tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.comments2008-12-20T03:58:41.036-08:00Sacred SpaceRoland G. Kuhlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853274933651600901noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-7252164806881646712008-12-20T03:58:00.000-08:002008-12-20T03:58:00.000-08:00Good word, brother. Thank you.Good word, brother. Thank you.John Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09323168351574011376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-50960045957702157792008-12-20T03:56:00.000-08:002008-12-20T03:56:00.000-08:00By the way, how is your experience of pastoring an...By the way, how is your experience of pastoring an institutional church while your heart is aimed in, what appears to me, a different direction?John Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09323168351574011376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-71888740941158662332008-12-20T03:54:00.000-08:002008-12-20T03:54:00.000-08:00Hey brother Roland -Yes, I want that kind of kingd...Hey brother Roland -<BR/><BR/>Yes, I want that kind of kingdom community. It is the primary testimony of Christ and the primary reality in this life he calls us to. And I can think of no other way than the biblical one you point to.<BR/><BR/>And yet, I still have never witnessed first-hand that reality in action. How can I preach kingdom life to others when I myself have largely never and still do not experience it?<BR/><BR/>Much love. - John.John Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09323168351574011376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-17069204158199892172008-01-01T05:56:00.000-08:002008-01-01T05:56:00.000-08:00Yes, I forgot to include the point that we made ab...Yes, I forgot to include the point that we made about peace being a characteristic of the Trinity and that it is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. Indeed Christ's peace brings wholeness, shalom to humanity, but it requires a self surrender, a dying to our own rights and privileges in order to give witness to the peace that is only realized in relationship with Jesus throught the Spirit of God.Roland G. Kuhlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09853274933651600901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-91057324441973538262007-12-31T08:48:00.000-08:002007-12-31T08:48:00.000-08:00It was good conversation. I was struck with the pa...It was good conversation. I was struck with the paradox confronting us. Clearly the gospel brings conflict. However, Jesus said, "My peace I leave with you." So is it really a paradox? He left His peace with His followers in an integrative, direct sense. He did not leave His peace with the world in a direct sense but indirectly through His followers. The peace He left is fruit of the Spirit and is derived from the community of the Trinity. None the less, He left a redemptive, loving and truthful peace.wAvhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16850646884006433221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-14061188847582444522007-12-21T19:04:00.000-08:002007-12-21T19:04:00.000-08:00Thanks for facilitating the course, Roland. I enj...Thanks for facilitating the course, Roland. I enjoyed the discussions... and especially enjoyed working on the final paper. I learned enough about Augustine to know I am not anywhere near where this giant was in terms of understanding "making space" and "planting" and all the big buzz words today like incarnational, missional, community, organic, etc. He was the DaVinci of theology 1000 years before DaVinci. Anyways, thanks for the point in that direction. I appreciate your work!kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05728405437910449159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-84689847088806472302007-12-17T05:14:00.000-08:002007-12-17T05:14:00.000-08:00I am so glad God can be experienced anywhere peopl...I am so glad God can be experienced anywhere people go who are open to see what God is doing. I think it also raises their ethical standards considerably.<BR/><BR/>-mark l vincentmark l vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00821728866195388085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-51271733399564401472007-08-29T19:02:00.000-07:002007-08-29T19:02:00.000-07:00TomThanks for your response. I guess it is also G...Tom<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your response. I guess it is also God's grace that enables us to love God's choices. If it were up to us, I know we struggle with our inability. It is in admitting our weakness, admitting our inability that we no longer to try and pull off loving others in our own ability. As we help each other be sensitive to the way of the Spirit in our lives, we begin to love in ways and love those only God enables us to love. What does Paul say in Romans - it was while we were still enemies of God that Jesus loved us and gave his life for us so that we might live. It is this kind of love that we find ourselves being able to share with others when we allow Christ to take a hold of us.Roland G. Kuhlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09853274933651600901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-75199031338715098232007-08-29T18:21:00.000-07:002007-08-29T18:21:00.000-07:00Love... I agree with you.. to love Gods choices.....Love... I agree with you.. to love Gods choices.. Easy to say.. I think in our lack of ability, it's more accepting Gods' choices.. <BR/>Respect..Understanding..Compassion.. most of all GRACE....I don't throw the word "love" around casually.. It's got to be heart felt..a desire to serve an individual..To feel anticipation for time spent together.. <BR/>I can "love" a fellow wretch like me,,,I can even jump on a granade, to save a life, I don't know,,,but I can't "LOVE" all of Gods' choices...Until the heart finds that balance...