Ragamuffin Soul - Latest Comments in Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Tim — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:17:27 -0000

So..how about them Mets...

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

CaroleTurner — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:14:15 -0000

Yea, Christian book stores needed to shoot themselves in the foot..again.

So retarded.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

scott — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:09:30 -0000

scratching my head all day...can anyone say hijacked

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Lindsey — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:58:10 -0000

Brian, yes. WTF?

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

April — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:57:26 -0000

Manic

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Brian — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:26:26 -0000

Is anyone else left just scratching their head?

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Dana Johnston — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:01:26 -0000

I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM ANNE JACKSON! As soon as her hearing comes back. I bought my Third Day tickets at Life Way.....those buggers!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Dana Johnston — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:56:31 -0000

Here Andrew Carnegie on wealth: http://www.swarthmore.edu/S...

Because I worked at the cemetery for almost two years I can't see saving it up to endow at death. Invest in God's people today!

Just my personal M.O.

That's why you'll see if, God grants me my prayer, I'm only keeping 10% of the profits. I don't want to be rich, too much to worry about!

Have any of you ever read about having enough?

Enough time with relatives before they die.

Enough strife that you appreciate the good times without taking them for granted.

Enough...not more.

God give me enough. It's similar in power (as I writer, I focus on the power of words, choosing them carefully, they are my palette, if you will. I want to blend them into an effective piece of work)

Enough is similar in power to the word if.

IF, small word, big meaning.

Think of non-believers, ask them this:

"If you die and there is only one true God, then what?"

That should shake them up, if they understand the power of the word "if" and mathematical odds.

IF = the most faint hint of a possibility.

For instance, if you are scientifically minded and understand the laws of chaos, it is possible to spit a gold nugget out of your mouth.

Microscopic molecules can, will, and do change for reasons we humans do not understand.

If you will accept we do not know everything, then ANYTHING is possible.

IF and ENOUGH two really BIG POWER words.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

anne jackson — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:47:45 -0000

my ears are ringing from the comments on this post. i seriously feel like i just went to s screamo concert and stood by one of the main speakers.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Chris Weiss — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:44:04 -0000

interesting conversation.

First, to answer Los' question: If I believed what they believe, would I pull the magazine? No. I cannot imagine refusing to sell a printed magazine simply because I disagree with the lead article. Sad day.

Second, on the topic of women in ministry. I go back and forth on this one. On my youth staff, i have many great women who lead small groups and make ministry happen, including my associate youth pastor, who keeps me alive! However, when it comes to the role of Senior Pastor, I struggle a little bit with women filling that post. My reasoning is this: I have not, in my experience, seen it work effectively.
While I know there are many men who are ineffective Sr. Pastors, I have not seen any effective female Sr. Pastors. Perhaps it is lack of opportunity, perhaps it is a lot of different things. I should probably go pick up a copy of this magazine to read about these women.

As a guy who struggled to find a place in ministry because of being single, I'm always glad to see non-typical groups of people get opportunities to show that perceptions are wrong. I hope someday I see an effective female sr. pastor, so I can be proven wrong!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Dana Johnston — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:23:33 -0000

Carlos,

You hit the nail on the head. Thank you for sharing more about where you are "coming from" and how your ideas were shaped.

I'm certain no one here is attacking the Church of Jesus Christ.

My personal beliefs are such that NO BUSINESS should be FOR PROFIT.

Oprah, Bill Gates, possibly even the McCain's have mega-money. I'm not certain that is biblical.

I pray all leaders blessed with affluence, especially the one is Hollywood and the world of sports, are moved by the words of Andrew Carnegie.

I wrote a blog about this...I'll have to find it and report back. He knew how to manage wealth for future generations.

Just showing some hometown pride, YAY! Pittsburgh, I love my steel city on the three rivers! Our sport franchises are not too shabby either, if you're into that sort of thing. I prefer the corporations that call it home making it one of the most live-able cities in America today. I miss home, but I sure do hate the snow!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Dana Johnston — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:05:52 -0000

No, no J.

THANK YOU for serving our Lord here in a public forum!

You will be blessed for your obedience to His Spirit whispering in your ear and guiding your fingers on the keys....

I wonder what that silly "WILD GOOSE" is going to do for you?

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Dana Johnston — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:03:38 -0000

Danny,

Consider this.

The bride is the church.

The groom, husband, if you will, Christ.

One bride.

One groom.

One head of the church, Jesus.

It's fun to take Proverbs 31, A wife of nobel character and replace the word SHE with A BELIEVER or THE CHURCH or EACH OF US.

I think that is what Paul was trying to convey.

I'd like to get into Rome and dig through the original documents, wouldn't it be neat!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:02:15 -0000

Thanks

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Dana Johnston — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:38:57 -0000

J said it best!

WAY TO SIMPLIFY!

You get an "A" for the day :-)

Dana

I think it's cool how God can take my opinions and mega-volume of words and you come back with one three word statement.

HE IS SO BIG!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

alex mclean — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:19:40 -0000

I'm flabbergasted... and my eyes hurt from reading all the comments. Good job Los. I think we all made a new friend, very entertaining.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Gary Durbin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:08:21 -0000

I'm with you on this, Los. Lifeway and other chains like this appear to open themselves up to churches, from Baptist to Catholic. I'm surprised at this move from a business stand point, and I see mostly women customers when I go to Christian bookstores. Maybe, not the best move for them.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Dana Johnston — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:52:20 -0000

DeWeb,

I respectfully disagree with you. Unless you have read every blog I have written since June 2008. I am not listening to your feedback.

