Comments for I Pursue

Comment on Parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke: the Four Types of Soil and the Honest and Good Heart by kyle

kyle — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 05:43:46 +0000

I had never noticed the incremental degrees of penetration in each type of soil. Also, love that end quote!

Comment on A Response to Alain de Botton’s “Religion for Atheists” by Randy Mayeux

Randy Mayeux — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:29:21 +0000

But… what if, instead of pointing out the flaw(s) in Mr. de Botton’s thinking and approach, what if we realize that he is writing a simple truth, one that C. S. Lewis pointed to so very well in Mere Christianity (“right and wrong as a clue to the existence of God” –sorry; I don’t remember the precise wording. My copy is in storage, and not accessible).
This hunger he describes in his book, for the “offerings” of religion, are good and proper and noble in and of themselves. Maybe they do point to the true existence of God Who is behind such noble pursuits. But the offerings in and of themselves are noble and good, whether Mr. de Botton accepts the faith aspect or not. And I think he is describing the love feast in its true intent – a feast that would be good for all to experience, where needy human beings come together in acceptance and encouragement, whether they believe in the God and Jesus that we celebrate or not.
You can make the claim that it is available in churches across the land, but most gatherings are not all that diverse (the Sunday morning hour is still the most segregated of the week, as many have observed).
I believe his appeal that this practice, and other practices that flow out of faith and centuries of tradition, should find their way into our culture is a good thing.
Consider this blog post:
http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/want-to-build-a-better-corporate-culture-consider-the-rhythm-of-the-calendars-used-in-religion/

Comment on Book Review: “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by N. Vigil

N. Vigil — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:05:35 +0000

David, I’d love to get your thoughts on Metaxas’ speech at the national prayer breakfast. http://youtu.be/jotOExbddI4

Comment on A Response to Alain de Botton’s “Religion for Atheists” by Don

Don — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:59:08 +0000

Mr. De Botton proposes that, in his restaurant, our ordinary groups and ethnicities would be broken up and we would speak on predefined topics rather than our usual conversation. This proposed behavior in the restaurant is NOT reflective of daily life. This is the ANTITHESIS of a Christian love feast, where we come together as the high point of our day or our week. We come together already “all one in Christ” (Gal. 3:28), already outside of races and ranks by virtue of being in Christ. We also come together in the fellowship of Christ, the same fellowship we seek throughout the day and week, whether we share our high or low points. As Kyle says, the early church lived this way day by day.
Certainly Mr. De Botton has the liberty in our society to propose this but He has missed the central point of being a Christian – we have received Christ into us, God has put us into Christ, and Christ is becoming our all. This relationship is the basis for our love feasts. Praise Him!

Comment on A Response to Alain de Botton’s “Religion for Atheists” by kyle

kyle — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:13:22 +0000

Thank you David for this response. I read Alain’s recent WSJ op-ed and have read some of his other writings. While he is an excellent writer and in general can poetically elucidate many aspects of life, if you know what is at the heart of a love feast, an agape restaurant would be a farce. The Christian experience that is exemplified in love feasts, and the early church LIVED this way day by day and in all the homes of the believers, transcends social experience. It is of another class. I’m reminded of what someone once said, “The Bible is not one book of many on a shelf. It is deserving of its own shelf.” Without the reality within, any attempt at replicating this peculiar (Exo 19:5) community will be ineffectual. It’s like dogs discussing amongst themselves how to incorporate flight into their community based on spotting a bird in the sky. It may sound convincing but it just won’t work. They need a different life. Even if the dogs could manage to fly, they are still dogs. God doesn’t ask dogs to fly. He asks dogs to become birds. This is only possible in God’s salvation.

Comment on Book Review: “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by Beatriz

Beatriz — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:27:34 +0000

The perfect humanity of Jesus enables us to be disciplined people, orderly, precise, accurate, timely, and those who honor family life.
If we live Christ, we will exhibit these qualities that draw people to the Lord.

Comment on Book Review: “The Lord of the Ring — In Search of Count Von Zinzendorf” by Don

Don — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:11:28 +0000

David, thank you for the review. Lord, work something of these 10 points into our living.
I have a biography, “Zinzendorf, the Ecumenical Pioneer” by A. J. Lewis, by SCM Press, London, 1962, reprinted by the Moravian Church in America. I read it so long ago that I cannot make any comparison between it and the subject of your review.

Comment on Book Review: “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:46:52 +0000

Hello David,
it was a big pleasure and honor for me our sunday service/prayer at George´s house togehter with you and your famaily. Indeed your question about how to preach the gospel to the Germans is an important issue and – being German – has been asked several times. I do not have any satisfying answer or recipe, but in my opinion we should follow the description of the German culture mentioned by yourself in this blog as the basic of the strategy combined with prayer and the work of the holy spirit. Currently we see a shift form the traditional catholic/evangelic church to the so called “Freikirchen” – free churches, which are not linked to the german government, not receiving any money/help from the government. I know a lot of Germans not believing on God, but yes knowing the Bible even better than most of us and following the general christian attitudes.

Comment on Book Review: “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by David

David — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:48:16 +0000

Yes, thanks Don for reading and your comment. I’d be happy to be linked to via your blog newjerusalem12.wordpress.com.

Comment on Book Review: “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by Don

Don — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:34:23 +0000

David, thank you for this review. I have seen references to the book but was not motivated enough to buy it and read it. Through your words I have a little view of the contents, especially the influence of the Moravians.
If it is OK for me to link to your blog, please reply here or on my blog.