tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1576560161788409718.comments2022-12-03T14:57:07.292-07:00Pursuing the Light Unto my PathUnknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09643255429750559503noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1576560161788409718.post-26924145767758466422013-03-04T04:07:48.613-07:002013-03-04T04:07:48.613-07:00Thanks, Ray, for the personal encouragement to mov...Thanks, Ray, for the personal encouragement to move from follower to disciple to friend ... and to encourage others to take the same journey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1576560161788409718.post-11497847403782904092009-06-10T10:27:56.605-06:002009-06-10T10:27:56.605-06:00In response to the "What do you want" qu...In response to the "What do you want" question, Jesus frequently then challenged people with the truth. For example, with the rich young ruler, he started at the same placee, responded to the question, but then He poses His own question that drives people to their real issue. I think this issue of following people and challenging them is part of the whole model. I totally agree about the issue of the 'shopping mall' generation. This is the essential difference in making consumers and makeing disciples.Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09643255429750559503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1576560161788409718.post-22288332478331913632009-06-09T10:06:51.381-06:002009-06-09T10:06:51.381-06:00When i first read "What do you want?" in...When i first read "What do you want?" in relation to the church, my stomach hurt. Most churches are skilled at the "what do you want" question. They want what makes them comfortable, safe, happy and lazy. And what one wants does not always mean one will follow through to get it. And in at least the circles I know there's this understanding that once what I want is out on the table, people better jump to it getting it done for me!<br><br>So, I'm not sure how one takes a typical evangelical church full of consumers and asks that question. But if it can be related to the concept of destiny, of desiring to be significant, to make a difference, to be touched and to touch others in deep and tangible ways- then that question might be handy. <br><br>i just had a reliving pain moment too this past weekend. While still functioning in a great amount of grief myself, a woman I barely know told me of the recent loss of her baby. Memories came flooding back. And I wanted to push her away- I live in enough pain, I can't now deliberately put myself in more pain by walking with her. But I also couldn't stop myself from reaching out to her, even though that (along with a few other things that collided this weekend) cause me deep pain again. But asking people to deliver an impact on people's lives and to do so by suffering with them this a tall order... but one I believe we must become for our faith to deepen and thrive.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11737532620285292500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1576560161788409718.post-87632692281340321662009-06-09T03:05:24.337-06:002009-06-09T03:05:24.337-06:00I agree that their culture created value for the i...I agree that their culture created value for the invitation. So what must we do to bring value to the invitation once again? How did the relationship that Andrew and John found with Christ impact Simon's response? Do I facilitate the invitation or am I more in the way?Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09643255429750559503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1576560161788409718.post-62747329953690486792009-05-28T15:00:40.407-06:002009-05-28T15:00:40.407-06:00One of the key differences between Jesus calling h...One of the key differences between Jesus calling his first disciples and calling us to be his disciples is that for the first disciples, they would have gladly followed a rabbi. That's how they were raised- and to have a rabbi come call them! Wow! That's huge. Of course they'd leave everything. They were so compelled to learn from and be part of a rabbi's clan and movement, they'd give up everything to do so! But we may not be so inclined- and THAT is the challenge. Where it was a no-brainer for the first disciples, it has become a question for us- we are too compelled by other matters in our lives. <br><br>Of course, eventually, even the disciples who said, "yes" without hesitation had to wrestle through whether they would continue to follow. Jesus has to ask them, "Will you leave me too?" They had the option to leave- Jesus will speak to that in the passage in Luke about counting the cost- but the bigger question sometimes is NOT will you follow jesus? But "will you STILL follow Jesus?" When he walks a path of suffering and pain, will you still follow? When he walks through the valley of the shadow of death, will you still follow? When he asks you give up what you have and give to the poor? When he tells you to die to yourself, serve others, love enemies, turn the other cheek? I think that's the challenging question for me and so many others- will you still follow? And I mean, REALLY follow? Not just *say* you'll follow, but really grow deeper and follower, dig deeper and follow, grit your teeth and follow, stay "stuck" with him and follow even when you don't want to stay "stuck with him?" THAT seems to be the challenge of the gospel...Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11737532620285292500noreply@blogger.com