tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.comments2023-06-26T01:52:21.398-07:00a constant stream of graceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.post-84781474196723084722013-07-08T23:15:58.771-07:002013-07-08T23:15:58.771-07:00After the day I've had, I can attest to the fa...After the day I've had, I can attest to the fact that "gently" need not apply. LOL. <br />And, I'd go so far as to claim that the pace at which he is leading us may, at times, well exceed "accept" and approach "uncomfortably tolerate." statmaster2001https://www.blogger.com/profile/12506605985613422853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.post-90656433266073500972013-06-28T05:45:30.609-07:002013-06-28T05:45:30.609-07:00Perhaps Jesus loves us all too much to transform u...Perhaps Jesus loves us all too much to transform us in ways that threaten our mental existence. It seems to me he is moving us all toward healing and wholeness at a pace we can accept, although "gently" doesn't apply.Laura Holckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17944903686697946407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.post-22954006900332643992013-06-27T22:41:11.296-07:002013-06-27T22:41:11.296-07:00Interesting perspective. Interesting perspective. statmaster2001https://www.blogger.com/profile/12506605985613422853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.post-48861366873860282212010-12-03T20:57:11.304-08:002010-12-03T20:57:11.304-08:00But your, "mouth", is also a very prophe...But your, "mouth", is also a very prophetic thing. You speak for those who have little or no voice, you point out what many of us would rather not see, you challenge those who- go along to get along.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407019140040614530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.post-30558970262349456812010-10-20T11:18:51.460-07:002010-10-20T11:18:51.460-07:00LIKE LIKE LIKE!LIKE LIKE LIKE!Randall Jenningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14015055265950330390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.post-83411256799302907492010-10-13T09:05:09.326-07:002010-10-13T09:05:09.326-07:00Thanks, Ashley.
First, don't equate the locat...Thanks, Ashley.<br /><br />First, don't equate the location of this story with the hell we think of. Ancient Jerusalemites knew only about Hades (Sheol in the Hebrew), which was the place of the dead where EVERYONE went. This is the place to which Jesus descended when he died. (The only other place that gets translated "hell" in the New Testament is Gehenna, which was the trash heap that burned continually outside Jerusalem.)<br /><br />What's mentioned here in Luke 16 is Hades, the place of the dead. The rich man is in torment there, separated from the company of Lazarus and Abraham, b/c the chasm he created WHILE HE LIVED can no longer be closed. It's too late to do anything about it.<br /><br />The good news here is that Jesus is not telling a story of something that actually happened; he's telling a parable to the living....and he's telling it to the Pharisees (and to the reader -- you and me).<br /><br />To my way of thinking, he's pointing out that we create chasms between us and others, and while we don't realize it, those chasms are being fixed. The longer we honor them, the more permanent they become. <br /><br />Jesus wasn't so much concerned about the dead and supplying grace for them as about changing conditions for the living. So I don't think we should spend much time trying to recover grace for a fictitious rich man....but to get to work on the chasms we are honoring; and stop doing that. <br /><br />There is grace in choice: We still live. We can make a difference for others by tending to the chasms we have created and are creating. We have a chance to alleviate suffering now, every time we see it, instead of stepping over it, and we might want to do that, not b/c we are afraid of what will happen to us if we don't, but b/c we are interested in living in a world w/o chasms.Laura Holckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17944903686697946407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.post-86236283104393213692010-10-05T07:26:44.845-07:002010-10-05T07:26:44.845-07:00My Bible study group struggled with the next week&...My Bible study group struggled with the next week's Gospel, the second half of Luke 16 - with the rich man and Lazurus. We struggled in finding the grace, particularly for the rich man. Any thoughts?Ashley Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16720271189568496933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.post-66463694479741862972010-10-03T15:12:52.360-07:002010-10-03T15:12:52.360-07:00As you may know, in the Roman Catholic community, ...As you may know, in the Roman Catholic community, if you have been away for some time, or just haven't pulled a priest aside for confession in awhile, you shouldn't go up casually for communion. I knew at church today I wouldn't be recieving communion, and I would normally just stay in my pew. But I decided to do what we are encouraged to do and go up and at least get a blessing, which I did. For some reason, the experience just blew me away, and it almost brought me to tears. It really is something to get that our lives matter to those around us, and that even simple gestures can remind us of that. It was definitely a moment that told me of God's gratuitous grace-giving, and that I'm always in His gaze.Randall Jenningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14015055265950330390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541227858987420138.post-70547101248760728182010-09-20T09:41:53.360-07:002010-09-20T09:41:53.360-07:00Thank you - I needed this today.Thank you - I needed this today.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01441687633461832190noreply@blogger.com