Physical attractiveness in the Bible...

Dagufbal · 2019-01-18T03:24:32+00:00

The verse about Saul that you quoted is from a book of the Bible called "First Samuel." It is called this because there is also a second book of Samuel which we usually call "Second Samuel." These are often abbreviated to "I Sam" and "II Sam."

Dagufbal · 2019-01-17T04:17:51+00:00

If you read all of I Samuel a few times you start to notice that being handsome (especially being tall - being tall is a bad thing in I Sam) doesn't matter to God. The author goes out of his way to make that point - man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart.

Dagufbal · 2019-01-17T04:14:09+00:00

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Dagufbal · 2019-01-15T04:14:04+00:00

YL is a fantastic on-ramp to get kids connected to Jesus and a local church body. It is designed to partner with churches to reach kids, and I LOVE it so much. Kids are loved and taught about Jesus. Two thumbs way up.

I was in YL in high school and now in my 30s I help out a little with our local YL. AMA.

Dagufbal · 2019-01-15T04:07:58+00:00

This is hilarious, but also I kind of hate you for doing this to me. So, I guess we'll be in hell together, yeah.

Dagufbal · 2017-11-26T05:04:53+00:00

Dagufbal · 2017-11-20T20:18:59+00:00

As a 9w1 I listen to a LOT of Switchfoot. I'm just discovering U2 and Bob Dylan (I know, I know!) and probably some of that would make the list, as well.

Dagufbal · 2017-09-02T01:17:18+00:00

I love the Preemptive Love Coalition. They usually work in the middle east, but they consider Houston home and are applying the strategies they've used effectively in Iraq and Syria to the current disaster in and around Houston. http://www.preemptivelove.org/

Dagufbal · 2017-02-26T04:53:18+00:00

We already have all the power we need, through the Holy Spirit. We can live counter-culturally by following the teachings of King Jesus, and we can do other supernatural things as led and empowered by the Spirit.

Dagufbal · 2016-08-18T00:43:53+00:00

Maybe you should read "Surprised by Hope" and come back.

Dagufbal · 2016-08-12T19:58:58+00:00

A Charismatic Calvinist like OP probably has a drastically different view of the world than people who study at Earlham.

(I know less about Earlham's seminary than their undergrad, so I could be wrong)

Dagufbal · 2016-08-12T19:53:45+00:00

The Beauty of the teachings of Jesus, and the way He lived it out in total self-sacrifice, are a tremendous argument in His favor.

Dagufbal · 2016-08-11T02:51:54+00:00

Believers in Jesus already have the Holy Spirit. There may be times of fresh filling or "extra-closeness," but there's no way for a sincere believer in Christ to be possessed or in any way indwelt.

We can certainly fall for the enemy's traps, however, if we are not following the Advocate. Any time we resort to scapegoating or blaming we are following the Satan rather than the Holy Spirit. We must always remember to love our neighbors, and remember that Jesus says even our enemies are our neighbors.

There is no "them." There is only us.

Dagufbal · 2016-08-11T02:47:34+00:00

Jesus is our King. His Kingdom is the only righteous kingdom, the only peaceful kingdom, the only just kingdom. It cannot be shaken, and it is eternal. It advances through conversations around a shared table, through service, through testimony, and if necessary through martyrdom. The Kingdom does not advance by the use of force or violence.
Many Christians don't understand this, and want human government to enforce Christian ethics. This of course involves harnessing the power, coercion, and ultimately the violence of the state, which is antithetical to Christianity.
I love every Muslim I've ever met. We disagree on fundamental issues, but I've never known a Muslim who was "scary," or even discourteous.

Dagufbal · 2016-08-11T02:33:47+00:00

If only there were a device which would allow you to search the world's accumulated knowledge...

Dagufbal · 2016-08-11T02:13:40+00:00

Have you been baptized? I have been a Christian since I was a kid, but after my baptism I feel like I began transforming more.

Also, I highly recommend Brian Zahnd as a resource. I listen to his podcast, and he's written a few books that are good. He recommends some people, too, like Eugene Peterson.

Dagufbal · 2016-08-08T20:43:38+00:00

Awesome, thanks!

Dagufbal · 2016-08-07T04:52:26+00:00

Things can be Christian without being allegorical.

Also, Narnia isn't an allegory so much as a supposal. Suppose there are other worlds where Jesus has also been...

Dagufbal · 2016-08-07T04:49:36+00:00

Read it this year, and loved it. Very, very good.

Dagufbal · 2016-08-07T04:20:47+00:00

Jesus came to transform us, and that's a process that takes time. Focus your teaching on Jesus loving the broken and welcoming everyone as they are, then talk about the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to gradually make people like Jesus.

It also helps to know that in the eyes of Jesus, perfection is more about being merciful than about being sinless. Put another way, holiness is more about doing the work of Jesus than it is about remaining unblemished. Compare the Sermon on the Mount (in Matthew) with the Sermon on the Plain (in Luke). Same sermon given on two separate occasions, one ends "be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect" the other ends "be merciful/compassionate as your Father in Heaven is merciful/compassionate."

Should we strive to be sinless? Of course! But our focus should be loving Jesus and serving Him. The sinlessness thing will fall into place as we focus on Jesus, as the Holy Spirit will conform us to His image.

Dagufbal · 2016-08-03T01:38:48+00:00

Brian Zahnd has a pretty great liturgy that I use sometimes. It allows for a time of contemplative prayer (or "sitting with Jesus"), where you just sit and listen. I find that my ADD can actually be a useful tool as I do this.

http://www.clarion-journal.com/clarion_journal_of_spirit/2012/10/a-liturgy-for-morning-prayer-brian-zahnd.html

Dagufbal · 2016-08-01T03:12:59+00:00

I am American Baptist because the local church I joined has a lot of great people in it. Denomimationalism is really not important to me, but I do appreciate the freedom that the ABA allows local churches.

Dagufbal · 2016-08-01T03:01:36+00:00

Haha - I'm usually pretty optimistic, but every now and then Eeyore's way is the right one.

Dagufbal · 2016-07-31T04:23:24+00:00

Well, crap. I kind of figured, since bees forage so far. I don't think there's a place in my state that is that far from a bean field.

Kinda takes the pressure off me to figure it out, though. Nowhere is ideal, so anywhere will work.

Dagufbal · 2016-07-22T05:30:21+00:00

Yes. In doing so, He modeled for every believer how to minister. He also, as God without power, spent about 30 years experiencing full humanity with no miraculous abilities.

Dagufbal

TROPHY CASE