Disqus - Latest Comments for tghali

Re: Everything a Gift: Remembering Eugene Peterson

Tim Ghali — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 10:44:28 -0000

Thanks Winn, a beautiful and heart-felt tribute to an extraordinary servant of the Lord.

Re: Here we are again

Tim Ghali — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 11:41:10 -0000

Beautifully written - feels so well-lived. Thanks for giving voice to the normalcy, the chaos and the incredible. And congratulations to you and your family.

Re: Strong Enough to Be Self-Critical: In America and the church

Tim Ghali — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 11:12:31 -0000

Great post on CNN Rachel.
Yes, I agree with you (and Chad Watkins' comment as well).

The self-criticalness can move us to change and/or at the very least, helps us "adjust" our posture. I also think it helps us avoid the self-righteous traps we can get stuck in.

As always, appreciate your voice in the conversation.

Re: When We Throw Stones

Tim Ghali — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 17:23:14 -0000

So well said Micah - grace, peace and healing to you, "us," and so many others.

Re: Some Thoughts About Mark Driscoll

Tim Ghali — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 17:36:29 -0000

Amen - the self-awareness, the vulnerability, the reaching out. You'll probably get crap for posturing but this is the authentic stuff that makes so many of us appreciate you and the many in this conversation.

Like many others who have differed from Mark, I am hoping the best for him, his family and all involved as well. I'm also praying for the many hurt over the years (my posts can be found for the curious but not feeling it appropriate to link here today).

Just want to say - yes, thanks for sharing, it makes a difference coming from you in light of your personal history, and a bunch of us resonate with this.

Re: What’s wrong with buying your way onto the bestseller list?

Tim Ghali — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 11:36:24 -0000

Excellent post - thanks Chip.
The info coming out of Driscoll and that Mars Hill leadership is getting scarier and scarier.

Re: On Pop Theology: Uproar Around Celebrity's Opinion Allows Nation to Have Productive, Nuanced Conversation About Serious Issues

Tim Ghali — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 20:59:10 -0000

Love it - nice job Ben

Re: Maybe “Schism” Was the Wrong Word

Tim Ghali — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 14:45:55 -0000

First, what a great post - thank you to the both of you for sharing and modeling what disagreements amongst friends can look like. Seriously, it's this spirit of dialogue that drew me and kept me to people like Tony. Much respect to Tony and Sarah.

Second, wow, Sarah, as one who has spent time in a number of different types of evangelical circles (some likely very similar to yours), I honestly do not remember the last time I've heard a woman express a positive attitude in a complementarian context. I know many who are hanging in there or overcoming their hurt but your take is refreshing. Thanks for sharing that.

Lastly, I too am praying, working and hoping that women continue to serve in leadership capacities in today's Church - grateful to you friends for this post and many of these comments and the work being done.

Re: Some Changes Here at Theoblogy

Tim Ghali — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 17:18:43 -0000

Tony, I have always appreciated your words, your honesty and your willingness to be so generous with both. Honestly, I don't know how you (and others) manage to write so many quality posts as it is. Grateful you'll still be blogging and this sounds like a wise decision brought from reflection and looking ahead. Also, hoping your new book on the atonement exceeds your expectations.
Grace and peace to you and yours.

Re: Pope Francis Calls Out Mark Driscoll And John MacArthur

Tim Ghali — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 12:36:30 -0000

Hey LK, pardon my delay here. Certainly I've paused and considered other traditions over the years (RC, Orthodox, etc.) but I've found myself committed to the Protestant tradition and appreciate celebrating the beauty and passion found in others.

Re: Todd Bentley: It Rains Gold When I Preach….Literally

Tim Ghali — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 12:33:10 -0000

Umm, sure ... and you didn't think to take any pictures of any of these gold miracles with the camera in your pocket because ...

Re: Pope Francis Calls Out Mark Driscoll And John MacArthur

Tim Ghali — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 15:19:10 -0000

I admire the new pope too. Love what he's saying here on the nature of ideology. It's worth noting that so many of us Protestants value Pope Francis so much more than a host of evangelical leaders like Driscoll and Robertson - these are interesting times.

Re: How to Spot a Bad Opportunity

Tim Ghali — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:41:59 -0000

Towards the later stages of the process, I repeat my questions I asked to the committee to those outside the committee. Of course they're not going to be the same answers but I'm interested in how that position/ministry is perceived by those outside that committee. (For example, most youth min committees are filled with youth vol leaders, parents and an elder who has a student in the ministry. Asking those same questions to those outside the committee is a real help).

Re: Cynicism, Passion, and The Onion

Tim Ghali — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:28:40 -0000

Good post and sounds wise Justin. I've gone in and out of cutting back my consumption to things like the Onion, the Simpsons and Colbert-Stewart (they are funny, but it kills me that many of my friends rely on this for their main source of news. Their commentary compliments the news, not provides it - doh!)

I do think confronting our cynicism is an issue we all need to deal with, not because we think naivety is a virtue. We start off thinking our cynicism makes us less gullible and more informed but but much cynicsm blinds us to beauty, goodness and like you're saying, certain elements of reality.

