marthea daling jager June 23rd, 2007

Shane and friends,

Our prayers go out for all of you and your ministry. Thank you all for inspiring and challenging us, including at ccda, esa,etc. and also now.

Shalom,

marthea daling jager

vera Sheenan, MMS June 24th, 2007

Dear Shane and Friends,

Know that I hold all of you in my heart and prayer at this time of tremendous loss.

Peace,

Vera

Abi Degner June 26th, 2007

Dear simple way folk,

You've been am amazing inspiration to so many of us… more than you'll ever know. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

It was your community that taught me of the "scandalous grace" of Christ… now I pray that it uplifts you in this time of trouble. May God, the Refuge and Everpresent Help, give you strength… now and always.

Your friend from Wisconsin,
Abi

Darin June 27th, 2007

Dear Shane and Friends,
I read about your fire and hope that you all are doing alright. I am trying to get some money together for you and the community and will try and send it to you in a few days. You and your book has been a tremendous blessing to me over the past year and I want to do something to help.
Peace
Darin

Patty June 27th, 2007

Dear Shane, Simple Way friends & Kensington neighbors,
Was shocked to read of the fire & your losses upon checking out your website for the first time after just finishing your book, which is still resounding within me! My family will be praying for you all & looking forward to the blessing of giving to help as we can ~ God bless you all!
Shalom,
Friends in NW Ohio

Darryll Rasnake July 10th, 2007

Shane and friends,

We just heard about the fire and our mouths are hanging open. What can ou say except that God can take even this and make it into something beautiful. You are in our prayers and we are ready to help; we'll start raising some money today, plus I have a great mission team of builders and contractors. We'll be there when you need us.

DR

Mickey Powell August 22nd, 2007

Man, i'm sorry to hear about the fire. I've worked as a paramedic in rual Georgia for some time now and have seen the devastation it can leave. Please forgive me if this is'nt the proper way to contact shane. The book you wrote, "The Irresistable Revolution." completly changed my life. Thank God there is some one who is'nt afraid to examine the TRUTH. Guess it's my turn now. One quote did it for me. " to admire but not follow." That to me is about 99% of all christians (including myself) hear in the bible belt. As soon as i can i will send some funds. But first my biggest step is to feed some homeless friends i met in Athens Georgia. I love you brother. Thankyou. You and your people are in my prayers.

Sara September 3rd, 2007

To the Simple Way & Kensington,

You are loved. God bless you all.

MikeMcK November 13th, 2007

Sounds like more emergent garbage to me.

Funny that they couldn't put the Gospel on their website, but they can mention that they're taking up a collection for AWOL and deserting soldiers.

MikeMcK November 13th, 2007

Why on Earth would I want to donate to support a bunch of Anti-American, Unbibilcal liberals?

I think I'll give an extra fifty bucks to Young America Foundation and Unmet Needs in their name, instead. That ought to really tick them off.

MikeMcK November 13th, 2007

I notice that they also have a link supporting the Kensington Welfare Rights Union.

As someone who lived in Philadelphia for many years and is familiar with these anti-American idiots, I can't believe that Key Life would support them.

Oh, wait, of course I can.

The same Steve Brown who's always going on about how conservative he is is now supporting Marxists who spit on our veterans?

Good job Steve.

G-Rock November 13th, 2007

"Unbibilcal liberals"

can you please define what the hell an "unbiblical liberal" is, when there was no "conservative" or "liberal" in jesus' time?

i'm sick of liberals bashing conservatives, conservatives bashing liberals, and everyone bashing ellen degeneres…

oh, and when jesus fed the 5000, would you say he was a liberal? i mean, he could have just told them to get off their lazy asses and get a job… and why didn't he tell them about hell? after he fed them, he could have given a nice hellfire and brimstone sermon to a crowd that big…

greg from canada November 13th, 2007

Atleast Shane and Co. are doing something for their community, which is more than I can say that a lot of "biblical" churches do…

Erik November 13th, 2007

I bet Shane would have forgiveness in his heart for me.

MikeMcK, will you please forgive me?

Mathew 6:14-15

14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

MikeMcK November 13th, 2007

[quote]can you please define what the hell an "unbiblical liberal" is, when there was no "conservative" or "liberal" in jesus' time? [/quote]

It is a liberal who doesn't follow the Bible, which is redundant.

[quote]oh, and when jesus fed the 5000, would you say he was a liberal? i mean, he could have just told them to get off their lazy asses and get a job… and why didn't he tell them about hell? after he fed them, he could have given a nice hellfire and brimstone sermon to a crowd that big…[/quote]

First of all, Jesus preached the Gospel plenty of times so, even if He hadn't preached the Gospel that one, particular time (which I don't believe is true), I think He can be forgiven.

