Comments on: baritone http://www.desmerizing.com/2010/02/20/baritone/ words sometimes have meaning Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:03:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: des http://www.desmerizing.com/2010/02/20/baritone/comment-page-1/#comment-63 des Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:34:59 +0000 http://www.desmerizing.com/?p=185#comment-63 Jen, Thanks. I should be clear that I have actually found a community whose spirit I connect with. They're about unconditional love. They're not about religion. That said, I'm still very cynical. I feel as though we've commoditized 'holiness' or 'Jesus'. I feel like we've made His love conditional as if anything we do can have an affect on how much He loves us. And of course, then there's the bits about making it about us. I DO know that there are communities out there that are genuine representations of Christ - or trying to be. Thanks for the comments. Jen,

Thanks. I should be clear that I have actually found a community whose spirit I connect with. They’re about unconditional love. They’re not about religion.

That said, I’m still very cynical. I feel as though we’ve commoditized ‘holiness’ or ‘Jesus’. I feel like we’ve made His love conditional as if anything we do can have an affect on how much He loves us.

And of course, then there’s the bits about making it about us.

I DO know that there are communities out there that are genuine representations of Christ – or trying to be. Thanks for the comments.

]]> By: Jennifer Rowsell http://www.desmerizing.com/2010/02/20/baritone/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Jennifer Rowsell Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:08:13 +0000 http://www.desmerizing.com/?p=185#comment-62 I don't think all churches are like this. Or else, there are some churches that have much fewer grumpy people in them. They are hide to find but are worth the look. It is such a breath of fresh air to find a congregation that is open to new things and loving of each other to facilitate worship that brings God to His children. It's out there, I promise :) I don’t think all churches are like this. Or else, there are some churches that have much fewer grumpy people in them. They are hide to find but are worth the look. It is such a breath of fresh air to find a congregation that is open to new things and loving of each other to facilitate worship that brings God to His children. It’s out there, I promise :)

]]> By: Carlene http://www.desmerizing.com/2010/02/20/baritone/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Carlene Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:47:39 +0000 http://www.desmerizing.com/?p=185#comment-61 Eph 1:18 "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints ..." It's not always easy to believe that God looks down those pews and considers himself rich. But that's what he says. And he wants us to see it. I can be as blind to it as Elisha's servant was to the army of God that surrounded them. Try asking that army to pray for you. When you see God move at their request, you'll begin to see that he uses even those we might view as not very lovely -- even people who are sure that Southern gospel and camp meeting hymns are the only kind of quality music there have ever been. Eph 1:18 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints …”

It’s not always easy to believe that God looks down those pews and considers himself rich. But that’s what he says. And he wants us to see it. I can be as blind to it as Elisha’s servant was to the army of God that surrounded them. Try asking that army to pray for you. When you see God move at their request, you’ll begin to see that he uses even those we might view as not very lovely — even people who are sure that Southern gospel and camp meeting hymns are the only kind of quality music there have ever been.

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