Disqus - Latest Comments for RickD335

Re: Should Your To Do List Wear a Halo?

RickD335 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:10:22 -0000

Ah, the old challenge of human "being" versus human "doing"...since both are required courses, it is easy to get confused over which is the more important (the true answer is both/and, not either/or). What we do for a living and who we are as God's children are interrelated - all the ground on which we walk is holy ground, every life we touch, even in cyberspace, is of value - and teasing out which is most important is less important than what we do with the lives we touch. My checkbook won't follow me to heaven - as Don Henley said, we don't see hearses with luggage racks - only what I've done for God's kingdom will count, and that will precede my arrival. I'm right there with Tanya - I need to pay bills and eat, but so long as it is not a dishonorable/illegal/immoral thing I do for a living, it is less important. Were I a politician... nope, won't go there beyond the chuckle factor :)

Re: Failed compromise no surprise

RickD335 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:03:25 -0000

Jim Morrison once said "People are strange" and as a nation we are very strange indeed. As individuals, our task is to be imitators of Christ - not impostors of, but rather like children copying what their Father is doing. The surrounding world always offer temptation - even if you are isolated, you have memories that can be seductive.

Re: Back Again…

RickD335 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:57:50 -0000

Thanks Dave!

Re: Slippery Slopes

RickD335 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:13:55 -0000

Hi David,

How well I know this is a difficult one. In the case of Hitler, most would agree that the world would have been better off had the private who'd had then Corporal Hitler in his sights at the end of WWI simply pulled the trigger - but he didn't because he felt moved to mercy because of the man's obvious wounded status. Had he had been given a vision of what was to come, would that have influenced his decision?

In the case of Tiller - the man was not your stereotypical abortion provider, based on all I've read. He performed abortions as a last resort option for women who had wanted pregnancies but, for multiple reasons, either the mother or the child would have died as a result of trying to carry to term. Does what he did for a living make him a murderer on the scale of Hitler? I think not - but I'm not God, and will not judge in favor or opposed to the man.

Trying to appeal to the world as if the world shared Christian beliefs and values - when we believers are divided on so many issues - is bound to be met with charges of intolerance, as the murder of Dr. Tiller points up. Can his murderer truly claim divine sanction?

Re: Am I Still A Conservative?

RickD335 — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:19:19 -0000

To be a conservative - borrowing from the root of the word and extending it into the political - one would need to prune (recognize what is dead and lop it off), graft (add in that which is helpful to the life of the organism - sometimes by having to cut into the body in order to save it), and adjust. If that were a true description (it is, by dictionary terms) then many would be conservatives. Since it does not appear to these eyes that it is so in the American political arena, I'll continue to be an independent and vote conscience and character over transitory issues.

Re: mock trial: carrie prejean v. the world

RickD335 — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:11:32 -0000

Hi Dan!

I don't know how many of us could enter the debate without setting ourselves up for criticism on how well we spoke, but that is beside the point. Carrie is only one in a long list of people (self included) who have misused the language.

On the change in the meaning of words - specifically the word "gay" - I think it far less important to lay blame than to recognize the fact that the word can hardly be used in its traditional sense of being lighthearted and happy due to the cultural hijacking that happened. The "new" connotation of the word is meant to imply the original definitions apply to the homosexual lifestyle - I don't buy that for one nanosecond.

Thanks for posting, BD! :)

Re: Trust God - Part II

RickD335 — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:46:58 -0000

Thanks, Monica - all my freedom today stems from the crack in the prison that God effected through the stucco covering of all my other sins that substance abuse was.

Re: Church or Club?

RickD335 — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:32:30 -0000

Hi Robin - welcome!

I agree that worshiping God and serving God are part of our call - my frustration with the church (not simply confined to the one I attend, but I don't want to apply this to the universal church) is that far too often, it comes off more as a social club or a franchise on one hand and less about what we are called to do, which is to make disciples.

Shoot me a link to your blog, and we'll get linked!

Re: mock trial: carrie prejean v. the world

BibleDude — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:53:18 -0000

I really feel bad for Miss California. Dude, she got ripped to shreds by people who preach tolerance but obviously know know how to practice it.

