gdp's Comments

Rediscovering the Church : Trying to Restart

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:13:02 +0000

Whatever it takes to reconnect with God, we need to make it a priority—sometimes in big ways, sometimes just moment to moment. Lord, please crave out for Peter those moments for the two of you together that are so hard for us to make for ourselves. Please don't let him miss them. (And feel free to throw in a few for me, too.) Thank You, Lord! I love you.

Rediscovering the Church : Tech Tuesday - The Year in Review

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 16:43:01 +0000

Thanks for all the great posts, and all the great info, Peter! You're a blessing to us techno-dummies.

Rediscovering the Church : An update

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 21:07:55 +0000

Peter, clear out everything that does not REQUIRE a response from you. Do it with a clear conscience that people care more about your well being than about a reply. Then ask the Lord what else can be resolved with a click, or a brief, "I'll not be able to address this as planned." Be at peace, my brother.

Rediscovering the Church : Sunday Thoughts - January 3rd 2010

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 01:24:21 +0000

Russell, you surely know I did not mean "love those who love you" by pointing out love's priority. Yes, plenty of people come to church as a comfortable place to meet like minds. There are also far too many people who snub church to go in search of the lost, happy to direct a sinner's prayer, then move on to look for more souls. They are more satisfied with making a convert than doing the hard work of making a disciple. If effective ministry within the church is a priority, ministry will be more effective in the streets. If we are "not known for our love, compassion and kindness," then best we get it right at home before setting a bad example to the world. I recall these words appearing on a recent post here: "Christians are arguably more like the world in one respect than any other: criticizing Christians." The way to encourage virtues of love and compassion to the world is by exemplifying them "without boundaries," not condemning others for failing at them. Berating Christians does not encourage them.

Rediscovering the Church : Sunday Thoughts - January 3rd 2010

Sun, 3 Jan 2010 22:44:03 +0000

Yes, I love each neighbor in my path. But I love first my Christian family, because it is so admonished: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10) Also, what example would we show the world if we loved those outside at the expense of those inside? If the world sees that we treat the world better than our own bretheren, would they not prefer to remain outside?

Michael Hyatt Blog : How to Make New Year’s Resolutions Stick

Sat, 2 Jan 2010 15:11:59 +0000

Thanks for the challenge. I applaud your resolution to read through the Bible this year. No matter how many times I do it, I'm still surprised by what I've missed on previous reads. I'm willing to share three resolutions here: • Every morning, I'll read Scripture and pray before I check emails or Twitter • I'll give my two youngest children reading time each day before I write the daily devotion I publish • I'll have a first draft of my next novel complete by March 31, 2010 Here goes! My recent post Heavens Shaken

Rediscovering the Church : Blog Carnival: One Word at a Time - Love

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:49:17 +0000

And can't you just feel that the love and affection are genuine? We do love you, favorite Brit. Take good care of yourself and yours.

Steele (the Day) : Mother Love

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:30:04 +0000

*Gasp* I can't think of not remembering this one. Just imagine the people waiting for us in Heaven.

Rediscovering the Church : I am NOT OK

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:22:31 +0000

I am sorry for your loss, Peter. Not simply the loss of a grandmother, but of the temporary loss of security, the temporary loss of joy, the temporary loss of feeling you are doing something worthwhile. When the Lord speaks, His voice carries conviction of what to do, with the encouragement and strength to do it. When the enemy speaks, his voice carries condemnation, with the discouragement for all accomplished not by us, but by Christ in us. Allow Him to carry you, my brother. "Fear not," or some form of that statement, was the most frequent imperative Jesus spoke. He purchased you with His blood. You are greatly beloved, and of great worth in His sight. I am comforted to know that you are parted from Debbie's grandmother for just a short time. Parted, but not separated. The same Spirit who gives her life for eternity is living in you for eternity, and death cannot separate that Spirit from either of you, or from Debbie.

Christian Reflections : What is Jesus' Love Tank?

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:44:13 +0000

I think men better know love in receiving respect, and women better know respect in receiving love.

