Concept 53 - Latest Comments

Re: Slippery Slopes

RickD335 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:13:55 -0000

Hi David,

How well I know this is a difficult one. In the case of Hitler, most would agree that the world would have been better off had the private who'd had then Corporal Hitler in his sights at the end of WWI simply pulled the trigger - but he didn't because he felt moved to mercy because of the man's obvious wounded status. Had he had been given a vision of what was to come, would that have influenced his decision?

In the case of Tiller - the man was not your stereotypical abortion provider, based on all I've read. He performed abortions as a last resort option for women who had wanted pregnancies but, for multiple reasons, either the mother or the child would have died as a result of trying to carry to term. Does what he did for a living make him a murderer on the scale of Hitler? I think not - but I'm not God, and will not judge in favor or opposed to the man.

Trying to appeal to the world as if the world shared Christian beliefs and values - when we believers are divided on so many issues - is bound to be met with charges of intolerance, as the murder of Dr. Tiller points up. Can his murderer truly claim divine sanction?

Re: Slippery Slopes

rupzip — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:27:09 -0000

Ric...you draw an interesting parallel and Im not sure how to resolve it. I work in PR and I know how these things get twisted and turned and how it will do far more harm than good. Sure Tiller is gone, but how many more millions of babies will be killed because the movement cant gain traction because we murder doctors.

Re: Now for the local news

jdukeslee — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:38:01 -0000

Whew! Wondered where you'd been. Glad to have you back, Gramps.

Re: Failed compromise no surprise

therogueangel — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:19:49 -0000

Amen!

Re: Now for the local news

therogueangel — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:10:15 -0000

Glad to see you are okay! I was starting to wonder about you. And, congratulations on the coming grandchild! :)

Re: Trust God - Part II

RickD335 — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:46:58 -0000

Thanks, Monica - all my freedom today stems from the crack in the prison that God effected through the stucco covering of all my other sins that substance abuse was.

Re: Church or Club?

rmravon — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:42:45 -0000

Hey Rick here is the link to my blog; Thanks :)

http://girlforgod.wordpress.com

Re: Church or Club?

RickD335 — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:32:30 -0000

Hi Robin - welcome!

I agree that worshiping God and serving God are part of our call - my frustration with the church (not simply confined to the one I attend, but I don't want to apply this to the universal church) is that far too often, it comes off more as a social club or a franchise on one hand and less about what we are called to do, which is to make disciples.

Shoot me a link to your blog, and we'll get linked!

Re: Church or Club?

rmravon — Sat, 02 May 2009 10:01:40 -0000

Yes, church and serving is a huge balance, but it's all of our call. I really feel that people need to seek God in how they can best serve, and utilize their spritual gifts. This is a huge passion of mine, which I write about allot on my blog, so it's hard for me to comment when it's just overflowing at the moement. By the way, I just found your blog and will be adding you to my roll. God bless, robin

Re: Trust God - Part II

monicabrand — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:24:02 -0000

cool you are blogging about this, Rick. may it help set the captive free. I've very little experience with alcohol; my freedom is in other areas.

Re: Work With Others

dukeslee — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:52:06 -0000

I'm camping on these words here:

"I am not responsible for the outcome, but I am responsible for the effort. I need to have my own spiritual house in order and be well grounded in what I know and believe, and know what my mission orders are as well as what they are not."

And these:

"What He does through me is not mine to judge."

Methinks everyone (alcoholic or not) should be in the 12-Step Program. ... Wow. Powerful stuff.

Re: In Loco Parentis?

RickD335 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:36:08 -0000

Mama,

I agree that it is impossible to unring a bell - but by the same token, perhaps this kind of case should be ringing a bell for all to hear. Not just parents like yourself (and Christians do not have a monopoly on best practices in this arena, so don't let yourself feel alone - indeed, be welcome here!) who do not give in to the demands made by the culture, but all of us should be listening and thinking about how to deal with these issues. When law enforcement gets involved, such laws as we currently have would treat these kids as sex offenders when they are guilty of having high levels of hormones and exceptionally poor judgment.

We lack the ability to legislate common sense and enforce wisdom, but we can - assuming we have our own supply - teach both and do our best to live it in front of others. Sounds like Larry's doing alright without the technotoys.

Re: In Loco Parentis?

Mama2Larry — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:50:54 -0000

It is hard to unring the bell. That's what trying to unplug our kids would be like. That being said, parents have abdicated their parental authority right & left. They want to be friends instead of the grown-up. They take the easy way out too often. I see it with my son, now 12. A lot of his friends think he has such a mean mom because he doesn't have free reign over the tv, he has limits on that, on his computer time and on his handheld. He actually draws, reads, builds structures with a toy called Uberstix. He would like more gadgets of course. He wants a cell phone (I see no need until he is working and/or driving his own vehicle. I don't care if he is the only kid not texting.) BTW, we are not churchgoing folks. It isn't just Christians who protect their kids though I often feel like a minority out here!

Re: Pimp This Bum

PTBSean — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:22:30 -0000

Sean here from PimpthisBum - - here's a great clip to update you on PTB. Tim is out of rehab, and meets his family for the first time. . . amazing. Try to watch this without tearing up. . . http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1414883

Re: Trust God

RickD335 — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:04:12 -0000

That is a gifted understatement, Dan :)

Re: Trust God

BibleDude — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:47:31 -0000

Wow... what a powerful experience! I can only imagine how much that would have shaken you up at that time!

Re: Trust God - Part III

therogueangel — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:31:12 -0000

Oh yeah! Though I don't know about the "fun" but I have definitely been dealing with some of the dysfunctional! LOL

Re: Trust God - Part III

RickD335 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:23:10 -0000

Thanks, Angel - but if you liked these, wait for the follow-ups. I agree with you on other family members - then I remember we put the fun in dysfunctional :)

Re: Three Tenets

RickD335 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:20:43 -0000

Hehehe... I know the feeling, but I try to remind myself that they are tattooed into my mind so I can save the skin for other things :D

Re: Trust God - Part III

therogueangel — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:17:21 -0000

Great series of posts, Rick! Kind of timely for me too. Trusting God is not the issue ... but sometimes trusting His children is. :)

Re: Three Tenets

therogueangel — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:40:38 -0000

I need to have those tattooed on me somewhere where I can find them easily and remember them often. :P

Re: In Loco Parentis?

RickD335 — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:57:18 -0000

I can hear the howling even now :)

Re: Pimp This Bum

tweetygrl31 — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:14:05 -0000

Dave -
There are a lot of folks that get up early for work, so they are not able to stay up late either. They catch up on the recorded videos when they log in after work. I also like the way that everyone is supportive not only of Tim and John's recovery but each other as well. Many of us also are wanting to see this effort spread to more major cities that are gripped by homelessness.
~Tweety

Re: Trust God

RickD335 — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:41:50 -0000

I have been blessed, Jennifer (and thanks!); now I'm just trying to do what I believe I'm supposed to be doing. Part II will be online tomorrow - I don't know if it will be a three parter or not yet...

Re: Trust God

dukeslee — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:54:05 -0000

Rick, So glad you're willing to share your story. I'm especially intrigued by the way those small seeds of the Word planted something in your heart. Now, you're planting seeds all over the place. Bless you, brother.