Disqus - Latest Comments for brucegrr

Re: The Cult of Personality

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:07:36 -0000

PREACH IT!!

Re: Some Days It Is Hard to Uphold the Law

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:06:52 -0000

Very true Steve.

Re: What About Your Children?

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:05:07 -0000

Yes! My kids can now be real. They don't have to respond according to what they think Dad wants to hear.

Our family is a work in progress but I like where we are headed.

Bruce

Re: Dear Christian, If the Gospel is True

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:03:28 -0000

It was a constant battle to keep people motivated. (let alone keeping myself motivated) The Church tended to ebb and flow depending on how motivated I kept them. Revivals were always good for motivation.

Sadly most sermons went in one ear and out the other. In the Churches I pastored we had too much preaching. People heard 3-4 sermons a week. Too much information to keep in their mind. 1 sermon a week would probably resulted in better retention.

Bruce

Re: Tanning Bed Tax is Racist

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:59:04 -0000

I'll have to check that out.

I don't like tack on's like this to start with. They get hidden in the bill and very few people (like us) know about them.

Bruce

Re: What About Your Children?

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:57:08 -0000

Thanks Drew!

Bruce

Re: Some Days It Is Hard to Uphold the Law

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:55:17 -0000

That's why it appealed to me. Calvinism is an intellectual's wet dream. It is complicated, filled with nuance and depth.

But it's fatal flaw is.......if you pull out one of the five pillars it all collapses in on itself. Every point of Calvinism needs the other to stand.

Bruce

Re: What About Your Children?

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:52:46 -0000

Well, we did come from similar ruts. :) He just spoke in tongues and I didn't.

Bruce

Re: What About Your Children?

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:50:44 -0000

Thanks Amy.

It has been 90% good.......in fact great.

The conflicts are still there. My older sons are married. They all married Catholic girls. There is some tension about going to Church, children, etc but I am convinced it will all work out.

Once the need to be right is gone things become much easier.

Bruce

Re: Dear Christian, If the Gospel is True

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:47:50 -0000

Thanks Rodney.

I think there can be vibrant faith for those who desire it. I have met some liberal Christians that seem to have it figured out. They seem to be able to hold on to Jesus while jettisoning the Fundamentalist/Evangelical baggage.

For me when I tossed the baggage my faith went with it.

Bruce

Re: Dear Christian, If the Gospel is True

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:45:09 -0000

It all made sense to me at the time. Only after I got away from it and began to analyze it did I see how I had really been sucked in to a vile system of theology. This is the case with most extreme beliefs. They seem so normal when you are in the middle of it....then you wake up one day and say "Damn what a fool I have been."

Bruce

Re: Dear Christian, If the Gospel is True

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:42:12 -0000

And that was my point. For the most part Christians are just like everyone else. Actions do speak louder than words. I live within 3 miles of 4 Evangelical preachers. I have lived here 3 years and no one has stopped by to tell me about Jesus. Of course they know I am an ex-preacher so they feel no burning need to knock on my door. (The JW's do though.) It is hard to have time for winning souls to Jesus when there is golf to be played and Church meetings to attend.

Bruce

Re: Dear Christian, If the Gospel is True

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:37:32 -0000

As long as you never ask questions you are fine. But once you allow for questions......then it seems a floodgate opens. Fundamentalism is built on a foundation of "we have the truth, no need to ask questions." As long as the sheep follow the shepherd all is well. Every once in awhile a black sheep :) starts questioning.

Of course the way we handled that was to get rid of the black sheep. :) All is well again in Fundyland.

Bruce

Re: Jimmy Swaggart Look-A-Like Attacks President Obama

Bruce — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:28:22 -0000

But Swaggart lives in THIS country :) and we are quite free here, Proof? This video clip.

I agree free speech is free speech. I want assholes like Swaggart to have the same liberties as I do.

Bruce

Re: Ingrid Schlueter and the Crosstalk Blog

Bruce — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:33:04 -0000

Ken, I spoke reality and you know it.

I can't comment at Crosstalk and you and your sister in arms routinely eviscerate other Christians and then insulate yourself from accountability by not allowing for comments. You write lies, distort truth, and routinely trash the lives of those you disagree with. It is what it is.

Seems pretty real to me.

The alternate reality Ken is you as a pastor/teacher thinking that what you do matters, that what you do God ordains and blesses.

In Christianless love,

Bruce

Re: Some Days It Is Hard to Uphold the Law

Bruce — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:40:44 -0000

I see.

I am nor sure what Westboro believes about America being a Christian nation. I suspect the answer to that question would determine how they would view RT's hypothetical.

For me? I am a firm believer in the first amendment, even when it is assholes I hate that are speaking.

