tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post1378635213357132542..comments2023-12-18T17:32:03.325+00:00Comments on Kindred of the Quiet Way: Another facet of setting your house in orderUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-82481217097826886782017-02-01T19:57:38.242+00:002017-02-01T19:57:38.242+00:00Hi Jenna! Waving! xHi Jenna! Waving! xPen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-38595787202908585812017-02-01T13:54:42.667+00:002017-02-01T13:54:42.667+00:00Hey! I learned a new word today: irenic. Funnily e...Hey! I learned a new word today: irenic. Funnily enough, it relates to my middle name: Eiren, from eirene. <br /><br />In my opinion, the church got off the rails early on and now is rife with division. I'll refrain from listing the areas and ways this happened--and just say that as things go along "faith" becomes calcified in certain tracks--not all of which are reflective of spirit, but of flesh. All denominations can point to scriptures as backing for their particular "beliefs" but few can point to the <i>unity</i> of scripture. The Word isn't divided, but The Word incarnate came to bring to bring division: the sacred from the profane, the common from the set-apart, the holy from the unholy. <br /><br />We have to understand that we are living in captivity. The one thing that was on the lips of the dying Savior--that prayer for unity among the brethren--is haSatan's <b>key</b> strategic device. When we get all focused and despairing of "unity" it gets us off target to the essential mission: that of making disciples. Our unity lives in Messiah and he'll bring it with Him when He comes. <br />Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08817348519203352250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-65707228750326630352017-01-29T14:34:07.956+00:002017-01-29T14:34:07.956+00:00The C of E bishops on sexuality - well, this is th...The C of E bishops on sexuality - well, this is the sharp edge of what it means to solidify into an institution. Faith becomes impacted doctrine. You get spiritual constipation, so bad that people die of it. Institutionalism is inherently sluggish and cold.Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-41299511558944734332017-01-29T12:24:06.452+00:002017-01-29T12:24:06.452+00:00Spot on Pen. I could say more but I am trying to s...Spot on Pen. I could say more but I am trying to stay out of all the debates where the 'other side' is simply not listening and/or doesn't care. I have had to unfollow certain sites because the dissonnance between what they say and what they do is too great. <br /><br />The latest effort by the C of E bishops has left me almost in despair. I cannot be part of it as that would imply I think their point of view is valid. <br /><br />I am glad there are people like yourself who have the gifts to express what I can't.<br /><br />Daisyanonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-5888791712153020072017-01-28T08:23:35.622+00:002017-01-28T08:23:35.622+00:00"Not the same as forgiving them" - yes, ..."Not the same as forgiving them" - yes, I agree.<br /><br />If someone has done me wrong, I know I must forgive them. Forgiveness, I find, happens in waves or layers - I think I'm done, then there's more to do. But even when the forgiveness is at least well in progress, I don't necessarily couple it together with continuing association with the person who did me wrong.<br /><br />If they did wrong, and see it, and understand the effect it had, and are genuinely sorry, then we have a basis for continuing. If they insult me and stonewall me after they did me wrong - then expect me to hop to it and carry on as if nothing occurred when their mood changes - well, that isn't going to happen. I work on forgiving what needs forgiving, understanding what needs understanding, and I put a firebreak of time and space between them and me. "No fight, no blame" as the Tao says - but no socialising either.<br /><br />About unity in the church - well, Jesus prayed for it so we must work for it. But there are bound to be varieties of expression, and I think the church is all the richer for that. I'd be sad if they all merged and we had only one expression of the faith.Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-53561405793610666312017-01-27T23:09:29.294+00:002017-01-27T23:09:29.294+00:00I fail to see how the church can have unity when s...I fail to see how the church can have unity when someone must always compromise. I can live & let live & accept that part of the body believes & worships differently to how I do without feeling the need to violate my conscience by participating in things I disagree with. The problem with the unity movement is it refuses to acknowledge those differences, let alone deal with them.<br /><br />I would agree that sweeping things under the carpet is not the way to go. It erodes trust for one thing. How do you trust someone who has never acknowledged their wrongdoing & repented? Not the same as forgiving them.<br /><br />I have huge problems with this whole concept ~ though probably not for the same reasons as you. ☺Ganeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04672025645404805764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-78171365951806978202017-01-27T20:52:16.080+00:002017-01-27T20:52:16.080+00:00Interesting. I have no problem with 'forgive a...Interesting. I have no problem with 'forgive and forget' - it's 'shut up about it and forget' and 'let's pretend this never happened' or, worse, 'let's pretend this isn't happening', that I won't accept. Let us know your thoughts when you come back from Rwanda!Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-69207769361851241562017-01-27T15:42:08.450+00:002017-01-27T15:42:08.450+00:00I'm going to Rwanda soon so the topic of recon...I'm going to Rwanda soon so the topic of reconciliation has been very much on my mind. As I understand it there is an official policy to remember and forgive. I have doubts how secure peace gained on those grounds can really be. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-66556995005867744012017-01-21T14:52:09.592+00:002017-01-21T14:52:09.592+00:00I have been thinking about the women's march, ...I have been thinking about the women's march, turning it over in my mind, somewhat puzzled about it as its objectives are unclear to me. In the end today, I decided it is in many ways akin to the Occupy movement - an assertion of faith in a way of doing things differently. Like Samuel Rayan's candle light that is a protest at midnight, saying to the darkness, "I beg to disagree".Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-84189918310254815772017-01-21T13:53:34.896+00:002017-01-21T13:53:34.896+00:00today, women across the US and around the world wi...today, women across the US and around the world will be marching to protest what we see as an attempt to silence voices of dissent, keep women and minorities 'in their place', curtail human rights, ignore the desperate plight of the poor and deny climate change. there are differences that need to be expressed, not buried. when we are silent, we are complicit. thank you, pen, for always speaking your truth!gretchennoreply@blogger.com