Comments for dancing cripples

Comment on Is Burning Korans Radical Enough? by Scott W

Scott W — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:37:20 +0000

I love this. I remember the service I attended in the evening of Sept 11 2001. The pastor wisely and carefully said a similar thing: if Jesus is enough for me, then it is proof that he can be enough for Osama bin Laden- we don’t pray for his demise but for his rescue. I love this and love terrorists because of the love Jesus has for them. Great post. Thanks Dan.

Comment on Prayer Passion #3 — Presence of Jesus by gracehill2

gracehill2 — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:31:29 +0000

Love this topic as I participate in 21 days of prayer. I am studying “Practice the Presence of God” by Bro. Lawrence. On Sunday you reminded us of God referring to His church as a house of prayer. What would happen if for 1 month for 1 hour on Sunday I came to church for just prayer and practice His presence? Would I be disappointed, bored or feeling like I “got nothing” out of the service? Very sobering.

Comment on Prayer Passion #2 by Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:29:06 +0000

I think a large issue is that people have a misguided view of prayer. It’s one of the things that I think faith traditions like Orthodoxy have right. So many of the Orthodox prayers are less about the person praying and more about the God to whom they pray.

In my life I’m incredibly guilty of self-centered prayer. When I sit down and think about it I realize that aside from praying over my food the vast majority of my prayers are “God, please [verb]…” Very few of my prayers are “God, you are [adjective]”

More adjectival prayer and less verbal prayer: that’s the key.

Comment on Glenn Beck’s Divine Destiny by olga

olga — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:42:22 +0000

I agree with you but want to say one thing in Becks defense.
I might be wrong but Beck is the only person in the media (liberal and conservative) who talks openly about Jesus, faith and the power of prayers. He is not afraid to “offend” anyone by saying Jesus name.

Comment on Glenn Beck’s Divine Destiny by Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:10:47 +0000

I’m glad that you’re writing these things, Dan. I still remember the “I’m sorry for being too political” sermon, but this needs to be said more often. I think it’s vitally important for Christians to be engaged in the political discussion, but not to the detriment of theology.

Your 4th point is hard for many Americans, I think. Loving our country is something inherently ingrained in our psyche. Many of us pledged allegiance to the flag long before we pledged allegiance to Christ. I think that’s why Glenn Beck’s message is so loved by so many Christians. It gives people an opportunity to love their country and (theoretically) love their God.

Of course, as you mentioned, many folks have their priorities backwards.

Comment on Glenn Beck’s Divine Destiny by Doug Sloey

Doug Sloey — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:56:57 +0000

Dan, thanks so much for sharing this! As a Christian, my citizenship is elsewhere. While I still often think and act like an American(please forgive me), I am now a citizen of heaven. I enjoy Glenn Beck for his entertainment value. But recognizing that “I’m not from here”, I dont believe that we have a dog in this political fight anymore. We cant “take America back” anymore than we are able to save a soul. I realize now that Im not an American who is Christian… I am a Christian who happens to live in America.

Comment on Glenn Beck’s Divine Destiny by Chad Oberholtzer

Chad Oberholtzer — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:06:18 +0000

Thanks for sharing, Dan. This post is one of the many reasons that I’m glad to have you as my pastor and boss…

Blessings,
Chad O.

Comment on Prayer Passion by Faith McDonald

Faith McDonald — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:29:03 +0000

I have a deep interest in prayer. And am looking forward to more blog posts on this topic. I am also interested in learning more about the 21 days of prayer for PSU.

One of my recent struggles regarding prayer is the following: In 2005 one of my all-time-favorite students came to my office to say Good-bye–he was graduating. As we talked about his experience at PSU, he revealed that he had come to PSU a Christian, but had lost his belief. He had become an empty atheist. He was almost as sad about it as I. But he said, matter of factly, that just how it was.