<BR/>Hope this makes sense....Tom ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13778120923791765306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-54833793284798001282007-08-03T05:31:00.000-07:002007-08-03T05:31:00.000-07:00I am always ready to "Dance"...Hey Ro...This reall...I am always ready to "Dance"...<BR/><BR/>Hey Ro...<BR/>This really captures the "walk" well.<BR/>One can "dance alone", but is way more fun with a "group"...<BR/>I miss Ya, hope you're having a Great summer!<BR/><BR/>Cya soon I hope... t.f.The Happy Phanthomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08620061484658449446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-51035760702162982092007-04-07T21:33:00.000-07:002007-04-07T21:33:00.000-07:00Roland-Good article. There are so many ways that ...Roland-<BR/><BR/>Good article. There are so many ways that we devalue people. Coming at them all the time with an agenda is one. Thanks for the reminder.glennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924305177356310590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-59737621963786355592007-03-05T14:05:00.000-08:002007-03-05T14:05:00.000-08:00Interesting dialogue on God, gender, etc. I appre...Interesting dialogue on God, gender, etc. I appreciate you all sharing your mind on this. As usual I find myself listening and am not sure where to jump into this discussion -- if I need to at all. But whatever understanding we have of God (especially if we try to understand God in our image, through our experiences, etc), we need to be open to allow God to reveal to us who God is. This requires us being open to relationship with God. As in human relationships, if we jump to conclusions about persons, we tend to short circuit the relationship, rather than being open to discover the other (as well as ourselves) in and through the relationship. There is much we do not know about God, though we come up with many ideas -- but God is one who invites us into relationship with him (couldn't keep the gender out) and we need to remain open enough not only to discover who God is, but also who we are in relationship with him. I think all of our lives/our stories have "God-moments" in them which reveal God to us (if we are open) and also reveal ourselves to us -- and our need to be fully human by being in relationship with God. That is, by the way, why God became a human being in Jesus -- to enable such a relationship when we discover in our "God-moments" that life is pretty empty.Roland G. Kuhlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09853274933651600901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-55247033734829113892007-03-05T04:29:00.000-08:002007-03-05T04:29:00.000-08:00Hey Thom: I'm glad to hear Saturday went well.. ...Hey Thom: I'm glad to hear Saturday went well.. Missed you guys Saturday night.. Tom O..Tom ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16414838385066086121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-18957199925651987652007-03-05T04:28:00.000-08:002007-03-05T04:28:00.000-08:00Howdy John,, I believe in Genesis, if God refers ...Howdy John,, I believe in Genesis, if God refers to us, He's speaking in the Trinity form.. Actually the first gender identification was with Adam: He created man in His own image, later giving him a helper: Eve.. <BR/>I don't think there is sex to Gods' identity at all..<BR/>He used the sex gender identity for our understanding. <BR/>The bride: was directed towards the Church not an individual..<BR/> Jesus had a mother and father (earthly) God never claimed to be both! He took the male role.. He could have made us both... God gave woman total respect. Look at the Virgin Mary: the most recognized and famous woman ever throughout history..<BR/> Interesting stuff!!Tom ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16414838385066086121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-40824740667705221212007-03-03T13:42:00.000-08:002007-03-03T13:42:00.000-08:00Awesome subject that's so practical and important ...Awesome subject that's so practical and important in our understanding of each other in gender!<BR/><BR/>How does the God of the Bible self identify? If I remember right, In Genesis God self-identifies as "Us" (Let "Us" make hunanity.) The first self-identification with gender is when Jesus is born as male, establishing a "Father-Son" relationship within God... maybe because later the Bible talks about people as being the "Bride" in some kind of intimate relationship with God. Other than that, gender identifications of God are all by the patriarchal cultures of the Old Testament... just an assumption, like slavery and polygamy... not necessarily rooted in truth.<BR/><BR/>My question is why does God accept the title "Father" in the New Testament but leave out "Mother"? I understand the God/husband people/bride thing... but what about paternal/maternal roles? Doesn't God bear them both?John Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09323168351574011376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-52926210576904058702007-03-02T06:17:00.000-08:002007-03-02T06:17:00.000-08:00Hey t...Like Roland said..."We all have a story"!G...Hey t...