Comments on: Sound bites http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/ It's more wonderful than you can imagine! Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:25:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Bruce http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3748 Bruce Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:39:40 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3748 I love the idea, Toby. Maybe we'll do something similar here. We can keep adding to the list as people are inspired to contribute. I love the idea, Toby. Maybe we’ll do something similar here. We can keep adding to the list as people are inspired to contribute.

]]> By: Toby http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3747 Toby Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:36:28 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3747 Bruce - I really appreciate this post. It inspired me to do a similar thing on my blog. For weeks I have been keeping a private post called 'ideas' where I parked little thoughts and ideas for future blogs. Several of these were little phrases that had become touchstones to me over the past several months of this majorly transitional time in my life. I never could find any way to expand them into a post - they just were poignant and meaningful phrases unto themselves. After seeing your Sound Bites, I shamelessly copied you! My blog's growing collection is posted on it's own page called 'Lovebytes' and is presently linked from my sidebar. Thank you! Bruce - I really appreciate this post. It inspired me to do a similar thing on my blog. For weeks I have been keeping a private post called ‘ideas’ where I parked little thoughts and ideas for future blogs. Several of these were little phrases that had become touchstones to me over the past several months of this majorly transitional time in my life. I never could find any way to expand them into a post - they just were poignant and meaningful phrases unto themselves. After seeing your Sound Bites, I shamelessly copied you! My blog’s growing collection is posted on it’s own page called ‘Lovebytes’ and is presently linked from my sidebar. Thank you!

]]> By: Toby http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3727 Toby Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:14:21 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3727 "Sons are led, slaves are driven" "God is looking for lovers, not lawyers" That's just a couple of the 'soundbytes' I cherish now. I will be savoring this list you've provided and the great comments. Bruce, I just stumbled on this site after reading your comment on divinenobodies.com re 'Spiritual Subtraction' (letting go). Your use of the term 'house of cards' struck a chord with me. When we truly realize how earnestly God has sought after us, how high of a price He paid to reach us in our condition, it becomes blatantly obvious there's nothing we can do but trust in and live in this extravagant love He has poured out in Christ. I'm a newbie to this site but I've bookmarked it already. Good stuff! “Sons are led, slaves are driven”

“God is looking for lovers, not lawyers”

That’s just a couple of the ’soundbytes’ I cherish now. I will be savoring this list you’ve provided and the great comments. Bruce, I just stumbled on this site after reading your comment on divinenobodies.com re ‘Spiritual Subtraction’ (letting go). Your use of the term ‘house of cards’ struck a chord with me. When we truly realize how earnestly God has sought after us, how high of a price He paid to reach us in our condition, it becomes blatantly obvious there’s nothing we can do but trust in and live in this extravagant love He has poured out in Christ. I’m a newbie to this site but I’ve bookmarked it already. Good stuff!

]]> By: Bruce http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3672 Bruce Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:34:56 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3672 Another one to add to the list: "Repenting" doesn't mean that you should change what you're doing (to win God's approval), it means changing your mind about "who God is", so you can become free of your fear of him, and enjoy life with him! Another one to add to the list:

“Repenting” doesn’t mean that you should change what you’re doing (to win God’s approval), it means changing your mind about “who God is”, so you can become free of your fear of him, and enjoy life with him!

]]> By: Bruce http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3646 Bruce Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:31:31 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3646 You have a good heart, SVS, and though we don't see eye to eye on some things (different cultures, different backgrounds, different perspectives), I always see a huge chunk of God in you. Keep moving forward and keep looking within. There's a lot in there, you know. Perspective changes everything! You have a good heart, SVS, and though we don’t see eye to eye on some things (different cultures, different backgrounds, different perspectives), I always see a huge chunk of God in you. Keep moving forward and keep looking within. There’s a lot in there, you know. Perspective changes everything!

]]> By: SocietyVs http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3645 SocietyVs Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:21:41 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3645 "The journey is full of twists and turns, and there is wonderful stuff just around the bend!" (Bruce) True. I actually ejoy reading about the focus on love and grace - I honestly do - it's a perspective that kind of gets muddied from the conservative aspects of this faith...almost to make it non-existent at times - which I see you addressing quite often...I think there is a need for that. I enjoy the focus - although I raise questions concerning some of the reasoning - but what matters is what someone does what they believe - and I can't truly see the harm in 'love'. “The journey is full of twists and turns, and there is wonderful stuff just around the bend!” (Bruce)

True. I actually ejoy reading about the focus on love and grace - I honestly do - it’s a perspective that kind of gets muddied from the conservative aspects of this faith…almost to make it non-existent at times - which I see you addressing quite often…I think there is a need for that. I enjoy the focus - although I raise questions concerning some of the reasoning - but what matters is what someone does what they believe - and I can’t truly see the harm in ‘love’.

]]> By: Bruce http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3644 Bruce Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:56:48 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3644 Todd, that pretty much sums it up! Good addition to the list! SVS, that's cool man. I'm not going to try to convince you of anything. Either you see it or you don't. What you believe has to come from within you. You need to believe what makes sense to you, and I hope you continue to find peace in it. The journey is full of twists and turns, and there is wonderful stuff just around the bend! Todd, that pretty much sums it up! Good addition to the list!

SVS, that’s cool man. I’m not going to try to convince you of anything. Either you see it or you don’t. What you believe has to come from within you. You need to believe what makes sense to you, and I hope you continue to find peace in it. The journey is full of twists and turns, and there is wonderful stuff just around the bend!