I mentioned that my son would be coming to PSU in the Fall and that I hoped the same thing didn’t happen to him. My student assured me that it would. I mentioned that I REALLY hoped not and I would be praying that it didn’t. The student said, “If prayer’s all you’ve got, you don’t have enough.”

Turns out, my son’s experience at PSU was disastrous. He got into partying, failed out of college, has never claimed to have lost his Christianity, but it looks like he did.

I have grappled with this in prayer for the last few years. Sometimes I say (respectfully), “Lord, you’re going to come through for me, right? When I get to heaven, you’re not going to let Rob be there saying, ‘I told her prayer wasn’t enough.’”

I mean our faith reveals that prayer is enough. Even when it doesn’t look like it….

For me, it is a struggle not just of the mind but of the heart. Recently, however, I have been reading E.Stanley Jones on Christians and suffering. He writes on God’s delight in turning the worst into the best and through his writing God’s Spirit has infiltrated my heart with joyful anticipation and faith that He is working in Matt’s life…

But any human looking at Matt’s life right now would have to agree with Rob, “Prayer isn’t enough.”

Prayer is a mystery that I love to think about. I am looking forward to reading more of your blog posts on prayer.

Of course, the instant communication we are accustomed to seems to interfere with ability to wait for God’s answers to prayer…and just as soon as I think that God will answer a prayer the instant it forms in my mind!

Comment on What Would Jesus Say About the 911 Mosque? by Dan

Dan — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:54:42 +0000

Hmmm yeah Maryellen, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say that it’s unChristian to have an opinion. And the issue may be (I’m not sure I agree but may be) to complicated to be settled by merely (and again I think loving our neighbor is rarely a “merely” kind of thing) loving our neighbors…but I’m also quite positive that the issue is not so complicated that it negates Jesus call to “love our neighbors,” “love our enemies” “forgive those who abuse us” and “turn the other cheek”

I wholeheartedly agree that we should be out promoting Christ, and I believe that when we give grace, forgive, and speak of Jesus it is such a powerful message that around the world — not here in America, but around the world — it is causing Muslims to turn to Christ in unprecedented numbers.

I think you and I probably come at this issue from different perspectives — not different perspectives necessarily on what’s right — but different perspectives on what Christ is calling us to do and what will turn the hearts of Muslims to him.

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Comment on What Would Jesus Say About the 911 Mosque? by Maryellen Moen

Maryellen Moen — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:42:37 +0000

Although I absolutely agree that it is our duty as Christ-followers to respond as “peace-makers and mercy-givers and truth-lovers and servant-hearted neighbor-lovers” I think it is very wrong to assume that because one has an opinion that is not politically correct or might ruffle a few religious feathers that it also means we are not completely steeped in the love of Christ. I do not like the way many people are responding in the eye of the media spewing their biggoted fury and using their 15 minutes of fame to condemn fellow human beings whom they do not like for one reason or another, but I think it is very dangerous to assume that it is unChristian to have an opinion. Christians are called to love, yes, but they are also called to think and learn and use what they know about mankind and history to make accurate judgements and observations. There is nothing wrong in my eyes for a mother whose child burned to death 10 years ago to be vehemently opposed to a building being built that will daily remind her of the motives behind the crime. No, we shouldn’t stand there and scream hateful hurtful things to one another, that would be unChristian. But even Jesus took the time to check those whom he knew to be white-washed tombs. Jesus loves us all, and one day all this will pass away – all but his Word. But if you look closely at what some would call “interfaith dialog” and look for our faith, Christianity, you won’t find it. Although it may sound biggoted to say that, the literature speaks for itself. This issue is too complicated to be settled by merely loving our neighbor. Unless the Father draws the man, all the love in the world is merely the stench of death. Faith comes from hearing and what must be heard is the truth of Scripture. Again, although it might sound mean to say this, Islam is very much out there promoting their religion and their book the Qur’an and in my opinion unless we start doing the same many will be led astray, as Jesus himself has told us. So yes, let’s love our neighbors, but let’s also defend the broken hearted.