Comments on: Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Missional Christmas

By: Wayne

Wayne — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:25:20 +0000

Meant to say that these were the totals for November alone. We provide a worship service with communion prior to distribution, pray and establish relationships with the people we serve and help to get them involved in a church in the community. We strive to evangelize through discipleship.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:13:29 +0000

For Christmas, nothing special. But year-round our church hosts a food pantry that provided 628 boxes of food to 540 families; a total of over 14 tons of food provided by a rural church with an average attendance of 52.

By: pelagius

pelagius — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:52:50 +0000

We haven’t done anything special for this Christmas. The year ended well though, our resources allowed us to help our needy members to jobs and shelter. We’ve got no money left to splash out on Christmas extravaganza and there was no need for food baskets either, which I think is a very positive sign for our community this year. May we do to others what we want others do to us. Peace!

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:24:03 +0000

I am sorry to read this, although I am not entirely surprised. I can understand, to a point, the opposition of Christians on the right to health care reform. I used to be one. I can understand the “liberal” advocacy of health care reform. I am one now.

What I have a difficult time appreciating is the great anger being expressed in recent days. It’s not just people who are unbalanced acting this way: There’s an extremely vocal sub-section of people who are absolutely terrified of the proposed reforms and who are ready to see their intent and implications in the worst possible light. The specter of government health care has somehow ignited every bit of anti-liberal, anti-government, populist feeling on the right. In consequence, liberals are being confronted not as reformers with a bad ideas but as elites conspiring to strip every conservative of his freedoms and wreck the country.

It’s very hard to respond to this kind of anger, when it pops up: there’s not much you can say to dispel it or to prove your innocence. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I were a pastor and many people were pressuring me with this rhetoric at the same time. (Probably I would preach a sermon about it and get kicked into the next county: perhaps this is why I am not a pastor!)

So cheers to you and your friend. Please pass along my regards. I pray we’ll see passions cool down in the coming days … and perhaps some decent policy out of Washington.

By: Patrick Lynch

Patrick Lynch — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:11:09 +0000

Sorry to hear that, Canada?. Do your best to support the guy and let us (internet strangers though we are) know if there’s anything we can do to help you both.

By: JoanieD

JoanieD — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:01:24 +0000

That is very sad, Canada?, that people are behaving in this hateful way. I can’t understand anyone calling themselves Christian and behaving so badly that others are in fear of them. It just does not compute for me at all.

By: Evathek

Evathek — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:02:59 +0000

I found the advent conspiracy this year too:)

By: Christiane

Christiane — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:43:33 +0000

Very likely the people harassing your ex-minister’s wife are disturbed emotionally and cannot abide anyone disagreeing with them. These extreme right-wing ‘Christians’ are most likely not practicing Christians at all; just disturbed people who use religion as an excuse to justify ‘acting out ‘ on others as a result of oppositional personality disorder. But the extremists ARE ‘getting worse’, aren’t they? Yes, it is a bummer, but it should be discussed.

By: Canada?

Canada? — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:04:46 +0000

I’d like to thank the Christians out there who are helping the poor by making my ex-pastor’s life a living hell because she supports health care reform. In this season of waiting for the Christchild, being scared to leave the house with your children adds a little extra spice, doesn’t it?

In the last week, two other pastors have told me they are considering moving out of this (red) state, prompted by the hate surrounding health care reform. That is disturbing, extremely.

While nasty emails, confrontations in restaurants and ended friendships may seem like wonderful gifts for the liberals in your life, realize 1) there are probably 100 other people sending your pastor that same Obamacare message and 2) agree or disagree, they’re tired of it.

Sorry for the downer but this entire thread struck me as perfect irony.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:39:54 +0000

My church recently agreed to make our facilltiy available to Celebrate Recovery to hold their dinners and meetings every Friday evening. As addictions counselor, I am really excited to see this recourse being made available. I live in a very small very rural area with a very high rate of addiction and alcoholism. What a cool way to see the hands of Christ being extended.
I’m hoping this can be included because we decided to commit to this during the Christmas season.