Things I Think…

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38 Responses

  1. victorious says:

    They have already sent missionaries here. Which I embrace.

  2. Kevin H says:

    Bud Grant played for the Eagles early in his career. Probably why he ended up being such a good guy. 😉

  3. Michael says:

    KevinH,

    You neglect to mention that he quickly left and went all the way to Canada… 🙂

  4. Kevin H says:

    Hey, if Tucker Carlson can take a monumentally consequential national event and pick out just peaceful moments from the Jan 6th videos and tell the story he wants, then I can tell whatever story I want about the Eagles. 😉

  5. Michael says:

    KevinH,

    Thankfully, I’m unable to comment on that matter at the moment… 🙂

  6. Alan says:

    Now I am having trouble accessing the comments … I see 5 on this thread but click on them and no access.

  7. Michael says:

    Alan,

    Clear your browser cache and it should work…there are some bugs in the system…

  8. Captain Kevin says:

    Where does that idea of an end times revival come from?

  9. filistine says:

    #5 is too real–death is no longer a specter in the shadows, it is now my shadow. Prepped Saturday for one funeral coming up, missed another due to the prep, heard of a third on Sunday, and grieving a fourth and fifth from earlier last week. When it rains…

  10. Michael says:

    CK,

    I’m not sure, but I’ll bet it comes from dispensationalism…

  11. Michael says:

    fil,

    It’s mine as well…and I’m aware the shadow will grow darker with time…

  12. Steven says:

    Regarding #1:

    I’m clear on the theology regarding justification by faith alone in Christ alone, but a missionary I served abroad with gave a bit of advice that I’ve implemented since she shared it with me. It basically goes like this:

    I always make the choice to believe that loved/respected ones choose Jesus at the moment of passing (at the last possible moment).

    That way, any theological truths are not mixed with my hopes and love for the deceased.

  13. Officerhoppy says:

    @5
    I turned 71 this year. Many say that 70 is the decade of death.

    My body is old and hurts. Have a myriad of issues. But I still think young

  14. Michael says:

    Hopefully, the site issue has been fixed.

  15. Muff Potter says:

    Michael Wrote:
    I will choose to hope the love and goodness of God reaches past death…because there are as many unbelievers I hope to see in eternity as believers…and some believers I would be pleased to never see again…

    I feel the same and no longer believe that ‘Salvation’ is as cut and dried as is widely taught.
    I hold fast to the tenets of The Apostle’s Creed.
    And the stuff beyond that?
    I pick and choose (or un-choose) as I see fit.

  16. Alan says:

    End times revival lives in charismatic circles in abundance… it has two sources 1) the interpretation that Jesus said the Gospel much be preached in every nation before the end comes… so, some conflation of ideas lead to it. 2) and this is a very bad reason… the prophecies of the Kansas City prophets particularly Bob Jones concerning a billion soul end time harvest… (I will join you in tossing rotten eggs)

  17. Michael says:

    Alan,

    I’ve wondered where the root was…and with the price of eggs, we’re going to have to find something cheaper to toss…

  18. Michael says:

    Muff,

    “I pick and choose (or un-choose) as I see fit.”
    If we’re honest, we all do…

  19. Alan says:

    Concerning Bud Grant … where do you find the best actual exegesis for post-mortem conversion? Hopefully this is more than empathy and revulsion of damnation. The use of the “all” texts is not relevant to the actual question.

  20. Michael says:

    Alan,

    The idea is actually rooted in the Orthodox fathers.
    If you can withstand his arrogance, David Bentley Hart’s “That All Should Be Saved” has some merit along with McDonalds “Evangelical Universalist”…the gold standard is “A Larger Hope” by Ramelli and Parry…two volume set.

    I offer it as a possibility, not dogma…

  21. Alan says:

    Michael

    I know of two other books… one I have imbibed the other not yet…
    James Belby – Postmortem Opportunity – unread
    Brad Jersak – Her Gates Shall Never Be Shut – 80% read

  22. Michael says:

    Alan,

    I have Jerzak, but haven’t read him…I’ll look at the other one.

    Bonhoeffer was often right on the edge of it in his theology as well.

    For me, I had to have a presentation that preserved the biblical certainty of hell and God’s justice…while holding hope for universal reconciliation. I think it possible…otherwise hell will have one hell of a football team and the best music in the new heavens and earth…

  23. Em wWegemer says:

    Our Scriptures say that our God takes NO pleasure in the death of the wicked….
    It isn’t too hard to see why……

  24. pstrmike says:

    “4. Some people believe that my hope makes me a heretic, but I need hope more than their approval.”

