Comments on: What I Learned On My Summer Vacation Part I (Reflections on Sabbatical and What I Learned) http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:14:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bookmarks about Poignant http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-275009 Bookmarks about Poignant Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:30:19 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-275009 [...] - bookmarked by 3 members originally found by OpenMicDocumentary on 2008-07-29 What I Learned On My Summer Vacation Part I (Reflections on... [...] [...] – bookmarked by 3 members originally found by OpenMicDocumentary on 2008-07-29 What I Learned On My Summer Vacation Part I (Reflections on… [...]

]]> By: Scott http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-256794 Scott Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:42:26 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-256794 Michael: Thanks for reminding us that we believe in a God who sinks our ships and takes away our security blankets. This is precisely how God saves us, not by means of some <i>deus ex machina</i>, let alone through some inane program given us by a guy in a $1,200.00 suit, with pearly white teeth, and perfect hair, and slim, tanned wife wearing a mini-skirt with big breasts. In fact, that guy just might be Satan, our accuser. This accuser holds up the mirror and shows us that standing there in our Oakland As t-shirt, jeans, baldness, off-white, slightly crooked teeth, and paunch that we are quite unattractive. Hence, we need to follow his program that will makes us more like him, the worldly ideal of perfection. It is through all this, God shows us Christ crucified, His Son poured out for our sakes. In this we see not only our need for Him, but for each other to be companions-on-the-way. Michael:

Thanks for reminding us that we believe in a God who sinks our ships and takes away our security blankets. This is precisely how God saves us, not by means of some deus ex machina, let alone through some inane program given us by a guy in a $1,200.00 suit, with pearly white teeth, and perfect hair, and slim, tanned wife wearing a mini-skirt with big breasts. In fact, that guy just might be Satan, our accuser. This accuser holds up the mirror and shows us that standing there in our Oakland As t-shirt, jeans, baldness, off-white, slightly crooked teeth, and paunch that we are quite unattractive. Hence, we need to follow his program that will makes us more like him, the worldly ideal of perfection.

It is through all this, God shows us Christ crucified, His Son poured out for our sakes. In this we see not only our need for Him, but for each other to be companions-on-the-way.

]]> By: Brendt http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-256343 Brendt Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:23:18 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-256343 Don't have time right now to read the comments, but (thank you) times 1000 for this post. I'm dealing a lot with self-definition these days, and this post was very helpful -- and the Brueggemann quote crystallized everything you were saying. Don’t have time right now to read the comments, but (thank you) times 1000 for this post. I’m dealing a lot with self-definition these days, and this post was very helpful — and the Brueggemann quote crystallized everything you were saying.

]]> By: bob pinto http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-256209 bob pinto Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:04:52 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-256209 The picture of the man at the baggage counter spoke volumes. The baggage that was supposed to make the journey and destination comfortable became detrimental somehow. The rules of the game keep changing. I used to define thinking as taking certain incomplete pieces of evidence and coming to a conclusion. I now regard thinking as getting totally conflicting pieces of evidence and then coming to a conclusion. No matter what you do, you're wrong. A headache often has an unknown cause. But all you get is the headache and you have to figure out what caused it. "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." Mother Teresa The picture of the man at the baggage counter spoke volumes.

The baggage that was supposed to make the journey and destination comfortable became detrimental somehow.

The rules of the game keep changing. I used to define thinking as taking certain incomplete pieces of evidence and coming to a conclusion.

I now regard thinking as getting totally conflicting pieces of evidence and then coming to a conclusion. No matter what you do, you’re wrong.

A headache often has an unknown cause. But all you get is the headache and you have to figure out what caused it.

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.”

Mother Teresa

]]> By: Paul in the GNW http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-256173 Paul in the GNW Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:35:54 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-256173 Michael, I am glad you have come to a more comfortable place spiritually, or maybe come to be more comfortable in a different spiritual space. Either way, I keep praying for you. Paul Michael,

I am glad you have come to a more comfortable place spiritually, or maybe come to be more comfortable in a different spiritual space. Either way, I keep praying for you.

