Posts Made By: James Brown

Russ Carroll said:

...and I don't mean that in the larger scheme of things, but here on these forums discussing spiritual things. I'm going into a 12-week cardio rehab and lifestyle change program and I really hope to use this time to re-connect with God and try and understand what activities I should be doing. This is a good time to step back and look at things like my participation here, which I enjoy for the most part.

One thing this is not is a ministry, which I had hoped it would be when I first entered this forum. I wanted to represent evangelical Christianity here in the hopes of softening some of the hard edges I saw in these forums. For the most part, I would say that I developed some hard edges along the way and didn't soften much of anything, This is no fault of my own or others, it's just human nature.

When you look at the pattern of human interactions that Jesus had with people for lessons learned, they fall into two categories: The first is responses to people that really didn't want His wisdom but asked cynical questions of Him to try and tear Him down. He ignored their actual questions and revealed deeper truths about man and God because He knew their hearts. I would have to say that most, if not all, of the debate here, at least from my perspective, fall into this category in the broadest of definition possible. When Clyde asks me questions, he is not really looking for knowledge as opposed to trying to impart knowledge. There is nothing wrong with that, but the fact is, his questions fall into this first category.

The second interaction that Jesus had with people were from people who genuinely wanted to be touched by the Master and sought Him out. Normally, this was motivated by a great need like having an incurable disease or a dying child. Jesus did not turn them away and met their immediate need; however, this was always accompanied by turning the focus back onto their greatest need, which is spiritual and specific to Jesus Himself as the Messiah. Only once in the entire time I've posted here have I sensed, again in the broadest possible definition, any real inquiry or sincere curiosity as it pertains to my own faith. I do the same thing, so I am not on my high-horse, but I would be deceiving myself if I characterized this forum differently. Interactions that matter, where true spiritual seeds can be planted, can only be arranged by God and happen without notice or coercion and can even go completely unnoticed. Helping meet another's need can be a great starting point for such an encounter.

In looking back to my pagan upbringing, one of the deepest seeds that I thing God put in my heart came from a cartoon. I remember feeling awe when I heard it and really didn't assess it at all. I am so grateful that Charles Shultz put himself out to have Linus explain the true meaning of Christmas to me as a child:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

Twenty or so years later, that seed grew to maturity and I became a Christian.

I realized the nature of this forum pretty early on but stayed anyway, in spite of leaving a few times. Why? For one thing, it's an important topic to me and I enjoy mental stimulation. I also like to understand the thinking of others on the topic. But aside from personal interest, I have and continue to get something extremely important here, and that is the training of what is and is not important in my own faith in regards to science. I have to coexist in both worlds, and my thinking has actually significantly changed here over time, not on substance but on essentials. Yo may not believe it, Clyde, but you have taught me many valuable lessons here that will be useful in God's ability to use me to advance His Kingdom if He sees fit to do so, so I thank you. I only wish it would be to your benefit.

When I was a fairly new Christian, I hired someone who was down on their luck and poured myself into him for months in the belief that he would see the light one day. I had to try and somewhat isolate him from his wife as she was an extremely immoral person and would hinder my work. After about 6 months, SHE was the one that became a Christian in spite of my best efforts to quarantine her. My best thinking still gets me into trouble.

Russ Carroll said:

One thing this is not is a ministry, which I had hoped it would be when I first entered this forum. I wanted to represent evangelical Christianity here in the hopes of softening some of the hard edges I saw in these forums. For the most part, I would say that I developed some hard edges along the way and didn't soften much of anything, This is no fault of my own or others, it's just human nature.

Steve Hollenbach said:

OK, I'm looking for all your coments as we obviously have both sides of the house and a wide spectrum of religious beliefs repersented here. Let's set all Political and Christian references off to one side or the other for a moment. Just simple answers for our our sense of clarity please...

First, I've always considered a protest to include writing to Congress or sitting in a lawn chair holding a sign that says something sucks. I thought an activist is someone who says; "Let's all go down to Central Park and do this protest together." I've never considered a "protest" to include riots, or burning anything, much less our flag.

Some questions:
In spite of what the courts have said; do you guys consider disrupting the funeral of anyone, much less a United States Marine, a protest or a severe breach of common decency? Anything in between?

In incidents like those at Servicemen's funerals, do you consider the media coverage to be irresponsible; working in favor of the Phelps's of the world?

As the courts have failed to stop this, how could we work within the law to solve this one particular problem and still grant the media freedom of the press, and the average citizen freedom to protest?

I hate to see anyone beat up, but it is very likely I too would have looked the other way in Mississippi. That's why I'm asking for some constructive method.

Thanks,
Steve
8)

John Agnew said:

Here is an American Bittern, doing what bitterns do best, hiding in the reeds and grasses. Taken at Anhinga Trail in Everglades NP, with a Sigma 70-300mm mounted on a Nikon D80.

Rob Wiederrich said:

I'm not one to follow conspiracy theories...but there must be some thing wired wrong in the mind of a left thinking liberal. Example #1 Only liberal democratic patients who visit my office ask me to change the office waiting room TV's channel from Fox to another channel..claiming the office is a public place and Fox is offensive. Example #2 Only liberal democratic patients who visit my office ask me to change the office radio station from Christian music to another channel....claiming the office is a public place and it is offensive.

Now...First, what is in the liberal Democratic mind that first leads them to think my office is a *Public* place? Because I treat them?
Second, what is in the liberal Democratic mind that permits them to assume I have to treat them in an evironment that is neutral or liberal to all things they find offensive?

I have never had to change channels for any conservative minded patient...ever!

Anyone have an answer?