tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795111439689962067.post4213039867919733705..comments2013-05-23T10:53:33.674-07:00Comments on The Retrolutionary: Jesus the Magic Pill - RepostedRachael Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962209513923285411noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795111439689962067.post-86117869865495477032011-10-16T20:30:54.394-07:002011-10-16T20:30:54.394-07:00Yes, I think I could have thought of a better phra...Yes, I think I could have thought of a better phrase than "lost while seeking." You're right, a failed explanation does not negate the existence of the thing if fails to explain. But I wasn't really thinking of the style of the message, but the message itself. I don't deny the existence of the longing, it is most certainly there and I can't connect with the person who doesn't feel it. I like what you say, that life is all about the longing. It's defining. The real question is how we interpret the longing and thereby how we attempt to fill it.Richard Carpenternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795111439689962067.post-69869094959413334072011-10-16T15:07:20.840-07:002011-10-16T15:07:20.840-07:00Rich, I always enjoy trading our ideas on this bec...Rich, I always enjoy trading our ideas on this because I know how much we respect each others opinions. I don't know that I would term myself as 'lost while seeking'. For me, I've landed on the belief that life is not about "finding" anything, I think life takes us where we need it to, and God is standing next to us being faithful in who he is the whole time. I don't feel it my job or my place to sell or take jesus anywhere. I stand strong in believing that there is a God who is encountering every single one of his humanly creations since the moment they were born to the moment they are laid in the grave and restored to completeness. I resound with you that we'be been taught this idea of need, but I feel that the teaching has derived from an ultimate longing that we all feel. A longing to be connected to something, something outside of ourselves yet completely within ourselves (if that makes sense.) Sadly I do think humans fail a lot trying to 'teach' and 'control' the definition of what that longing is. However, I don't think our failed attempt at explaining makes the longing any less valid. Thoughts?Rachael Curriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04962209513923285411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795111439689962067.post-70244095249543435712011-10-16T09:28:11.788-07:002011-10-16T09:28:11.788-07:00I like your thoughtfulness and willingness to be c...I like your thoughtfulness and willingness to be confused and lost while seeking. I was reminded of an autobiography I read by Fredrick Douglas. He talks about being a slave and not really being very discontent. Then, he learns how to read and begins to realize all the freedoms that he is not allowed to enjoy. As he realizes the reality of his slavery, then he becomes discontent and fights and strives for his freedom. Stay with me here, but could it be that if we were never told that we were not made for this world? Or if we were never told that we were sinners and incomplete with out Jesus, would we be discontent? To put it strait forward: the idea that we are missing something is what makes us feel that we are missing something. If instead we were told when something bad or disappointing happened, this is how life is, it was never meant to be more than this, just do your best, find ways to enjoy life. That's it. I wonder if we would feel better and less discontent if that was the message. Or, would we feel discontent and then hopeless because there's nothing like paradise waiting for us at the end of a life of struggle?Richard Carpenternoreply@blogger.com