tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403436464508541399.post1504445466644588869..comments2011-07-17T18:48:34.720-04:00Comments on Redemption Song: The FunkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403436464508541399.post-31428434784241010712010-02-26T19:46:27.733-05:002010-02-26T19:46:27.733-05:00I'm running three days a week and at least one...I'm running three days a week and at least one day of cross training. 30 min. each time. Except on Sat. (one of the three) we run increasing amounts. I'm running with the Galloway group. Thanks.Chadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375513365484734880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403436464508541399.post-53226276907690681222010-02-26T12:48:18.481-05:002010-02-26T12:48:18.481-05:00Yay for half marathons!!! Do you have a training s...Yay for half marathons!!! Do you have a training schedule? I like Hal Higdons (google), they worked superb for our first half 2 years ago!<br />You can do it!!!Kinzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17127907373754977249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403436464508541399.post-41112683138323149342010-02-15T22:19:56.760-05:002010-02-15T22:19:56.760-05:00Nathan! Hey, I was probably not clear enough--I t...Nathan! Hey, I was probably not clear enough--I think feelings, romance, experience and deep meaningful connections are all important. I said that, "Experience is essential (Isa 6; Matt 17)," and "Experience is invaluable and essential to our faith." <br /><br />However, we tend to oscillate between extremes in life and my point in writing was simply to say that experience is great, but when we DON'T get the experience we were hoping to feel, then it's important to be faithful anyway. So I think you may have missed the point--I didn't deny the importance of feelings; I only encouraged more than that. Feelings are very much a part of the steady realationships... but there is so much more to a relationship than that. <br /><br />If you read the above response to P Buck, I cited John Wesley's four-fold epistemology including experience as one. I think that's an important epistemological pillar that's often missed. Experience is a key to how we know. That's a beautiful part of the relationship. <br /><br />Yes, being a servant is a success in relationships. But there comes a point where a good feeling is not enough to keep us going in service. Faith/fulness which transcends feelings is what Wright was talking about in lighting the candle with Romance... it's better not because it doesn't have flame but because it lasts longer and has a flame.<br /><br />Did I read you right?Chadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375513365484734880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403436464508541399.post-36464283410109314192010-02-15T11:52:57.123-05:002010-02-15T11:52:57.123-05:00I agree with pretty much everything and I especial...I agree with pretty much everything and I especially like your thoughts on romance verses a long steady relationship... but.<br /><br />I wonder... even that long steady relationship has feelings. I mean, that's the point of faith... you don't just have a mental faith and that is what keeps you faithful, but you have this mental faith combined with deep meaningful connections to certain parts of that faith that keep you faithful.<br /><br />Experience is involved with every bit of knowledge that we have. Just to clarify, I would add that we can never get rid of, nor should we try to get rid of experience... but to transform the experiences from selfish views and times with God to servant and other-focused times with God.<br /><br />For example... a selfish view might be listening to Christian music 24/7 and putting your hands everywhere, but never actually helping anyone or being merciful to those you love. (this is one example... worship like that is not bad)<br /><br />Yet, if our experience that drives our faith is being "zealous" for good works as Titus says, then when we serve others and pray and do these things that go beyond ourselves into the realm of God and others then we have a longstanding relationship. <br /><br />I mean, that is the success of relationships I believe... to serve and to love through being a servant above all.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243178617457593115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403436464508541399.post-48144396412575531112010-02-13T18:19:41.371-05:002010-02-13T18:19:41.371-05:00P Buck, thanks for comments! I hadn't directl...P Buck, thanks for comments! I hadn't directly applied this to Mr. Wesley, but I think there are signficant correlations. His epistelomology was four-fold: Scripture, tradition, reason and experience. Experience was a rare epistolomological pillar in his time. More importantly though, his conversion experience was very emotional and it carried through his movement. I don't know how it has influence American Christianity but I'm sure it has through people like Whitfield in the Great Awakening (a Methodist) and the modern methodist movement. Good observation though! <br /><br />I miss our d-group! Great times. See you soon.Chadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375513365484734880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403436464508541399.post-52237244512796386332010-02-13T11:41:53.107-05:002010-02-13T11:41:53.107-05:00I wonder if the Preaching of John Wesley and the d...I wonder if the Preaching of John Wesley and the development of romantic love hasn't played a significant role in what we are observing. Not that I think that it was Wesley's intention, but maybe a bi-product of his message.Peter Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16838242834433745033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403436464508541399.post-22683223565153112332010-02-13T11:38:48.553-05:002010-02-13T11:38:48.553-05:00I totally agree with you. I think this is not jus...I totally agree with you. I think this is not just a problem with our relationship with God. I think this is a problem of the current ways many people have when they think about love and trust/faith/action. We get so addicted to the honeymoon we just want it to last forever. If it does not last forever, we just move on to the next relationship and the next honeymoon. Very well communicated Chad. We don't even know what intimacy is anymore; how can we appreciate different seasons in the relationship with God when all we want is a perpetual honeymoon. When God wants so much more for us.Peter Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16838242834433745033noreply@blogger.com