Thank you for this, Mark. This past Sunday I commented on our dependence on God, playing off Independence Day as you said in the comment above. I appreciate how you also write of our dependence on others, too! ~Stanley
Very powerful. I've been thinking about the outrage I try to quickly scroll past on FB, what it says about the people who post it and where faith intersects through it all. Thanks. ~Stanley
Thanks, Norman, for the good reminder. I've thought the same thing when selecting by lot is advocated on the grounds that it's more Spirit-directed. The Spirit works through our reflection and discernment, too!
Thanks! I already had a couple of those on my radar, but not "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross." Haven't sung that in ages... I'll see if I can fix that... ~Stanley
Christians fighting amongst themselves, trying to figure out who should be kicked out of their little club and how they can justify weaseling out of showing 1Cor 13 love to one another... Any discouragement from the original article is certainly eclipsed by this discussion thread.
Sometimes I kick myself for not visiting the CRC Network more often. But then I skim a thread like this and am reminded again how such forums quickly become toxic for my spiritual health.
Mark Buchanan, Your God Is Too Safe is one of the best books I've ever read. I was also blessed by recently reading Roy Hession's classis book The Calvary Road. ~Stan
Hey Leon. I had heard that you had received a call. As I'm still in the midst of my first call, I have no advice for you. But something I wonder about when I go to my second church some day is what to do with all the people connected with Telkwa CRC with whom I'm friends on Facebook. I think that's a variant on the question of who/how/whether to stay in contact with people from your previous church when you move to a new one. I have a feeling that with Facebook, a pastor may remain more connected to the former congregation than s/he may intend perhaps to the detriment of his/her current congregation. Part me says, "Make a clean break! Delete 'em all and make new online friends with people in your church." But another part of me says to keep in touch from time to time as I didn't love them because I had to but simply because I did, and that's what friends do when they move away. Anyway... Not so helpful for you, but I think I've wondered a bit about what you're wondering a lot! Stan
PS: Blessings to you and your family in your fresh start!
Posted in: Happy Dependence Day!
Thank you for this, Mark. This past Sunday I commented on our dependence on God, playing off Independence Day as you said in the comment above. I appreciate how you also write of our dependence on others, too! ~Stanley
Posted in: My Only Expertise
Insightful and profound. Thank you!
~Stanley
Posted in: Facebook's Easy Outrage: What's Your Experience?
Very powerful. I've been thinking about the outrage I try to quickly scroll past on FB, what it says about the people who post it and where faith intersects through it all. Thanks. ~Stanley
Posted in: Introducing...Jill Friend
Thank you, Jill, for serving in our Faith Formation Ministries! Blessings to you and your work! ~Stanley
Posted in: Trusting the Spirit
Thanks, Norman, for the good reminder. I've thought the same thing when selecting by lot is advocated on the grounds that it's more Spirit-directed. The Spirit works through our reflection and discernment, too!
Posted in: Trusting Papa
Thank you, Kelly, for sharing this here. ~Stanley
Posted in: Favorite Hymns I Don't Want to Forget
Thanks! I already had a couple of those on my radar, but not "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross." Haven't sung that in ages... I'll see if I can fix that... ~Stanley
Posted in: Favorite Hymns I Don't Want to Forget
I just found a couple more I don't want to forget:
:: "O Jesus, We Adore You" PsH 472
:: "Christian, Do You Struggle" PsH 575
Posted in: Disciplining a Retired Pastor
Christians fighting amongst themselves, trying to figure out who should be kicked out of their little club and how they can justify weaseling out of showing 1Cor 13 love to one another... Any discouragement from the original article is certainly eclipsed by this discussion thread.
Posted in: Disciplining a Retired Pastor
Sometimes I kick myself for not visiting the CRC Network more often. But then I skim a thread like this and am reminded again how such forums quickly become toxic for my spiritual health.
Posted in: Books to Read
Mark Buchanan, Your God Is Too Safe is one of the best books I've ever read. I was also blessed by recently reading Roy Hession's classis book The Calvary Road. ~Stan
Posted in: Starting Well at Your Second Church
Hey Leon. I had heard that you had received a call. As I'm still in the midst of my first call, I have no advice for you. But something I wonder about when I go to my second church some day is what to do with all the people connected with Telkwa CRC with whom I'm friends on Facebook. I think that's a variant on the question of who/how/whether to stay in contact with people from your previous church when you move to a new one. I have a feeling that with Facebook, a pastor may remain more connected to the former congregation than s/he may intend perhaps to the detriment of his/her current congregation. Part me says, "Make a clean break! Delete 'em all and make new online friends with people in your church." But another part of me says to keep in touch from time to time as I didn't love them because I had to but simply because I did, and that's what friends do when they move away. Anyway... Not so helpful for you, but I think I've wondered a bit about what you're wondering a lot! Stan
PS: Blessings to you and your family in your fresh start!