tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.comments2022-11-20T02:09:19.313-08:00Becoming a Better SinnerRon Vanderwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066136957488313464noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-66400714808374138812011-02-24T13:25:56.921-08:002011-02-24T13:25:56.921-08:00Nobody wishes any more sermons
LET ME TELL YOU HOW...Nobody wishes any more sermons<br />LET ME TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT<br />It is for each person to find out and to choose<br />No to Indoctrination <br />No to Stupid talk<br />For those keen in reading and researching<br />many answers and, yes, we are entitled to our own opinion and to keep it for ourselves and to be shared with those who are keen to share<br />Have a great lifeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08947948268710423713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-10679925332775143532011-02-01T18:25:54.712-08:002011-02-01T18:25:54.712-08:00I have struggled nearly all my life with an addict...I have struggled nearly all my life with an addiction and only the last few years have I realized that this "Hound" chasing me is creating a clean heart in me. I remain stunned at His goodness and mercy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-64909396274248487822010-12-16T17:23:40.846-08:002010-12-16T17:23:40.846-08:00As we continue to allow the motivated and mission-...As we continue to allow the motivated and mission-oriented Christian right to mobilize their moronic voting base, they get to elect their more authoritarian, geared-toward-the-End-Times government. Those more conservative governments generally appoint the judiciary. Together they are slowly but surely tweaking the laws toward the right, while at the same time screaming as loudly as possible about how Christians are under attack (from what? 13% of the population?) from the Sinful and their rights need protecting. Its a shell game and they're controlling the game...saul relativehttp://contributor.yahoo.com/user/133651/saul_relative.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-58718665153784643482010-10-04T09:37:22.178-07:002010-10-04T09:37:22.178-07:00sdgfsdgsdgfsdgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-17455264252062841302010-08-19T05:39:15.171-07:002010-08-19T05:39:15.171-07:00I don't know any Armenians that would claim th...I don't know any Armenians that would claim that we're not stupid.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09900722116531326873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-34260523479643699082010-08-09T13:37:26.076-07:002010-08-09T13:37:26.076-07:00anonymous, we're actually a republic that teac...anonymous, we're actually a republic that teaches democracy. With a simple majority, if a democracy, we could vote in anything that was popular for that moment. While I vote my conscience (yes on 8), I'm reminded that sin is sin, but, that doesn't mean that government services/entitlements be withheld from certain groups. Two things happen if we allow gays to get married. Acceptance in society (whether real or not) and the entitlements of "married" couples. In reality, it doesn't seem like much. And, the fact that the term didn't even come into play until the 1300's or so. For Christians, it seems to me that our "marriage", or, the "nomenclature" of marriage, is more of a covenant with God and your spouse, especially since anyone of the opposite sex and consenting, can get "married". That's still a different "marriage" than the one "we" have, right? Hmmmm, gonna have to rethink my vote, considering the fact that I'd rather get along and witness to others than to not get along and watch the protests. You know that "render to Caesar" thing. If we didn't have propositions in this state (one of very few states that do), the politicians would have probably already voted for gay marriage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-66060825024658714812010-08-07T16:22:49.380-07:002010-08-07T16:22:49.380-07:00Good, bad or indifferent...seems to me the people ...Good, bad or indifferent...seems to me the people of California voted and we are still a democracy (although who knows for how long!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-10573143745647794152010-06-02T05:21:39.616-07:002010-06-02T05:21:39.616-07:00Yes, I'll admit to being the guy that ticked b...Yes, I'll admit to being the guy that ticked bizarre. But that's what God seems to be. And as you said it's our only chance. Having been someone like you, someone who wanted to be the best pastor, husband etc. I could, I messed up in a pretty big way. No one to blame but myself. So, yes I'm so glad it's this way. But your question threw me. I guess I'm not really back into settling in God's grace. Wishful thinking, maybe?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-86663714036275313982010-05-31T01:54:59.134-07:002010-05-31T01:54:59.134-07:00I've gotta stop leaving such long-winded respo...I've gotta stop leaving such long-winded responses... lol!Miss Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11181418898450855207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-77973551584046824272010-05-31T01:54:29.145-07:002010-05-31T01:54:29.145-07:00Ah, touching on my comment to your last blog, are ...Ah, touching on my comment to your last blog, are you? :D<br /><br />Yes, logically in my head I know God's grace is, and should be, the same for all. When I pray "Forgive me as I have forgiven others who have sinned against me," I know I don't REALLY want that. I have too much older brother attitude.