Weird Time for Christians

I don't really feel the need to go to a doctor either. Haven't been in years. Don't plan on going in years unless I absolutely need to. I'm healthy. When I'm sick and I go, the doctor asks me what's wrong, and then.... I tell the doctor what's wrong, and the doctor says, "Hmmm, yep, looks like this is what's wrong" :lol:

So, I think the analogy still works overall - much of the s#!t people go to the doctor for I'm of the opinion they do not need to.

 
Landlord said:
I don't really feel the need to go to a doctor either. Haven't been in years. Don't plan on going in years unless I absolutely need to. I'm healthy. When I'm sick and I go, the doctor asks me what's wrong, and then.... I tell the doctor what's wrong, and the doctor says, "Hmmm, yep, looks like this is what's wrong" :lol:

So, I think the analogy still works overall - much of the s#!t people go to the doctor for I'm of the opinion they do not need to.
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I'm the same way, the only reason I *need* to go to the doctor, is so he can write me the script I already know I need.   I still don't understand why I can't have a lifetime script of medicine that I'll need for the rest of my life instead of making me go in annually to say yep still have asthma, still get shortness of breath once in awhile, yep, I'll keep using this here inhaler as needed, thanks Doc.

 
sho said:
For me, that's more than a message board post answer.   Short answer, I seek people/organizations with wisdom to give me information, so I can learn and form my own opinions.   I hear what (s)he says, look at the source they are using, look to see what they are trying to accomplish, digest it, and come up with my own thoughts and opinions on a topic.  I then start aligning myself with people/organizations that share a majority of same things I do.  Once I have built the trust, I tend to care about and value their opinion over others that I did not find to be as useful to me. 

I have that relationship with this pastor, the way he explains things, the way he teaches about the bible, coupled with the first hand experiences I have had that lend me to trust his word and explanation.   Do I disagree with him on somethings?  Yes.  But I tend to believe more than not and have had many blessings.   That said, his voice is not the only voice I listen to and use for information.  He is just another source, of what I consider trusted, providers that I can use to form my opinion.   When we disagree, he doesn't say I'm wrong, doesn't try to brow beat me into believing lock, stock and barrel the same things he does.

Lastly, this church, this pastor is all about what can I do to be better than I was yesterday, both morally and spiritually.   How can I serve those that are in need?  How can I help those that don't have the same blessings and opportunities I have had?  What can I do to make the lives of those around me more enriched?   That was the topic of immigration.   They are here, for whatever personal reason of their choice, now what can I do to help make their life better for as long as I have interaction with them?   The bible teaches, love him as your neighbor, how can I show that love that fits in my belief of the current immigration policy?  And what more can I do?  There was never talk about politics, there was never talk of this group/person believes this way help get him or her in or out.  It was how can I enrich the life of a fellow human while I can?
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I think this is so very well said sho.  It's cool to me that you can exchange the word "pastor" for whatever/whomever that is in your own life.  

I think that's where I struggle with the concept of people who credit or use religion to justify their good deeds and how they overcome challenges.   So many folks who are religious ask what I have to support me, to guide me, to look forward to etc.  I don't need those things.  My guiding force is to be good, kind to others, advocate for those who need it - but not because of religion, and because I want to be rewarded for it later, but because it's the right thing to do.  And I don't need to think there's a life beyond this, cuz I want to lead a great life and help others now. 

If seeing the bible telling you to do something (or Jesus does etc) makes people actually internalize and do better things than that's a win.  I just have a hard time when people act as if you can't be good and kind and well motivated if you don't believe in god. 

(wee tangent there - sorry, the post was just so well written and deep sho!) 

 
NM11046 said:
I think this is so very well said sho.  It's cool to me that you can exchange the word "pastor" for whatever/whomever that is in your own life.  

I think that's where I struggle with the concept of people who credit or use religion to justify their good deeds and how they overcome challenges.   So many folks who are religious ask what I have to support me, to guide me, to look forward to etc.  I don't need those things.  My guiding force is to be good, kind to others, advocate for those who need it - but not because of religion, and because I want to be rewarded for it later, but because it's the right thing to do.  And I don't need to think there's a life beyond this, cuz I want to lead a great life and help others now. 

If seeing the bible telling you to do something (or Jesus does etc) makes people actually internalize and do better things than that's a win.  I just have a hard time when people act as if you can't be good and kind and well motivated if you don't believe in god. 

(wee tangent there - sorry, the post was just so well written and deep sho!) 
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This is always a weird one for me as well, even being a believer. If you were to believe in God, you know we are created in the image of God. In my view of religion, doing right and serving God and his creations is default, that is what we all want to do in our lives regardless of our beliefs. We are tempted, but ultimately we know in our hearts the law whether we have read them or not. It is our choice to fall into temptation or do the right thing, but people have obviously been given an internal compass for a reason. No matter your view on faith and religion, its nearly impossible to deny the idea of the concious inside that tells you whats up. However you want to explain that, its something that nearly all people have.