Paul

]]> By: davin http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-256120 davin Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:45:42 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-256120 A few weeks ago a priest told me that sometimes God takes away graces so that we can grow. I had never thought of that before. And now this article... A few weeks ago a priest told me that sometimes God takes away graces so that we can grow. I had never thought of that before.

And now this article…

]]> By: Oscar http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-255941 Oscar Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:17:58 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-255941 This sure makes me glad that I never fit in with one of these little cookie cutter church groups or got my kudos from being one of the "sold out ones" in bible school. Now their loosing their footings and Im helping them along by giving them books like "The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism". Those guys dished out some serious snob and Im loving going down to the Catholic Church because its increasing the speed spin cycle on the old matrix that produced all this B.S. This sure makes me glad that I never fit in with one of these little cookie cutter church groups or got my kudos from being one of the “sold out ones” in bible school. Now their loosing their footings and Im helping them along by giving them books like “The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism”. Those guys dished out some serious snob and Im loving going down to the Catholic Church because its increasing the speed spin cycle on the old matrix that produced all this B.S.

]]> By: Jeff M http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-255927 Jeff M Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:50:04 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-255927 Bryan K, I am praying for you as well. I am troubled by the fact that the pastor and AP didn't tell those people to talk to you directly at the outset. I just dealt with a situation this past week, where a person had spread some stories about another in the church. I told the young man to go and talk to her directly and let her know that he was doing so in obedience to Matthew 18. She is unrepentant but also not a church member, so there is nothing else to be done about it really, but he learned a great deal from the experience. We had a good talk about forgiveness and how to deal with people. He is a fairly new believer so this was a challenge for him for sure. It didn't go as I would have hoped, but his obedience to God's way of doing things really made an impression in his life and his walk. It's pretty telling that the teaching on how to handle those situations in Matthew 18 is followed by Christ's teaching on forgiving people over and over and over again. Hang in there brother. I will pray for you every time I read back on this thread and as often as I remember besides that. Bryan K,
I am praying for you as well. I am troubled by the fact that the pastor and AP didn’t tell those people to talk to you directly at the outset. I just dealt with a situation this past week, where a person had spread some stories about another in the church. I told the young man to go and talk to her directly and let her know that he was doing so in obedience to Matthew 18. She is unrepentant but also not a church member, so there is nothing else to be done about it really, but he learned a great deal from the experience. We had a good talk about forgiveness and how to deal with people. He is a fairly new believer so this was a challenge for him for sure. It didn’t go as I would have hoped, but his obedience to God’s way of doing things really made an impression in his life and his walk. It’s pretty telling that the teaching on how to handle those situations in Matthew 18 is followed by Christ’s teaching on forgiving people over and over and over again.
Hang in there brother. I will pray for you every time I read back on this thread and as often as I remember besides that.

]]> By: Anna A http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-255855 Anna A Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:04:24 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-255855 Bryan K My prayers are with you. I've been there, done that myself. I was accused of not being Biblical because I chose to write a letter to the pastor, rather than confront him face to face. (Which I would have been willing to do to talk about the points that I had written.) Your sister in Christ Bryan K

My prayers are with you.

I’ve been there, done that myself. I was accused of not being Biblical because I chose to write a letter to the pastor, rather than confront him face to face. (Which I would have been willing to do to talk about the points that I had written.)

Your sister in Christ

]]> By: Matthew http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i-reflections-on-sabbatical-and-what-i-learned/comment-page-1#comment-255845 Matthew Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:10:48 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2150#comment-255845 Hey Bryan, if you're willing to relocate I'd love for you to come and teach in my church even if I might disagree with you on some stuff. Hey Bryan, if you’re willing to relocate I’d love for you to come and teach in my church even if I might disagree with you on some stuff.

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