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- Tony R (The Bondsmith) on The Commons: 09/12/2026
- Michael on The Commons: 09/12/2026
- Tony R (The Bondsmith) on The Commons: 09/12/2026
- Tony R (The Bondsmith) on The Commons: 09/12/2026
- Michael on The Commons: 09/12/2026
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In another thread, Michael said,
“Xenia,
I am right there with you on withdrawing.
It’s to the point that every week about this time we decide whether to keep the site up for another week.”
Michael, while in my selfishness I would be heartbroken if you shut down PP, I actually recommend for your sake. Having said that, I know that you won’t do it, so I have another recommendation, which is to delete every single political comment made. Why we can’t discuss Jesus, The Church, moral issues and cats without getting political is beyond me. People have facebook to babble their “orange man bad/Trump the god emperor” opinions to the echo chamber.
I found you in 2005 or ’06, and it’s sad that the only blog I read has become an emotional minefield, full of all the crap-talk that I intentionally avoid.
Jim,
I hear you.
There was a time when people cared about theological issues, doctrine, and practice.
What has happened in this country is that faith and politics have become one thing and you cannot speak of one without invoking the other.
Now, you and I know that this is a false god and the end is nothing but misery, but I have no power to disconnect what has been joined.
I have managed to do so in the church I pastor, where the focus has been and will continue to be the person and work of Christ..but the person and work of Christ is not sufficient to hold the interest of most Christians anymore.
Jim,in reality, I’m crashing into my own inadequacies as a writer and thinker.
I believe we are all tumbling down a steep trail into chaos, but don’t have the words to address it, let alone slow the descent.
I believe we need to wash our garments, but I can’t find the soap.
Duane and I go over this every week…trying to help people find a spiritual center to work from.
He has some ideas that I love…we will try to implement them.
You haven’t bumped the curb regarding your perceived inadequacies. I’m not sure Paul spent much time trying to talk people out of their idolatries. It seems to me that he just called it sin and told Christians to flee from idolatry. I could be wrong.
Jim,
The recorded thoughts of Paul are indeed brief and to the point.
It’s the conversations that were had around those words that I would love to hear…
I’m just finishing up my message for tonight on this passage:
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23–26 ESV)
My guess is that the private conversations of the disciples afterwards were intense…
This morning my church had their weekly food pantry. We gathered as a church to serve, putting a box-load of groceries in each car trunk. We also offered prayer, words of encouragement, and the chance for some basic medical checkups (thanks to nurses from a nearby Christian university).
I wore my mask and gloves, doing my small part to help. It felt good, even though I sweated a ton (humidity was unusually high for SoCal- I’d never make it in the South).
I’m so impressed by the regulars who work tirelessly throughout the week, gathering the groceries and prepping things ahead of time. To me, those volunteers are examples of a Christian witness far more than the blowhard pastors who are “standing up to the tyranny of the governor” by holding indoor services. Those volunteers are loving their neighbors and showing them how much Christ cares.
EricL,
That’s good stuff…there’s been some encouraging stuff noted here the last couple of days…
Are these orders lawfu?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-signs-executive-orders-on-coronavirus-economic-relief/ar-BB17JvXG
Jean it’s not a yes or no, but can it be pulled off.
If you remember an old slogan from the 80’s-90’s : Starve the Beast. This is what StB looks like. The Beast, is demographic groups. Large numbers of people. Interrupting payroll taxes that fund tens of millions of Americans, is Starving the Beast.
You cannot have order from chaos, if you first do not have choas.
Nathan,
That’s incredibly cynical, isn’t it. I hope that you’re wrong, but I’m not the best judge of some of these actions.
Dear Mike E and Mike E only: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”
Proverbs 10:19
Sincerely,
The Holy Spirit. 😎🔥
.
Don’t shut this down, I dumped Facebook again and scheduled for deletion. If I return it will be after the election and either purely for a ministry page or for a small family page.
I’m as toxic as it is so I need a respite before I have a nuclear meltdown and defile everyone.
Checking in here gives me place where the people simply don’t know where I am.
If I go back it won’t be better probably even just posting about faith these days invites vultures. Maybe I will just wait for God to breathe on the bones.
BD,
I hear you….we will be here.
Lord, please dunk my brother BD into the depths of your cooling grace. May Your peace saturate him, for his sake and so he can continue ministering to others.
I respect you, BD, and so appreciate your insights here. You’re an important member of this online community.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…this site is very rare in that it is one of the few sites where people actually treat each other well and are like friends and family..even if we don’t see eye to eye. Of course there are some dust-ups, but that’s family and friendships. Not always pretty and not always a bed of roses.
since at my church we’re not having communion this week’s entry at Get Religion caught my eye.
https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2020/8/5/question-for-2020-can-episcopal-clergy-consecrate-bread-and-wine-through-the-internet