DISQUS

Karin H. · 2 years ago

Marcus, wow

Didn't know first to smile, to raise my eyebrows or just to read on. Did the first and the latter ;-)

You've touched on something here my friend. Must say I'm not 'religious' (call myself a Christian, am a follower of the teachings of Jesus and think I pray sometimes) but you've touched a nerve.

Don't know what comment I would leave on that blog, probably would just read the posts and comments and would feel blessed I'm rich and content with what I have and the friends and freedom I have compared to many others.

Bless you, my friend

Liz Strauss · 2 years ago

but I suppose one shouldn’t tweak something that’s been turning conversions for 2000 years.

Well beyond excellent through through. So darn good you need to feature this in your sidebar. This one's important for bloggers AND Christians.

Bravo.

Shep · 2 years ago

I find myself wanting to defend God, but he hasn't told me what to say either. Perhaps he's not talking. Perhaps he's not talking to me? Perhaps he's talking and I am not listening. Perhaps he's not talking because I'm not listening.

But still, I hope. It's better for me than the alternative.

Eve · 2 years ago

Here's what I would say:

Hi God-been over to my blog(s) lately?

I'm really thankful for all my blogging buddies that You've sent my way (yeah-even that crazy Mark guy) :) You knew that I really needed some friends to spur me on.

About my hubby losing his job-could you PLEASE tell us where You want us to go to find a replacement job? We're not mind readers. I keep searching Your Word, but it doesn't say, "Go to Fredericton...or move to Alberta...."

About my Bible reading-yup, I know things need to improve there. You and I both know that quiet time is hard to find and alone-time even harder (and I'm not much of an early riser).

But really, waking me up at 2:00 in the morning with a sick kid is not helping either?! (sorry-I'm a little tired)

I feel like my love for You has cooled off a bit of late -AND I DON"T WANT IT TO!! Please give me the kick in the pants that I need.

Thanks, God, for the great posts and please keep in touch .

-Eve (thanks Markus)

Marcus · 2 years ago

Karin, thanks for breaking the ice. I was really worried about this post.

And your comments remind me again of the fine line I try to walk here. Open to all views, and unapologetically Christian in my own.

Marcus · 2 years ago

Liz, you are too sweet! Thanks for coming by. The jury is out on featuring this in the sidebar, but we're in discussion of other sidebar features so this has a fighting chance. (It's my next house cleaning project).

Marcus · 2 years ago

Shep, you know my philosophy of writing--unflinching honesty. Since I'm a doubtful person, it means I present my doubt without apology.

(Though I don't want to give people the impression that the voice here is me. It's just a piece of me.)

Marcus · 2 years ago

Eve, I love your post-script comment to God: "Please keep in touch." My feelings exactly.

I'm not God (far from it!) but I'll try to keep in touch too.

Craver-VII · 2 years ago

Interesting thoughts. I feel like I just peeked inside somebody's private prayer journal.

Marcus · 2 years ago

Perhaps. And perhaps we should share our prayer journals more often? Or perhaps doing so would be a bizzare kind of spiritual exhibitionism?

m chesnut · 2 years ago

Does this doubter expect an answer? If so, is he disappointed when there isn't one?

Marcus · 2 years ago

That's a good question, Matt. I'm not sure if I expect an answer or not. I'm not really very good at praying--which seems like a bad thing since it is sort of central to my faith. Part of my penance is that I try to be pretty open about my complete failure as a "praying person."

In fact, this blog is really the best kind of praying I do--and most of that has ulterior motives. But then I suspect a lot of people's prayers are corrupted by ulterior motives.

It's always good to hear from you, Matt! Have you written any limerics lately?

Karin H. · 2 years ago

You're welcome Marcus.

Already send the link to a very good friend of mine to make him ponder also.

Like I said in my earlier comment: your 'comment' touched a nerve and made me quiet for a while, wondering about my own 'point in time-life'. Felt like I was a bit in 'emotional turmoil' for various - not serious - reasons (mid-life crisis?) and your post (which I read on Sunday afternoon, just after I wrote my "gotta get goals" meme post, also a bit emotional filled) gave me - as Eve would say - : a kick in the pants.

Am clear in the head again, grateful for your post and your 'daring' to post it.

Bless you my friend

m chesnut · 2 years ago

No limericks, but I have done a complete rundown of this year's American Idol.

L.L. Barkat · 2 years ago

Maybe your technology is just incompatible?

Marcus · 2 years ago

Matt, are you going to give us a link? Or did you log the run down in your Mead Notebook?

L.L., I hope I'm not incompatible! Because that's the technology I'm using--bio data storage and input processing. (Better known as my brain.)

Maybe I should be using my spirit? Or my soul? The only way I know to think about those things though is with my brain.

L.L. Barkat · 2 years ago

Ah, the blog in the brain... I think He must comment there...through the sound of the wind, the touch of our beloved, the memory of his word.

