Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/36/d92686950/htdocs/sites/backporch/wp-blog-header.php:21) in /homepages/36/d92686950/htdocs/sites/backporch/wp-commentsrss2.php on line 8
Comments for The Back Porch http://www.the-back-porch.com What would Jesus do on a Saturday night? Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:04:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 Comment on Saturday, Oct. 20th. 7:30pm. by waldean http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/16/saturday-oct-16th-730pm/#comment-1087 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:28:32 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/16/saturday-oct-16th-730pm/#comment-1087 That is a GREAT clip - Thanks!!! That is a GREAT clip - Thanks!!!

]]> Comment on Arithmetic by GWAR http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/10/arithmetic/#comment-476 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:51:06 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/10/arithmetic/#comment-476 I like that angle and i think it's more true to The Mission than what I was getting at. I was making a list, again, as we humans so often like to do. "Don't do this, don't do that", even as noble as "don't be selfish". The problem is that if we keep not doing things then that becomes all that we do: nothing. I like the approach of actively being selfless because it actually makes us be active, it makes us move, it causes us to change, it's not just another set of boundaries to break time and time again. Instead it's a vast, rolling expanse with hills and valleys, for us to explore and push to the limits. Thanks for the other angle. I like that angle and i think it’s more true to The Mission than what I was getting at. I was making a list, again, as we humans so often like to do. “Don’t do this, don’t do that”, even as noble as “don’t be selfish”. The problem is that if we keep not doing things then that becomes all that we do: nothing.

I like the approach of actively being selfless because it actually makes us be active, it makes us move, it causes us to change, it’s not just another set of boundaries to break time and time again. Instead it’s a vast, rolling expanse with hills and valleys, for us to explore and push to the limits.

Thanks for the other angle.

]]> Comment on Arithmetic by sutt0092 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/10/arithmetic/#comment-473 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:38:04 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/10/arithmetic/#comment-473 Ok i'm a dummy and thought my first entry got lost. since i can't delete it, you can read both and see how i revised it. hahaha. Ok i’m a dummy and thought my first entry got lost. since i can’t delete it, you can read both and see how i revised it. hahaha.

]]> Comment on Arithmetic by sutt0092 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/10/arithmetic/#comment-472 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:34:38 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/10/arithmetic/#comment-472 Comment. I just lost all the stuff I wrote in a super drawn out explanation as to why I would take greater pains to define Love in number 5. Webster defines "selfish" as being (and i'm not one to argue with a guy named Merrium) 'concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others'. based on that I'd feel comfortable making the statement that if you are NOT being selfish, you are simply being benevolent or benign. You are a kind person. But I believe you would agree that love goes beyond simple kindness, but extends into complete selflessness. Not merely being satisfied with achieving a state in which you simply refrain from taking from others or even give others what they need to be content. But giving of yourself completely until your own self has run out and the new self that you are continually giving is the love that God himself has filled you with as a replacement for the self that you are continually giving. xoxo, Joel Comment. I just lost all the stuff I wrote in a super drawn out explanation as to why I would take greater pains to define Love in number 5. Webster defines “selfish” as being (and i’m not one to argue with a guy named Merrium) ‘concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one’s own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others’. based on that I’d feel comfortable making the statement that if you are NOT being selfish, you are simply being benevolent or benign. You are a kind person. But I believe you would agree that love goes beyond simple kindness, but extends into complete selflessness. Not merely being satisfied with achieving a state in which you simply refrain from taking from others or even give others what they need to be content. But giving of yourself completely until your own self has run out and the new self that you are continually giving is the love that God himself has filled you with as a replacement for the self that you are continually giving.

xoxo,
Joel

]]> Comment on Arithmetic by sutt0092 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/10/arithmetic/#comment-471 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:22:34 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/10/10/arithmetic/#comment-471 The Continuation Good logic. I feel compelled to encourage you to go further with number 5, however. It seems to me to be a bit limiting. For example, if I was to come home to find you famished and near death from starvation, and if I was to buy us some cheese doodles, and if I was to split them 50/50 with you for dinner, you would say I was not being selfish. I would agree. Since, you know, I gave you the same amount of cheese doodles as I myself had. Say this left you somewhat satisfied. You were no longer starving, but were merely content. I not been selfish, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I was loving. I would categorize that as simple kindness. Had I exuded a truly loving spirit I would have given you all of the cheese doodles you required to satisfy your hunger, and would continue to feed you cheese doodles until you were in fantastic health, even if it meant that I went without cheese doodles myself. mmmm....cheese doodles. So here's my addition, take it as you will (and I know it doesn't follow your format) Kindess : not being selfish. Love : being selfless. The Continuation

Good logic. I feel compelled to encourage you to go further with number 5, however. It seems to me to be a bit limiting. For example, if I was to come home to find you famished and near death from starvation, and if I was to buy us some cheese doodles, and if I was to split them 50/50 with you for dinner, you would say I was not being selfish. I would agree. Since, you know, I gave you the same amount of cheese doodles as I myself had. Say this left you somewhat satisfied. You were no longer starving, but were merely content. I not been selfish, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say I was loving. I would categorize that as simple kindness. Had I exuded a truly loving spirit I would have given you all of the cheese doodles you required to satisfy your hunger, and would continue to feed you cheese doodles until you were in fantastic health, even if it meant that I went without cheese doodles myself. mmmm….cheese doodles. So here’s my addition, take it as you will (and I know it doesn’t follow your format) Kindess : not being selfish. Love : being selfless.

