tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822869016413307981.post1900583576762480488..comments2024-03-28T18:40:51.572-04:00Comments on Tilting at Windmills: Sunday Message Proof then, proof nowCWMartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06798867734074134647noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822869016413307981.post-30583510655712004342015-04-13T18:19:03.950-04:002015-04-13T18:19:03.950-04:00That was basically the point of the article refere...That was basically the point of the article referenced. That evangelism had gone from true conversion- with the teaching, training, and praying involved- to "decisionism", a numbers game that nobody wins.CWMartinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798867734074134647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822869016413307981.post-90082146470298015672015-04-13T15:59:20.594-04:002015-04-13T15:59:20.594-04:00The experience of "conversion" or going ...The experience of "conversion" or going forward is so often an emotional response based on the occasion that when later the person is distanced from that event the feeling is gone and the reconversion back to an almost original state takes place. If the decision has not involved an element of logic and reasoning then it's a tough one to hang onto.<br /><br /> Rarely does a person change in a lightening flash of a moment. Real solid change involves study and careful thought. An emotional decision can often result in "buyer's remorse" and cause more negativity about the issues that were decided. <br /><br />The story of Jesus though incredible was thousands of years in the making and now we've had a couple thousand years to think about it. There must be some solid evidence even though most people don't understand it all and just accept the story because it is such a good one. The deeper one delves into the story, the more they can understand and thus solidify their belief in that story.<br /><br />Arlee Bird<br />A to Z Challenge Co-host<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822869016413307981.post-51558057981475188852015-04-12T19:57:07.584-04:002015-04-12T19:57:07.584-04:00I'm pretty much in that same boat, for a sligh...I'm pretty much in that same boat, for a slightly different reason. I try to help out by being part of the "assemblage of believers" we're not supposed to forsake.CWMartinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798867734074134647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822869016413307981.post-77254351321230203932015-04-12T19:55:59.184-04:002015-04-12T19:55:59.184-04:00Yes, He is. Thank you for a wonderful comment. I...Yes, He is. Thank you for a wonderful comment. I don't know if the other eleven asked about Jesus' wounds... but I bet they were sneaking looks!CWMartinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798867734074134647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822869016413307981.post-4300963129194688032015-04-12T18:56:18.061-04:002015-04-12T18:56:18.061-04:00Very interesting, when I was younger I use to go t...Very interesting, when I was younger I use to go to church each week but nowadays I don't feel the need to go to church I still pray and believe but don't feel the need to do so in a church.Jo-Anne's Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11418152399382818709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822869016413307981.post-57466686985928239792015-04-12T16:31:49.311-04:002015-04-12T16:31:49.311-04:00Our pastor read the passage in church today about ...Our pastor read the passage in church today about Jesus appearing to all of the disciples (except Thomas, who was not there) in an upper room. They'd locked themselves in there (I'm presuming because they were rightfully and realistically terrified of following the same fate as Jesus). Then Jesus was there and they say him and touched his scars and believed. They told Thomas and he said he wouldn't believe until he saw and touched those scars. (Which sounds terrible on the face of it, but the other disciples didn't believe either until they saw and touched the scars...). A week later, they are all back in the locked upper room and Jesus appears to them again (this time Thomas is present). He sees, touches, believes. And Jesus says those words that I've heard so many times in my life about how much greater it is/will be for those who didn't see see or touch to have faith.<br /><br />Of course, that is every person who's believed in the last two thousand years. In some ways, I'm astounded that there are so many people who DO believe and meet weekly. Read their Bible. Actively try to be the best disciples of Christ they can be. And another part of me is shocked that so many don't believe.<br /><br />I think the proof now is the same as the proof then. People who didn't see heard a story about a man who traveled the country for three years (doing and saying amazing --and shocking-- things, healing people, etc.) and then he died a torturous death. But that isn't the end... three days later he came back to life. And he did all of those things so that we would know the Father and believe and have everlasting life. If you know Me, you know my father... so he gave us an opportunity to know him. We get opportunities nearly every day. Jesus is nothing if not generous.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932408372240147454noreply@blogger.com