I saved one life tonight. Ashlyn 9 years old
Production Solutions Executive for Xerox. Or as I like to call myself...Corporate Missionary. Baytown, TX (Houston area)
Nothing wrong with liking it. Maybe something wrong with telling us.
Marcus, I hope you don't get flamed either. When you say,"'Christians'... are notorious for stirring up ruckus, being ugly to each other and other people, being judgmental, and being hypocrites.", I would only add "People" are notorious for stirring up ruckus, being ugly to each other and other people, being judgmental, and being hypocrites. It's true, Christians should be delivered from that type of behavior, and I believe we are delivered from that life according to 2 Peter 1:3. But sometimes it takes a while for the Spirit to work that reality into our life. I also believe there are all kind of labels that carry negative associations. For example, I'm a salesman by trade. You don't think that has some negative connotations? What about lawyer? Or BP executive? Or SUV owner? Or pastor? And the real point is that even if we don't label ourselves, other people will. When Anne Rice tells someone that she is "committed to Christ" they may say, "oh, you're a Christian?" Names, labels, semantics. The great things is that we get told quite often in the New Testament that people will call us crazy among other things simply because we honestly and sincerely follow Jesus. So, I try not to worry about it and just keep following Jesus. I mean hey, they called him quite a few things, and even killed him. be encouraged. Keep following Jesus.
Books are very contextual, or seasonal, in relation to our lives. The degree to which we are deeply affected by a book depends on where we are in life at that particular time. Books do not stand alone when we read them. They become attached to the simultaneous station in our life, much like a song. Many times, when Jon references a classic 80s song your mind immediately races back to a concrete place and time. I have those same associations with books. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster was very influential to my formation in Christ.
I thank God for Grant Byrd.
fish, eat, talk, pray. or just go to Vegas and get filthy rich!