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Hard to believe it's been that long, and interesting to read the comments and see where we were. I've evolved in many ways--new degree, new career, a couple of new homes in a couple of states, and my kids well set on their own paths. But none of us has returned to Christianity so I don't think that will happen, though we continue to read, explore and discuss. We're just looking for good ways to be in the world. It's working out pretty well. Thanks for checking in, Lois.
It's been almost six years since Michael posted this blog. Everyone still evolving?
I know it is when I excersise my faith inherent within me I see results.
I see when I choose my understanding well let's face it we don'tsometimes.
It all really boils down to faith or not, hey. Faith is a servant you exercise or u do not. Life is a garden dig it. As Joe Dirt says. If you let the weeds grow up in your precious garden they will take over.
Your post made me bring things back to basics I have recently been schooling myself on Joe and it made me think.
I can't remember going to a church in the place where I lived at that time. I can't remember making the decision to be a Christian. I can't remember the first time I spoke in tongues.
I can remember being told how I should and shouldn't pray. I can remember being told not to eat the "holy communion" wafer - because I wasn't a Catholic. I can remember being told what the Pope said about what I should and shouldn't do - that was after I had been turned into a Catholic when I was eleven. I can remember being told many, many things about how I ought to live as an adult: what music to listen to, what to say, what not to read, what to write, how to say "thank you", where to live and what kind of clothes to buy. I can remember hearing reams of instruction about how to be a "Christian" and a "believer".
Nowadays I don't go to a church. I don't eat wafers and I don't know what the Pope says about anything. I eat what I like (butter and cow's milk) and don't eat what I don't like (peas and green beans). I wear what I want to wear (comfy), read what I enjoy and I am now writing because I have something to say.
I simply do my best to be a kind and happy and "hold-the-line" mum. And I try to teach my kids to be strong and to consider ideas carefully... before drawing the conclusions that someone else says they should.
And I still believe in God.
Consider me as one of those who with St. Paul reasoned with them out(side) of the scriptures...I feel that I've devoted enough of my time to searching within the scriptures about the things of God...If I ain't got it by now, I just ain't gonna get it...I don't reject anything I ever learned or read about God in the Bible...I just can't accept it 100%...I've tried, but I do fail...I don't question God or the Bible deliberately, or on purpose---it just comes naturally to me...If I could once---just once, stick my fingers in the pierced side of Jesus or in the holes in his feet---then maybe I could convince myself that I am a Christian...Call me a doubting Thomas, but it's difficult for me to accept the Bible as truth solely on it's own testimony...I'm also afraid that I need a little more evidence than speaking in tongues that I've actually attained the new birth...
While others may see it differently, I don't see myself as someone who rejects God or is disobedient to God, rather, the Pfal version of the King James Version of God's will for my life is no longer convincing enough testimony to pursuade me to forsake my nets and follow the next man or woman of God....