Disqus - Friends of tonysteward

Re: I Don't Believe in Prayer

Justin Wise — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:30:00 -0000

This might be one of the most arrogant articles I have ever read.

How dare you say I, we, don't believe in prayer. Just last week, our church prayed for a woman with
chronic back pain for three years. Surgeries, doctors, medicine could not fix it.

We prayed for her.
She was healed. Instantly.
God heard our prayer.

There is your proof.

Re: I Don't Believe in Prayer

Justin Wise — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:30:00 -0000

This might be one of the most arrogant articles I have ever read.

How dare you say I, we, don't believe in prayer. Just last week, our church prayed for a woman with
chronic back pain for three years. Surgeries, doctors, medicine could not fix it.

We prayed for her.
She was healed. Instantly.
God heard our prayer.

There is your proof.

Re: The Simple Church.

Justin Wise — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:28:03 -0000

Hey everybody. Trying a new comment system out. Let me know what you think!

Re: Megachurch v. Mini-church

Justin Wise — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:29:46 -0000

@Alex: What would you say was the single biggest factor to you stepping away from the music ministry you were involved in?

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Welcome To My Future Life

Justin Wise — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:18:02 -0000

This is the best thing I have EVER seen. My wife had the same reaction.

Re: For All You American Idol Fans with Daughters…

Justin Wise — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:11:49 -0000

@McBothers: I love this video because it's so real. These girls REALLY did react that way. Priceless. They REALLY felt those emotions of dread, fear, despair when their chosen David did not make it. Beauty.

Re: The Life of the Internet Integrated

Justin Wise — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:12:09 -0000

@Michael: Dare I say it? "G'DAY MATE!" I couldn't help it. I've got it out of my system. Ah. That felt good.

Welcome aboard, dear friend! Just so you know, I'm going to steal the term "glocal" and use it in the most awesome ways ever. I'll credit you, of course.

God bless the power of the Google Reader.

Re: BeDeviant.com Interviews Anne Jackson Pt. 1

Justin Wise — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:05:31 -0000

Thank you, dear sir. She's been fun to follow and connect with!

Re: The Digital Pastor Pt. 2 | THINK DIFFERENTLY

Justin Wise — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:01:23 -0000

@ToneLoc: Thank you, dear brother. I consider you to be the Ultimate Digital Pastor of Disaster. Post on, my brother.

Re: “Christians Are the Worst Tippers Ever.”

Justin Wise — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:11:05 -0000

@Darlene: I hear you, girl. People gotsta earn their keep! But imagine this:

The food runner just dropped the entire order of a 10-person table - your table. That'll be 30 extra minutes to get their food re-cooked.

Your daughter is puking at home and you don't have enough money to get a babysitter. She's 11, so you put a bucket by the couch and tell her to call you if it gets really bad.

Your manager just yelled at you. The bartender won't make the drinks for your table fast enough. And you know that unless you get $100 in tips tonight, your rent will have to wait another month.

Now, there's no way you or I could possibly know that as her customers. But after serving in the industry, there is no way to completely know what causes a server to deliver bad service. When I go out to eat, it's my chance to bless them even when they don't deserve it!

Re: “Christians Are the Worst Tippers Ever.”

Justin Wise — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:13:22 -0000

@Shane: Brother, you must dine with some people who "get it." I've left restaurants with my jaw firmly planted on the ground when seeing how poorly Christians - Christians you and I both know - tip their servers.

I've also been on the receiving end of these poor tips. By people wearing matching Bible camp shirts. Who also leave me a tract. And write, "bless you" on the receipt.

Re: “Christians Are the Worst Tippers Ever.”

Justin Wise — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:15:02 -0000

@Lucious: I can see your point. It's like, "don't come to work with a crappy attitude and blame it on people of faith." That's bunk.

But let's say the servers are, for the most part, justified in their position? What do we do with that? How do we respond? How do we "think differently" as followers of Jesus?

Re: “Christians Are the Worst Tippers Ever.”

Justin Wise — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:13:30 -0000

This one hit me big time. It's just so horribly ... predictable. I can't say that I'm surprised either.

Why the disconnect, do you think? Great comment.

Re: Are You Having An Affair?

