tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.comments2009-05-29T15:21:47.888-07:00Gil Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808949085308437816noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-40942391155655632672009-05-29T15:21:47.888-07:002009-05-29T15:21:47.888-07:00Actually, I see the sovereignty of God and human free-will as a paradox that we must hold in tension. How they work together I have no idea, but both exist simultaneously. <br />The unchanging God is actually one of the four fences of Chalcedon that I struggle with. How can God be unchanging and grieve? How can the unchanging God die?Gil Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808949085308437816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-75787038457504694242009-05-29T15:14:18.296-07:002009-05-29T15:14:18.296-07:00Gil - <br /><br />We are complete opposites...LOL...<br /><br />I knew it!<br /><br />HAHA!<br /><br />I took the Meyers-Briggs thing in Seminary. I took it again while applying for clergy in the United Methodist Church. I turn out to be INTJ!larry shoup jrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-91315901170053534222009-05-29T15:11:08.911-07:002009-05-29T15:11:08.911-07:00Hey Gil,<br /><br />Larry from Facebook.<br /><br />I just want to say that we need to have reverence on the one hand, and a respectful disagreement on the other, when it comes to the classical understanding of the character of God.<br /><br />See, the classics believed in a God that was unchanging and predestined people for a specific purpose. Augustine even struggled with the concept of predestination; but Calvin took it to the extreme - Total depravity is one such extreme.<br /><br />But remember especially for Augustine's time, believing that God was unchanging was critical to all who believed. Only things that were tangible are corrupt, and only things that are corrupt can change for good or for ill. To believe that God can change opens the possibility that God can do ill things. <br /><br />Applying that to a contemporary understanding of God might appeal to some people. Look at the world we are in now, always changing for the worse in the mess we find ourselves- financial, global - it's everywhere. People are desperate for something constant and steadfast. <br /><br />That is not to say I agree with believing God is unchanging. I believe that God progresses and works through humankind to fulfill the coming of the kingdom. Listen, God took a huge risk sending Jesus into our world, the physical world, so that we may have a renewed relationship with God - and show people that there is more to life than just the tangible. For me, God doesn't know or determine everything that happens in the future. I believe God knows all the possibilities that are before us, and that God acts and re-acts to our choices in life. It is a much more open, freeing, and interactive view of God.<br /><br />In 2006 my Grandfather - the man who was my role model - passed away from colon cancer. Just three months later, my Uncle passed away from the same exact condition. He was my second role model. In 3 months time, I lost two family members close and dear to me. It was not God's will; it was not an unexplained coincidence. Part of the misery of our humanness is that we do not live forever, and that we only live here to help give others hope, meaning, and real purpose in their lives that only God can offer.<br /><br />At least that is my whole view on the issue. Glad to share with you.larry shoup jrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-85229108110019538782009-04-20T13:25:00.000-07:002009-04-20T13:25:00.000-07:00I was scanning through my collection o' feeds when I saw one from your blog. So I thought I would say 'hi'.<br /><br />So with no further ado: hi!<br /><br />I wish you, Mel and Amy the best.<br /><br />GriffRetromancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261093794279944766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-56360974064370560162009-02-11T18:57:00.000-08:002009-02-11T18:57:00.000-08:00that's a great development. thanks for sharing the insight.joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14703959734191176616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-28593672003112527352008-11-25T13:26:00.000-08:002008-11-25T13:26:00.000-08:00most of the time, I think Calvinist stuff is from the mooon. The closed mirco-manager God is scary and punitive. <BR/><BR/>Reconciling a loving God and tragedy is far from easy. I guess I don't think sovereignty means social control or causing/allowing everything to happen. I think God is sovereign because the universe exists and the earth keeps spinning and orbiting around the sun kind of stuff.<BR/><BR/>I like that you are talking less about your own entitlement (bad stuff is not supposed to happen to you or those you love) and more about looking for God to work in the obvious and less obvious places. I think about the man born blind and Jesus (John 9)...even suffering is an opportunity for God's love and healing to shine through.joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14703959734191176616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-16948647849253066282008-11-16T21:14:00.000-08:002008-11-16T21:14:00.000-08:00I like the idea of micro-visions. It seems so achievable.Maryhttp://blog.firsttries.