I agree that she may not have come off as the best spokesperson on traditional marriage, but she was asked to share her thoughts, and I thought that she did so quite well.

As to your point about the changes in the meanings of words... not sure what to do with that personally. I understand completely what you are saying, but am not sure who to put that 'blame' on, or if any blame needs to be placed anyway...

Thanks for popping by Rick! It's always a pleasure to chat with you!

Re: mock trial: carrie prejean v. the world

RickD335 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:39:05 -0000

Yep - we're the intolerant ones because we don't condone, support, or promote homosexuality. Also, just a quick observation - we've let a minority subculture hijack a word that once meant happy and lighthearted and now substitute the word "gay" for the more properly descriptive of homosexual. Can't sing "don we now our gay apparel" without wincing

Carrie may not have been the most articulate spokesperson, but she was honest, and respectful, and spoke about her beliefs - not what she thinks others should believe. Hilton and Rancic add nothing to the discussion save their opinions - we can't ignore their statements in hopes they'll go away (tempting though it is). We can, however, borrow Carrie's approach in response - low-key, truthful, and respectful.

Re: In Loco Parentis?

RickD335 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:36:08 -0000

Mama,

I agree that it is impossible to unring a bell - but by the same token, perhaps this kind of case should be ringing a bell for all to hear. Not just parents like yourself (and Christians do not have a monopoly on best practices in this arena, so don't let yourself feel alone - indeed, be welcome here!) who do not give in to the demands made by the culture, but all of us should be listening and thinking about how to deal with these issues. When law enforcement gets involved, such laws as we currently have would treat these kids as sex offenders when they are guilty of having high levels of hormones and exceptionally poor judgment.

We lack the ability to legislate common sense and enforce wisdom, but we can - assuming we have our own supply - teach both and do our best to live it in front of others. Sounds like Larry's doing alright without the technotoys.

Re: Trust God

RickD335 — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:04:12 -0000

That is a gifted understatement, Dan :)

Re: Trust God - Part III

RickD335 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:23:10 -0000

Thanks, Angel - but if you liked these, wait for the follow-ups. I agree with you on other family members - then I remember we put the fun in dysfunctional :)

Re: Three Tenets

RickD335 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:20:43 -0000

Hehehe... I know the feeling, but I try to remind myself that they are tattooed into my mind so I can save the skin for other things :D

Re: In Loco Parentis?

RickD335 — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:57:18 -0000

I can hear the howling even now :)

Re: Pimp This Bum

tweetygrl31 — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:14:05 -0000

Dave -
There are a lot of folks that get up early for work, so they are not able to stay up late either. They catch up on the recorded videos when they log in after work. I also like the way that everyone is supportive not only of Tim and John's recovery but each other as well. Many of us also are wanting to see this effort spread to more major cities that are gripped by homelessness.
~Tweety

Re: Trust God

RickD335 — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:41:50 -0000

I have been blessed, Jennifer (and thanks!); now I'm just trying to do what I believe I'm supposed to be doing. Part II will be online tomorrow - I don't know if it will be a three parter or not yet...

Re: Gay Marriage Legal In Iowa in Three Weeks

RickD335 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:42:49 -0000

To use your specific example, scripture says nothing about traffic laws, while it speaks explicitly about homosexuality.

Christ treated us all as equal, true - He loves all of us, regardless of who we are, what we do, who we sleep with - but I do not go along with the idea that love means approval.

As I said in a follow-up to a response to Shane, I believe that the church and the state should separate, and I do not mean a trial separation. The state will permit things that fly in the face of sound teaching and that are flatly prohibited in scripture, and the church should not be a party to these new legalities.

Men want to marry men, and women women? The state says it violates civil rights? There are higher laws, and the church should not be forced by prevailing cultural norms to bow to the lower law.

I am aware of the human suffering you describe, Sambo - I cannot help but be aware of it - but I cannot support the lifestyle, or the preference, or whatever. Change the civil laws to accommodate and address the inequalities, and inequalities will still be present if not newly created - but do not force the church to accept it by legislation. That is not hate, by the way - love isn't always easy to accept as it is.

