Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. -1 Peter 4:8 A few years ago, me and Dave would grab coffee in downtown Quincy after serving meals at the Crisis Center and just talk about controversial topics in Christianity: war, soldiers, guns, world religions, etc… Having grown up together, we could do this with civility even with opposing views because we loved each other regardless. Our differing views didn’t prevent either of us from going to heaven, we weren’t debating whether Jesus was just a man, but merely things with which many a Christian struggles to define. He had already known where I was coming from, both growing up in similar church surroundings(and sometimes the same one), and I wanted to understand better where he was coming from. The ideas he was throwing at me were strange, yet sounded and felt right in my… [Read More]
Posts Tagged ‘Paul’
Hidden Idols
January 12th, 2011 
Dana Fisher While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. ~Acts 17:16 In our Monday study we breached the subject of idols this week. As we talked about what some idols are the basics came up, television, wealth, success, sex, etc.. but the conversation took a deeper turn. What are hidden idols? What are idols that Christians sometimes use and justify? One girl posed a great question. “I wonder if we can sometimes project our lives into our beliefs and make them(Christian beliefs skewed by our life choices) idols?” Tim Keller in his book Counterfeit Gods uses Jonah as an example. Knowing that the Ninevites were an enemy of Israel, if God was willing to grant them grace it could potentially mean bad things for Israel. Jonah’s willingness to protect Israel went against God’s will. I heard a leader… [Read More]
Move with a sense of urgency
April 9th, 2010 Dana Fisher Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first… 2 Thessalonians 2:3 I see two things happening recently that are disturbing and exciting at the same time: A lack of enthusiasm and energy from Christians In-fighting within Christian circles I have a couple of friends that lead youth groups or young adult studies at various churches. A once vibrant young adults study of 30-40 has fallen to 1-2 people a week. Another which was 15 or so is now dwindled to those same numbers of just 1 or 2. From church to church the effort to do for Christ has shifted to “do for me”. Everyone is becoming lazy and apathetic. Kids aren’t excited to go to youth group, they are excited for events. “What can keep me entertained?” As people leave one church and head to another(for various… [Read More]
Posted in American Christianity 
Tags: Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, destruction, hell, Herod, Jew, messiah, Paul, satan, Saul, Thessalonians 
No Comments »Confrontation for Growth
September 28th, 2009 Dana Fisher Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ~Matthew 10:34 Confrontation is always a hard pill to swallow for all the people involved. It’s always awkward and almost always involves some one calling someone else out on an issue of sin in their lives. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:4, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” We all have our issues but when is the time to tell that brother or sister that what they are doing needs to stop? For anyone who knows me, they understand that there is no in between with me. I’m rough around the edges and don’t shy away from situations I feel warrant a voice. Never-the-less it… [Read More]
the God of peace
September 25th, 2009 dave “peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication.” – derek webb “nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. it is a sword that heals.” – martin luther king jr. “eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.” – gandhi “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – paul the apostle “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you.” – Jesus Related Posts:religion and evil: a random rantJesus CreedWhy I love BuddhaSuffering for ChristLausanne Movement – Worship
Roller Coaster
December 7th, 2007 Dana Fisher Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering. -1 Peter 4:12 At the end of every school year my tiny Christian school would have an outing to a small amusement park about an hour from us. There was nothing great about the park, mostly kiddie rides, but they did have one ride all us older kids loved to get in line for. “The White Roller Coaster”. It wasn’t much to look at, an old school roller coaster made of wood. There aren’t many of these vintage coasters laying around anymore. It was rickety, it was noisy, and no matter how many times you rode it you always felt like this time could be your last and the cars could go flying off into the parking lot. There are four phases I see: The Anticipation, The Ride, The End, The Do-Over. The White Roller Coaster was… [Read More]
Posted in Christian Living Tags: 1 peter, 2 corinthians, change, Christ, Christian, Corinthians, God, Jesus, life, Lord, love, pain, Paul, Peter, satan, trial, trials No Comments »
