as a preface to the second part of my ‘growing up christian’ post i’d like to make it clear that i am in no way attempting to be negative or overly critical. i am simply interested in digging up my past in a way that will move me forward to being more Christ-like. if it ever comes of like i’m preaching, it’s because i’m pleading with myself to keep going. i got way off track in my first post and didn’t bother to edit it, so i will try to be more focused in this one. preface done. so much of what we learn as evangelicals is that there are a specific set of core beliefs that one must affirm in order to be considered “in the fold,” so to speak. this list includes the following doctrinal affirmations: God created the world in six days (literal or figurative), we are… [Read More]
Posts Tagged ‘faith’
growing up christian (part dos)
August 5th, 2011 
dave 
Posted in American Christianity 
Tags: angel, bullhorn, Christ, Christian, cross, Dave Capozzi, death, disciples, eternal, faith, faithful, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, love, religion, resurrection, scripture, sin, sinner, sins, struggle, turn or burn, war 
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Doom! Doom and Gloom!
August 1st, 2011 Dana Fisher Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ~Matthew 6:34 When I was 10 or 11 we watched the “end times” videos in school. Those ones you laugh at now, based in the 1960′s or 70′s with bell bottoms, bad acting, and even worse graphics and make up. But as a little kid I was terrified! I remember coming home one day and just telling my mother they flat out scared the hell out of me. A lot of my salvation at an early age was based on this fear of the end. If you don’t confess now and act perfectly, hell is where you are headed mister! Those videos literally scared me straight. Straight into church, straight away from everything else. I had no desire to end up in some 170 degree hell of America… [Read More]
growing up christian
July 18th, 2011 dave wow, it’s been a while. i miss the blogosphere community that once was, and hope that it hasn’t forgotten about me! lately i have been thinking a lot about my life and the events/systems of thinking that have shaped the way i interact with God, people and nature. this current stream of thoughts has led me to remember the stumbling blocks that once stood in the way of embracing the Father of my Rabbi. i remembered the first of many questions that would jump start my inevitable crisis of faith, and recalled my inability to embrace the teaching that Jesus lived and died to forgive me of my sins and that his death opened up the pathway to go to heaven. this came during a time that i remember hearing the notion that if i were the only person on earth, Jesus would still have died for my sins. i… [Read More]
Posted in American Christianity Tags: bible, Christ, Christian, Community, faith, God, grace, Jesus, kingdom, kingdom of God, pray, sermon on the mount, sin No Comments »Waiting by the Pool
March 8th, 2011 Dana Fisher When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” – John 5:6 Community and missions are viewed differently out here in Colorado than it was back home. They had a missions day at church a few weeks back and no less than 12-15 different non-profit organizations lined the foyer. Many overlapped with each other, tackling the same issue and others had multiple goals(helping homeless, tutoring kids, and community renovation all wrapped in to one). I was stunned by how many opportunities there were and how many people were actively signing up on the sheets at each table. I’ve also spoke with 3 different people about helping them set up their nonprofits from human trafficking to a needs based website linking those with extra with those who need. All of this has… [Read More]
Shooting Ourselves in the Foot
March 4th, 2011 Dana Fisher What will it take for us to get it through our thick skulls that bringing a fight is not the answer? That anger only begets more anger? That hatred has no place in the life of a Christian? That Jesus would never hold a picket sign of malice and in fact would be comforting those in pain and hurting. That he would be crying with them. I normally brush aside silly antics by misguided religious folk. The last thing they need is attention. If I’ve learned anything I’ve learned that attention just feeds the drama, causing it to grow unnecessarily. But sometimes it pushes the envelope to the point I’m embarrassed to say I’m a Christian and feel the need to defend the faith I’m passionate about. This is not how Christianity is! A few misguided people taint the whole bunch. Westboro Baptist Church is doing just that. A sign… [Read More]
Posted in American Christianity, Non-Violent Resistance Tags: baptist, Christ, Christian, Christianity, christians, church, death, faith, Father, God, Jesus, life, love, pain, pray, revenge, sin No Comments »submit