Justin Wise — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:04:51 -0000

@Jeremy: Confrontation would be dangerous, I agree. I like what a friend said, "Call up Kerry and just tell her how much you love her in an excessively audible voice... ;)"

Re: Are You Having An Affair?

Justin Wise — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:07:21 -0000

@k: You bring up good points. I'm interested in your "particular brand of morality" comment. Do you consider the ethics of adultery to be situationally dependent? In other words, are there "brands of morality" (love that term, by the way) that condone adultery?

Re: Are You Having An Affair?

Justin Wise — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:56:59 -0000

@Anon: You seem really upset by this topic. Are you upset more by the fact that I am speaking to adultery or the fact that I am suggesting there are certain rules to life that one should or should not live by?

I can understand your frustration. Really, I can. If it would have been as easy to "move to another table", trust me, I would have done it. And if you'll re-read the post, you'll see that I say it's not what they were saying (i.e. content of their discussion) but the way in which they were speaking to each other. That was the part that made me think, "Is there more to this than meets the eye."

If I could ask one more question, you believe that the Bible (I'm assuming that's what you're referring to by "moral code") is ridiculous. On what grounds do you believe it is ridiculous? Just curious.

Thanks for your feedback and thanks for reading.

Re: Are You Having An Affair?

Justin Wise — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:11:25 -0000

@Anon: I think we're missing each other. Or at least, you might be misinterpreting what I'm saying. I am certainly not suggesting that men and women cannot be friends in the platonic sense. That would be absurd. Nor am I suggesting we cannot share mundane details of our lives with the people whom we find ourselves in relationship from day to day. Again, absurd.

I would imagine your girlfriend (fiance?) would be upset if you were treating another woman the way this young guy was treating this young woman. I would also imagine you would be upset if you saw her talking to another man in the way I observed this couple to be this morning. But, you're not me so I don't want to assume.

As far as details regarding this couple, I don't see how anyone could know whom I speaking of besides the couple themselves. There was no one else in the coffee shop but me. I give no details of what they look like, what they were wearing, etc. Obviously I would never want to hurt or belittle someone, nor put them in a compromising situation but for with their own consciences. I am sorry if that was not clear.

Do you live in the Des Moines area? If so, I'd love to meet up for coffee sometime if you'd be willing. Let me know: justin(at)bedeviant.com

Re: Are You Having An Affair?

Justin Wise — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:12:32 -0000

@Erik U: Love this:

"You always could channel your inner 80 year-old and say something like, "it's so nice to see such a happily married couple taking time during the work day to talk with each other". How's that for passive-aggressive? Or, if that doesn't work, go with Bible tracts."

Classic.

Re: Are You Having An Affair?

Justin Wise — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:13:13 -0000

@KeithW: Thanks. Now, don't go getting all 'Ville up in this piece!

Re: Praying For a Bailout.

Justin Wise — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:36:11 -0000

Nice. That's really what it all boils down to, doesn't it?

Re: Praying For a Bailout.

Justin Wise — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:36:25 -0000

Dude, with a nickname like yours, you've already GOT everything :)

Re: Praying For a Bailout.

Justin Wise — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:39:05 -0000

Where's Farley when you need 'im?

I'm of the opinion that if a business goes bankrupt, they probably shouldn't be in business anymore. Why? Because they lost all their money. They have shown that they do not know how to run a business properly.

Now, learn from your mistakes and relaunch as a different, more financially sound auto company!

Re: 7 Reasons Why I Don’t Like Most Christians

Justin Wise — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:16:11 -0000

@Susan: Stay strong, sister. You'll make it through! If nothing else, I have learned the reality that our faith is only safe is Jesus. No one else. He is King, let him guide you.

Re: 7 Reasons Why I Don’t Like Most Christians

Justin Wise — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:18:08 -0000

@Marie: #2 is my biggest pet peeve. Mostly because it's a lose-lose: Say, "no, you're wrong" to the person and they think you're a heretic because you've doubted what they - I mean God - said. Say, "yes, you are correct" and it furthers destructive behavior.

Re: Rick Warren and Barack Obama

Justin Wise — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:59:56 -0000

@joshconcarne: Can you explain this a little more? I'm note sure whom you're referring to.