Re: Pimp This Bum

RickD335 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:25:29 -0000

Tweety -

As much as I'd like to be there - and that is greatly - my day job has me out of bed by 3 AM most mornings, so 11:30 would be a little too late for me to stay up. I like the way that folks are following not the story, but the people affected. I would love to see this effort spread big-time at a grassroots level.

Re: Gay Marriage Legal In Iowa in Three Weeks

Sambo — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:31:04 -0000

RickD335 wrote: "Sorry, Sambo - I respectfully disagree that "a large number of God's people just became happier and more equal under God." Under man's law? Certainly - the laws crafted by man are frequently unequal, poorly written, and try too often to solve one problem while unintentionally creating others - Nebraska's Safe Haven law is one recent example that comes to mind. Under God's law, however? Sorry, I don't see support for that position in scripture - anywhere."

In that case, drive through the next stop sign you see. I mean, seriously - why abide by ANY of man's laws then?

My point was the inequality of gay men & women not being able to have the 1000+ items of legal protection that marriage brings has now been amended and, in my humble opinion, God would be delighted about this based on what we read about all of us being equal, and by the way Jesus treated all mankind.

Here's a sobering thought: Are you aware that the life partner of a same-sex couple cannot visit their loved one in hospital, even if they were on their death bed? Are you aware that a woman can go bankrupt because her girlfriend's finances are inaccessible when she dies? Do you really want your taxes to 'bailout' these folks who are unprotected just because they are same-sex?

Re: Gay Marriage Legal In Iowa in Three Weeks

RickD335 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:17:31 -0000

Nor am I thrilled about it, but as a practical matter one could see this train coming from a long ways away. Civil law and church doctrine are not, and never will, be identical - and frankly, I'd prefer that the church be the church and not some church/state hybrid where those who believe in God (and those who believe God - the distinction is quite real) have to kowtow to the state in all things. Marriage in the church should be reserved for those who believe, not for those who want use of the facilities and can pay the fees. All those who wish to be married without making their commitment and vows to God as well as to their partner should have access to marriage by Justice of the Peace or other state-nominated officials.

A problem arises when we have to consider how the state will recognize those married in and by the church if the church will not recognize those whose marriages do not conform to a scriptural model - but if the church does not separate itself from the state's reach, then what difference can we make?

Re: Gay Marriage Legal In Iowa in Three Weeks

vandie — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:15:27 -0000

I'd rather see it called a civil union, not marriage. Not that I'm thrilled about that concept either.

Re: Gay Marriage Legal In Iowa in Three Weeks

RickD335 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:30:40 -0000

I noticed that the wording said civil marriage. Should the church wake up and realize that there is a difference between civil and religious ceremonies - and then act on that difference by not participating in what it cannot abide - it would not be a bad thing. In fact, those who do not recognize God should only be entitled to civil marriage, not a church wedding, in the first place.

Sorry, Sambo - I respectfully disagree that "a large number of God's people just became happier and more equal under God." Under man's law? Certainly - the laws crafted by man are frequently unequal, poorly written, and try too often to solve one problem while unintentionally creating others - Nebraska's Safe Haven law is one recent example that comes to mind. Under God's law, however? Sorry, I don't see support for that position in scripture - anywhere.

Re: Our Natural Heresy

vandie — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:55:43 -0000

I wouldn't say that is how "most would understand" this passage.

Well, first off the "working out of your salvation" implies that you are saved. You are regenerated. It means you are abiding in Christ. You are as one commentator, Jac. J. Muller, puts it, "called to self activity, to the active pursuit of the will of God, to the promotion of the spiritual life in himself, to the realisation of the virtues of the Christian life, and to the personal application of salvation. He must 'work out' what God in His grace has 'worked in'"

So the topic of the original sin nature is dealing with those before they are saved and have experienced being regenerated by the Holy Spirit. After that it is a whole new ball game.

Re: Our Natural Heresy

RickD335 — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:53:43 -0000

So, to clarify (and make certain I'm understanding this passage of scripture correctly), is Augustine refuting what most would understand the text of Philippians 2:12,13? I read that passage as a collaborative effort in a sense - in that God will not force me to do anything, so there are things that I and I alone can do and must do, and there are things that He alone can do and must do. Is there a different understanding of this passage I may have missed somewhere?