Comments on: I Went Back (AKA You Only Get One Chance…Mostly) http://www.cloften.com/?p=1013 He'd rather be funny than good! Fri, 29 Jan 2016 20:05:26 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: rg http://www.cloften.com/?p=1013&cpage=1#comment-552 rg Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:06:22 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=1013#comment-552 Will practice both brevity and caution this time: Good post. While its awful to be lost, its miserable to be lost for no reason. The former is a matter of opinion or persuasion at best. The latter is usually determined by people who claim to have the map and flashlight. When those guys seem to let you stay in the dark, it can seem cruel. It's really tough to not take it personal when the people who have the answer are sharing what they have with you - even though its obvious you (the seeker) need it. That pretty much sums up what it feels like to muster the courage to walk into a place where the answer to your pain or loss or whatever might be. When a body in whatever form (i.e. family, church, marriage) operates from the context of 1 Corinthians 12 (God said we aren't complete without you"), I propose it cues up the good stuff found in 1 Corinthians 13. And, man, when you experience that (the "most excellent way") meted out to you from others, there is no doubt about worth, identity or purpose. Thanks, man. Good thoughts. Will practice both brevity and caution this time: Good post. While its awful to be lost, its miserable to be lost for no reason. The former is a matter of opinion or persuasion at best. The latter is usually determined by people who claim to have the map and flashlight. When those guys seem to let you stay in the dark, it can seem cruel. It’s really tough to not take it personal when the people who have the answer are sharing what they have with you – even though its obvious you (the seeker) need it. That pretty much sums up what it feels like to muster the courage to walk into a place where the answer to your pain or loss or whatever might be.

When a body in whatever form (i.e. family, church, marriage) operates from the context of 1 Corinthians 12 (God said we aren’t complete without you”), I propose it cues up the good stuff found in 1 Corinthians 13. And, man, when you experience that (the “most excellent way”) meted out to you from others, there is no doubt about worth, identity or purpose.

Thanks, man. Good thoughts.

]]> By: Heidi M http://www.cloften.com/?p=1013&cpage=1#comment-551 Heidi M Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:37:26 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=1013#comment-551 Oh my goodness! You are right. One chance only to help someone feel comfortable in a place and with people who will hopefully pour out God's love. That's a lot of pressure. We've got to get our one chance right! Oh my goodness! You are right. One chance only to help someone feel comfortable in a place and with people who will hopefully pour out God’s love. That’s a lot of pressure. We’ve got to get our one chance right!

]]> By: Jennifer Loftin http://www.cloften.com/?p=1013&cpage=1#comment-550 Jennifer Loftin Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:30:36 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=1013#comment-550 Hmmm, scary to be the first commenter. I wish it went beyond this. If we ARE the church meaning a Believer and Disciple of Jesus then love, hospitality, submission to one another, service etc. should be our new spiritual nature regardless of what building we go to on Sunday morning. It flows out of a spirit-filled life. If it is not truly our nature, then we have missed the boat entirely and are just playing church. If people don't see Jesus in us, then honestly they shouldn't come back to church. There is nothing there. The church isn't a building. It is a changed life, it is a bride of an amazing God-Bridegroom. If that isn't displayed in us, then we are simply fakers. The church doesn't need good customer service. It needs Jesus, the Holy Spirit , God the Father. In fact, I wish that non-believers never had to darken a church door. They should be so amazed by Christ outside the church that they give their heart to him and THEN come join a fellowship of other believers. We are suppose to be ambassadors to the world. Not just inside the embassy. We should be equipped and about Christ mostly in our everyday lives. Our life itself should testify to the greatest news in all the universe. It is not about the Sunday fellowship. Yes, we shouldn't forsake it but we should be so much more than that. Right? Hmmm, scary to be the first commenter. I wish it went beyond this. If we ARE the church meaning a Believer and Disciple of Jesus then love, hospitality, submission to one another, service etc. should be our new spiritual nature regardless of what building we go to on Sunday morning. It flows out of a spirit-filled life. If it is not truly our nature, then we have missed the boat entirely and are just playing church. If people don’t see Jesus in us, then honestly they shouldn’t come back to church. There is nothing there. The church isn’t a building. It is a changed life, it is a bride of an amazing God-Bridegroom. If that isn’t displayed in us, then we are simply fakers. The church doesn’t need good customer service. It needs Jesus, the Holy Spirit , God the Father. In fact, I wish that non-believers never had to darken a church door. They should be so amazed by Christ outside the church that they give their heart to him and THEN come join a fellowship of other believers. We are suppose to be ambassadors to the world. Not just inside the embassy. We should be equipped and about Christ mostly in our everyday lives. Our life itself should testify to the greatest news in all the universe. It is not about the Sunday fellowship. Yes, we shouldn’t forsake it but we should be so much more than that. Right?

]]>