Comments for Discovering Who I Am

Comment on Donuts for the Class by Bunny Kirby

Bunny Kirby — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:58:05 +0000

Wow…thank you Evan, that is a beautiful picture and one that I needed to refresh my spirit with.

Comment on The Four Stages of Faith by evan

evan — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:24:26 +0000

Thom, you are not alone in this predicament. Glad you commented and look forward to hearing from you.

Comment on The Four Stages of Faith by Thom

Thom — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:49:31 +0000

Thanks for this. I moved to the South several years ago from the Northeast and this explains alot. The people who surround me are in stage 2 and my wife and I are in stage 4. It has been a difficult adjustment and we have been unable to locate others that have open minds looking for mature conversation. Finding this site has filled some of that need.

Comment on The Four Stages of Faith by Chellee

Chellee — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:33:50 +0000

Evan……this was soooooooooo insightful. Thank you for continuing to share the things you discover along the way. You have a way of expressing your journey that both affirms my own, and adds details that I am experiencing, but have not found a way to verbalize yet. It’s wonderful to have a kindred spirit in all of this!
Chellee

Comment on The Four Stages of Faith by Bunny Kirby

Bunny Kirby — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:32:52 +0000

Evan….I love the way you think and am proud of how you are working out and sharing what you think. Thank you

Comment on From Religion To Relationship by evan

evan — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:29:39 +0000

Brian, I believe forgiveness, or lack thereof, is a serious issue among Christians. However, I have never interpreted John 20:23 to mean that if I refuse to forgive someone else an offense against me, that God will refuse them forgiveness as well if they were to confess that sin to Him and ask for forgiveness.

I can’t imagine God giving that kind of power to man to deny absolution and forgiveness to each other if it means forgiveness is denied by heaven as well.

I do know that it is possible to risk denial of your own requests for forgiveness if you deny others forgiveness for offenses against you (Matt 6:14,15). I think the word “retain” in this instance, means on the part of man, not God.

Comment on From Religion To Relationship by Brian Holdsworth

Brian Holdsworth — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:11:35 +0000

It’s definitely a pleasure engaging in this type of dialogue. Far too many times I’ve been in scenarios where people respond in anger over a difference in beliefs (and it’s something I’ve been guilty of too).

If I could offer one closing remark that I think sums up my own difficulty sorting through competing ideas it would be this: If Jesus gave authority to forgive sins to His disciples and also the authority to retain them, that is deny absolution and forgiveness, why isn’t that practiced anywhere outside of the Catholic Church (granting that it is also practiced in isolated cases in Lutheranism, Anglicanism and East Orthodox)? There may be instances where people express God’s forgiveness to one another, but have you ever heard anyone say to someone, “your sins are not forgiven by the authority that is passed to me”? And yet, Jesus said, who’s sins your retain, they are retained.

Thanks again Evan. If you’re ever in Alberta, look me up.

Comment on From Religion To Relationship by evan

evan — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:22:21 +0000

Brian, I so appreciate the education in Catholicism. You are truly a scholar!

You are correct that I may find it difficult to understand, coming from a non-catholic background, and, although I find it hard to justify many of your views and practices based on my own Biblical worldview, it is clear that you share my passionate pursuit of God.

Thank you, also, for “getting” what I am about on this blog as I seek to separate religion from authentic relationship in my own experience.

I have greatly enjoyed this conversation and would love to meet you in person someday.

Comment on The Road to a Bigger Vision by evan

evan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:38:36 +0000

Cheryl, great to hear from you. I LOVE the Psalm you shared and your reference to searching for a city like Abraham. Maybe it is something wired into us to want to explore and discover. Very insightful comments, thank you so much for taking the time!

I hope all is well south of the border,

Comment on The Road to a Bigger Vision by Cheryl Davis

Cheryl Davis — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:21:22 +0000

I love road trips and people watching. Our trips have always been very special and I remember them and the people we see. When I read your article I thought of David’s psalm where he said “Where can I go from your presence? If I go to the heaven’s you are there and if I go to the deepest sea you are there” That always amazes me that God is always to be seen every where even when people are unaware of Him. He sees them and cares for them and they are unaware.
I would like to go to more countries as I have not traveled a except to Mexico and Canada. However different ethnic communities are interesting too. Even different parts of our States really contrast the other parts.
I think our love of travel is somehow linked to the fact we are eternal beings and we are searching for a city like Abraham did. I always think there is something just around the corner or over the next mountian, something really spectacular. One day I will see it.