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-53190679229003866862008-11-15T13:50:00.000-08:002008-11-15T13:50:00.000-08:00It is more an acknowledgment that visions don't have to be based around a program, or a highly visible impact, but can be about small things.Gil Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808949085308437816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-62879248753344650282008-11-14T20:41:00.000-08:002008-11-14T20:41:00.000-08:00Having been a mother on bed rest, I send my sympathies. But it all worked out for us. Good luck!Robin M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-62676422042400242382008-11-13T09:49:00.000-08:002008-11-13T09:49:00.000-08:00Glad to see your blogs post on my 'feed reader' this morning.Retromancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261093794279944766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-88479100402043888792008-11-13T09:45:00.000-08:002008-11-13T09:45:00.000-08:00Hmm, ya kind of lost me after the Mother Teresa quote -- but I am glad to see your blogs post on my 'feed reader' this morning.<BR/><BR/>I do know that amidst massive systemic failure -- like we are living through now -- small interventions can have large impacts on people's lives...Retromancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261093794279944766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-8756630175040769112008-05-12T15:13:00.000-07:002008-05-12T15:13:00.000-07:00Gil:<BR/><BR/>Kudos for incorporating a nuanced understanding of the political realities of Roman occupied Palestine in your sermon.<BR/><BR/>Congrats to you and Mel on your imminent parenthood!<BR/><BR/>GriffF.H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05450188964193375722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-42105351979288634972008-05-11T08:20:00.000-07:002008-05-11T08:20:00.000-07:00hey GIL...i'm stoked about the baby coming! bummer that mel is on bedrest, but this too shall pass.<BR/><BR/>congrats on getting into school.joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14703959734191176616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-88849114989394923652007-07-25T11:04:00.000-07:002007-07-25T11:04:00.000-07:00you're a good man for walking through, even your frustrations. i love that you're so into silence!!! hahaha!joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14703959734191176616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-33154855646029331672007-07-12T21:01:00.000-07:002007-07-12T21:01:00.000-07:00Gil, I shiver as I read this. What an important lesson for all of us sleeping in relative safety.Robin M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-1160585520354818862006-10-11T09:52:00.000-07:002006-10-11T09:52:00.000-07:00sweetness, gil. i love it that you are so into silence, being one of the most boisterous people i've ever known!joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05882032076126869064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-1160201778537379662006-10-06T23:16:00.000-07:002006-10-06T23:16:00.000-07:00Thanks Robin, I borrowed the idea from some Catholic friends. They call this type of service a "Lectio Divina" Thanks for the well wishesGil@net-ventuNOSPAMre.com-NOSPAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808949085308437816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-1160199310801426112006-10-06T22:35:00.000-07:002006-10-06T22:35:00.000-07:00hey - I like this idea for a structured form of worship sharing. <BR/><BR/>Good luck with the next month, and year, etc.Robin M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04262543109140512206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-1160088248023222332006-10-05T15:44:00.000-07:002006-10-05T15:44:00.000-07:00congrats, gil! sorry i didn't see this until now...post more often, man!<BR/><BR/>love,<BR/>joshua<BR/><BR/>say hi to mel for me.joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05882032076126869064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-1155583660923137142006-08-14T12:27:00.000-07:002006-08-14T12:27:00.000-07:00I like your point about Jesus and his mom.<BR/><BR/>Have you read Eldon Trueblood's book on The Humor of Christ? He points out places in scripture that make a lot more sense when you realize that Jesus was probably kidding or making a humorously exaggerated point. People who don't get the joke have to work a lot harder at coming up with explanations.Robin M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04262543109140512206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-1155583438281089622006-08-14T12:23:00.000-07:002006-08-14T12:23:00.000-07:00Congratulations and best wishes for the coming phase of life, for you and your new Meeting.Robin M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04262543109140512206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-1155264279641243712006-08-10T19:44:00.000-07:002006-08-10T19:44:00.000-07:00I stumbled into your blog, from a link from a link from I'm not sure where. I am very interested in your journey into pastorhood, as I move along my journey in ministry among unprogrammed Friends.<BR/><BR/>My blog, <A HREF="http://robinmsf.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">What Canst Thou Say?</A> is somewhat less focused, but still mostly Quaker stuff.Robin M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04262543109140512206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-1138729963226334372006-01-31T09:52:00.001-08:002006-01-31T09:52:00.001-08:00way to go gil. flying colors.joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05882032076126869064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14672844.post-1138729929183382942006-01-31T09:52:00.000-08:002006-01-31T09:52:00.000-08:00way to go gil. flying colors.joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05882032076126869064noreply@blogger.com