Best wishes in your studies - grace and peace.

Re: I Hate Writing About Sex

Tim Ghali — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:44:00 -0000

Excellent post Derek - well thought out. As you implied, so much can only be said in such a space but I'd like to add the embracing of who we are on the other half of self-denial. There seems to be a misunderstanding among some that self-denial is about not being who you really are or repressing your feelings but it's more about denying our selfishness, our pride, etc. and in doing so, we are able to embrace who God made us to be.
Anyway, great post - see you around.

Re: Ever Wonder Why People Resist Change?

Tim Ghali — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:15:21 -0000

Depending on context, I've found it helpful to narrate how some of us might feel as we process the change as outlined in the Rollercoaster of Change (google it). It's helped on your second point in creating trust, it validates and it allows for conversation.
Completely agree on the "Knowing why they are fighting ..." thanks for posting.

Re: Why I Don’t Witness to People on Airplanes (A Post in 3 Acts)

Tim Ghali — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:17:47 -0000

You mean progressive Christians care about sharing their faith with others?? Lol - what a thoughtful post.

I'm about to get on a plane tomorrow, I'm a pastor and like so many here, I take my faith seriously too and can't help but wish that others would find peace and hope in Christ too.

I feel that those who need "to close the deal" for Jesus are at risk of undermining the work of God than actually promoting it. "God won't get this sinner without me, boy God is lucky i take the Great Commission so seriously!" I remember those chapel speakers too. (One chapel speaker actually got arrested along with some of our students for trespassing - whoops.)

For me, I'm just trying to be faithful with the moments that God gives us and trust that He is at work in the lives of others. Sometimes incredible conversations emerge, sometimes it's a subtle few words of goodness that are not distinctly Christian but point to the beauty of the world (like in the natural law sense) and sometimes the most Christ-like thing you can do is let the person next to you sleep and say a word of prayer for them if you feel so compelled.

Again, I believe God is always at work and I get to participate along with Him in appropriate ways. Still may God give us courage, wisdom, discernment, and may we be faithful.

Really I think this is very similar to the "planting seeds" idea that you, Rachel, mentioned.

Re: 11 World-Rocking Quotes From The Justice Conference 2013

Tim Ghali — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:40:27 -0000

Wow, so hard to narrow them down to so few - nice job. The Cho and Bauman quotes have resonated with me in the weeks since.

Re: Tim Geisland [.com] — 7 Reasons We're Doing a 2-year Church-planting Residency:

Tim Ghali — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:48:09 -0000

Nice. From what I've seen, these are among the best church-planting ways to go. Starts in slow-motion but God willing, blossoms into a beautiful community intent on mission and relational connection. Grace and strength for the journey Tim.

Re: Ashamed

Tim Ghali — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:53:31 -0000

Wow, so beautiful - thanks Rachel.

Re: Most Americans Believe Pro Athletes Have More Societal Influence Than Pastors

Tim Ghali — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:43:15 -0000

It would be interesting to see the results of a poll that asked, "Do pro sports figures influence YOU more than faith leaders?" as opposed to the one that used "society" as the target.

Re: Mark Driscoll & the Empty Politic of Evangelicalism

Tim Ghali — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:45:34 -0000

Excellent post Zach (Found you as I have been using the #futuregospel tag too.) I blogged on this too - I don't understand how and why so many of intelligent friends like him in light of so many better minds they have access too.

Sometimes I think it's best to ignore Driscoll, sometimes I think we need to confront and bring attention to nonsense like this. But what I really think is the best response is to serve the Kingdom boldly & selflessly. Many things happen when we truly serve God and others, the awkward Driscoll moments will be annoying not descriptive of evangelicals and second, people will be blessed in the name of Christ.

See you around.

Re: Social media pastors cast stones on Obama’s faith

Tim Ghali — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:24:02 -0000

Right, can't agree more.

Re: Social media pastors cast stones on Obama’s faith

Tim Ghali — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:47:45 -0000

Thanks Alan. I don't follow Driscoll on Twitter (or in any other way really) but still saw his words through a handful of RT's and it is concerning. I hear what Bethany is saying and there is wisdom in drawing too much attention to it but for me the concern is that such judgmental and divisive words get RT'd by 3000 people and who knows how many people see that.
I am fortunate to be a pastor who still has non-believing friends (sometimes it feels like too many and I wonder about that but that's another story). I also talk to a number of people who are barely hanging on in their faith and among the many reasons, is that they want no part of this mentality.
Over and over I try to appeal to some and articulate that beautiful things are happening in the church too but some feel they can't get past not just the judgmentalism of the Driscolls and Pipers but also the many who love them. Some would rather disassociate.
All that to say, yes, we don't give them too much attention, we do need to channel our efforts to the work of the Kingdom but some times we need to rebuke and refute the judgmental nonsense that comes from some people who in some way, represent the church.

Re: Lance Armstrong Sermon Illustrations.

Tim Ghali — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:33:42 -0000

Some will. If it works naturally into the message, then that's great. My message this week is on contentment, consumption and greed so I'll likely mention it.

I do know that I won't do the alliteration thing - I don't have that spiritual gift/curse ;)