BibleDude.net - Latest Comments

Re: moving versus resting

mandythompson — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:22:07 -0000

It's all a matter of balance, and when we understand that, we are freed up to vacillate between moving and resting. Just get started, Jennifer. You'll find your groove! :)

Re: be authentic, for the love of God.

christinameyer — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:05:26 -0000

Thank you for this, Cara! I was just thinking about this very thing on my way into work today. We are all a part of His story. God has compassion on us because He knows every little detail of our lives and of our hearts. We as human beings could never fully understand each other, but with the comfort we have received from Him we are then able to comfort one another. He knew trouble would come in this life. That is why we need His saving grace! To leave out the full story in a sugar-coated way leaves out the reality of what He came to do, it leaves out the contrast of how He has overcome this world we live in.

Through being redeemed, we are instruments in The Redeemer's hands. Helping bring hope and healing to one another through glorifying Him.

Those who are gifted with words have a great responsibility and honor to bring truth.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(John 1:1 ESV)

“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.” -C.S. Lewis

Re: moving versus resting

Jennifer Camp — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:48:18 -0000

Mandy, I am so grateful for this post! I am prone towards moving, rather than resting, and I love your wIsdom regarding being intentional about developIng rhythm for both. Just get started--yes. Thank you!

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

Nikole Hahn — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:52:52 -0000

Jim Elliot...stabbed with a spear..>Sorry...lol. They had loaded guns and could have defended themselves, but Jim chose to die.

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

Nikole Hahn — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:51:01 -0000

Mckmon49...if there's anything I can pray for for you...let me know. nikolehahn@thehahnhuntinglodge.com

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

Nikole Hahn — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:50:06 -0000

You should read, "If God is Good," by Randy Alcorn. I think he does a great job of thoroughly explaining it. If all the bad things didn't happen in my life (some brought on by me and some I didn't ask for), I wouldn't have learned or grown. I reviewed a book by Nonna Bannister (The Secret Holocaust Diaries) and her son said of her how compassionate and strong she was during her life. She was realist, but she also exhibited so much grace and love. Because of all that the Russians and the Germans had done to her family--completely wiped them out--when she was just a small child, she allowed God to redeem her pain thereby making her more like Christ everyday. He'll redeem our pain. There is sin in the world, but if we look at how God uses those bad situations we can see what He did with them--the good that came out of it--in ourselves and how our attitudes influenced others. For instance, the death of a child in Phoenix because someone shot a gun in the air and the bullet traveled a great distance killing the child created a new law that the NRA supported to make that illegal and to prosecute people. Did you ever think about how those raped women never got justice in other generations, but yet because of the women who fought they managed to change the next generation by bringing to light how degrading the laws were and inefficient they were at protecting women. Sin is in the world. There's no doubt about it. But this is not our home. Look at John Livingstone...because of what he did missionaries could bring the Word of God to tribes that had never heard of the Bible. Or Jim Elliot who allowed himself to be shot and those actions brought a tribe who had never heard of the bible to know God and his actions influenced a muslim man in Africa to be changed. There is comfort in His promises.

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

Mckmon49 — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:57:19 -0000

I struggle with why bad things happen to the innocent. Some situations we bring on ourselves, but what do you say to the innocent who have done nothing wrong...what do you say to the six-year-old who was beaten and starved to death by his parents? Why are the innocent, the ones who can't fight back, why doesn't God protect them, why does He allow it to happen?

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

Nikole Hahn — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:06:43 -0000

Thank you. Amen! It's a great book.

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

Sharon Hoover — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:09:59 -0000

I love the quote from Randy Alcorn! Your response to this question is wonderfully crafted. When asked this question, I also highlight the matters of choice. Much of the pain and "bad things" we suffer come from poor choices that we or others around us make. We live in a broken world...waiting for the Lord's gracious return!

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

Nikole Hahn — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:34:24 -0000

LOL. Definitely.

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

David Rupert — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:55:14 -0000

"It's easier to accuse God than it is to look in the mirror" is a powerful statement. Although God doesnt punish me (often) for my misdeeds, I often set the wheels in motion for a big pile up at the end. Driving too fast, without a map or enough gas. Recipe for disaster.

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

Nikole Hahn — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:10:31 -0000

You're welcome. :o)

Re: why do bad things happen to good people?

mandythompson — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:40:45 -0000

This is my greatest question. Thank you for handling it so delicately, Nikole.

