en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1323687 Comments by jefflyle http://julianfreeman.ca/church/strange-pastor#IDComment346846968 What an encouraging post. I've thought at times that I was imagining the human futility of pastoring while remaining utterly committed to an unending, impossible calling. I'm glad the insanity is hereby deemed to be sanctified! Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:37:05 +0000 http://julianfreeman.ca/church/strange-pastor#IDComment346846968 http://www.jonathandkeck.com/2010/11/15/in-the-eye-of-god/#IDComment110245762 Excellent. Thanks for going deep (on dry land?) with your readers. Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:24:55 +0000 http://www.jonathandkeck.com/2010/11/15/in-the-eye-of-god/#IDComment110245762 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109103794 Didn't mean to be rude. Michael's a big boy and can hold his own pretty well. Some things (beliefs) have to be torn down before other things (enlightenment) can be built up. Half of what Jesus said to people would not be tolerated in today's PC culture. He called Peter Satan. He called the Pharisees snakes and thieves and ruined their temple business when he threw over their tables. Sometimes error has to be eradicated before the soil can be turned over and prepared for the seed of truth. Just sayin..... Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:14:28 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109103794 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109103248 I find him refreshing also, I just don't believe that by challenging what he says that he's being treated unfairly. I usually seek to match the tone of his posts and sometimes I turn it up a notch to get him to think. I think there are two extremes to avoid: passivity/political correctness and loveless/lambasting. I'm pretty direct but I would humbly say that I've always sought to equip Michael with objective truth to consider about our faith in Christ. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:10:31 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109103248 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109102910 It's funny but Michael has never really told me that I've ever treated him unfairly - it's always "the brethren" in here. The nugget of gold comment was made tongue in cheek as indicated by smiley face I put in there. He seem to take it as good natured joking because his reply also had a smiley face. I promise you that I don't take things personally. I would really challenge you to read my posts and see if I ever am in defense of myself; I only defend my right to say what I think is right, but most of my comments are objective as I seek to provoke Michael to consider a deeper look at the Christian faith. I hope that helps you know where I'm coming from. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:08:02 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109102910 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109099201 What would you base your cool guy theory upon? Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:42:44 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109099201 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109099144 I'm unsure I've ever said or done anything that would classify me as such in this blog comments section. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:42:21 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109099144 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109083481 You are spot on when you say we would rather give mercy than receive it. We approach justice and mercy out of balance as humans. Having said that, God never sacrificed His justice on the altar of His love. He can be judicially righteous at the same time as being abundantly merciful. There is no contradiction between these two components of God, therefore they can potentially coexist also in the lives of His children. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:55:34 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109083481 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109075460 Agreed. But when I risk telling you what I'm thinking you occasionally accuse me of doing something wrong by airing what I'm thinking. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:06:50 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109075460 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109074997 GO, MICHAEL!!!! I sense humanity. I told you I would thumbs up you when I agreed with soemthing you said and so I'm keeping my word. Thanks for dropping the guard. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:03:31 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109074997 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109073249 I'm not insulting you, man. That's the danger of dialoging like this. I'm telling you that you are ignorant of the depths of my belief system. I would still be ignorant also (as I was for the 1st 24 years of my life) had God not opened my understanding through His grace. This one fact alone shows your ignorance of biblical doctrine: a person cannot believe apart from the operative and initiating activity of God. Please don't be insulted; ignorance simply means a lack of objective information. It is obvious that you are not unintelligent and I would not say that you were. Please note, in the same comment, I called myself ignorant concerning your belief system. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:52:21 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109073249 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109072162 Dude, you are the lone antagonist in a heavily Christian chat room...what did you think we would do, applaud your provocation? Nobody hates you but several of us don't think it is right to let you dump a truck on Christ and His church. Say what you wanna say and recognize that this may not be the most accommodating turf for you. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:44:58 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109072162 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109071471 Michael, you are ignorant of the depths of my beliefs. You disagree with what you choose to see. I would say that I am as ignorant of your unbelief as you are of my belief. We interact with each other based on five lines in a text box, not upon an in-depth understanding of the other man. You are ignorant and cannot see the Truth until God in His mercy opens your eyes. The less ignorance you have, the more guilty you become. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:40:20 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109071471 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109071083 I would question the validity of their born-again status if they were using as a means by which to abandon their family. Not all who say they are disciples of Christ truly are. Never judge the entirety of a system of belief based on its abuse. Your data is accurate (divorce rate among professing Christians) but the conclusion you may be tempted to draw is risky (Christianity's invalidity due to the failure of its proponents). Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:37:37 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109071083 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109070689 I thought I was being subtle :) You know I've been honest on the few occasions I've agreed with you. We may not be fishin' buddies but I respect your honesty and hope you will afford me the same. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:34:59 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109070689 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109069723 The one time I thought you said something reasonable I thumbed you up. I am open to doing it again if you drop another nugget of gold on us. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:28:33 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109069723 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109069559 You're the only person who views a thumbs-down as being hated. Quit whining and stand by your statements. The persecution complex is unattractive on any of us. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:27:13 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109069559 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109069370 Of course it would be better, Michael. But what does one do when he doesn't get a vote and all potential for a stable family was removed while the child watched in powerlessness? What an awesome gift of grace for God to offer Himself as a faithful father to those whose earthly fathers failed. Would it be more beneficial to live with a vacuum instead of having that hole filled by a kind and compassionate Heavenly Father? Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:25:45 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109069370 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109068928 Ughhhh. It may have been less painful without the added element of him representing the God-concept as both a father and minister. Much grace has been received by you if you have made it through with a confidence in your heavenly Father. Both my parents left me and my sister. When I received Christ I found Psalm 27:10 to be of GREAT comfort: "When my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will take me up." Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:22:40 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109068928 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109068086 The wound I speak of runs deeper than you understand. We are not speaking solely of hurt feelings or a struggle to find identity. Christ is not the only answer to temporary, superficial woes in life, in this statement you are correct. Regarding the spiritual death that humans are born into, Christ is the only answer, the only one to have beaten death through His self-resurrection. All other ways are merely anesthesia that dull the pain. Christ is the sole healer...and also the soul healer. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:16:41 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/getting-the-bus-all-wrong/#IDComment109068086