DISQUS

Simple answer? Pride.

Also, I think it is because we know there is Truth. We just cannot fully grasp it in our simple broken minds. We get a piece of truth and we think we've got the whole Truth.

Aside from pride I do think we try to change others minds because we are looking out for them. We want them to have what we have.
Kind of like the guy that likes sushi and the guy that doesn't. A will tell B all about the sushi and try to convince him that it is good, but B will still look at it as raw fish and try to convince A of how nasty that is.
Sort of anti-coveting.

I had another thought. Along the lines of the sex post as well.

If "knowing" God and "knowing" your spouse carry the same meaning, this close intimacy, then specifically calling God a He is maybe a reason many men are put off by church/Jesus etc. If being a Christian means I have to be intimate with some non-descript Jewish guy or an bearded old guy then no thanks!

Just thinking through some thoughts. Still chewing on the War is Over one.

Oh Jeromy, I'm going to stop reading your blog! :) You point out too many things wrong with my "God Box" and the cracks are starting to show. I need to think this one over also.

I agree that trying to tie God to a specific gender is problematic especially when considering that both male and female are created in The Creator's image.

I wonder though instead of trying to find a gender neutral pronoun or using they/them wording is the best?

Thinking about the Old Testament we are given many names for God most specifically, I AM.
I wonder if that is our answer: "I AM loves us and I AM want us to trust I AM."

Also there are names like JEHOVAH-JIREH - Rather than "He/She will provide" you would say "JEHOVAH-JIREH will provide" Etc...

http://ldolphin.org/Names.html

Maybe we should use the personal names we are given for God rather than trying to come up with inclusive gender neutral words. Thoughts?

It's my office!
By time the heat travels through the basement duct work all the way out here it's not all that heated anymore. I have a space heater but it is loud and sometimes I don't feel like hearing it so I layer up.

Well, hi Jonathan.

This is me at 9:14 am, Tues Jan 6th.

I will never be the same, I long to rest in the arms and love of my God, my Father, my Lord. I long to grow in the grace an knowledge of Jesus; to know my father - my daddy - and show my children such love.

Hi there!

I will TRY to trust God as a loving father as a provider and as my Lord. I have said I do this but I really have not in the past. I'm so excited about what this means.

You used this: "Hot and sweaty. Invigorated. Energized. (Daniel)" Really? That's not a very good sentence out of context...

That was really good Jonathan. Thanks!

wow! Blue eyes! Beautiful kids Jeromy

Just got a whole bag of fashionable jeans from my wife's cousin a few days ago. Now I get to be cool for free!

nu'uh, (sp?) They're all pagan heathens bound for hell fire and damnation.

Seriously, good thoughts. It always makes me cringe when a people group is judged because of their understanding of general revelation. Why can't we just tell them about Jesus without telling them they need to start a church that looks exactly like our church?

Welcome back. The design looks good.

Not all is lost! I still see you favicon.
http://deltachurch.net/images/ms_favicon.png

Actually went to church and liked it this week. It was just me and my daughter but we had a good time. I think I've discovered what's wrong with me finally and I'm excited as to what will change now. Just got back from a cold 14 mile ride with one of my pastors where we talked about what I need to do to change the way things are going. The gospel was real for me today.

Today was good.

Looks great, clean, simple navigation. My type of site! :)

thank you! That made my night!

We'll definitely be participating.

Thanks for putting this together.

Thanks Tracy, but I mean people here, in Central Illinois. (Johnathan, I'm working on my story for you still, It's just hard to write your story when your story keeps happening making you look at pieces differently. Plus my time is stretched sinfully thin ):

Scott, where in the Central Valley? I grew up in Porterville.

Sam, Thankfully I'm not a pastor :) I was on my way though 1.5 years at Liberty (Distance Learning) I was going to go all the way, MDiv then a Sr pastor position, awesome things like that. God stopped me.

For now it seems, Roads go ever on

Jonathan,

I. Want. This.

But I know zero others that do...

After sleeping in way too late we got up and I fixed a really good lunch (tried out the new balsamic vinaigrette recipe I got last week) then we played around the yard for a few hours before taking a drive through the country and dreaming. Got to see 2 deer chasing each other through the empty corn fields and a beautiful sunset. Headed over to our favorite park so the kids could play for a while and then came home to a quick dinner and a movie with the family.

Truly one of the best Sundays in a long time, so much better than sitting in a building all morning.

In addition, when a particular churches budget here in the states pays 90-some-odd% of it's giving income towards salary and building/office rental, something is wrong. When the pastor is taking 90-some-odd% of that 90-some-odd% for salary and insurance, something is really wrong. Especially when there are certain families in that church that can barely get through a month with food in the fridge.

This issue bugs the hell out of me and I pray every day that "church" leaders would see the light and quit this insanity. Or maybe better would be if "church" not-leaders would see the light...

[semi-annon]

In no particular order:

1. No, I will not give more just so that you can be secure in knowing your salary will continue to be paid. I have literally no food left in my house right now, so I will not be taking a turn to bring snacks to your house for the kids Thursday night. I'm sure you can afford it better than I can.

2. What is wrong with my wife that you and yours don't like her so much? Is it a personal jealousy thing (she too smoking hot for ya? :) or is there really a spiritual reason you don't think she should be leading this (non-church) study that's starting today?

3. Why did I take my family out of a unhealthy church situation to some place where we can be loved for who we are only to have the same issues crop up again?

4. Why, if you love us so much have we been hurt so much?We only desire to preach the Resurrection to those that don't know it, what is so wrong with that? Oh, I know, I'm not yet a perfect Timothy/Titus guy right? Any you are?

5. Do you realise that you saying I "bring nothing to the table" in regards to ministry hurts me more than you ever could know? So, what's your point?

6. I'll never fully subscribe to reformed theology. I think God is bigger than that and loves in a way that we don't understand. To Elect one to not be saved means God does not love that person therefore God's love is not perfect.

7. There's so much more but I think this is a start...

I agree Jonathan, an Obama presidency will be a good thing.

Has any one read the Dobson thing? I am a weird mix of sad and angry after reading that. I want to fly to Colorado Springs and walk up to the FotF building and slap him in the face, saying "What is wrong with you, don't you know that people hate Jesus because of your words?" I also want to sit here and cry out to God for Dobson. Open his eyes Father!

I think one thing that will change is that people will start being more aware of how much they waste and sustainability. I have started to hear normal people talk about how we need to stop being so wasteful and conserve etc.