    As do I. While the greatest of the three Christian virtues is love, what carries me the most is a hope wrapped in faith in the love God……

  25. JD says:

    We serve a God of Mercy and Truth. All judgement is committed to the Son by the Father. I fully trust His judgment and thank Him for giving assurance of salvation to me. I don’t always have the same for others unfortunately.

  26. Michael says:

    pstrmike,

    Pauls epistles continually point us to some combination of those three virtues in order to live a life that pleases God…I think you nailed it…

  27. WenatcheeTheHatchet says:

    For point 2 I am often impressed by how frequently Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacha, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah (along with the ten concubines) DON’T factor into discussions about David’s treatment of Uriah and Bathsheba. Nathan didn’t have to name every last wife when he confronted David about just how evil he had been. If I missed one I’m happy to get corrected.

  28. Steve says:

    Steven @1:42, this is exactly how I process things. I guess since we share the same name we think a like.

  29. Dan from Georgia says:

    Man, Bud Grant…a legend…grew up watching his stone-faced expression on the sideline of the old and cold Met Stadium.

    #3. I tend to agree.

    #8. Absolutely agree. We have gone from the Information Age to the Mis-information Age. Love has grown cold and ineffective when we don’t care what happens to people because what happens to them only fits my polluted worldview/narrative.

  30. Michael says:

    Dan,

    The lovelessness of the age is growing at a disturbing rate…I’m more concerned about that than the other issues…

  31. Gene says:

    Things I Think are always such a mixed bag for me. I find myself alternatingly enlivened or heartbroken by the sentiments published.

    Today, Michael writes:
    “I will choose to hope the love and goodness of God reaches past death…because there are as many unbelievers I hope to see in eternity as believers.”

    On January 31, Michael wrote:
    “People who don’t believe that our pets will be present in the new heavens and new earth are usually people I hope are not present in the new heavens and the new earth…or at least not in close proximity…”

    Michael, much of what you write is about the danger of us-vs-them mentality, but so often you follow with an almost cheerful “hope” that those within certain camps you detest will suffer for all eternity.

  32. Michael says:

    Gene,

    You will never read me saying that I hope anyone suffers for eternity outside of those who have committed some grisly crime…and I think there may be reconciliation for them as well.

    I do recognize that there are people whose company I prefer above others…and I hope to live in a gated community in Southern Oregon in eternity…with my cats…and the keys to the gate…

    Your mileage may vary…

  33. Gene says:

    Michael – Thanks for your reply. I hesitated to comment.

    I happen to agree with you on the subject of our pets in eternity. But with respect, your words from January 31 are plain. Your statement was “I hope [they] are not present in the new heavens and the new earth.”

    It just seems to fall short of the same grace you’re calling readers to in a post like today’s, which extends the possibility of salvation to even those who publicly curse God – assuming they’re from the right football team.

    I have no quarrel. It just seems inconsistent.

  34. Michael says:

    Gene,

    The rest of the sentence…”or at least not in close proximity”…

    Bud Grant never cursed God…ever.

    I am inconsistent…because I’m well aware that God loves people I don’t…and that’s a problem….a sin…but I won’t change by faking it.

  35. Gene says:

    Michael – Thanks for the dialogue.

  36. Dan from Georgia says:

    Micheal (2:05pm). I am with you. Today I had to hear one co-worker castigate another because the second coworker is into conspiracies, etc, and the first accused the second of only caring about their own little world and even suggested the second one needed counseling.

  37. Michael says:

    Dan,

    It’s easier to keep to oneself and select, tested ,others…

  38. UnCCed says:

    Michael,
    I can’t believe I’ve forgotten to share something about your fondness for sports over the years, but this article reminded me hard.
    I’m not “into” sports, that is to say, I can’t stand watching them, except for the few (two) I play.
    Not that it’s relevant, but I’ve always wondered if it’s because I lack any talent in most sports.
    However, I always saw and commend you now for your desire to use everywhere/everything as a “mission field,” and to preach only when necessary.
    I used to wonder when I did the same in purely “secular” areas (a concept wholly invented by the church), why I had the desire, especially when regularly attempting to serve “those” people (liberals, atheists, etc.) preceding church guilting (apparently not rebuking people when smoking is against the Bible somehow).
    Since very little has come naturally to me in “the church,” I accidentally started finding common ground on other things, and always had many opportunities to talk and really show “those” people I care.
    I’ve never “passed” or score right (pun-intended) on “spiritual gift tests,” but while many I’ve seen stressed over all the rules, I’ve built relationships into witnessing times over chess, walking, nutrition, hearing of parents who need school supplies and for just $20 the need is filled, etc.
    My point is this.
    I stopped looking for “revival,” because God has made sure whenever I failed the church (again), there’s plenty of areas/people around me who need love, and I never run out of ways to show it.
    Please don’t ever stop sharing your heart when it comes to “the secular.”

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