]]> Comment on an imperfect fold by GWAR http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/05/10/a-imperfect-fold/#comment-67 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:01:24 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/05/10/a-imperfect-fold/#comment-67 I cant help but think about how they describe laundry machines. they "agitate" your clothes to make them clean. On places where people were buried, temples were built. I had my thumb intentionally broken once so that it would heal better than it would have naturally. The destruction/construction thing is very interesting to me. It's in my darkest hours, the searing pains, and my worst nightmares that I've recognized whatever catalyst I've been looking for to activate some kind of progressive construction project, renovating myself and my heart, something that never would have been possible had things gone on "business as usual". On the eco-socio-political side of things, it was the wartime economy that brought the west out of the depression, and we've been actively pushing that same kind of wartime mindframe ever since to keep the economy ramped up. its the breaks, the fractures, the cleavages and the stains that we see in the mirror that are the causes and reasons we find to build and repair, create and wash, or maybe even to make something completely new. this might have all seemed a bit off topic, but as I was reading this is what I was thinking of. I cant help but think about how they describe laundry machines. they “agitate” your clothes to make them clean. On places where people were buried, temples were built. I had my thumb intentionally broken once so that it would heal better than it would have naturally.

The destruction/construction thing is very interesting to me. It’s in my darkest hours, the searing pains, and my worst nightmares that I’ve recognized whatever catalyst I’ve been looking for to activate some kind of progressive construction project, renovating myself and my heart, something that never would have been possible had things gone on “business as usual”. On the eco-socio-political side of things, it was the wartime economy that brought the west out of the depression, and we’ve been actively pushing that same kind of wartime mindframe ever since to keep the economy ramped up.

its the breaks, the fractures, the cleavages and the stains that we see in the mirror that are the causes and reasons we find to build and repair, create and wash, or maybe even to make something completely new.

this might have all seemed a bit off topic, but as I was reading this is what I was thinking of.

]]> Comment on an imperfect fold by waldean http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/05/10/a-imperfect-fold/#comment-51 Mon, 14 May 2007 14:10:37 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/05/10/a-imperfect-fold/#comment-51 GREAT thoughts Peter! I sometimes think about this issue as it relates to our call to show Jesus to others. We seem to have the impulse to hide our failures and pretend that we've got it "all together". I think this separates us from the mission. Jesus shows himself as he helps us work through our "stuff". It's about the journey and God's power to move us forward. When we, hypocritically, try to show our perfection we lose a great connection to those who need our help. Jesus is our perfection. GREAT thoughts Peter!

I sometimes think about this issue as it relates to our call to show Jesus to others. We seem to have the impulse to hide our failures and pretend that we’ve got it “all together”. I think this separates us from the mission. Jesus shows himself as he helps us work through our “stuff”. It’s about the journey and God’s power to move us forward. When we, hypocritically, try to show our perfection we lose a great connection to those who need our help.

Jesus is our perfection.

]]> Comment on They’re not just a TV show. by Craig http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/05/03/theyre-not-just-a-tv-show/#comment-49 Mon, 07 May 2007 16:45:43 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/05/03/theyre-not-just-a-tv-show/#comment-49 Nice title. Thanks for the article, I think it is right on. We have amazing opportunities to be Jesus to others. I love this aspect of community. It's the everyday grind of community, seeing friends, serving one another in love. Good stuff. Nice title. Thanks for the article, I think it is right on. We have amazing opportunities to be Jesus to others. I love this aspect of community. It’s the everyday grind of community, seeing friends, serving one another in love. Good stuff.

]]> Comment on Stumble by Craig http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/03/05/stumble/#comment-41 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:36:06 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/03/05/stumble/#comment-41 Bro, thanks for the honesty. It is really refreshing. Bro, thanks for the honesty. It is really refreshing.

]]> Comment on Unsettling News for the Malcontent! by waldean http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/02/04/unsettling-news-for-the-malcontent/#comment-40 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:22:02 +0000 http://www.the-back-porch.com/2007/02/04/unsettling-news-for-the-malcontent/#comment-40 As is the case with so much of everything, I think the question should be, "In what way should I be content and in what way should I not?". I should be content to invest my life for the Kingdom (eternal treasure) and forgo what the world offers (stuff that is ultimatly worthless). I should be content with the amazing blessings God gives me. To not be content in things like this is to reject the purpose of God in my life. I should not be content with my sin, with my failure, with my shallow view of Jesus. I should long to see God work in and through me. I should strive to strip myself of everything that holds me back from winning the race. As is the case with so much of everything, I think the question should be, “In what way should I be content and in what way should I not?”.

I should be content to invest my life for the Kingdom (eternal treasure) and forgo what the world offers (stuff that is ultimatly worthless). I should be content with the amazing blessings God gives me. To not be content in things like this is to reject the purpose of God in my life.

I should not be content with my sin, with my failure, with my shallow view of Jesus. I should long to see God work in and through me. I should strive to strip myself of everything that holds me back from winning the race.

]]>