<br /><br />But then, as the older brother, I don't get mad at my father for showering his lost son with love. Fathers should love their children unconditionally, right? I tend to get mad at the stupid slacker brother who acted so... stupidly. I want to make sure that the jerk never treats me or my father that badly again, and I want to make sure he is trying to make up for it, though he probably can't. He shouldn't just SAY sorry, he needs to ACT sorry.<br /><br />Hmm... not loving enough?<br /><br />I know I've got to stop looking horizontally, and comparing myself to other imperfect people. I have qualities of the younger brother, too. And I also know I should start focusing vertically, recognizing that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But how does one DO that, exactly? I see these other people, and wonder, if they are claiming that they want to be closer to God, why aren't they showing more repentance for the crap they do??<br /><br />It would be so much easier to forgive people if they actually showed me they were sorry. But then, I guess that would be too easy. I suppose I wouldn't be very Christ-like, since Jesus probably has to deal with that all the time. I guess I just answered my own question. :PMiss Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11181418898450855207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-39310822101605537532010-05-27T12:46:19.683-07:002010-05-27T12:46:19.683-07:00I have no problem knowing how much of a sinner I a...I have no problem knowing how much of a sinner I am. I mess up daily. That's why this passage teaches that God's grace is needed equally by all, even those who think obeying the rules will save them. They never could, the just will live by faith, not by the law. The older brother was so caught up in rules that he began to believe they were his saving grace, but then he witnessed grace given freely to a sinner.Stevehttp://www.facebook.com/stevenasheppardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-44287085735305391962010-05-20T12:27:52.442-07:002010-05-20T12:27:52.442-07:00I just realized that my comment didn't have mu...I just realized that my comment didn't have much to do with your blog, and displayed a completely different topic of how i trick myself into arrogant thinking. Huh. My bad. Maybe that should be your next blog. ;)Miss Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11181418898450855207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-57935900773173619752010-05-20T12:24:50.454-07:002010-05-20T12:24:50.454-07:00Yeah, that's one of the things i struggle with...Yeah, that's one of the things i struggle with as a Christian. We all get the same grace, but some times i compare myself to other Christians, and conclude that i'm a "better" Christian, and therefore get some sort of "better" grace from God.<br /><br />As Heath jokingly, but so blatantly said to me, it's like telling God when we get to heaven, "Hey God, I'm so happy that you've given your forgiveness to everyone though we don't deserve it, but can i worship you over *here* and have *those* people worship you over there? I don't mind them worshiping you, because you deserve to be worshiped by all, i just don't want to worship you next to *them*."<br /><br />Maybe i'm wrong, but I don't think God plays favorites in heaven...Miss Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11181418898450855207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-75200312319446146062010-05-01T09:07:51.938-07:002010-05-01T09:07:51.938-07:00Atheism:1.the position that there are no deities.
...Atheism:1.the position that there are no deities.<br /> 2.the rejection of belief in the existence of deities.<br /> Most Christian apologists use the first definition to describe atheists, while most atheists use the second definition to describe themselves. The first definition is as dogmatic and certain as the belief of theists and shifts the burden of proof to the atheist to prove a negative, which is impossible. The second definition puts the burden of proof where it belongs, on the theist who makes supernatural claims. The atheist makes no claims, he only asks that you prove what you say is true. To hold atheistic views is not a belief system; it is the absence of belief because of the absence of evidence. It does not require faith. A theist on the other hand does require faith to, as you say, "stake everything on something they can't prove".<br /> Pastor Vanderwell seems to think it is a shortcoming of science that what was once thought true is no longer believed; that a flat earth belief was replaced by the belief that the earth is a sphere. That is the strength of science, as new evidence is presented new theories are formulated. If you ask an atheist what would make them believe in God they will usually come up with a few scenarios that would convince them. On the other hand, if you ask a theist what evidence would make them disbelieve in God the usual response is,"Nothing, I have faith that it is true and nothing could dissuade me."<br /> The pastor also seems to think the night sky re-enforces the belief in God. Perhaps because common sense says that since people make things then who made the stars? However, common sense does not always give the correct conclusion. Common sense tells us the world is flat. Common sense tells us the sun revolves around the earth. Science has shown both of these commonsensical things to be wrong. The fact is, we do not "make" things. Matter cannot be created or destroyed. All we do is rearrange things into a new form. All the matter and energy in the universe was "made" in a unique event that science does not yet understand. To plug God in there is to have a "God of the gaps", that is, all things yet unknown must have been because of God. This is delusional thinking.