Hey, Where is everybody?

[Cribstyl]

Raptured or Laid off?

 

[JonMiller]

I work. Most the threads here are about the sabbath or the law and are uninteresting to me.

JM

 

[Cribstyl]

I work. Most the threads here are about the sabbath or the law and are uninteresting to me.

JM

I understand. Stay encouraged in the word and by the hope that is given to us.


In brotherhood

CRIB

 

[Byfaithalone1]

I work. Most the threads here are about the sabbath or the law and are uninteresting to me.

I'm ready for a different topic. Any ideas?

BFA

 

[JonMiller]

Marriage, and Christianity and denominiation (SDAism in particular)?

Video games, movies, music, and other aspects of culture?

Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs?

Sex: premarital, marital, and extramarital?

Science, evolution, and Christianity?

Secularism and SDAism?

JM

 

[AzA]

I work. Most the threads here are about the sabbath or the law and are uninteresting to me.

I second that.

I'm ready for a different topic. Any ideas?

1. If you were asked to oversee development of an 80-year strategic plan for the Christian Church -- 2009-2089 -- what would you want in there? What would you not want in there?

2. Anybody seen _Fireproof_? Comments?

3. You're interested in community service and are linked up with a church group that feeds homeless people in your city. You talk to the director and she tells you that "We've learned to only feed them after we do the Bible study; otherwise they might not stay." How do you respond to her, and why?

4. What is heaven to you? A place you might go later? A state you might experience later? A state you might experience now? How would you describe it to a nonreligious adult? Does that differ from how you would describe it a small child from a Christian home?

5. There's going to be a multi-religious convention in your nearest big city with representatives from Islam, Catholicism, the Anglican/Episcopalian fellowships, Presbyterianism, Judaism, Methodism, Buddhism, native American tribes, and neopagan groups. And Bishop Spong. Does the line-up give you the willies? What if it were a conference on public science? How about if it were a conference on civil liberties? Why or why not -- and (if you are still an Adventist member) would you encourage the SDA church to send a representative of their own?

I'll throw these in the hat while I think of some more.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

Marriage

I'm married. I support it.

Christianity

I am a Christian.

denominiation

I am not as committed to the idea of "denominationalism" as I once was. I simply do not have a passion for being accountable to a central denomination (though I certainly understand why accountability can be desirable).

Video games

We just bought a wii, but I'm not very good at it yet.

movies,

I love movies of all types, though I've been spending much of my time watching cartoons lately (my kids are 3 and 7).

music,

I love music of all types. My iPOD is filled with many different genres of music.

Alcohol

I consume alcohol on rare occasions (1-2 drinks per year). I've found no Biblical mandate prohibiting consumption of alcohol in moderation. I don't see myself as being better than anyone else because of my stance on alcohol consumption.

tobacco

I do not smoke. I don't see myself as being better than anyone else because of my stance on tobacco consumption.

and drugs?

I rarely take prescription drugs for health reasons. I take nothing else. I don't see myself as better than anyone else because of my stance on drugs.

Sex: premarital, marital, and extramarital?

I'm in favor of sex and praise God for it. I believe that God intended sex for marriage. I also believe there is forgiveness for those who have gone against God's plan.

1. If you were asked to oversee development of an 80-year strategic plan for the Christian Church -- 2009-2089 -- what would you want in there?

1. More emphasis on building relationships between people and less emphasis on creating and promoting a product.
2. More Jesus, less religion.
3. More instruction regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ and fewer self-help books and sermons.
4. A form of Christianity that is more fully integrated into the culture and that is less a segmented subculture.
5. More emphasis on that which God has done and is doing and less emphasis on that which Christians do.

2. Anybody seen _Fireproof_? Comments?

I haven't, but I've received several recommendations from people I trust. I've heard that the acting is not so great, but that there is a worthwhile message.

3. You're interested in community service and are linked up with a church group that feeds homeless people in your city. You talk to the director and she tells you that "We've learned to only feed them after we do the Bible study; otherwise they might not stay." How do you respond to her, and why?

Jesus addressed people's temporal needs before addressing their spiritual needs. That's what I wish I could do better.

4. What is heaven to you? A place you might go later? A state you might experience later? A state you might experience now? How would you describe it to a nonreligious adult? Does that differ from how you would describe it a small child from a Christian home?

It's a great question. Although I do not believe that Heaven is something that I have experienced, I do believe that God blesses His people in the here and now. I am immensely better off for having known Jesus Christ. Therefore, I would that connection even if there was no Heaven.

5. There's going to be a multi-religious convention in your nearest big city with representatives from Islam, Catholicism, the Anglican/Episcopalian fellowships, Presbyterianism, Judaism, Methodism, Buddhism, native American tribes, and neopagan groups. And Bishop Spong. Does the line-up give you the willies? What if it were a conference on public science? How about if it were a conference on civil liberties? Why or why not?