Thanks for your thoughts over on Seedlings. You have permission. :)

Marcus · 2 years ago

Oh goody! I look forward to editing some poetry.

Your comment here, while so poetic, is part of my continual frustration with prayer. Imagine the only comments I left on your blog were the sound of wind, the touch of some other blogger, the memory of a post I wrote here.

You might wonder if I was commenting at all...

Imagine that my avatar and name never directly appeared anywhere on your blog. You never had direct assurance that I was paying attention to you, but everyone told you that I was.

I guess that's where the faith part comes in. I think I must not be very good at that.

m chesnut · 2 years ago

My new digs are here, but most of the entires are friends-protected, so you needs to get on that if you wants to reads it.

Eve Nielsen · 2 years ago

"I’m not God (far from it!) but I’ll try to keep in touch too."

Thanks, Mark. You, Craver and LL are great friends to have!

Craver-VII · 2 years ago

Thanks for saying that, Eve. Blogging can be criticized as impersonal, but to me, these friendships are very real.

I'm not saying that I believe everyone who blogs is completely transparent, and that we know all about one another, but I like to think that we can discern through some of the facades, and basically see who is true and to what extent someone is just painting a pretty picture.

I wonder whether the perception of "real" relationships in the blogosphere affects how careful one might be to express truth with GRACE. I have had to rewrite many things that were said in a straightforward manner, because it did not pass the test of "love your neighbor as yourself," and "love one another as I have loved you."

Marcus · 2 years ago

Eve and Craver, I agree completely. Although it makes me feel white and nerdy to admit it, the friends with whom I have the best conversations are now online.

Lisa Gates · 2 years ago

Hi Mark,

I too am not what I would call a Bible Christian, but God is listening and, looking at the number of posts here, responding. God in and with and through all of us is having a conversation, right here, right now.

My personal spin is that I AM, the eternal I AM (also known as AUM or OM) holds that you, Marcus and Karin and Craver et al, are indeed God.

And when you pose a question to God, the answer is in you, from the IAM.

So thank you for talking to yourself, and sharing your conversation with all of us. It's quite remarkable.

Lisa

Craver-VII · 2 years ago

(Mark, feel free to delete any of my comments if they go against what you wish to do with your blog.)

Linda, that’s a different perspective, for sure. I gather from your tone that you do not intend to offend, you thoughtfully prefaced your comment as “personal opinion,” but may I address something?

People from my religious background, as well as a few other of the world’s major belief systems, would consider it a very bad thing to say that any person is “indeed God.” Therefore, I would quickly have to deny any connection with deity, except that I strive to live as He taught, and having been born again by the grace of God, I am now a new creation, and my body has become a temple with God residing within me. Still, I am not God any more than the Craver family’s house is a person.

We (Bible Christians) teach that everyone who hears the message of Jesus Christ, turns from their sin, and fully trusts in God’s provision for reconciliation is also a temple (but not a god). I hope that makes sense to you.

One more thing, I am not a professional writer, but I look forward to learning from you as I read your comments, and as time permits, visit your blog.
:-)

Lisa Gates · 2 years ago

Hi Craver,
Thank you for your generosity, and Mark for allowing the conversation.

Stepping on your belief in God would be like stepping on myself. I think at the core of this conversation lies a love of humanity, a love of expression, and a humility that is terribly beautiful. This is why I think you are a "piece" of God.

With great respect,
Lisa

Marcus · 2 years ago

Hey, Craver and Lisa. I responded more to you all on a new post.

Eve Nielsen · 2 years ago

Marcus and Craver,
I really am blessed to have "real" friends like the both of you and LL and another blogger Deb. I don't have many firends (oops-I means friends-lol) close by (they've all moved away-is it me???).

I also find that the mentality around here (Moncton) is that no one has the time to be a friend-which really sucks if that friend happens to be you.

I really appreciate seeing Christ eminate from all of you and the humor and just how accepted I feel for being me. Thanks (ok, here's a kleenex-sop up!)

Eve Nielsen · 2 years ago

Craver,
Are you feeling ok? You look a little green, man.

craver-vii · 2 years ago

Eve, the original picture is normal. The green will eventually wear off. It's kryptonite. That's one of the side-effects. I don't know how he got a hold of it, but Mark thinks it's real funny to play with kryptonite. He just doesn't know when to stop, you know what I'm saying? Shhh; don't tell him I said that.

Jesse Petersen · 2 years ago

Absolutely phenomenal post. Creative and a great way to tie in the story of ages into today's medium. As with any body of believers, even in the same church, you will have people with different views, but your post is an excellent way to get the juices flowing and the duscussion rolling.

I can't wait to meet you in Chicago.

Marcus · 2 years ago

Wow, thanks for the kind words, Jesse. Your blog makes me want to explore WoW, but I know I would be lost forever if I did. (I just don't have the self-discipline for it...)

I look forward to Chicago too!