tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11928317.post112572097001573513..comments2024-01-29T14:24:46.852-05:00Comments on Wes Ellis: Learn perspectivewellis68http://www.blogger.com/profile/06087588494600746854noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11928317.post-1125802747525170592005-09-03T22:59:00.000-04:002005-09-03T22:59:00.000-04:00Bruced,Painfully true... I agree.I've said before ...Bruced,<BR/><BR/>Painfully true... I agree.<BR/><BR/>I've said before that the most important question that stands before us is "what do you think God is like?" <BR/><BR/>Being like God is not the problem. the problem is what god are you trying to be like? Are you following the God of biggotry? Or are you following the God that's shown to us in the scriptures, the one who created everything good and whose plan is to reconcile everything back to good again? Is God love as it is said in the scriptures? <BR/><BR/>What do you think God is like?<BR/><BR/>The problem with us Christians is the same as that of everyone else. We don't get it. If we really understood Jesus message and lived it, the adjectives that came into people's minds would no longer be "religious, biggotted, intolerant, uptight, ect." The adjectives would be more like, "loving, compassionate, creative, hopeful, kind, humble..." Jesus message is beautiful. How it became something else? I just don't know.wellis68https://www.blogger.com/profile/06087588494600746854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11928317.post-1125800028677763842005-09-03T22:13:00.000-04:002005-09-03T22:13:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.brucedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839887792626090688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11928317.post-1125792956974481002005-09-03T20:15:00.000-04:002005-09-03T20:15:00.000-04:00Thank you jorge!I agree Americans often find thems...Thank you jorge!<BR/><BR/>I agree Americans often find themselves in a bubble. We forget that there are people in other places that think and have beliefs and ideals. Thank you for your insight.<BR/>-Weswellis68https://www.blogger.com/profile/06087588494600746854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11928317.post-1125791409349450652005-09-03T19:50:00.000-04:002005-09-03T19:50:00.000-04:00Keep on, brother, questioning the established fait...Keep on, brother, questioning the established faith of the establishment (the redundancy is on purpose).<BR/>To be a Christian is no sin and does not mean to kiss good bye to intelligence.<BR/>Jesus is the living Logos, and as much as I know Logos is connected to the pure Reason, among other concepts. This means that if Jesus is the eternal Logos and came to save us, then he came to save us from stupidity.<BR/>The Christian should be the most provocative person in this world, never at rest questioning what everybody takes for sure. We seek the truth! It is true that we found it in Jesus (praise God for that). But the Truth goes beyond time and space, beyond our cultures and prejudices. So, let us not be afraid in this quest, because, according to the Book, it is the Truth that defends us, not the opposite.<BR/>And sometimes, we mix up everything taking as true (let it read bible) what indeed is nothing but culture.<BR/>Take the example of drinking alcohol. In the States, it is a terrible sin (maybe THE sin) to drink alcohol. In Portugal, where I live, it is a sin NOT to drink this excellent wine of ours. But (let us laugh) here in this sunny country, among some churches, makeup in the women is a capital sin.<BR/>Are those really sins? No, not at all. Sin is not to have fellowship with God. And as we say here, the rest is music…<BR/>Let us love God and be concerned with our standing before him, let us love our neighbors, no matter the way they live, they dress, they think and, above all, let us not condemn them, because Jesus did not invite us to condemn but to proclaim that God loves everyone and accepts each one of us the way we are and the way we come close to him.<BR/>I think you Americans commit a terrible mistake: in general, you take the American way of the thinking as THE way of thinking. Most of you should come out of the States for a while in order to be enriched by other cultures and other points of view. So, I invite you to come to Portugal and see by yourself if I am right or not and you will find a poor but warm people.<BR/>Sorry for any errors in the grammar, but English is not my first language.<BR/>Jorge Pinheiro ― PortugalJorge Pinheirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11388841140439916430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11928317.post-1125780692500943452005-09-03T16:51:00.000-04:002005-09-03T16:51:00.000-04:00thank youthank yousimplejoysofpainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11242383156942517293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11928317.post-1125774743737932412005-09-03T15:12:00.000-04:002005-09-03T15:12:00.000-04:00Amanda,Some people are just mean. they're mean and...Amanda,<BR/><BR/>Some people are just mean. they're mean and cold hearted. <BR/><BR/>" What about those that persist in mocking even when you have said nothing to them?"<BR/> <BR/>Few things make me more angry than the shallow ignorance of a person like the one you dscribe. It really makes me angry.<BR/><BR/>You ask "what about those...?" Amanda, any answer I give hear is much more easily said than done. I say "love them," nice idea but what does that look like? How do you love someone like that? It's difficult. And honestly I just don't know. <BR/><BR/>I remember a time in my life where your question sounded alot like my life. In elementary school I was a dork to say the least. In high school I played football and I wrestled. I began to notice that the same people that mocked me suddenly became my "friends." My only value in life came from how hard I could hit someone or how fast I could pin someone. Why do they like me now? I didn't change... <BR/><BR/>What I discovered is there is a fine line between mocking and praise. They're both just as cheap, they come and go easily. they are more powerful than any sword, but they are cheap.<BR/><BR/>Where you find true friendship lies far benieth words. The praises and critiisms that really matter are brought forth from someone with geuine concern. <BR/><BR/>If people mock without giving a chance you might find that in the end they're not far from putting a crown on your head and pasadeing you around the city. Do not feel hurt by them. Your value is greater than that of fine jewels undernieth the cheap words. <BR/><BR/>Hold tightly to friendships that cut deep. God created us to live together because there is healing and wholeness in relationships that reveal what's undrnieth the surface. Words may be cheap but it's a heafty investment to go beyond words. Hold close to those who invest in you. <BR/><BR/>I know I didn't exactally answer your question but I hope I maybe added some perspective for you. I'd like to hear any other blogger's inshights.wellis68https://www.blogger.com/profile/06087588494600746854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11928317.post-1125766915642621782005-09-03T13:01:00.000-04:002005-09-03T13:01:00.000-04:00reminds me of a time when a first time visitor to ...reminds me of a time when a first time visitor to our rather strait laced if not some what hippified united methodlist church decided to come to our church picnic and brought a case of beer as his "dish to pass"...our youth pastor shared a "cold one" with him - gasp...<BR/>that wasn't so bad as the time we participated in a chicken bar-b-que in a small town Church where Art had just been hired as assistant pastor...and all the guys cooking the chicken - church elders mostly - were sharing a keg under the table...<BR/>and then there is the whole smoking issue...<BR/>no dear, no one goes to hell for smoking cigerettes, or drinking beer, or saying the F...word.<BR/>good post WesArthur Brokop IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15347223269423770913noreply@blogger.com