tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post6355018223378926677..comments2024-03-24T11:30:08.199-07:00Comments on Can you believe?: Yalagin winter shortsJohan Maurerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13771067774042071617noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-2391042327090172092008-11-22T19:08:00.000-08:002008-11-22T19:08:00.000-08:00(In defense of the audience: I'm pretty sure this ...(In defense of the audience: I'm pretty sure this video is from Germany.)<BR/><BR/>I believe that the church has an identity and mission that is radically distinct from the government's and the self-identified powers that be. That's why I'm not too disappointed in Obama's decisions to date; in fact I'm fairly optimistic. The point of reference for these decisions is not strict Christian discipleship but rather what is possible within the existing logic (however defective that logic is) of secular government. As a lovingly skeptical observer, I wish Obama the very best, knowing that a true paradigm shift depends on our ability to evangelize the base, one at a time, not on wishing for unlikely miracles within the old logic.Johan Maurerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771067774042071617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-51319067906665058202008-11-22T10:52:00.000-08:002008-11-22T10:52:00.000-08:00Consensus is about the slowest way to change anyth...Consensus is about the slowest way to change anything. Military dictatorships about the fastest.<BR/><BR/>Slow change goes to the core of our belief in the Divine Light residing in the most recalcitrant adversaries. For those of us believing in consensus, winning an election 52% to 48% is no cause for celebration.<BR/><BR/>Take a look at the audience in the Otis Spahn/Sunny Boy Williamson video. (About 6 minutes into the song and at the very end.) It is not 5% different from the audience at McCain's concession speech.<BR/><BR/>Change has to be a personal thing, one individual at a time. All we can do is change ourselves, and encourage our neighbors to change. But they need to do the changing. We cannot do the changing for them.<BR/><BR/>RickyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-3803127427498380702008-11-21T06:56:00.000-08:002008-11-21T06:56:00.000-08:00Thanks for sharing Debbie Thomas' comments. Her w...Thanks for sharing Debbie Thomas' comments. Her wholistic view of the Gospel is refreshing. Evangelical Friends haven't always gotten it, but Debbie sure has.<BR/><BR/>Real change is going to come from things like the transformational communities about which Debbie writes. It is not going to come from politics. Christians need to work to bring about changed realities and changed attitudes. When this has spread broadly, the politics will change. But not before.<BR/><BR/>I feared Obama would be a stalwart pillar of the establishment and an impediment to change. But I hoped my fears would be proved wrong. As I look at this early appointments and what appointments seem coming down the pike, I'm afraid it is worse than I feared. People like Emmanuel and Clinton have been among the worst in the Democratic party on war and peace issues.<BR/><BR/>It is the job of the church to be God's instrument to bring about His will being done on earth as it is in heaven. The politicians have always opposed this. Remember they killed Jesus. But we have to continue on, secure in Jesus' promise that he has overcome the world, as hard as that may be to see reading the news.Bill Samuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752443575410023776noreply@blogger.com