January 28th, 2011 dave Jesus became one of us, even a lowly rabbi in the middle of one of the most powerful empires in human history (solidarity). Jesus took on our curse and submitted to death by way of a torturous and bloody crucifixion (submission). i have begun to realize something that should have been obvious to me long ago. that which is systemic and oppressive can only be truly defeated through solidarity and submission. if there’s anything that the history of human poverty and war has proven to us is that we cannot combat such diseases with that which is easy or seemingly most effective (money or force). Jesus taught us a more narrow, more difficult, more life-giving way. it is true that we will always speak of war and that “the poor will always be with us,” but we are told that there was one who came to free us from both… [Read More]
Posted in American Christianity, Radical Christianity Tags: blood, Christ, curse, death, faith, faithful, Jesus, kingdom, life, money, pain, poverty, power, resurrection, sin, solidarity, submission, violence, war No Comments »Distant Thanksgiving
November 30th, 2010 Dana Fisher You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. ~2 Corinthians 9:11 For the first time in my life I didn’t wake up to the smell of Thanksgiving day. There was no turkey in the oven, no pies on the counter, no potatoes being boiled. I was in a foreign place, completely across the country without the usual cast of characters(family and friends) around me. Coming here was something I knew I had to do and I certainly felt an air of confidence that the Lord would fulfill me if I was patient, but it was still a little weird waking up this morning. When I first got here my friend said a friend of his had invited us all over for Thanksgiving. I wasn’t overly excited about it but it would… [Read More]
Posted in Christian Living, Radical Christianity Tags: 2 corinthians, bible, Community, Corinthians, faith, faithful, God, Lord, sin Comments OffWielding your Knife
November 10th, 2010 Dana Fisher Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ~Genesis 22:10 As I made my way through customs on U.S. soil I knew the attacks would be coming swiftly. No sooner do we come down off the mountain with Jesus then the wave of doubt and destruction and hardships come crashing against us like the ocean hitting the sea wall. Sure enough, I set my bags in the car, sat down in the passenger seat and it began. I would be headed to Denver soon, uprooting my entire life, leaving my friends, family, and church behind. Most of my possessions would be gone and I would be traveling with only what would fit in two cars. It was not an easy decision by any means and one with which I wrestled for a very long time(and even still struggle with even after the fact). It… [Read More]
Lausanne Movement – Worship
October 28th, 2010 Dana Fisher Back in 2003 I was at Fenway Park for game 4 of the divisional series against the Oakland A’s. The Red Sox had lost the first two games and would need to win the next 3 in order to advance. They won game 3 to stay alive and as game 4 was winding down it appeared their season was over. Down in the bottom of the eighth their bats came alive and with two outs Big Papi strode to the plate. Back then he was menacing. A giant superman logo was etched in his chest and fire came from his nostrils. Okay I made that up. But back then when he came to the plate you always felt like you were watching something special. With two out it would take a miracle for them to win. Ortiz slapped a double down the right field line, scoring the go ahead run… [Read More]
Posted in American Christianity, Non-Violent Resistance, Radical Christianity Tags: America, brother, Cape Town, Cape Town 2010, Christ, church, faith, Father, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John, Lausanne, Lausanne Movement, life, Lord, love, miracle, muslim, peace, power, pray, prayer, sin, South Africa, struggle, witness, worship Comments OffLausanne Movement – Faith
October 27th, 2010 Dana Fisher The idea of faith is so astounding to me. Belief in things unseen, so dear to ones heart that they would sacrifice for it, give to it, and even be martyred for it. It became increasingly evident as I was here that as an American I lack faith and a sense of urgency. I was talking to my new friend Peter, walking around the city of Cape Town when he said that his church was having a conference too, in December. In American fashion the next question out of my mouth was “What’s it about?”. His answer really put my question in perspective: “We don’t know yet.” As westernized Christianity goes we tend to strip God of the ability to blow our minds and direct our path. We hold committee meetings, decide on topics and discussions, invite specific speakers, and at the end pray “Lord bless this”. We’re so privileged… [Read More]