 
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Birds of a feather - Trump and Falwell.   The guy is a jerk, riding on his daddy's coattails.  So this "Evangelical Leader" can call a reporter 'little boy" and hire 'the meanest lawyer in NY" - sure doesn't sound like he is displaying any Christian charity or the fruit of the Spirit.  No wonder - when you sleep wt the bear you have to become one with the bear so not to be eaten by it. Falwell is like Trump and Trump is like him.   So sad that he 'inherited' his leadership position and a platform to speak on moral issues and never earned by learning to 'dying to self' and picking up his cross in humility.  The way of the cross is much more difficult then the way of power, money and image.  That is why he resembles Trump and not Mother Teresa or any other who have given their life to helping others.

https://apnews.com/01404d7b984b4010b08834459e4813f1

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. said Tuesday that he is asking the FBI to investigate what he called a “criminal” smear campaign orchestrated against him by several disgruntled former board members and employees.
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His allegations come after the publication of a story in Politico Magazine on Monday that alleged Falwell “presides over a culture of self-dealing” at Liberty that has improperly benefited him and his family. The story cited unnamed sources described as current and former officials or Falwell associates.

“I’m not going to dignify the lies that were reported yesterday with a response, but I am going to the authorities and I am going to civil court,” Falwell said, referring to the reporter as a “little boy.”

He added that Liberty has hired “the meanest lawyer in New York,” whom he declined to identify, to pursue civil cases. Falwell also declined to identify the people he said were spreading the emails.
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Falwell is the son of the late evangelist, Liberty founder and Moral Majority leader the Rev. Jerry Falwell. He has come under increased scrutiny recently over his personal life and business investments, including his involvement in a Miami hostel.

The Hill first reported on Tuesday that Falwell had requested an FBI investigation.

Falwell said he contacted the FBI last week after he learned that reporters were reaching out to Liberty employees about the emails he insists were stolen.

“Liberty owns every single one of those emails. It’s our property. They were working for us when they used our server. And our policies make it clear every email sent on our server is owned by Liberty and if anybody shares it with anybody outside Liberty, it is theft. And so that’s the underlying crime,” Falwell told AP in a phone interview.

An FBI spokeswoman declined comment.

Cybercrime expert Nick Akerman said Falwell’s assertion of a criminal conspiracy is “totally insane.” Akerman said the ex-board members and employees can share emails with reporters as long as they had authorized access to them and didn’t hack into someone else’s account. He said trade secrets are also protected under the law, but Liberty wouldn’t be able to make a case there either.
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https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/10/jerry-falwell-nightclub-photos-miami-228054

https://worldredeye.com/2019/09/rebuke-jerry-falwell-jr-s-comment-politicos-someones-gotta-tell-freakin-truth-jerry-falwells-aides-break-silence-article/

This really gets weird

and more - compromising photos

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-jerry-falwell-jr-miami-beach-pool-boy-evangelical-explained-850380/

And weirder -- he is more like Trump than I can imaginge

https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2019/09/jerry-falwell-jr-sends-racy-photos-of-his-wife-to-university-officials-and-rants-about-his-penis-size-report/

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article231717833.html

The sun was setting at the Cheeca Lodge resort in Islamorada when Jerry Falwell Jr. smiled for the camera, a national evangelical leader nearing 50 posing next to a young man he had met poolside in Miami Beach.

The photograph shows Giancarlo Granda, a handsome, 20-something pool attendant whom Jerry and his wife, Rebecca, 52, befriended at the Fontainebleau hotel in 2012, and within months, would set up as part-owner and manager of a $4.7 million South Beach hostel.

It was an unusual partnership: The president of the largest Christian university in the world, a school that prohibits gay sex, agreeing to operate a Miami Beach hostel, regarded as gay friendly, in conjunction with a “pool boy” with virtually no hotel management experience after they met at the storied Fontainebleau, a favored South Florida vacation ground for the Falwells. Yet there they were, not only business partners but mingling socially at Cheeca, an idyllic, exclusive resort in the Keys.
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NM11046 said:
So it turns out Spicey is banking on God being a big player on Dancing With The Stars votes ...
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This is the kind of thought process that absolutely makes no sense to me.  So.....Spicey is a bad dancer, the judges aren't impressed......and its because he's a Christian and Huckabee is going to pray for him and so all the Christians will then vote for him and send a message to those evil people on the west coast?

 
BigRedBuster said:
This is the kind of thought process that absolutely makes no sense to me.  So.....Spicey is a bad dancer, the judges aren't impressed......and its because he's a Christian and Huckabee is going to pray for him and so all the Christians will then vote for him and send a message to those evil people on the west coast?
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Not many people are aware that Jesus actually "moonwalked" on the water.  He was an avid dancer!  I'm sure Christ is watching DWTS and chomping at the bit to sway the outcome....

 
BigRedBuster said:
Yes
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My pastor just did a sermon on this story on Sunday. It was a great sermon. He's very conservative by nature and tries not to get too much into politics, but this story was a perfect example of Luke 7:36-50 "A Sinful Woman Forgiven". In this moment, she isn't worthy of forgiveness, but that is why forgiveness is the perfect gift.

 
I'm already beyond exhausted with the "reconciliation porn" of this story. 

Bonhoefer called forgiveness without repentance cheap grace, and when white people keep praising black forgiveness but still refuse to validate black anger or to be outraged by unjust and non-equitable punishments, that just feels like relatively empty tone policing to me. 

 
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