tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post8447394783343917525..comments2024-03-13T00:00:20.411-05:00Comments on Frankly Speaking: The Ascension of Jesus Christ, 1Frank Bellizzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949066335378651585noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-81039197990864892962008-04-24T18:55:00.000-05:002008-04-24T18:55:00.000-05:00Carisse, We did have a good chance for rain on Wed...Carisse, <BR/><BR/>We did have a good chance for rain on Wednesday, but we didn't get much moisture. We didn't experience any severe weather here either. We really could use some rain here.<BR/><BR/>Arlene,<BR/><BR/>I didn't know about your Jewish origins. Wow, we sure don't have too many people like you in Amarillo. You raise our diversity quotient several points all by yourself. Thanks for the book recommendation; I agree with Winner that sometimes you need to have a prayer when you don't have your own words. Good stuff.<BR/><BR/>Royce,<BR/><BR/>I hope you get to speak at Irving sometime. What a delight. The spirit of celebration in the black church is so warm, so encouraging. I have always been treated so well. And, yes, ours is sometimes a fluky flock.Frank Bellizzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07949066335378651585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-21267923898386099822008-04-24T17:14:00.000-05:002008-04-24T17:14:00.000-05:00Frank,Long ago I was invited to speak at a Saturda...Frank,<BR/><BR/>Long ago I was invited to speak at a Saturday morning Brotherhood Meeting at a black church in Canton, N.C. I have seldom enjoyed speaking as much! Those frequent exclamation points from the audience was wonderful. And, one of my former employees is pastor of a black church in Irving, Texas and I plan to worship with them the next time I am in the area. You can bet I'm just itchin' to preach for him! lol<BR/><BR/>Isn't it odd that anyone who is a Christ follower would object to any public reading of Holy Scripture? And isn't it odd that any devotee of Jesus would refuse to observe any special event or day in His life?<BR/><BR/>We have some strange birds in our forever family don't we?<BR/><BR/>His Peace,<BR/>Royce OgleRoyce Oglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05244683471043477041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-7990794476070619352008-04-24T09:23:00.000-05:002008-04-24T09:23:00.000-05:00Yes, Frank I love these thoughts. Mine is a Jewish...Yes, Frank I love these thoughts. Mine is a Jewish heritage and so repetition and celebration seem so integral to the process of spiritual formation. Scripture is full of the idea of re-enactment for the sake of faith development.<BR/>Lauren Winner has a little book, Muddhouse Sabbath. She makes note in her section about reciting written prayers that one value of such things is that when our souls and hearts are so down trodden and we can not prayer from within, we can recite the rich words of the past and still feel connected to God. Oh, I love that. In times of deepest grief when I have not been able to pray, the words of another can be issued from my mouth.<BR/>And so to, the church calendar. I love that there is rhythm there. I do not want to feel restricted by having to follow the church calendar all year, but I love the freedom to celebrate along the way.Arlene Kasselmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17215920805448767403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-28001493049871901952008-04-23T22:32:00.000-05:002008-04-23T22:32:00.000-05:00Frank, I've thought of you Amarillo folks the last...Frank, I've thought of you Amarillo folks the last few days, with weather in the area.<BR/><BR/>I appreciated your reflections on the calendar. I've had several friends who have found the lectionary helpful for balance in preaching.<BR/><BR/>Looking forward to your series on the Ascension. It is almost as much a mystery as the Resurrection.Carissehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15332224911730909869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-28122276735287361842008-04-23T21:51:00.000-05:002008-04-23T21:51:00.000-05:00Jim, thanks for revealing something of your past a...Jim, thanks for revealing something of your past and your point of view. <BR/><BR/>Years ago when I was preaching in a Church of Christ in Connecticut, several of our members were former Roman Catholics. When I, feeling a lot of freedom to lead worship in various ways, introduced responsive readings, I thought it was great. But I soon found out that our former Roman Catholics wanted to know if I was training for the priesthood! <BR/><BR/>Is a form a familiar something you seem trapped in, or is it an unknown that seems like it could be meaningful to you? Clearly, the same form can be either.<BR/><BR/>I respect and also value your commitment to what is at the core of our faith, as opposed to what has grown up beside our faith.<BR/><BR/>Dee, thanks so much for your kind comments. I trust you're doing well, or at least better, these days.Frank Bellizzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07949066335378651585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-81886532020941623042008-04-23T18:47:00.001-05:002008-04-23T18:47:00.001-05:00Thanks for this good post, Frank. I look forward ...Thanks for this good post, Frank. I look forward to hearing more and sharing with you the ascension of Jesus Christ.<BR/><BR/>Good observations and conclusions. I agree.<BR/><BR/>DeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-48141524056975838032008-04-23T18:47:00.000-05:002008-04-23T18:47:00.000-05:00When I obeyed the Gospel ten years ago I was glad ...When I obeyed the Gospel ten years ago I was glad to do so in a Church of Christ devoid of Christianity's trappings, such as endless observances of special dates. I had watched those trappings while attending a Methodist church a few years before and decided that such observances could not be the stuff of genuine faith; it was the stuff of going through the motions.<BR/><BR/>When it was time for me to leave the Church of Christ several years later I was drawn to an independent Christian church of the Restoration Movement where Christmas and Easter are observed. It's been a struggle to learn that observing these dates can keep me in touch with events that made my faith possible.<BR/><BR/>While I don't see myself observing Ascension Day anytime soon, I can now see how a mature Christian can make use of such an observance to maintain his closeness to God. What I can't see (yet?) is how a babe in Christ can see past such observances and see Christ and come to know His love personally.<BR/><BR/>Boy, does this comment ever reveal something about the state of my growth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com