<BR/>Like Roland said...<BR/>"We all have a story"!<BR/><BR/>God of the bible being male, a tricky statement. <BR/>For me, God is spirit, neither gender applies. The Holy Spirit even appears as a dove and fire.<BR/>I think God can appear any "way" he/she wants. <BR/>I guess if ya wanna make God a male and He Loves men and women, He must be bi-sexual... <BR/>I think that's a sin... ;>)<BR/><BR/>It looks like we agree about Love, Grace and a new mind transformed by God's Spirit. I just happen to believe that God commands man to Love God and "ALL" those naughty "people" that do all those naughty "things" that you listed. <BR/>I don't think God would command us to Love like "HE" does (unconditionally), if we were not capable do it... How to "do it" is where the problem comes in.<BR/><BR/>Oky Doky, Maybe we should pray... "thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven"... Amen ?<BR/><BR/>That's "my story" and I am stickin' to it!!! t.f.The Happy Phanthomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08620061484658449446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-76495273583217493072007-03-01T20:34:00.000-08:002007-03-01T20:34:00.000-08:00Right, we didn't create God, but our opinion of Hi...Right, we didn't create God, but our opinion of Him changes. <BR/><BR/>The God of the Bible: too many references to Him as male, to be "she"... <BR/><BR/>Unconditional love: I experience it from God. Don't expect it from man, he's not capable... God loves us so much He'll honor any choice we make, even to live apart from Him!!<BR/><BR/>Unmerited favor, every born again believer takes advantage of it, though they may not fully understand it.... <BR/><BR/>New mind: Christians take adavantage of it. Don't conform to this world, be transformed by the reneming of your mind!! <BR/> Then you'll know my will!!<BR/> Love.....God of the Bible<BR/><BR/>god of oky doky, all is ok: rape, murder, robbery, incest, slander, etc.... Is that God's will??Tom ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16414838385066086121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-89200461395308345892007-03-01T06:34:00.000-08:002007-03-01T06:34:00.000-08:00hey t...we really didn't get a chance to talk abou...hey t...<BR/>we really didn't get a chance to talk about this post yesterday.<BR/>as usual, i'll take the bait... ;>)<BR/><BR/>1st. how about not "our past" but "history" period ?<BR/><BR/>2nd. we didn't create the god you speak of, he/she was always there...<BR/>god declares... i am LOVE...<BR/>that LOVE is UNCONDITIONAL !!!<BR/>so i ask... how many have experienced that kind of LOVE ?<BR/><BR/>god offers GRACE... UNMERITED FAVOR<BR/>how many take advantage of that ?<BR/><BR/>3rd. god saw creation and declared it good...<BR/><BR/>have we screwed it up ? NOPE !<BR/>only in our minds...<BR/>god freely offers a new mind...<BR/>how many take advantage of that ?<BR/><BR/>god's will is being done and that's... oky-doky with me !!!<BR/>love that oky-doky !!!<BR/><BR/>peace out ... t.f.The Happy Phanthomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08620061484658449446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-71609575715667729922007-02-28T01:17:00.000-08:002007-02-28T01:17:00.000-08:00Stories... We all have them, the question then be...Stories... We all have them, the question then becomes, "have we let our past change our belief of who God is? We change towards people, the Church, our attitudes etc... But, have we changed our God. Have we created a "entity" of only love and acceptance? A God of total acceptance towards all and everything. Have we all screwed it up? YEP! no doubt. So to make it better, lets create a the all magical God of "OKY-DOKY" all is goooood!!Tom ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16414838385066086121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-83308505826410766562007-02-21T10:35:00.000-08:002007-02-21T10:35:00.000-08:00Yes it was a good start -- see you there on Saturd...Yes it was a good start -- see you there on Saturday. Going to try a somewhat different approach -- see the blog.<BR/><BR/>RolandRoland G. Kuhlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09853274933651600901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-53445215604480062802007-02-19T00:33:00.000-08:002007-02-19T00:33:00.000-08:00Hi Roland...Thanks for the coffee and conversation...Hi Roland...<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the coffee and conversation at the first <BR/>sacred space Saturday morning. <BR/>Thanks for being gracious and listening to my maniacal raving too. I have a tendency to drive people mad :)<BR/><BR/>Promo material and the blogsite looks cool too.<BR/>Can hardly wait till next week, I've invited more people and hope they come...<BR/>Have a Great week !<BR/><BR/>Grace and Peace... t.f.The Happy Phanthomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08620061484658449446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37947222.post-1168727458395109422007-01-13T14:30:00.000-08:002007-01-13T14:30:00.000-08:00Hey brother! Long time no see! I'm so glad to ha...Hey brother! Long time no see! I'm so glad to have found you here. I'd love to reconnect if you ever have time. Maybe we could meet halfway? Drop me a line when you have a chance so I have your personal email. Life & peace!<BR/><BR/>johnslynch@yahoo.comJohn Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09323168351574011376noreply@blogger.com