Hopefully, the video is working on my site so you don't have to go searching for it. It had been 5 years since I last heard this song; then iTunes pulled it randomly from my collection. I then listened to it about 10 times.

Thanks for the visit.

"He gives more grace" It is good to hear your encouraging words. Thanks for sharing.

"After the fact"...this is so true for me as well. Between the shifting expectations and the emotional soup, I am often lost to the true purpose or meaning of the hard decision. Perhaps this is why David says "weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5 (NIV) Thanks for your insight.

I look forward to your Jam Sessions every week so I can learn a bit from everyone else. Thank you for the feedback. Yes, I have done a fair amount of teaching/speaking over the years. Mostly small group or classroom settings, but I enjoy it none the less.

I am very late to this discussion, but maybe another 2 cents will be tolerated:
Perhaps there is some confusion in the definitions of "Doctrine". If we understand doctrine to be a list of man's understands and perceptions of God then they are truly subject to variability, interpretation and abuse. If, however, we understand doctrine as a statement of truth FROM God's Own Word, then we greatly reduce the amount of confusion and personal bias that otherwise enters in.
If God says He is jealous and I don't like that, I can chose to reject His statement or admit my own ignorance and ask God to teach me what He means. The same is true when God says He is Love. I can still choose to reject or accept, but I reject or accept what He says, not what some man says about Him.
The bottom line is this: a doctrine is not what I say about God, it is what He says about Himself - in His Word.
Ironically, that is my opinion on the matter :)
My recent post Chicken or Egg

Sue - "factions within that tend to espouse doctrine as if it was the absolute truth. "
Maybe I misunderstand your point, but isn't that what we as Christians are supposed to believe...that there are certain doctrines (from the Bible) that are absolutely true. Without these tenants of faith, we are left to discover a variety of 'truth' and, by definition, that cannot be truth.
Example: Doctrinal statement - "Jesus is the one and only Son of God" If that is not absolutely true, then you cannot have a discussion on the way of obtaining salvation.
Are you suggesting that there are no absolute truths - even in Scripture?
My recent post Chicken or Egg

I can completely resonant with this post. Isolation is safe. Being an island is comfortable. Maintaining an appearance of spirituality is gratifying. It just isn't very Biblical. Even Paul admits the challenges he has with his spiritual walk (Romans 7:15-25). He refers to himself as 'a wretched man'. In truth, the transparency liberates and gives reality to an otherwise stale faith. Thanks for the reminder!
My recent post Chicken or Egg

It is amazing to me, as well, how many times I can read through a passage and miss a point that should have been noticed before. I love to read how so many people can take this subject of Faith, come at it from so many ways and still end up with the same conclusion - I need more faith and less me! Thank you for your encouragement and your blog!

I like the thought of intertwining of our Faith and Personality. That really is the goal. Thanks for your insight.

I love your #6. It is hard to Rejoice in the midst of the trial but in time, there is enough healing or growth to allow for this very important part of our relationship with our Father. Thank you for your insight.