What an encouraging post. I've thought at times that I was imagining the human futility of pastoring while remaining utterly committed to an unending, impossible calling. I'm glad the insanity is hereby deemed to be sanctified!
Excellent. Thanks for going deep (on dry land?) with your readers.
Didn't mean to be rude. Michael's a big boy and can hold his own pretty well. Some things (beliefs) have to be torn down before other things (enlightenment) can be built up. Half of what Jesus said to people would not be tolerated in today's PC culture. He called Peter Satan. He called the Pharisees snakes and thieves and ruined their temple business when he threw over their tables. Sometimes error has to be eradicated before the soil can be turned over and prepared for the seed of truth. Just sayin.....
I find him refreshing also, I just don't believe that by challenging what he says that he's being treated unfairly. I usually seek to match the tone of his posts and sometimes I turn it up a notch to get him to think. I think there are two extremes to avoid: passivity/political correctness and loveless/lambasting. I'm pretty direct but I would humbly say that I've always sought to equip Michael with objective truth to consider about our faith in Christ.
It's funny but Michael has never really told me that I've ever treated him unfairly - it's always "the brethren" in here. The nugget of gold comment was made tongue in cheek as indicated by smiley face I put in there. He seem to take it as good natured joking because his reply also had a smiley face. I promise you that I don't take things personally. I would really challenge you to read my posts and see if I ever am in defense of myself; I only defend my right to say what I think is right, but most of my comments are objective as I seek to provoke Michael to consider a deeper look at the Christian faith. I hope that helps you know where I'm coming from.
What would you base your cool guy theory upon?
I'm unsure I've ever said or done anything that would classify me as such in this blog comments section.
You are spot on when you say we would rather give mercy than receive it. We approach justice and mercy out of balance as humans. Having said that, God never sacrificed His justice on the altar of His love. He can be judicially righteous at the same time as being abundantly merciful. There is no contradiction between these two components of God, therefore they can potentially coexist also in the lives of His children.
Agreed. But when I risk telling you what I'm thinking you occasionally accuse me of doing something wrong by airing what I'm thinking.
GO, MICHAEL!!!! I sense humanity. I told you I would thumbs up you when I agreed with soemthing you said and so I'm keeping my word. Thanks for dropping the guard.
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Brainchild