Rediscovering the Church : Merry Christmas One and All

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 02:51:21 +0000

Merry Christmas, Peter. :D

Rediscovering the Church : Angels with Bolt Cutters

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:34:02 +0000

I really should be doing other things, but just can't resist ... Whether it was general knowledge or not before Mary lived with Joseph, it would be plenty evident at some point that pregnancy occurred before it should have. In Jewish culture, it would have been almost unthinkable for Joseph to assume paternity for a child that wasn't his, absent some type of bribery. So once he took Mary home, everyone would believe Jesus to be his son. (Interesting ramnifications for his own firstborn son. But I digress.) Noteworthy is that the Jews repeatedly insinuate in John 8 that Jesus was of illegitimate birth. So I would guess some rumors persisted of question over Jesus' paternity.

Rediscovering the Church : Angels with Bolt Cutters

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:17:27 +0000

Betrothals lasted a year or more. There was no physical intimacy during the betrothal period. Three explainations for pregnancy during betrothal were Mary's infidelity, rape, or Joseph had failed to behave honorably. The latter two were a smear to Joseph. If there had been a wedding before the pregnancy became known, then Joseph would have been intimate with Mary. Scripture is clear that there was no intimacy until after Jesus' birth. Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born, in fulfillment of Scripture. A little known detail of the wedding ceremony was that the celebration did not begin until the groom announced to the guests that the marriage had been physically consummated. (No pressure on the bride, eh?) Also, AFTER the angel spoke with him, Joseph took Mary into his home. There might have been a wedding at that point, but it was after knowledge of the pregnancy.

Rediscovering the Church : Angels with Bolt Cutters

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:23:33 +0000

Ah, Peter. You wrote one awesome tale there. Had me smiling right from start to finish. However, I also caught that you say Mary was discovered pregnant "after" the wedding? Huh? She was discovered pregnant after the betrothal, BEFORE the wedding. There was certainly no joking going on. I can't help mention this because Joseph is one of the Bible heroes I most admire. He not only sought to protect Mary when he thought her unfaithful to him, but he then brought her home immediately without being intimate with her. How many men are capable of either? Not that I mention this to take anything away from Gabriel. I look forward to meeting both heroes. You too, for that matter. :D

Rediscovering the Church : Trust - Guest Post by Chrystie Cole

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:53:04 +0000

Making the decision to trust Him means trusting in His way even when it is unclear or not what I hoped for. What a clear and lovely way to sum up what it really is to believe in God, Chrystie. Lord, I do pray that You'll protect Ken. I pray that as You work Your sovereign will in His life, You'll also work in this situation Your perfect will, and give the maximum good to Ken and Chrystie. Thank You and Amen.

Shooting the Breeze : Silly Saturday - The best commercial ever

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:08:46 +0000

Loved it! After a year of no baby, we got boy #2 after our six-year-old Joshua prayed for a brother. When Daniel was born, Joshua told his three sisters, "I get to hold him first because *I* prayed for him!" We didn't get a dinner tho ...

Rediscovering the Church : Celebration Saturday

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:03:13 +0000

Wow! If any other of those 14 tasks were this exciting, I probably wouldn't even care about the other 29. I'm very, very happy for you, Peter. Stinking deep happy. ;D

Rediscovering the Church : You never know...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:42:30 +0000

You see, life is not about what we can gain, it’s about what we can give. It’s not about what we can achieve but how we can serve. What the Lord's saying to me right now is and that means whether or not it's at a convenient time ... I own your time. I needed the reminder. Thanks. Great post yesterday, too.

My Experience as Youth Pastor : Not so Ninja

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:09:58 +0000

One of the things these kids may have least of and need most is boundaries. I've been involved in ministry with youths like this, and understand how very difficult it is to know how to define and enforce boundaries. But deep down, I think they really do appreciate that boundaries--set forth in enforced rules--do communicate love. This is most evident when they are asked about rules at home. When rules are absent, that's not what kids say. Instead, they'll nearly always respond, "My parents don't care."

Shooting the Breeze : Insecurity destroys relationships

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:54:58 +0000

There was a time when I thought this was no problem, when I was willing to be vulnerable. Now, I read this and want to stick my fingers in my ears and say "na-na-na-na." I don't care who you are, rejection hurts. But the Lord wants us to be a part of one another. So I'll still reach out, I'll still love, I'll still get hurt. In the end, would it really be worth not getting hurt to not love others? Love must conquer!