No. It would not give me the willies. I would wonder, however, what might actually be accomplished.

BFA

 

[Cribstyl]

3. You're interested in community service and are linked up with a church group that feeds homeless people in your city. You talk to the director and she tells you that "We've learned to only feed them after we do the Bible study; otherwise they might not stay." How do you respond to her, and why?

Some programs just want to feed, they're too busy. Without love the people wont stay or change their lives but they'll take whatever help they're given.
I'd tell her,
We need a way to show love to these people, that they may want to trust us with more of their time. Her approach may be the best for now because you're new on the scene.

Pray that God can use you in the mix, to help some people break the cycle and change their lives arround.

CRIB

 

[JonMiller]

I wasn't looking for single sentence statements. I was suggesting a thread (or many) with discussion on the subjects from many points of view, preferably with many sentences written.

JM

 

[AzA]

1. More emphasis on building relationships between people and less emphasis on creating and promoting a product.
2. More Jesus, less religion.
3. More instruction regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ and fewer self-help books and sermons.
4. A form of Christianity that is more fully integrated into the culture and that is less a segmented subculture.
5. More emphasis on that which God has done and is doing and less emphasis on that which Christians do.

In light of strategic plan point #1, I was a little surprised by your comment about "what would be accomplished" at the convention. How about respectful association as an outcome? I don't often think I have to accomplish something when I hang out with people.

I haven't, but I've received several recommendations from people I trust. I've heard that the acting is not so great, but that there is a worthwhile message.

Yah, not so great -- I mean :snort: Kirk Cameron is in it. The guts of it is what they've spun into their supplementary materials, so I think anyone who connects with those should understand the "worthwhile" bit. The movie itself is not subtle at all (whether that's a good thing or not will depend on your taste).
I thought the recent Jakes-funded movie, Not Easily Broken, did a better job of handling similar issues.

Some programs just want to feed, they're too busy. Without love the people wont stay or change their lives but they'll take whatever help they're given.
I'd tell her,
We need a way to show love to these people, that they may want to trust us with more of their time. Her approach may be the best for now because you're new on the scene.

Pray that God can use you in the mix, to help some people break the cycle and change their lives arround.

CRIB

That was kind, Crib. Thanks for contributing.

 

[Restin]

Raptured or Laid off?

Raptured.....isn't that the right direction?

 

[AzA]

Raptured.....isn't that the right direction?

Not in my book. God wasn't lost when he put us here.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

I wasn't looking for single sentence statements. I was suggesting a thread (or many) with discussion on the subjects from many points of view, preferably with many sentences written.

JM

Sounds good to me. If you start the thread, they will come!

BFA

 

[Byfaithalone1]

In light of strategic plan point #1, I was a little surprised by your comment about "what would be accomplished" at the convention. How about respectful association as an outcome? I don't often think I have to accomplish something when I hang out with people.

The bolded phrase is the source of my skepticism. If there could truly be respectful association, then I would agree that the event might be worthwhile.

BFA

 

[Cribstyl]

Not in my book. God wasn't lost when he put us here.

What does a "lost God" have to do with it??? When man sinned and violate a Holy place. Somebody has to move out??

 

[AzA]

What does a "lost God" have to do with it??? When man sinned and violate a Holy place. Somebody has to move out??

Say that again for me another way. Not sure I'm catching it.

That man was fitted for Earth and Earth for man is a valid conclusion based on the evidence we have.

 

[AzA]

The bolded phrase is the source of my skepticism. If there could truly be respectful association, then I would agree that the event might be worthwhile.

Ok, cool.

What would you propose as a good basis for that kind of association?

 

[Byfaithalone1]

Ok, cool.

What would you propose as a good basis for that kind of association?

It's a great question. Smarter minds than mine have struggled to find the right answer. Sadly, history includes centuries of animosity. Although I agree that dialogue is the right place to start, I wonder how one could create respectful association that does not lead to the same pattern of conflict that we've seen to this point. Sure wish I had the answer to that!

BFA

 

[Cribstyl]

Say that again for me another way. Not sure I'm catching it.

That man was fitted for Earth and Earth for man is a valid conclusion based on the evidence we have.

Crib said: Where is everybody...."raptured or laid off"

Restin said....."raptured....isn't that the right direction? "....

AZa said ...... "Not in my book. God wasn't lost when he put us here. "

Crib said; "*What does a "lost God" have to do with it??? "
When man sinned and violate a Holy place. Somebody has to move out??
*(what do you mean by God wasn't lost)

Aza said: "Say that again for me another way. Not sure I'm catching it. "
That man was fitted for Earth and Earth for man is a valid conclusion based on the evidence we have.

Crib now saying: I'm guessing that you might be saying that man will not rapture anywhere but to this renewed planet earth.

correct me.

CRIB

 

[sentipente]

A few great threads were proposed. What about separating them out into different threads?