If you read it all, my story, my testimony. Then comment and critique all your want. I will listen with open ears to receive the message God wants me to hear from your mouth.

Please, I urge us to remove the judgment filled spirit from God's church in 2008.

Thank you for sharing and your concern. God is with me, I pray He is also with you, STRONG IN SPIRIT today.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Jeff T. — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:50:52 -0000

Brian's got it right and here's why. If we are truly committed to the truth of God's Word, then that will be our only reference and guide. the minute we start forming our opinion based on our own feelings and emotions, we have left the supernatural leadership of God and descended to the carnal judgment of our own flesh. Surely we can all agree that the Bible is TRUTH?

Dana, Brian's not telling you how to do anything. He's quoting Scripture, straight-up. If you've got a beef, it's with God - not Brian.

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that women ARE allowed to be leaders in the church but not in positions of authority over men. While God's love is most clearly displayed in mutual submission, He has called men to lead their families. Simple logic says that a man cannot lead his family if he is under his wife's authority as his pastor! God, and His Word, do not contradict each other.

If any of us are interested in real truth we must remember that truth is what it is - it's not what we want it to be. If truth is flexible to one's desires, then it's not truth (by definition) and we've entered the slippery slope of relativism.

I have much LOVE and RESPECT for women called to ministry but the Bible doesn't need "interpretation" on this one. The Word is CRYSTAL CLEAR in the book of Timothy.

Let's stick to God's Word - PERIOD. Any discussion that departs from it will only be fruitless...

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Morgan C. — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:46:36 -0000

I have been pondering this all morning long and I began to think about a wonderful couple that were Paul's sidekicks, Priscilla and Aquila. Spoke about in Acts 18, Romans 16 3-5, 1 Corinthians 16, again in 2 Timothy 4. This wonderful christian couple were missionaries. Now before I go further I'm sure people who believe a church is a place that has a steeple, lots of beautiful pictures on the windows, a chapel, a pulpit and maybe have some classrooms for bible studies. A sacred place you go to worship God, that's what first comes to mind when we think od "church." Looking up some definitions of church, there are many. Most stating that "church" for the most part in a place for religious service. I think any place that God's presence is present could be called "church." Here in the south, we have church at movie theaters, grocery stores, old Circuit City buildings even at people's homes. Now we can have church, worship God, on our internets. No one is going to tell me I have to be in a "church" to worship God. I will in my car if I want.

So with that being said, back to Priscilla and Aquila. They were a christian couple, man and wife, husband and wife, dude and dudette, boy and girl. Priscilla was a woman. After doing some research and reading in the new testament I discovered this couple actually were church starters. Also in Romans 16:5 and 1 Corinthians 16:19 Paul is "greeting" them in their church that is in their home. Paul is stating that "church" was in their home and that not only Aquila lead but Priscilla as well. This woman had part in leadership in the church.

I'm simply pointing out here there was a woman with leadership. Many things changed in the new testament. The most important change was Christ removing the veil and giving His life for us.

We could argue this all day long. I wonder would God take back the salvation of those people that were led to Him by these women. Hmmmm

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Chadwick — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:44:07 -0000

Wow - way to get things stirred up Los. Let's see if I can put my thoughts into short & sweet points.

1) I, like you, am born & bread Southern Baptist. I ould have a very difficult time attending a church where there was a woman on staff as a pastor. I believe that the bible teaches us that men are the head of the home and the head of the church. If more men would cowboy up & be what God called them to be we would not be having this discussion.
2) I believe that the bible is the infallible, inerrant word of God. You can not pick & choose which verses you want to choose to believe - it is an all or none. If you truly believe that any one part is incorrect, then how can you look at God's word and say that it has any truth. Good reading for reference is Lee Stroble's "Case for Faith"
3) Los said it best - Lifeway is "a for profit business and people can just shop elsewhere if they don’t agree." That is the beauty of a capitalist society.

Fianl thought - Dana - Girl they make this stuff called MIDOL. I think Sam's sells economy sized. You might want to invest in some.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Ben (of BenandJacq) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:22:53 -0000

Let's all be careful bashing the church. I don't take well to people highlighting and berating the flaws in my bride, and I can't see God being a big fan of that, either. Just a thought.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

loswhit — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:17:34 -0000

In the midst of all this I'm just learning. I am a Southern Baptist preachers kid.
My dad is the Executive Director of the California Southern Baptist Convention.
My ideals and values are as Southern Baptist as they get.
But in the end...I think Life Way set themselves up on this one.
There must be hundreds of CD's and books that they should follow suit with.
But to attack them for their beliefs is whack.
They are a for profit business and people can just shop elswhere if they don't agree.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Mark — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:12:53 -0000

We should ask this guy what he thinks:

http://www.break.com/index/...

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » LifeWay Christian Stores Pull Gospel Today Magazine

Los — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:08:33 -0000

Wow. I go to sleep, wake up, and poof.
Dana is now fired as a commenter.