<br /> In his conclusion the pastor wonders what is like for an atheist to be in such a minority. A simple Google search would reveal that in dozens of studies done over the last several decades it has been shown that there is an inverse relationship between religiosity and intelligence. That is to say, the less intelligence you have the more likely it is that you will believe in God. Now, this does not always hold true of course because I know of many very intelligent believers, but it does show that perhaps with a more thorough examination of the facts using logic and reason instead of faith (which is sometimes defined as belief without reason) the minority may someday be the majority.Garynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-44877349555131367272010-04-29T07:51:11.352-07:002010-04-29T07:51:11.352-07:00Atheism isn't a belief in nothing, it's a ...Atheism isn't a belief in nothing, it's a faith and belief in oneself... just like god believes in no one but himself. The world is made of 2 different types of people: gods and sods, and you know what that makes you.<br /><br />I hope that some day, charlatans like you are put in prison for running your criminal bunco confidence scam on the desperate greedy nudnick losers in the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-76721647303902278962010-04-04T21:18:12.372-07:002010-04-04T21:18:12.372-07:00Yes it was. That's a great song. Thanks for ...Yes it was. That's a great song. Thanks for noticing :)Ron Vanderwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01066136957488313464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-75241065667517549612010-04-04T20:55:15.263-07:002010-04-04T20:55:15.263-07:00Was that a Cake reference i saw in there?Was that a Cake reference i saw in there?Miss Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11181418898450855207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-71272403142913243512010-04-01T11:17:56.788-07:002010-04-01T11:17:56.788-07:00Hi Ron, God bless you. I know music is important t...Hi Ron, God bless you. I know music is important to you, it is to everyone. Unfortunately, in rock'n'roll, there are a shocking number of artists who are not Christians. Don't believe me, investigate it yourself on the web. Example: METALLICA They sing about selling their souls to the devil<br />in the song "Jump In the Fire", commands young people to jump into hell: "Follow me now my child, DO JUST AS I SAY, Jump by your will or be taken by force, I'll get you either way<br />So reach down grab my hand walk with me through the land, COME HOME WHERE YOU BELONG, So come on JUMP IN THE FIRE." In the cover song, "The Prince", Metallica openly sing: "Angel from below, I WISH TO SELL MY SOUL, DEVIL TAKE MY SOUL with diamonds you repay, I don't care for heaven so don't you look for me to cry AND I WILL BURN IN HELL from the day I die."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-71481837865089763682010-02-21T21:29:40.460-08:002010-02-21T21:29:40.460-08:00That was awesome Mr. Vanderwell!That was awesome Mr. Vanderwell!Bennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-5519678772541300392009-11-23T12:56:16.696-08:002009-11-23T12:56:16.696-08:00"safe". "settled". i look forw..."safe". "settled". i look forward to feeling that way.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10787576294521659997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-76832745227136820502009-11-16T16:05:06.236-08:002009-11-16T16:05:06.236-08:00I like his post.I like his post.Paul Vander Klayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06223428897906325654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-41703715386533065772009-11-03T13:34:03.445-08:002009-11-03T13:34:03.445-08:00wordwordSLiChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14743532626058755177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-31020797870915635212009-11-01T20:12:34.613-08:002009-11-01T20:12:34.613-08:00That is a good word, Ron! Such great, good news th...That is a good word, Ron! Such great, good news that God provides daily for His children.<br /><br />on another note: thank you for being a follower of my blog. That makes me feel validated.greghttp://www.gregmangrum.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-3935298779156687682009-09-26T19:36:38.057-07:002009-09-26T19:36:38.057-07:00That's also a valid point. It's very impo...That's also a valid point. It's very important for any church family to do whatever it can to help its members find their place. While a church can't simply "do" community for someone, no matter how much we may want to, it's important that we as leaders do what we can to provide the opportunity for each member of the family to find and retain their place in the family. From there it's up to them to invest in healthy relationships.Ron Vanderwellhttp://bit.ly/bettersinnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419267995961299321.post-9338719702795829662009-09-26T09:17:52.838-07:002009-09-26T09:17:52.838-07:00What if someone within the church suddenly vanishe...What if someone within the church suddenly vanished? Would anyone else in the church notice? And what does that say about the church's vision and ministry??Greghttp://gregmangrum.comnoreply@blogger.com