Comments on: Disturbed & Concerned (Part 2)

By: Holiday Longing

Holiday Longing — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:10:35 +0000

Wow. I was looking up an old HS friend by name of Steve Brown, and, curiously, happened upon this blog. Hey, was this the Steve Brown who's tapes I listened to in the (shudder) 80s. I think my husband collected a vast army of tapes. Useless things, these days. Not the sermons. The tapes.

Anyway, I'm glad I can subscribe to this blog. I love the sarcasm. And the truth.

Oh, and that you attributed to Jack Miller the quote that everyone thinks Tim Keller made up…

Keep writing!

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:35:50 +0000

Increasing sin to get more grace is sort of like decreasing sin to get more righteous. Both projects make for great reality television.

I think 'comquot' has more potential than punt, duty or bombastic, but then again, I thought The Duck Factory was a pretty good show.

By: George McFly

George McFly — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:03:06 +0000

"So is duty. And bombastic."

Also the word "punt". Say it while really stressing the "P".

By: Hubie

Hubie — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:54:35 +0000

I got the part about Grace abouning more where sin abounds. Haven't managed to lay ahold of not increasing my sin so I get more Grace tho'. Some of us are just sicker than others I guess….

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:21:04 +0000

And bombastic.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:20:17 +0000

So is duty.

By: George McFly

George McFly — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:38:15 +0000

Mayonaisse is a funny word.

By: Charles

Charles — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:40:59 +0000

Do you let His grace make you better or do you try to make yourself better? If you let His grace make you better, does that entail inactivity or passivity?

The answer is no. And if you take the project of improvement on yourself, you will fail and be miserable.

How do you take the project on? You can't keep your eyes on Him and on your feet at the same time. It's difficult to dance that way and it is just as difficult to walk with His yoke that way.

There is no reason to fear His agape love and radical grace to make us better. We can relax.

Some won't.

What can you do?

By: Obed

Obed — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:08:39 +0000

Sure, you wanna get better. If you didn't there may be a problem. But I think the key is to not worry so much about it. Let God handle that part. That way you'll get better in spite of yourself rather than just faking it. "Suprising faithfulness."

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:28:52 +0000

I'd like to put in a special request for "Part 3" (or maybe a non-connected but related post). Anyway, I'm interested in the idea of "hope for change" as a Christian. Is it okay to want to get "better" as we hope to follow Jesus? I realize that the notion of "better" is messy. It's a little dopey to talk about getting "better" when we're loved without condition by our Father. Yet I also regard change for the "better" as a good thing. In this sense, "better" might be defined as "doing stupid stuff less often." Thoughts?

By: David Babikow

David Babikow — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:43:30 +0000

Jack Miller in 1982 helped me understand that grace runs down hill.
Thanks Steve and Key Life folks for reminding me.

By: George

George — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:24:22 +0000

Thanks Steve for your honesty at all times. A couple of comments on what you said.

"Therefore, they are offended by grace because they define grace as a “sell-out,” a compromise, and a sign of not having convictions…"

Perhaps we as Christians just can't believe it's that easy. That God really does forgive us… no strings attached.

Like a fish in water probably doesn't think of the water, our sin is so prevalent that we can't be anything but sinful. But we want to think we have "some" righteousness that will make us a "little more acceptable" to God. That God will look at us and say "ya did good."

The truth being, He loves us anyway. There is nothing we can do and when we realize that kind of love and forgiveness, we can't help but love Him back and be faithful to Him and express that joy.

Love ya Bro.

By: glenn

glenn — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:47:21 +0000

Steve ~ I, for one, am glad your kids are through college, mine are too. Whatever that thing you do is, keep it up! It blesses people!

By: Justin Patton

Justin Patton — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:59:20 +0000

You almost sound like one of us anti-establishment people! Know of any reformed liturgical home churches around?

By: Sean from Michigan

Sean from Michigan — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:46:55 +0000

I've said it before, and I will say it again. You have an awesome understanding of Grace, perhaps the best I've heard.

Thank you!

By: Zach

Zach — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:40:20 +0000

He is really using you!