There are legal ways around the first amendment issues. For example. In Ohio we have county fairs. A very PUBLIC affair. Except that the agricultural societies rent the fairgrounds for 1 week for a 1.00. This makes it a private affair under the law. This way they can regulate who is allowed on the ground and who is not. I was given a police escort off the fairground property in the 1980's. No problem.......I just went out in front of the fairgrounds on the public sidewalk and preached, handed out tracts, etc. The police stood a few feet away and glared but they could do nothing. The sheriff came by and threatened me but I told him to leave me alone. What I was doing was quite legal.

That said I was quite an asshole. Not a good representative for Jesus at all. But....I had the same mindset at the Phelps's. I was an end-time prophet doing God's work. I expected to be ridiculed and persecuted.

Bruce

Re: Some Days It Is Hard to Uphold the Law

Bruce — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:30:20 -0000

In their theology the script has already been written. God has decreed what has, what is, what will happen.

Always an interesting point with Calvinists....their families are always a part of the elect. :)

Bruce

Re: Some Days It Is Hard to Uphold the Law

Bruce — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:13 -0000

Also from their perspective they are just being a witness for God. As Calvinists they believe everything is preordained. They are simply a reminder to the non-elect that God didn't choose them.

Personally, I think the whole clan is mentally imbalanced.

Bruce

Re: Some Days It Is Hard to Uphold the Law

Bruce — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:58:25 -0000

In their theology everything is preordained. They just serve as a witness for God that YOU, the non-elect are going to burn in hell forever.

Re: Some Days It Is Hard to Uphold the Law

Bruce — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:46:39 -0000

Yes, the Phelp's clan are good Calvinists taking Calvinism to its "logical" conclusion.

Bruce

Re: Some Days It Is Hard to Uphold the Law

Bruce — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:45:57 -0000

A few of the Phelps children are trained lawyers (as was the father until he lost his license) They know the law and how to manipulate it for their benefit.

They thrive off of controversy and perceived persecution.

What is said is that they are already training a whole new generation oh Phelpites to follow in their steps.

Bruce

Re: Some Days It Is Hard to Uphold the Law

Bruce — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:41:59 -0000

The law gives Westboro the freedom to picket and do the viscous stuff they do. This includes getting costs from the man who successfully, yet currently unsuccessfully due to appeal, sued them.

The law is the law. It is just hard to uphold it sometimes.

Bruce

Re: Shocker! Ricky Martin is Gay!

Bruce — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:37:50 -0000

We make a lot of jokes about men and "gaydar" but as many men will testify they just"know" a man is gay. Certainly not infallible, and certainly not evil. Just a fact. 9 out of 10 times when I say to myself "that guy is gay" I am right.

I do wonder if women have that same sense about lesbians and I also wonder if gay people have "straightdar." :)

I long for a world where people can be who and what they are. I know I have a ways to go in my own life. It took me years to get beyond racism. I am not free from deep seated bigotry.

Our parents, culture, religion, politics teach us to label and segregate. It takes a lifetime to undo all of that.

What has forced me to change is people I have met over the years. When your bigotries are confronted by a real, living person you are forced to take a hard look at them.

We live in a world of stereotypes. Like atheists=satanists=sacrifices of humans.
Of course there are always people who ARE the stereotype. I live in a very racist area. Very few blacks. The common attitude is black=lazy=welfare. So when a local black man IS lazy and on welfare, in their head they say SEE! In their minds the stereotype is proved.

Something went really wrong at the Tower of Babel. :)

Bruce

Re: Shocker! Ricky Martin is Gay!

Bruce — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:53:56 -0000

Zoe,

I quite agree about the double standard. As a man I don't mind the naked women....but I am still dealing with my homophobia.:) Leaving Christianity was a process for me.....becoming truly accepting of homosexuality is going to take time too. I am very conscious of my own biases and ugliness.

Lambert rubbed me the wrong way........not just on the sexuality issues, but in general. (though he was by far the best singer o American Idol season 8)

I watched the Harvey Milk movie awhile back. Great movie. That said, I must admit the sexuality in the movie made me uncomfortable, Intellectually I am fine with it...but I know I am still not there yet. (it is my problem not the homosexuals)

Most Evangelical Christian men of my age were raised in an environment where homosexuals were hated. (along with atheists, democrats, Catholics and child molesters) That hatred was drilled into our head. It will take a lot to truly be free from the teaching and training of the past.

Men are such contradictions. But most women know that already. :)

Bruce

Re: Shocker! Ricky Martin is Gay!

Bruce — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:23:57 -0000

He IS a good looking man. :) (is that my inner gay coming out) :)

Sadly high profile people like Martin are hassled about their sexuality. "Gay", even in the entertainment business can be a negative.

Personally, I don't care. The sexuality of a person is their business. The only time I find offense is when a person throws their sexuality in my face. (like Adam Lambert) Just be who you are........no need to flaunt it in order to shock people.

Bruce