Posted | Thursday, February 20, 2003 | by Ron
I didn't go to our "discussion" this week. I needed to stay home with sick girls.

I talked to one of the memebers about how she thought it went. She said there was quite a discussion about fundmentalist. How those in the discussion had much the same opinion.

I wonder if the the dicussion I so desire to be a part of, I am an interuption to. I wonder if members of the group find it easyer to be honest when the "chief pharisee" isn't there.

I talk the talk. I've learned how to "put on the dog" in such a big way ... that I wonder if I'm even capable of an honest converstion.

How do we enable honest converstion and honor God at the same time.

I bet it has a lot to do with how I define "conversation" and what it means to "honor God".

I can't even attend a Sunday School class. It make me angery to look in the mirror. To hear people say stuff that deep in my heart I hate, but I've said my self ...

Is it really up to me.

Is it really "them" and "us" ... the sinners and the saints.

I'd rather be branded as a sinner ... I don't want anything to do with the pointed finger I was raised to point ... and I do it well. Even w/o saying a word. How is it that I can't talk to someone about God without having to point out that "I'm right, your wrong".

My desire is to get to know God together. I like how that sounds. I don't know that I completely know what it means. I do know what it dosent' mean.

The "good" descipling the "new" Christian.
Winning a Sunday School argument.
Being chainned a list of scriptures that someone calls the Roman Road.
Winning souls ... yes, we know, we know ... that's Gods work! ... then why are we asked to "stand up" if we've won someone to the Lord!
... I see, it's really not a grace thing at all. It's how good we can close the deal ... how many we can convence that Sunday morning and the suit and tie is the way to be holy.

I'm so conditioned with this stuff I can even be in the conversation.

How can I be in the conversation?

Posted | Tuesday, February 11, 2003 | by Ron
Today at Work

I'm going to try to stay out of a "Bible Discussion" that will pose the following questions:

What's it mean to be Christian?

What things have happened/changed in your life that only God can take credit for?

What are the challenges that only God can provide for?

Posted | Friday, February 07, 2003 | by Ron
Postmodern ... Great, another buzz 'ard.
Check this out. This may take some consideration.

Ginkworld: 2. How do you define and practice evangelism in a postmodern culture?

Hohstadt: The evangelism of the POST-postmodern future will be more:
• organic (part of life itself) and less institutional or programmed,
• personal and less doctrinal,
• grace-filled and less sin-dominated,
• a triumph of the Spirit and less a triumph of man,
• motivated by joy and less by fear,
• a community dynamic and less individualistic,
• motivated by the heart and less by propositions or formulas,
• validated by experience and less by knowledge,
• open to multiple points of entry and less restricted to certain times and places,
• helpful to multiple stages of growth and less a one-time event,
• art and less rhetoric,
• listening and less talking,
• modeling and less teaching,
• cross-cultural and less cultural.

The above was completely and shamlessly stollen from this link | Entire Story

Organic ... hum. Organic. Don't know if I'd use the word organic but I like where he's headed.

Posted | Friday, February 07, 2003 | by Ron
Getting to Know God ... Together.

Getting to know God in Canton Ohio has look like this.

-- Watching my 15 year old walk out the door on her first date.
-- Trying to suck 1 more month out of our 1990 Astro Van ... 213K ... and counting.
-- Stepping into some new lives at work.
-- Stepping out of others in my personal world.
-- Paying the last of 8 years of a business debt.
-- Deciding, I like being a web developer ... sticking with it for another few years.
-- Growing where I've been planted
-- Not Sleeping.
-- Feeling Guilt.
-- Feeling the war.
-- Realizing that even as I type someone is on the front lines in my behalf.
-- Knowing Gods realness.
-- Hoping again.
-- Realizing how "Contrived" I really am.
-- Dealing with it.
-- Being honest.
-- Learning how to fight and Love someone all at the same time.
-- Gutting the 3rd floor of a 1907 house.
-- Rediscovering old friends
-- Loving Music again.
-- Wondering about 3 men who are still on the Space Station ... How will we get them home safely.

Posted | Friday, February 07, 2003 | by Ron
I know a Stripper!

His name is Eric. He has a blog of his own, you should check it out. No pictures but the text is so graphic, I don't think images are required.

You may think he's a sick puppy ... At time's I think so too.

One thing is for certain. Reading his blog could really give you a "new perspective" on life. Check out his wednesday, february 5  entry named: "More Reality..."
Click here for Eric the Stripper

Posted | Monday, February 03, 2003 | by Ron
I'm from Mars ...

I think I'm from mars. I don't have any desire to clap at the end of someones solo at church. I don't think praise and worship is a style of music. I don't think communion is a ritual. I don't take it when it's treated like one. I believe I will be held accountable for it, if I did. I don't have scripture in my cube at work. I like skaters. I like old people who complain alot ... and in the midst of their pointed finger, smile and give them a hug ... and be there when they realize what just happened. I think christian punk music has some of the deepest lyric since some of the old hymns. I like some old hymns, I love the people who sing them with tears in their eyes ... because they depend on God's "Amazing Grace" (not because they sang it at Uncle Ralphs funeral and the words make them feel fuzzy). Some of my best friends smoke, drink and call me really bad names ... and they are still my friends. And some of them would lay their lives down for me. I let my kids stay up late on school nights ... sometimes ... I like it when things are all organized and then God comes and whoever is in charge is really uncomfortable ... and then they realize they aren't going to get to preach "their Message" ... and they just give it up ... and we get to hang out with God. And God's people tell about how they need Him. And they meet God's provision. People really pray together ... And people who think there's not a God get to see God, and get to be God's people too. I don't think music is a spiritual gift. I do music with all my heart. I play my keyboard for hours. No one around to tell me "your not allowed to use those cords together" ... It's not a gift ... it's a priviledge. I play for the master ... on an old Fender Rhodes that smells like a broom closet and a Korg 01/W ... And it's 2am. And sometimes just because it's fun ... and other times because I know God is listening.

I hope God can use people from Mars.

From the depts of my heart I want to know I'm in step with His Spirit. I want ears that will hear and eyes that will see. I want to share in his suffering ... maybe I am ... maybe I'm a baby ... and someday share in His glory.