Comments for different and better

Comment on Four Questions to Help You Rebuild Your Life After a Meltdown, Part 2 by makingcamp

makingcamp — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:40:06 +0000

Hearing God speak is the key. Our minds no doubt work differently. To be renewed, focused and dependent on God ultimately is where we need to be. God bless.

Comment on Should We Be Holy or Missional? by chriswilliamsde

chriswilliamsde — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:15:53 +0000

@ Frank Honess,

Good to hear from you, man! Hope all is well!

I agree with you on this point, yet I find it interesting that Jesus does not set expectations of this nature for his disciples before he sends them. They don’t yet know how to fast and pray, and they are incapable of doing what Jesus has asked them to do (in this case cast out a demon). In spite of this Jesus sends them out anyway. In the instance of the demoniac, Jesus sends him right back to tell everyone what Jesus has done. My point is that from the point you enter into this life of following Jesus you are qualified to invite others to follow him as well.

Now to your point, we should pursue wholeness and holiness. These are clearly aspects of discipleship, but they are not prerequisites for inviting people to follow Jesus. At least that my take.

CMW

Comment on Should We Be Holy or Missional? by Frank Honess

Frank Honess — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:44:28 +0000

Chris — I love this post & I agree with everything you write. But I want to suggest the opposite view for a second. I think far too many Christians, before they try & fish for people need to really work on becoming WHOLE. Notice I didn’t use the word “holy”. I was one of those individuals for way too many years of my life. I preached, taught, & ministered to people but inside I wasn’t a whole person. And I think many Christ-followers have stuff inside they need to deal with first. How can I authentically go fishing for lost people if I myself am lost? So while I agree with your post, I think as long as we are genuinely trying to become whole with Jesus’ help, we can really reach people with much more power & authority.

Comment on Four Questions to Help You Rebuild Your Life After a Meltdown, Part 2 by chriswilliamsde

chriswilliamsde — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:38:52 +0000

@makingcamp,

I understand what you are saying about putting the journal away to make sure that you are hearing from God and not yourself. For me, though, journaling is about clearing my head so I can give God full attention. I am not necessarily writing about spiritual things. I simply write whatever comes to mind or whatever is on my mind. Once I empty my head, then I turn to Scripture and prayer so I can fully focus on connecting with God. Make sense?

CMW

Comment on Four Questions to Help You Rebuild Your Life After a Meltdown, Part 2 by makingcamp

makingcamp — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:05:16 +0000

A pastor friend encouraged me in my early stage of ministry meltdown to simply sit and read scripture until it speaks to you. Then meditate and read on. He also suggested that i put down my journal down for four weeks so that I would hear God speak and not be pressured to think that I had to write. I also began to walk. As I walked after my reading of scripture, talking with God came so naturally. While the time was a trial, it became a blessed time for me as I renewed my body and soul in Christ. I will periodically now put my journal on sabbatical so that I am sure to be listening to God and not my own words.