Disqus - Latest Comments for bdentzy

Re: Are You Wasting Resources?

bdentzy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:07:34 -0000

Daniel,
Thank you for your comment and question.

I'm hesitant to put anything regarding specific ministries because my purpose was to ask people to evaluate the ministries in which they or their churches (if they are in leadership) are involved. I was absolutely NOT referring to missions, discipleship, evangelism, prayer, etc. But I can see where I left the door open to heading down that path. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

Ministries I'm referencing would be more specific and would be a particular MODE of missions, discipleship, benevolence, etc. Springing to mind might be offering a food pantry to people who don't actually need food - which might drain financial and human resources in the church as well as undermine the spiritual growth and work of Christ in the lives of those receiving ministry. In the right context (or as directed by God) this might be a viable and fruitful ministry. (I mention this because I am involved in the benevolence ministry of our church and continually seek God's direction on a case-by-case basis to ensure that I am being effective. Obedient first, wise second.)

I feel I must emphasize this again that I am not trying to take the place of God and tell you that you should drop a ministry. If you are directed by God to do something, its perceived effectiveness is not something for me to evaluate.

Which brings me back to the comment about unmanaged systems and my concerns about mentioning any specific ministries. Anything I might mention could be perceived as a system in itself. What we really need is for people to spend time with God to understand where he is directing them and their resources.

Systems can be right and good. But we must not pass off to systems the work that God has entrusted to people. And in all things do what God has directed.

Thank you again for bringing this up.

Re: Are You Wasting Resources?

bdentzy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:44:39 -0000

Thanks Chuck. I appreciate your comment and your prayers.

Re: A Word from God is Precious

bdentzy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:43:31 -0000

Thank you Don. You're very kind.

It seems as though staying on the "straight and narrow" path requires more than rules. Too far to one side or the other and we're in a spiritual ditch ("God doesn't speak any more" or chasing after people to "get a word"). Honestly, either of these extremes break my heart both for the people involved and for God, who so desires this relationship - a place where we know and trust him in the middle of our "divine tension".

I appreciate your encouragement. Thank you again.

-- Bryan

Re: Marriage Retreat Weekend

bdentzy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:57:41 -0000

In case there's any confusion - I have the best wife EVER!

Re: How Can Spouses be Good to Each Other?

bdentzy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:57:06 -0000

Thanks Steve. I'll have to check out that book. Sounds like a good (powerful) read.

Re: How Can Spouses be Good to Each Other?

bdentzy — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:15:42 -0000

ejes,
Thank you for your comments. I'll certainly have to agree with you about communication. That is something that my wife and I try to do. You'll have to ask her how well I do at it.

Also, I apologize that I didn't see you had left a comment before I claimed I was leaving the first comment.

It is unfortunate that my comments relating to my spirituality offended you. My readership is generally comprised of people following the teachings of Jesus. However, I did make certain to preface my remarks to ensure that those reading would know where I was coming from.

-- bryan

Re: How Can Spouses be Good to Each Other?

bdentzy — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:31:41 -0000

I'll go first. One of my Facebook friends wanted to make sure that we understand that talk can be cheap. That actions are important, too.

One of the ways that my wife recently showed me that she loves me was by doing the laundry. Normally I wash & dry the laundry (I know...not stereotypical "man's" work - but I'm OK doing the laundry). But last something came up last Saturday and I had to head out for a couple of hours.

When I returned home, Katherine had not only folded the previous week's laundry (I'm not perfect) but had also started two more loads of laundry while I was gone.

A small thing? Not to me. Katherine rocks!

Re: Jesus is the Center

bdentzy — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:38:26 -0000

Jason,
Thank you for your comments. I've been trying to get my head around this for quite some time as well. To be honest, I haven't been able to come up with a way to express the transformative nature of the Gospel without diluting the work of Christ and introducing "works" as a component of salvation.

I think that this misconception is rooted in the idea that the forgiveness of our sins was both the point of Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection and the end of the deal. That misses the real point - our restoration into relationship with God through Jesus.