Re: words that bring division

Andy Carlson — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:16:32 -0000

Oops...I left one word out....a word that now as the mention bring cringe, disdain, what does that mean, are you "one of those"...the word?......CHRISTIAN

Re: words that bring division

Andy Carlson — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:21:43 -0000

In this current time words that to me bring division can be: "traditional church"; Episcopalian, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Southern Baptist, independent, non denominational, as well as those you exampled Mark. The mere connection with what "was" is self imposed (or group imposed) divisions. The idea of "traditional" is in itself isolating and frequently demoralizing. I think that because we no longer have a central unifying faith path that shows us a common link...we are self destructing from within. We have spent so much time hyper-focused on the newest Christian "latest and greatest movement" or "sins of others or society" of the day month or year or season of time..the perception and implication has been...if you are not "part of the movement" then you can't possibly be Christian. We have lost the practical demonstrations of "the love God, as we love Others" even in our differences. We do not have the ability to share or to participate with those that are different that us (even if we see" them" as outside our particular faith traditions). We have self isolated into our own peer group for self identification (and protection). As our churches take on the appearance of being focused on the strengths of one person (the" church leader's" personality) rather than the depth of character nurtured and grown within the whole body of the faithful (intentionally did not say "body of believers")...the church has become "man focused" (idolatry?) rather that the person and character of the Trinity focused. The "spiritual men of the day" (for the most part) have let us down or lead us astray in their own personal failings. The "church" has become a "buzz word" itself nearly without form or function...a mere shadow to the world which we no longer have a dominate place in. It is of no surprise that we are
compartmentalized, categorized, and defined by our self identity outside the framework of God's amazing love. I think that is call self righteous identification?

Re: giving away mother’s day

Crystal Rowe — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:01:07 -0000

Thanks Mandy. Mother's Day is tough for so many people ... and I think all too often we use it as an excuse to be selfish and overlook the ones that are hurting. While I think it's important to celebrate our own blessings and take time to spend it with the ones we love, I think it's equally important to remember people who, like you, find the day to be incredibly painful.

As I hold my little one close, I'll keep you in my prayers. Prayers for peace. And remember ... it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of you - your most important identity is simple: beloved child of God!

Re: giving away mother’s day

mandythompson — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:34:53 -0000

This is beautiful, Crystal. And such a refreshing perspective on mother's day. I was just dreading mother's day last night... The Sunday hasn't been easy for me in about 5 years, after we started trying to have a family. It's a long story, but here we still are feeling like parents without kids and are highly disappointed in our current adoption circumstances... And I will get up in front of our church and lead worship and wonder if they're all thinking some version of what I'm thinking: we should've been parents by now.

Re: [the 7 project] month three: possessions

Dave Smith — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:52:13 -0000

Killing two birds with one stone, I made my kids learn how to use a spreadsheet by cataloging what they found in their closet. Both illuminating spiritually and technically educational. When you actually attach dollar signs to everything and think about what that money could have done for someone else, you simply have to be moved.
--
Dave Smith

Re: [the 7 project] month one: food

Thankfull — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:47:27 -0000

Tons to think about, great post.

--Jim

Re: [the 7 project] month three: possessions

Deirdre — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:21:07 -0000

I agree Tessy. It's humbling I think to look into the person's eyes and hear the "thank you"

Re: [the 7 project] month three: possessions

Tessy — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:06:07 -0000

Not sure if I was ready for the lesson God is teaching me. The challenge to not just get rid of stuff but make it personal and actually minister has left me a bit paralyzed. I can get rid of stuff -- but to make it personal - that is a different story.

Re: [the 7 project] month three: possessions

Tessy — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:04:20 -0000

Yes, we are in the season where all the little towns around here are having their area wide yard sales. I enjoy going but like you... it seems crazy to add to when your trying to get rid of....

Re: do you give?

Andy Carlson — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:09:06 -0000

Thanks....good and practical......

Re: church = life together?

Crystal Rowe — Sun, 06 May 2012 21:40:26 -0000

Nikole - great points! I totally agree that budgets are necessary ... and so is programming. I guess what I struggle with the most is when that becomes the number one priority rather than community between people. Having said that ... I think you hit the nail on the head where we are each responsible for making community happen. If we don't allow ourselves to open up and begin conversation, we will probably never find community.

Re: church = life together?

Crystal Rowe — Sun, 06 May 2012 21:38:12 -0000

David - there IS something different about our church friends, isn't there? I can never put my finger on it ... but I guess community in Christ is very different than other community. Thanks so much for stopping by!