacher that would openly speak about Christ when I was in school. Thanks for your time yesterday and hopefully I’ll run into you in the future.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Thurber
2 sites to share - what do you think
http://teachingtruth.org/truth.php
http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml
Terry (and others),
Wow - I'd had almost forgotten how easy it is for us to draw our "necessary inferences" about people and about the things they/we say (or think they say or meant).
I do not believe the Muslim religion is "authentic." I said that those who are responding to it are making authentic decisions - they believe in what they practice. That was not an endorsement or a statement of acceptance. It was a response to your comment. There is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ (John 14: 6).
Tim, I agree with you that the growth back in the 50's and 60's was shallow and that our "passion was completely misplaced." Our emphasis was on a doctrinal correctness that was based on a "pattern theology." My contention is that we were looking at the wrong "pattern." The pattern we sought to "restore" consisted mainly of a worship "grid" that we inferred looked like the first century model. Do I think that was good and noble - yes and no. Yes, because it cleared away the denominational creeds and weeds of the past centuries. But, no, because we left out Jesus. We focused on a "pattern" forgetting that the "pattern" Moses spoke of in Hebrews 8: 5 was pointing to Jesus. Without Him as the "grid" and "model" we become and became arrogant, strident, know-it-alls whose traditions left us empty and shallow.
Perry, that's why my beef is not so much with our traditions but with the heart (of Jesus) we bring to the traditions. When that changes we will connect to our culture.
John - well said! God Bless!
tim
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