en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1355772 Comments by profblades http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/12/so-long-2010/#IDComment118990354 Sounds like a great tradition. I like that the end of the year gives us a great moment for reflection. Sat, 1 Jan 2011 04:35:11 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/12/so-long-2010/#IDComment118990354 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/12/i-think-screwtape-doesnt-mind-some-worship-music/#IDComment117660132 We can often fall in to the trap that by getting the bumper sticker, going to church and listening to the right music we are being good Christians. I know that I have far too often just scratched a "faith itch" and then just gone on with my day. You are right, we can't use these things to replace an honest, deep relationship with our Savior. Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:49:10 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/12/i-think-screwtape-doesnt-mind-some-worship-music/#IDComment117660132 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/11/how-we-view-god/#IDComment107593393 There are two "biggies" for me. Of what Christ taught us, the biggest to me is when He tells us the two greatest commandments, to love God and to love others. That is what I struggle with and fulfill as much as I can (which is not nearly enough.) Of what Christ showed us, it is obedience to the Father. Wed, 3 Nov 2010 14:29:46 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/11/how-we-view-god/#IDComment107593393 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/10/win-5-copies-of-gabe-lyons-new-book/#IDComment102479643 10-15 per year Tue, 5 Oct 2010 14:30:49 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/10/win-5-copies-of-gabe-lyons-new-book/#IDComment102479643 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/09/morning-prayer-as-a-kick-off/#IDComment102055995 I always seem to lack the "discipline" for my spiritual disciplines. I have been doing a short daily devotional. They are literally small bits of scripture with some commentary. What I like is that it makes me slow down and concentrate on God's word in a way that normally don't when I am just reading. Since the devotional isn't about getting through the bible in a certain amount of time, it really frees me up to meditate on the 5 or 6 verses that I am reading. Very rewarding. Sun, 3 Oct 2010 04:37:48 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/09/morning-prayer-as-a-kick-off/#IDComment102055995 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/09/howl-le-lu-ya/#IDComment101341754 I have to agree with my wife on this one. Creepy. However, I did watch to the end. I think that the song itself could be sort of cute, even if it is kind of misleading if the person singing i was having fun. Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:21:48 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/09/howl-le-lu-ya/#IDComment101341754 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/09/gods-method/#IDComment97278443 I think the problem with a lot of the church "programs" is the approach. We always seem to try a program that will attract people. It isn't about what God is calling the church to do, it is about what will bring people in the doors. I believe that if churches would do what they are called to do the Lord would lead the people to the church that need to be there. Too many times it is about increasing membership and not reaching people with the gospel. A gospel that is active and not just preaching. A gospel that touches hearts and changes lives. Mon, 6 Sep 2010 12:12:08 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/09/gods-method/#IDComment97278443 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/08/the-questions-of-surrender-and-sacrifice/#IDComment94859560 We are not a people who are given easily to the idea of surrender. Truly surrendering to Christ is one way that Christians stand out from the world around us and can help us to be the holy sacrifice that Paul speaks of. The idea of living as a willing servant is rare and alien to a whole lot of folks (in AND out of church.) Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:15:05 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/08/the-questions-of-surrender-and-sacrifice/#IDComment94859560 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/cheap-grace/#IDComment89340413 That dead German is one convicting teacher. His indictments of the the teaching of the church are unfortunately as true today as they were when he was writing. He understood that once we have accept cheap grace, it makes it even harder to know costly grace. "The only man who has the right to say that he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ." Bonhoeffer's idea of grace was that of a gift that is free, yet costs us everything. Preaching Cheap grace is probably the most destructive aspect of the church. because it destroys the heart of the Christian while pretending to save him. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:33:39 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/cheap-grace/#IDComment89340413 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/false-teachers/#IDComment88241068 How do you balance patience and kindness with protection and perseverance? So many of the false teachers that I see are trying to use human means to change things in the world instead of trusting the ways of God. I think the biggest false teachers now are the ones that teach anything other than living in love under God's grace. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:29:18 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/false-teachers/#IDComment88241068 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/defining-me-grace/#IDComment87816462 Thinking of God's grace makes me the most ashamed of how I act as a Christian. It is the most beautiful aspect of God and the one that we most often throw in His face. It is His mercy that we do not deserve and His love that we did not earn. It is what makes our good works unnecessary and yet absolutely essential. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:00:17 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/defining-me-grace/#IDComment87816462 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/the-cool-christian/#IDComment87500343 I think it is a lack of trust of our fellow Christians that holds a lot of us back. We all say that we won't judge, but who really believes that we won't be judged, even when people are praying for us? Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:15:11 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/the-cool-christian/#IDComment87500343 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/faith-is-tough/#IDComment86374726 I think relying on God for everything is a frightening thought for most people! This is when our comfort level truly becomes a curse, when we can't bear the thought of what luxuries we might need to give up for our Lord. Just heard a great sermon on "packing light" for the journey. There is a lot of baggage that we carry that prevents us from living as we know we should live. Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:59:53 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/faith-is-tough/#IDComment86374726 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/the-cool-christian/#IDComment86047610 Maybe the only way out of the cool Christian/stereotypical Christian trap is to model a true and radical Christianity. When we try to maintain our cool qualities, (not that I have any, which doesn't stop me from trying,) we are just in another way conforming to the world. As I see the intolerant, moralist, anti-intellectual Christians in the world I look around and think , "at least I am not like them." And we know where that leads. Sun, 11 Jul 2010 04:21:23 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/the-cool-christian/#IDComment86047610 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/its-all-about-me/#IDComment85134868 The hard part about truly giving and not just from our surplus is in trusting God for our needs. Even though He asks us to trust that he will provide for us, there is still that little voice in your head that is worried about what will happen if you give away too much. Until we trust Him to provide, we will always be tempted to hold something back. And when you have children, it is even harder, because you don't want to deprive them of what everyone else has. It is easier to live in a little less comfort when it is just ourselves. Tue, 6 Jul 2010 14:17:26 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/07/its-all-about-me/#IDComment85134868 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/06/misused-bible-verses-matthew-2611/#IDComment83503046 Great post. I think that often we (and I include myself in this,) dig and dig just long enough in the bible to find the verses that agree with what we have already decided. We try to make God's Word fit our own lives instead of making our lives fit God's purposes. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:06:50 +0000 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/06/misused-bible-verses-matthew-2611/#IDComment83503046