I still tend to view the transformative nature (both forgiveness and our lives being formed into the image of Christ) as a result or byproduct of the Gospel. But I would also ask whether we can really say that we have faith in Jesus if we don't believe with our whole lives. If we don't choose to actually follow him.

I'm interested in continuing this dialog - I'm certainly open to and would like additional input. I may also check out the book you mentioned (I have several in my queue at the moment). Perhaps God will expand my understanding!

Re: Spouses Be Good to Each Other

bdentzy — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:37:34 -0000

Absolutely. It was my pleasure to share a wonderful truth and the beautiful picture you painted.

Re: Jesus is the Center

bdentzy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:04:08 -0000

Elf0,
Thank you for giving me a chance to explain myself. Perhaps I didn't make it clear enough in my post.

I'm a little confused that you seem frustrated or upset by what I posted. I had no intention of providing new learning in terms of the Gospel message. In fact, I don't believe that there is anything I can add to what God has done. The core Gospel message has remained unchanged for around 2,000 years already.

But since you asked, I believe that this post does offer people something they may not have previously known. While my audience is primarily, if not completely, followers of Christ, it is possible that somebody who has not previously heard the Gospel message might find it here. But that's not really why I wrote this.

I wrote it because somebody asked what I believe is the message of the Gospel (you'll see that at the top of the post). That seems to indicate that there is at least one person who did not know where I am coming from. That being the case, I figured there might be others who were in the same boat and that maybe I owed them that courtesy.

Re: Jesus is the Center

bdentzy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:03:05 -0000

Thanks RavingEvangelical. I didn't do a great job of calling out the great price of the free gift that has been offered us while we were still sinners.

Re: Spouses Be Good to Each Other

bdentzy — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:41:12 -0000

Thanks Paul. You are absolutely correct. Apparently God knows best :-)

Re: Three Reasons I Tithe

bdentzy — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:53:29 -0000

Hey Martina,
Thank you for your comment. I very much appreciate it and I certainly agree with you. God will absolutely bless you - that's in the Book too.

Thanks for posting your comment.

-- Bryan

Re: 10-no-4 Days to Become a Social Media Expert

bdentzy — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:04:31 -0000

That's great! Thank you. Much easier than being a pirate.

Re: Sin Stinks

bdentzy — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:44:36 -0000

Thanks for your comment. We're all in that same boat (me too). Accepting both sides of grace (you're forgiven but that doesn't excuse what you did and doesn't mean you should do it again) is difficult.

Re: Life is a Spiritual Exercise

bdentzy — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:59:09 -0000

@stevegrossman Thanks for your raving review!

Re: In Honor of the Rain

bdentzy — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:24:42 -0000

Thanks for your comment, Ives. And for your input on the songs I love the Eurithmics tune.

It's great to meet you in this forum.

Re: In Honor of the Rain

bdentzy — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:02:15 -0000

Very nice Paul! Thank you.

Re: Identifying a social media workflow

bdentzy — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:02:51 -0000

Thanks for the comment about the hub strategy. That helps clarify some things I've been thinking about.

Re: Identifying a social media workflow

bdentzy — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:18:49 -0000

Great posting and a lot of wisdom. It's often difficult to approach social media with a real strategy because it's so immediate and dynamic.

Re: Why I Use Amazon Affiliate Links When Reviewing Items

bdentzy — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:57:18 -0000

Isn't it interesting that few people questioned the integrity of traditional print media, which was largely funded by overt advertisement, but have to wonder about an individual who does the same?

Re: Who Does God Love?

bdentzy — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:17 -0000

Thanks Kenn & Teri for your comments.

Re: Facebook- PLEASE do better with your ads

bdentzy — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:10:44 -0000

I'm going to have to agree with you on this one. Thumbs down and all. Thx for posting.

Re: Hallelujah

bdentzy — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:42:21 -0000

@RAM1950 Thank you for the comment and the encouragement. http://tinyurl.com/np78nj

Re: 4 Things You Can do Every Day to Imporive Your Spiritual Effectiveness

bdentzy — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:27:10 -0000

Thank you for your comment Taira. I'm very happy to hear that you're seeing God move in your family.