]]> By: SocietyVs http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3643 SocietyVs Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:45:50 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3643 “Because he needed to set the stage for a redeeming event! He used their religion against them to show them their self-righteousness and cause them to cry out for a savior!” (Bruce) So Jesus – who upheld the law – uses the law against the people to show them their need for a savior? Isn’t that self righteous of Jesus? I mean, he could keep the whole of the law and all that – and we could not – so then he in turn uses what we cannot keep as proof of his ‘savior’ status? I personally do not believe that at all. It makes no sense. Jesus teaches us things (from law) that cannot be done – which brings into question his teacher status for sure. I am not sure where this idea comes from at all – it’s not something Jesus as much infers from his teachings. As far as I can tell – this is an add-in to the teachings. As for salvation – what is it Jesus is saving us from? The law? Ourselves? Death? Religion? Hell? At least with Moses we knew where we stood concerning salvation as an event – an exodus from slavery to build a community/society (specific) – all here and now stuff. ‘Used their religion against them’? Maybe so – but he also upheld that religion in his own practices. When Jesus calls people out – he does it with the authority of the Torah/Prophets as his proof-texts/teachings. So even if he is calling out some ‘hypocrites’ – which he does from time to time – he does it with their own faith – which oddly enough seems to be the same one he is a part of (Judaism). “True belief can only exist when the requirement to believe is removed” (Bruce) In order for this statement to be true – one must believe it (irony). “Because he needed to set the stage for a redeeming event! He used their religion against them to show them their self-righteousness and cause them to cry out for a savior!” (Bruce)

So Jesus – who upheld the law – uses the law against the people to show them their need for a savior? Isn’t that self righteous of Jesus? I mean, he could keep the whole of the law and all that – and we could not – so then he in turn uses what we cannot keep as proof of his ‘savior’ status?

I personally do not believe that at all. It makes no sense. Jesus teaches us things (from law) that cannot be done – which brings into question his teacher status for sure. I am not sure where this idea comes from at all – it’s not something Jesus as much infers from his teachings. As far as I can tell – this is an add-in to the teachings.

As for salvation – what is it Jesus is saving us from? The law? Ourselves? Death? Religion? Hell? At least with Moses we knew where we stood concerning salvation as an event – an exodus from slavery to build a community/society (specific) – all here and now stuff.

‘Used their religion against them’? Maybe so – but he also upheld that religion in his own practices. When Jesus calls people out – he does it with the authority of the Torah/Prophets as his proof-texts/teachings. So even if he is calling out some ‘hypocrites’ – which he does from time to time – he does it with their own faith – which oddly enough seems to be the same one he is a part of (Judaism).

“True belief can only exist when the requirement to believe is removed” (Bruce)

In order for this statement to be true – one must believe it (irony).

]]> By: Todd Lange http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3642 Todd Lange Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:43:27 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3642 Ok, here is one I have used...kinda crude but fits my mood right now. The Cross was Gods eternal middle finger to the self-righteous, law-mongering religions of the world. I dunno....never said I was classy. G and P T Ok, here is one I have used…kinda crude but fits my mood right now.

The Cross was Gods eternal middle finger to the self-righteous, law-mongering religions of the world.

I dunno….never said I was classy.

G and P
T

]]> By: Bruce http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3641 Bruce Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:22:03 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2008/09/23/sound-bites/#comment-3641 Don R... a friend once suggested that one of the most powerful aspects of the Cross was to "wipe the slate clean". I am learning that God is often only revealed in an open heart. And religion seems to work against openness. Know what I mean? Yes, Mindy... it wasn't until I broke free from religion that I started to sense real peace. bother alan... wonderful, beautiful thoughts! I love the analogies you offered and appreciate the wisdom they represent. Thank you for stopping by. I cherish your contributions to the discussion, and am looking forward to getting to know you! Yes, Cliff... religion tells us that God is complex and mysterious. We'll their God might be, but to me, God is simple and clear. They've allowed the views of others to cloud their view, and complicate things. May they all break free... Julia, hang in there, sis! To coin a phrase from a wonderful friend of mine... "the best is yet to come!" Don H... thank you for sharing that! Somehow, that detail about your life escaped me all this time. I appreciate your willingness to witness the Love of God to those who need to hear it the most... the religious! It seems that most churches I've been associated with carry one thing in common. That is, while they paint a surface of peace, contentment, and trust... deep down, fear, doubt and frustration run rampant. May your gentle heart reach into the fear and pull them out! May they see the truth for what it is, and truly arrive in the land of milk and honey! I feel a revolution of love coming! Blessings to all! Warm love and great joy to you! Don R… a friend once suggested that one of the most powerful aspects of the Cross was to “wipe the slate clean”. I am learning that God is often only revealed in an open heart. And religion seems to work against openness. Know what I mean?

Yes, Mindy… it wasn’t until I broke free from religion that I started to sense real peace.

bother alan… wonderful, beautiful thoughts! I love the analogies you offered and appreciate the wisdom they represent. Thank you for stopping by. I cherish your contributions to the discussion, and am looking forward to getting to know you!

Yes, Cliff… religion tells us that God is complex and mysterious. We’ll their God might be, but to me, God is simple and clear. They’ve allowed the views of others to cloud their view, and complicate things. May they all break free…

Julia, hang in there, sis! To coin a phrase from a wonderful friend of mine… “the best is yet to come!”

Don H… thank you for sharing that! Somehow, that detail about your life escaped me all this time. I appreciate your willingness to witness the Love of God to those who need to hear it the most… the religious! It seems that most churches I’ve been associated with carry one thing in common. That is, while they paint a surface of peace, contentment, and trust… deep down, fear, doubt and frustration run rampant. May your gentle heart reach into the fear and pull them out! May they see the truth for what it is, and truly arrive in the land of milk and honey!

I feel a revolution of love coming!

Blessings to all! Warm love and great joy to you!

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