A United Method

I read my post over twice, and I don't think I cal...

2010-07-08T18:23:19.993-05:00

I read my post over twice, and I don't think I called it disgusting or treason. The post I reference asks if it is funny or sinister - I sided with sinister. I say this not because most of the people who have referenced this to me are being sinister, but because the popularity of such a joke propagates on the unspoken desire that something bad will befall the president.

I'm all

To call this Obama bumper sticker (or whatever for...

2010-07-08T14:39:49.309-05:00

To call this Obama bumper sticker (or whatever form it takes) as disgusting, an act of treason, or some other off-the-wall, radical notion is a bit disturbing to me. This was sent to me as an email forward from a friend, and I took it as a joke and nothing more. You must know the sender in order to know how to take it. While I would never send it to people who I don't know, anyone who I

The main thing from I see as seeking/finding peace...

2010-06-16T08:23:01.998-05:00

The main thing from I see as seeking/finding peace is that I myself have not forgiven myself and yet will easily do for others because I have that "embedded" within me.
Difficult to overcome certain hurdles in my life right now wondering how much forgiveness is enough to overcome my own inhibitions in finding peace.

Well, assuming that vengeance or revenge is rooted...

2010-06-09T17:09:54.762-05:00

Well, assuming that vengeance or revenge is rooted in suffering, I would guess the "burden" on your life is the suffering they are causing you.

If by "overcome this" you mean "help the person deal with their suffering" then it sounds like you are already being compassionate, via the definition I set forth in the sermon and the JWJ segment.

If

but how does one show compassion with those to who...

2010-06-09T16:14:03.426-05:00

but how does one show compassion with those to whom seek nothing but vengeance or revenge against you and continue to burden your life? What is missing in my life to overcome this? a humble servant should not feel this way should he?

jesus preached love, cordiality, the personal, gav...

2010-06-05T20:25:59.628-05:00

jesus preached love, cordiality, the personal, gave instructions not at all in keeping with the rulers of the time or the authorities.

That is too adorable!

2010-06-02T12:52:16.795-05:00

That is too adorable!

Well done Jack, loved it tremendously and it reall...

2010-05-20T11:45:30.560-05:00

Well done Jack, loved it tremendously and it really helped during this time....I know what my areas of despair and fear are especially right now and we have touched on the subject. Keeping the faith....

p.s. Anything I can do for you??....

Meh, sorry for any confusion. Fixed the privacy s...

2010-05-06T17:17:38.976-05:00

Meh, sorry for any confusion. Fixed the privacy settings

I tend to put peace-keeper and peace-maker in very...

2010-04-22T07:48:24.248-05:00

I tend to put peace-keeper and peace-maker in very different categories. And unfortunately trying to make peace often brings with it reactions of conflict (Jesus, Gandhi, MLK). I have a million questions about non-violence that I have yet to be able to answer.

But, one of the things that amazes me is that you can find "secular" authors like Mark Kurlanski (Nonviolence 25

"not wanting to go the distance with Jesus for rig...

2010-04-08T08:54:00.928-05:00

"not wanting to go the distance with Jesus for righteousness." I think you hit the nail on the head. Easter is about death and resurrection every day. "take up your cross daily" but dying every day is so tough!

The origianl poem was (second part) This is my Fat...

2010-03-25T17:09:31.155-05:00

The origianl poem was (second part) This is my Father's world, the battle is not done, Jesus who died shall be satisfied & earth & heaven be one.
great hymn

oooo oooo me me me! I would LOVE to join that deba...

2010-03-23T10:36:43.967-05:00

oooo oooo me me me! I would LOVE to join that debate bc it is my biggest problem- universal healthcare- YES! We love that idea.

Controlled by gov- eh, not so much.

An important distinction that I plan on addressing...

2010-03-23T00:19:14.258-05:00

An important distinction that I plan on addressing... working on it! Won't you come back and join the convo? :)

I'm pretty sure that Jesus would be down with univ...

2010-03-22T23:53:43.055-05:00

I'm pretty sure that Jesus would be down with universal health care, to use the common parlance. What would he say about the bill that just got passed?

for me, singing and music is the best form of wors...

2010-03-20T17:56:01.455-05:00

for me, singing and music is the best form of worship. I love to sing.

I do think that sometimes however, especially in the more contemporary style worship, some churches (a church I visited in Houston recently comes to mind), the worship service becomes a worship performance. The music can be overbearing--new, different, loud (which all can be good, but can also make it hard to

I love singing in SDL. It is one of my faves and w...

2010-03-17T14:49:31.293-05:00

I love singing in SDL. It is one of my faves and when I heard them doing Amazing Grace(my chains are gone) I got all happy and then we sang It is Well With My Soul- oh! I just loved it. 2 of my faves. Plus through Seth and the band I have been turned on to good music like Dave Crowder Band and Chris Tomlin. So, I sing. Matt kind of sings but more or less just moves his mouth. :)

Oh and

I'm so glad to hear someone else say this! Amen, ...

2010-03-17T13:59:46.398-05:00

I'm so glad to hear someone else say this! Amen, Jack!

The Psalms say over and over to make a "joyful NOISE". Nowhere do they say, "Make a perfectly in-tune sound worthy of Simon Cowell's approval."

I love the words in the praise anthem "I Love You, Lord". The last phrase says, "Take joy, my King, in what you hear. May it be a

I saw the Glenn Beck thing yesterday... Sad. Talk...

2010-03-09T08:55:31.899-06:00

I saw the Glenn Beck thing yesterday... Sad. Talk about making God in your own image and selectively reading the Bible.

This letter has a good chance of showing up on the...

2010-03-09T06:47:37.076-06:00

This letter has a good chance of showing up on the hate mail section of Glenn Beck's web site. You hater, you.

Thanks for getting these up Jack! I can't wait to...

2010-03-01T21:34:48.583-06:00

Thanks for getting these up Jack! I can't wait to share the news with those who have yet to hear it! You inspire me to be better! ND

The Church has always taught that God's grace is r...

2010-02-20T18:14:17.081-06:00

The Church has always taught that God's grace is required even to have the disposition to have faith in Christ, but that there are those who will perish because of rejecting Christ. I believe that there is truth in the fact that God's grace predestines his Church but that also we must cooperate in that grace in order to accept it. It is a sort of mystery as how the two are fully

I think on the whole, our ability to choose (freew...

2010-02-20T17:22:29.911-06:00

I think on the whole, our ability to choose (freewill) is over rated. What is your favorite color? Blue? Why? It looks nice? Why do you think it looks nice? It’s soothing to the eyes? Why does it look soothing to your eyes? and so on. Ultimately, you don’t know why you like blue as your favorite color and yet you do. In many places in the Bible, God makes it clear He does the choosing, Romans

Jack, fun conversation you've started. Just to ad...

2010-02-20T11:47:17.180-06:00

Jack, fun conversation you've started. Just to add a bit of fun I thought I would include another option.
You asked the question of whether it was a matter of us accepting God's grace or not, you didn't mention the possibility of it resting upon rejecting God's grace.
I know you'll want some scripture to back it up, so I'll offer a couple. One, Jesus on the

God is love. I love astronomy, I love the element...

2010-02-19T22:06:00.033-06:00

God is love.

I love astronomy, I love the elements, I love that what we are, is ultimately the same substance as the stars. In their astounding, explosive beginning- what I am now, was present. My humble beginning, as I know it, was already there.

That is to say, I cannot escape what I was first part of, and to (star) dust, I shall return.

I cannot escape god,