Comments on: My Twenty Year Voyage into Theology http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/ Making Theology Accessible Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:30:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kevin http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7801 Kevin Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:24:05 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7801 Dude! Smashing Pumpkins! Awesome! :) Dude! Smashing Pumpkins! Awesome!
:)

]]> By: RB http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7800 RB Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:26:23 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7800 this whole thing seems self-centered MP- such as ""oohh look at me, see what i have done?"" but i really do not know you nor have we met, just reading your post as you have entered it......... this whole thing seems self-centered MP- such as

“”oohh look at me, see what i have done?”"

but i really do not know you nor have we met, just reading your post as you have entered it………

]]> By: Damian http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7799 Damian Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:13:15 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7799 Thanks for sharing Michael. I love the honesty of your comments! Keeping things real. Thanks for sharing Michael. I love the honesty of your comments! Keeping things real.

]]> By: Truth Unites... and Divides http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7798 Truth Unites... and Divides Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:31:15 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7798 I like your story. Eager to read the next part. I like your story. Eager to read the next part.

]]> By: C. Barton http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7797 C. Barton Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:06:17 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7797 If I may be so bold: sometimes a Christian takes a foray into sin, maybe an affair, or pornography, or stealing, or whatever, and the demonic forces move in to create a bondage of GUILT! And because some are convinced they "brought it on themselves", they voluntarily suffer in a prison of silence and self-condemnation. Well, I've got some good news for you: God has a salvation adventure waiting for you, and it doesn't include staying in that snare! Let God's Word heal you from all of those manifestations and dirty tricks, and just because it was the result of sin doesn't mean you are abandoned, NO! quite the opposite. Demonic attacks are frightening sometimes, but that's about all they can do, really. They just try to psych you out so you give up, but they have no real authority or power like the Truth has, or like His holy angels have. If I may be so bold: sometimes a Christian takes a foray into sin, maybe an affair, or pornography, or stealing, or whatever, and the demonic forces move in to create a bondage of GUILT! And because some are convinced they “brought it on themselves”, they voluntarily suffer in a prison of silence and self-condemnation.
Well, I’ve got some good news for you: God has a salvation adventure waiting for you, and it doesn’t include staying in that snare! Let God’s Word heal you from all of those manifestations and dirty tricks, and just because it was the result of sin doesn’t mean you are abandoned, NO! quite the opposite.
Demonic attacks are frightening sometimes, but that’s about all they can do, really. They just try to psych you out so you give up, but they have no real authority or power like the Truth has, or like His holy angels have.

]]> By: Susan http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7796 Susan Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:49:49 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7796 Michael, I too had such a night time experience. I was in college at the time. I was the Christian girl, who went to Christian HS and two years of Christian College.... then I transfered to a state university. I met a guy in one of my classes who I started hanging around with. We never really dated although we had that sort of relationship. He told me from the beginning that he was a Christian. Good enough for me. Before I realized that he wasn't, I was very attrracted to him. My friendship with him began to errode my morality. I finally decided I needed to rid myself of him. Then, I woke in the middle of the night to an experience much like yours. There was a ghost-like figure standing next to me. He looked like a miniature man with a robe, long hair, and a long beard. All I could see was his whiteish outline and details in the hazy white. He had hold of a chain which was wrapped around me and he was pulling me down with it. I had that tremendous awareness of evil. It really shook me because it was incredibly real. You can believe I talked to God that night. I don't think I've ever told anyone this before. My assessment is that God allowed me to see that there was demonic activity involved in that relationship. That there was a spiritual force which was attempting to disarm me as a believer through this ungodly person. This made an impression on me which has always stayed with me. Michael, I too had such a night time experience. I was in college at the time. I was the Christian girl, who went to Christian HS and two years of Christian College…. then I transfered to a state university. I met a guy in one of my classes who I started hanging around with. We never really dated although we had that sort of relationship. He told me from the beginning that he was a Christian. Good enough for me. Before I realized that he wasn’t, I was very attrracted to him. My friendship with him began to errode my morality. I finally decided I needed to rid myself of him. Then, I woke in the middle of the night to an experience much like yours. There was a ghost-like figure standing next to me. He looked like a miniature man with a robe, long hair, and a long beard. All I could see was his whiteish outline and details in the hazy white. He had hold of a chain which was wrapped around me and he was pulling me down with it. I had that tremendous awareness of evil. It really shook me because it was incredibly real. You can believe I talked to God that night.

I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone this before. My assessment is that God allowed me to see that there was demonic activity involved in that relationship. That there was a spiritual force which was attempting to disarm me as a believer through this ungodly person. This made an impression on me which has always stayed with me.

