Disqus - Friends of therogueangel

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: 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: 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: 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

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: Pimp This Bum

RickD335 — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:59:32 -0000

Hi Dave!

I give them an "A" for putting a face at a time in front of people instead of the blanket approach of other, nationally-known names. "The homeless" is an amorphous cloud with no story - Tim and John and the other who follow through with the gift this ministry is offering are known to people and become the best spokesmen. It is kind of like the "Save the Children" outfits that put a specific child's face and story onscreen in their pitch for funds, except the funds in those cases go to the organization to better serve large groups. The funds in these cases go to the individuals directly - along with the rest of the ministry package.

In my own homeless days, shelters were where you went when it was impossible to stay warm outside or find an alternative place to stay (modern day couch surfing hadn't picked up that name), and in the early 70's there were not anywhere near the number of resources available for food or other needs because the problem hadn't truly been recognized as such then.

Re: Christianity Without Christ

RickD335 — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:44:14 -0000

Shane, yes - I would say read my lips, but that's not possible at these distances. I've been serving at a church in Sioux Falls as a part of the praise team for over six years now (just recently had to drop off the team because my employer and work schedule changed). Aside from the lyrics to much of the music we played, one might not know they were in church. The sermons - what about solid exegesis without making me feel I'm in a Christianity for Dummies seminar?

We are to make a difference, yes? We can't very well do that in our comfortable seats if we don't get out there into the hurting world and risk contact...sorry, am I letting my feelings leak out again? :)

Re: Church or Club?

RickD335 — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:21:15 -0000

Given our human nature, Jennifer, I'm not sure it is going to be an easy thing to do but it is incumbent on us to make the effort - if we only love those who love us, we've received our reward, right? If we do not make the effort to encourage others by our own example to jump off the nice safe platform that the church is depicted as and into the sea to help save others - no matter how scary or messy it can be - then we've broken faith with what we're called to be. All any one of us can do is all we can do - and if we do not live it out in front of others, we're not following simple instructions.

Re: Two Models

RickD335 — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:44:28 -0000

I know what you mean, Dave - I can only speak from my own experiences, and that for me included far too many of the "If you want to believe in Jesus, fine - but get a haircut and some good clothes before you sit in our church" attitudes. I do believe in come as you are - but I also believe that as you are now must change into who God has called you to be, and that means change of an organic, or natural, order - one that comes from within, rather than change imposed from without.

Some folks who darken the door of the local congregation may only be there as canaries in the coal mine, but unlike the birds brought below in cages, these folks can (and sometimes do) leave when the warnings they give of rising toxicity are ignored.

Re: Two Models

RickD335 — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:35:46 -0000

It is our responsibility to live our lives in such a way that what others see in us attracts them to Christ; after that, if we continue to listen to the Spirit and continue to change those areas that God reveals to us - and are seen doing so by those we've brought into the family - it makes it easy for the other fish to be dressed (or re-dressed) :)

Re: Community

RickD335 — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:03:44 -0000

How I learned it was grace was God's unmerited favor towards us (or gift to us), and mercy is what we extend to others. Your mileage may vary, and I'm certain a schooled theologian may quibble (if not outright disagree), but it is how I learned to understand the terms.

Re: Community

RickD335 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:34:07 -0000

Marcus, any solid example of community will be similar to AA, or Christ's church (not necessarily the local congregation) - trust is an integral part of community, as are accountability and mercy and grace. Not telling you anything you don't already know :)

Re: Synchronicity spoken here

RickD335 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:30:41 -0000

You were likely flying on Allegiant Air?

Re: Synchronicity spoken here

RickD335 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:29:34 -0000

Yes, I really do play the recorder - I got started on it back in the late 80's when I was trying to figure out how to get a certain sound (which ended up being the sound of an Irish pennywhistle) for an instrumental piece I was taping.

Now I have to break down and get a pennywhistle :)

Re: Absence makes the heart

RickD335 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:04:44 -0000

It doesn't like the irony tag either :D

Re: Absence makes the heart

RickD335 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:03:54 -0000

Or does it wear one out :) ?

Re: Absence makes the heart

RickD335 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:03:20 -0000

I'm just now getting used to the idea of early mornings again - early being waking at 3 AM for a work shift that starts at quarter to five in the morning and ends at 11:15 - and the corollary of early bedtimes (say, 8 or 9 PM at the latest). I know the feeling about obligations :)