Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ~Matthew 18:3 I got a note from my sister several weeks ago, posted to facebook, that said my nephew had prayed and asked Jesus into his heart. He’s 3. My sister figured he wouldn’t remember but later that night while praying before bed he prayed “thank you Jesus for coming into my heart, I love you God”. Several weeks before, I was visiting my brother in law who is going through some deep struggles of his own. Old Dana would have written him off. Angry and bitter, determined to let someone else’s problems be their own, I would have pulled the knowledge card. I know better, I’d never let myself get there, you deal with it. But when it all happened, as each new detail was revealed, I tried to… [Read More]
Posts Tagged ‘revenge’
Through a Child’s eyes
April 21st, 2011 
Dana Fisher 
Posted in Mercy, Radical Christianity 
Tags: believer, bible, brother, change, Christ, Christian, Christianity, Community, compassion, desire, God, grace, heart, heaven, Jesus, joy, kingdom, kingdom of God, life, love, Matthew, pray, prayed, praying, radical christian, radical christianity, revenge, struggle, war, weakness 
No Comments »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 »alive in this old town
April 4th, 2010 dave a few weeks ago i was with my brother james in nashville, and we ended up writing a couple of songs. i wrote this one with easter on my mind. the very basic concept is that there is a way that the world functions. that was is violent and self-serving. Jesus gives us a way to be alive in the presence of death. blood is calling from the ground. Christ came to breath life into that which was dead. those of us who know him are alive in this old town. here you go: everyone came out to fight to save their land and protect their rights they stole, they killed, they died they took their brothers lives but i’m alive in this old town i’m alive in this old town some were shown a different way a way to build and not to break they know the way of… [Read More]
all sins being equal
April 1st, 2010 dave over the past few years it has become blatantly obvious to me that homosexuality is considered (by most religions) to be one of the greater sins of humanity. many who express this viewpoint often hide behind the ‘no sin is greater than another’ statement, but in truth, homosexuality often takes the cake in thought and practice. with that in mind, i began to think about other sins that are tolerated and even glorified in our culture. some of you already know where i am going with this, so i might as well just say it…what about violence? murder? despising our enemies? revenge? these are all sins (according to the sermon on the mount and numerous other new testament passages) that are looked upon favorably in this nation of ours. it is very clear through the teachings of Christ and his disciples that a heart bent on revenge and violence is… [Read More]
Posted in American Christianity, Non-Violent Resistance Tags: bible, Christ, God, heart, homosexuality, kingdom, peace, revenge, scripture, sermon, sin, truth No Comments »our f word
March 2nd, 2010 dave luke 23:34 – and Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” here, while Jesus is dying on the cross, he asks his father to forgive his killers for the ignorance of their actions. haven’t we always been taught that we have to ask for forgiveness from God before we can receive it? why then does Jesus ask his father to forgive his killers, despite the fact that they crucified him with no remorse? through Christ, i’ve come to find that the most shocking and earth-shattering thing you can do to another person is what Jesus did. forgive them. whether they deserve it or not. forgiveness is central to the life of a follower of Christ. it leads us to love neighbor and enemy alike, since we know that we are nowhere near being worthy of the forgiveness we continually receive. imagine, if you will, that… [Read More]
Posted in Mercy Tags: Christ, Christianity, cross, discipleship, enemy, forgiveness, God, Jesus, life, love, Luke, power, revenge, sin No Comments »legislate this
January 9th, 2010 dave John 8:2-11 (esv) - ”Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard… [Read More]