All throughout the Bible, we see evidence of Jesus' conservatism.

Was this miracle done for the purpose of confirming His divinity and ministry? Or was it done for the purpose of supporting those who won't support themselves?

MikeMcK November 13th, 2007

They may do things for their community in your eyes, but are they good things? No.

Is the good that they do enough to overcome the harm they do in their misguided attempts (allegedly) to do good? No.

Erik November 13th, 2007

MikeMcK wrote…

It is a liberal who doesn't follow the Bible, which is redundant.

Forgiveness is Biblical. So since you won't forgive me, are you a liberal MikeMcK?

Mathew 6:14-15

14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

greg from canada November 13th, 2007

Quote "They may do things for their community in your eyes, but are they good things? No. "

I dont know, I think afterschool programs for kids are a good thing. I think art programs for kids are a good thing. I think that keeping kids off the street from drugs and gangs are a good thing. I think that helping the homeless is a good thing. Do you disagree with that?

MikeMcK November 13th, 2007

I believe that, in principle, those are good things. The problem is that the way they're going about it is doing more harm than good.

It's a good thing to give a bum a sandwich and a cup of coffee on a cold night, but the bottom line is that the next day, he's still going to be a bum who needs a sandwich and a cup of coffee. And the next day…and the next day…and the next day…

If you're "helping" the poor without helping them get out of poverty, then you're not helping them. All you're doing is subsidizing their poverty.

George November 13th, 2007

Hey MikeMcK

Love ya bro! I'm praying for you!

MikeMcK November 13th, 2007

Thank you, George. May you be an example to Eric and Linda Marie.

Erik November 13th, 2007

No way man. I'm a way better Christian than George. In fact, I'm gonna start praying for George and you MikeMcK. How bout that? Now I'm praying for the guy who's praying for the guy, and I'm praying for the guy too.

Beat that George.

Plus I've forgiven you when you won't forgive me MikeMcK. That means I might just be more serious about being biblical than you are.

Total sanctification here I come!

Mathew 6:14-15
14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mark November 13th, 2007

The more you feed a troll; the more likely it is that the troll will return again and again looking to be fed.

MikeMcK November 13th, 2007

I agree. That's why I'm ignoring him.

greg from canada November 15th, 2007

Its been a while since we have heard from Shane. You should have him on the show again to see how things are progressing since the fire. I know I am curious and I'm sure others are as well

Uisdean November 24th, 2007

Wow! If your politics are not the same as mine then you can't be my Christian sibling!

This is my first time in the ETC website since the change in format. I guess controversy is the bottom line.

I think I may just listen to the shows. Y'all might kick my teeth in if I don't agree w' ya.

Scott C March 12th, 2008

I've never visited this website before, so I don't have any history on which to base my opinion of whether it's just a site for Republican Christians and Democrat Christians to bash each or not. The Book of James in the oft mentioned above Bible has some things to say though that apply to any discussion of whether The Simple Way is doing God's work or not.
- To those who would look at a homeless man and say "Bum! Get a job so I don't have to pay for your sandwich", God said through James, "What have you DONE to help that man?". Do you even know him or his situation? Judge not lest Ye be judged.
- Since we are told to show our faith through our actions, whose actions are more godly? Shane and The Simple Way for caring and providing regardless of the reason for the need, or the stereotypical American Christian who feels self-righteous about writing a check on Sunday morning but has no idea if the money is doing any more than buying more elaborate sound systems for their mega-church?

When Shane Claiborne and George Bush have to stand before God in judgement, assuming Bush makes it all, I'll throw my lot in with those "un-American" Christians who are helping people. I think I know which one God's going to have more kudos for.

Lorrie March 22nd, 2011

Just learned of the fire…and remembered the fire at John Michael Talbot's place. My prayers go out for you and the community.

Lorrie March 22nd, 2011

Just realized this is not current nres!

Dee Vincent March 22nd, 2011

We lived and ministered in a neighborhood much like Shane's for over 25 yrs. 4 adults and 5 childen lived in a community house in Jan 1987 when the house next door (only a few feet from our house) burnt down and the 3 yr.old boy next door died in the fire. Fortunately the firemen got there in time to keep our house from catching on fire.
My husband and I were living among and ministering to drug addicts, alcoholics and the sexually promiscuous up until a year ago. We were more or less on our own the last several years because the other leadership families involved more or less wanted to get out of the neighborhood and give their kids a "normal" life. Ministering in a place like that is hard enough, but it's worse w/o a supportive church family around 24/7. Hope you guys are sticking together and keeping up the good work.