Comments for grateful for Christ http://thegrateful.org Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:21:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 Comment on Unequally yoked: the saga of Luis Palau’s Portland CityFest, Portland’s Project Homeless Connect, and the treatment of homeless Mr. A, Part I by Mike http://thegrateful.org/2008/08/25/unequally-yoked-the-saga-of-luis-palaus-portland-cityfest-portlands-project-homeless-connect-and-the-treatment-of-homeless-mr-a-part-i/#comment-13 Mike Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:14:54 +0000 http://thegrateful.org/?p=108#comment-13 Yes, prayer is where it all happens. Somebody once advised me that the appropriate response to witnessing Christians doing/thinking/saying wrong things, for the most part, is prayer for them. It takes a concerted effort of the will combined with the grace of God to have the faith that He can do in others what He has done in me. When I think of it that way, it's hard to be angry with others for very long. I once was there and was at least as stubborn--probably more. And I am still in a place, I'm sure, where somebody more mature might be shaking their head at me and then dropping to their knees in prayer. Thank you for your comments. :) Yes, prayer is where it all happens. Somebody once advised me that the appropriate response to witnessing Christians doing/thinking/saying wrong things, for the most part, is prayer for them. It takes a concerted effort of the will combined with the grace of God to have the faith that He can do in others what He has done in me. When I think of it that way, it’s hard to be angry with others for very long. I once was there and was at least as stubborn–probably more. And I am still in a place, I’m sure, where somebody more mature might be shaking their head at me and then dropping to their knees in prayer.

Thank you for your comments. :)

]]> Comment on Unequally yoked: the saga of Luis Palau’s Portland CityFest, Portland’s Project Homeless Connect, and the treatment of homeless Mr. A, Part I by Norman David Seubert http://thegrateful.org/2008/08/25/unequally-yoked-the-saga-of-luis-palaus-portland-cityfest-portlands-project-homeless-connect-and-the-treatment-of-homeless-mr-a-part-i/#comment-12 Norman David Seubert Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:25:21 +0000 http://thegrateful.org/?p=108#comment-12 Brother, Thanks for your story from the waterfront festival, I appreciate all of your observations and do not doubt your sincerity and the accuracy of what you experienced. I have sometimes found what seems to be a thin line between rightous indignation and self rightousness. Exhibit One: my use of the term "Christian Lite". Let us just keep praying for all those we encounter, and for our own wisdom. Brother,
Thanks for your story from the waterfront festival, I appreciate all of your observations and do not doubt your sincerity and the accuracy of what you experienced. I have sometimes found what seems to be a thin line between rightous indignation and self rightousness. Exhibit One: my use of the term “Christian Lite”. Let us just keep praying for all those we encounter, and for our own wisdom.

]]> Comment on Unequally yoked: the saga of Luis Palau’s Portland CityFest, Portland’s Project Homeless Connect, and the treatment of homeless Mr. A, Part I by Mike http://thegrateful.org/2008/08/25/unequally-yoked-the-saga-of-luis-palaus-portland-cityfest-portlands-project-homeless-connect-and-the-treatment-of-homeless-mr-a-part-i/#comment-11 Mike Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:54:24 +0000 http://thegrateful.org/?p=108#comment-11 It's easy to ignore the harm done to Christ's name in the eyes of outsiders until you see it up close and personal. Whether or not I take on all the "Christian Lite" folks depends on where God leads me in this life, but I have at least been given this task, and I want to do it well, for His glory and for the sake of Mr. A. I know I came on strong at points, and I don't want to seem like I think what Luis Palau's group does has no value--because it can have some value, however misguided it might be. But when I see hatred and heartlessness so closely linked to followers of Christ, it hurts deeply and it is hard to ignore. Indeed, it shouldn't be ignored, after all, "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar... Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light." The trick is doing that in love, which at some points I fear I have already failed in. As for the CityFest itself, the response I sensed from people outside the event was that it seemed cheap and typical of what they expected from Christians today. With eyes of faith, I was able to see that the hearts of people attending and involved with CityFest are trying to do what is right, and I know that for some people it helped them. However, I am concerned that it overall did not portray God's kingdom, but rather American culture with a Jesus label. That said, my immediate concern is not the modern confusion of Christianity with culture, but how Christians, by refusing to enter into partnerships with the world, can avoid being linked to what happened to Mr. A. We need to be the alternative to the world's system instead of embodying the world's system with a big smiley Jesus fish on the bumper. It’s easy to ignore the harm done to Christ’s name in the eyes of outsiders until you see it up close and personal. Whether or not I take on all the “Christian Lite” folks depends on where God leads me in this life, but I have at least been given this task, and I want to do it well, for His glory and for the sake of Mr. A.

I know I came on strong at points, and I don’t want to seem like I think what Luis Palau’s group does has no value–because it can have some value, however misguided it might be. But when I see hatred and heartlessness so closely linked to followers of Christ, it hurts deeply and it is hard to ignore. Indeed, it shouldn’t be ignored, after all, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar… Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light.” The trick is doing that in love, which at some points I fear I have already failed in. As for the CityFest itself, the response I sensed from people outside the event was that it seemed cheap and typical of what they expected from Christians today. With eyes of faith, I was able to see that the hearts of people attending and involved with CityFest are trying to do what is right, and I know that for some people it helped them. However, I am concerned that it overall did not portray God’s kingdom, but rather American culture with a Jesus label.

That said, my immediate concern is not the modern confusion of Christianity with culture, but how Christians, by refusing to enter into partnerships with the world, can avoid being linked to what happened to Mr. A. We need to be the alternative to the world’s system instead of embodying the world’s system with a big smiley Jesus fish on the bumper.

]]> Comment on Unequally yoked: the saga of Luis Palau’s Portland CityFest, Portland’s Project Homeless Connect, and the treatment of homeless Mr. A, Part I by Norm http://thegrateful.org/2008/08/25/unequally-yoked-the-saga-of-luis-palaus-portland-cityfest-portlands-project-homeless-connect-and-the-treatment-of-homeless-mr-a-part-i/#comment-10 Norm Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:17:05 +0000 http://thegrateful.org/?p=108#comment-10 Let it go Bro they will be fine, don't go on a crusade against Christian Lite folks. Let it go Bro they will be fine, don’t go on a crusade against Christian Lite folks.

]]> Comment on Waive your right to be upset by Mike http://thegrateful.org/2008/07/29/waive-your-right-to-be-upset/#comment-3 Mike Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:25:45 +0000 http://thegrateful.org/?p=19#comment-3 Thank you. It's just a thought, not to be taken as a hard-and-fast rule. I have been guilty of the simplistic approach many times. It's funny how when you are in the situation you begin to see another angle on it. Thank you. It’s just a thought, not to be taken as a hard-and-fast rule. I have been guilty of the simplistic approach many times. It’s funny how when you are in the situation you begin to see another angle on it.

]]> Comment on Waive your right to be upset by Adam http://thegrateful.org/2008/07/29/waive-your-right-to-be-upset/#comment-2 Adam Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:33:28 +0000 http://thegrateful.org/?p=19#comment-2 Some thought-provoking, challenging words. Some thought-provoking, challenging words.

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