]]> By: C. Barton http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7795 C. Barton Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:32:10 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7795 Thanks for the honesty and courage to tell it for real. Demons are real, but they obviously don't know everything. Look what happened when Jesus died! Satan was defeated forever, amen! Satan tempted Jesus with world dominion in the desert. What a goof! Jesus was already the ruler of the world, and would receive the crown of victory. He knew this. The devil didn't. The Scriptures tell us that a righeous man might fall a hunderd times, but he gets up and keeps going. Kind of reminds me of Rocky; he gets knocked down, the last ounce of strength ebbing from his mind, but he keeps getting up and finally lands the KO to win the match. And the Bible tells us ahead of time that we will prevail with Christ. Maybe that's one of the reasons that He gave Peter a new name, "Rocky"? Thanks for the honesty and courage to tell it for real. Demons are real, but they obviously don’t know everything. Look what happened when Jesus died! Satan was defeated forever, amen!
Satan tempted Jesus with world dominion in the desert. What a goof! Jesus was already the ruler of the world, and would receive the crown of victory. He knew this. The devil didn’t.
The Scriptures tell us that a righeous man might fall a hunderd times, but he gets up and keeps going. Kind of reminds me of Rocky; he gets knocked down, the last ounce of strength ebbing from his mind, but he keeps getting up and finally lands the KO to win the match.
And the Bible tells us ahead of time that we will prevail with Christ.
Maybe that’s one of the reasons that He gave Peter a new name, “Rocky”?

]]> By: J.R. http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7794 J.R. Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:46:42 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7794 I appreciate your honesty Michael. Your testimony is extremely similar to mine with a few exceptions. I have not had the experience you speak of with forces holding me down and I have not attended seminary nor do I teach at my church. Sometimes I think I may have married the wrong person but who doesn’t. I thank God for my wife because she’s who I prayed God would bring into my life on many occasions during “bed spins” after a night of tequila shots. Does God listen to a drunk’s prayers? I believe He did in my case. All through my rebellion and disobedience God always seemed to bring someone (nerd?), maybe just for a moment into my life to remind me of His calling and my rebellion. In boot camp at San Diego, at a bus stop in Oceanside Calf., J. Vernon McGee on the radio, people I worked with, a young pastor knocking on doors in my neighborhood, all with a common message, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, after years of running, and by the mercies of God, I ran into His arms, broken, filthy, and ashamed of what I was. Since then I’ve had an insatiable appetite to understand my beliefs and the word of God. In my zeal I have approached some of my old drinking buddies maybe a little too strong in presenting the Gospel. I pray what little knowledge I have is not presented in arrogance. May I learn to be patient and let the will of God work in those I love, much like those nerds who met with me many years ago. Attending your classes at Crossings I hear and see your zeal and passion for the community of believers. If I may give one loving critique, some of us are the lowly dirt farmer behind the plow. Can you slow it down just a little? I don’t mean dumb it down. There is a tremendous amount of information to explore and chew on and little time to digest. Not having anyone with the same desires in theology (your program) to discuss/teach what I’ve heard and/or learned makes the understanding process go even slower. I appreciate your honesty Michael.

Your testimony is extremely similar to mine with a few exceptions. I have not had the experience you speak of with forces holding me down and I have not attended seminary nor do I teach at my church. Sometimes I think I may have married the wrong person but who doesn’t. I thank God for my wife because she’s who I prayed God would bring into my life on many occasions during “bed spins” after a night of tequila shots. Does God listen to a drunk’s prayers? I believe He did in my case.

All through my rebellion and disobedience God always seemed to bring someone (nerd?), maybe just for a moment into my life to remind me of His calling and my rebellion. In boot camp at San Diego, at a bus stop in Oceanside Calf., J. Vernon McGee on the radio, people I worked with, a young pastor knocking on doors in my neighborhood, all with a common message, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, after years of running, and by the mercies of God, I ran into His arms, broken, filthy, and ashamed of what I was.

Since then I’ve had an insatiable appetite to understand my beliefs and the word of God. In my zeal I have approached some of my old drinking buddies maybe a little too strong in presenting the Gospel. I pray what little knowledge I have is not presented in arrogance. May I learn to be patient and let the will of God work in those I love, much like those nerds who met with me many years ago.

Attending your classes at Crossings I hear and see your zeal and passion for the community of believers. If I may give one loving critique, some of us are the lowly dirt farmer behind the plow. Can you slow it down just a little? I don’t mean dumb it down. There is a tremendous amount of information to explore and chew on and little time to digest. Not having anyone with the same desires in theology (your program) to discuss/teach what I’ve heard and/or learned makes the understanding process go even slower.

]]> By: Scott Ferguson http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7793 Scott Ferguson Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:46:14 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7793 Nah, I'm teasing, too - mostly. Nah, I’m teasing, too – mostly.

]]> By: Cadis http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/my-twenty-year-voyage-into-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-7792 Cadis Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:19:48 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=1448#comment-7792 Vladimir, I was basically saying just that through poking fun at Michael. Many many people will be able to identify with Michaels testimony. I'm not one. Womanizing and drinking til I vomitted was just ...I don't know...not lady like. I had my limits :) I think Scott is serious but I'm not Vladimir,

I was basically saying just that through poking fun at Michael. Many many people will be able to identify with Michaels testimony. I’m not one. Womanizing and drinking til I vomitted was just …I don’t know…not lady like. I had my limits :) I think Scott is serious but I’m not

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