Comments on: The Storms of Life: God, Hard Times, and the Cost of Discipleship http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/ An imperfect and sometimes sarcastic perspective on following Jesus by Ed Cyzewski. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:10:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: ed http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/comment-page-1/#comment-3363 ed Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:11:40 +0000 http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/#comment-3363 Richard, Thanks. That's an excellent point. Discipleship is linked with obedience, choosing to follow Jesus. The difficulties we hit along the path of discipleship are different from the fallen elements of this world. Blessings! Richard,
Thanks. That’s an excellent point. Discipleship is linked with obedience, choosing to follow Jesus. The difficulties we hit along the path of discipleship are different from the fallen elements of this world.
Blessings!

]]> By: Richard Knapp http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/comment-page-1/#comment-3362 Richard Knapp Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:35:41 +0000 http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/#comment-3362 Found my way back to this thread from Ed's post on The Cost of Discipleship today. Good thoughts, all. I'd only add (for clarity) that we need to be careful about what we label as "our cross." Lots of folks--including me, sometimes--think we're bearing crosses, but too often they're ones we've picked up for our selves--not ones Jesus has given to us. Bonhoeffer is pretty clear that the cross Jesus gives us is a cross of discipleship. It involves living in Him and bearing witness to Him. The other things we struggle to bear are usually the result of living in a cursed and dying world, and are valuable to the extent we allow them to help strengthen our trust in Him. Found my way back to this thread from Ed’s post on The Cost of Discipleship today. Good thoughts, all. I’d only add (for clarity) that we need to be careful about what we label as “our cross.” Lots of folks–including me, sometimes–think we’re bearing crosses, but too often they’re ones we’ve picked up for our selves–not ones Jesus has given to us. Bonhoeffer is pretty clear that the cross Jesus gives us is a cross of discipleship. It involves living in Him and bearing witness to Him. The other things we struggle to bear are usually the result of living in a cursed and dying world, and are valuable to the extent we allow them to help strengthen our trust in Him.

]]> By: ed http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/comment-page-1/#comment-3190 ed Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:02:38 +0000 http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/#comment-3190 Thanks Laura. There certainly aren't easy answers, but that doesn't change the presence of God. I've been musing about Mark 11 lately. At a time when Jesus knows he's going to be killed soon, he told his disciples that they could ask for anything in prayer and God would give it to them. My mind is spinning trying to make sense of that one! Thanks Laura. There certainly aren’t easy answers, but that doesn’t change the presence of God. I’ve been musing about Mark 11 lately. At a time when Jesus knows he’s going to be killed soon, he told his disciples that they could ask for anything in prayer and God would give it to them. My mind is spinning trying to make sense of that one!

]]> By: laura http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/comment-page-1/#comment-3185 laura Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:28:18 +0000 http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/#comment-3185 Wow, Ed. I've just been catching up on this dialogue--came over from Bonnie's. I'm so grateful for people like you and Bonnie who don't shy away from these tough questions. Yes, Paul said we would have trials. He struggled with his own thorn. Sorrow is part of this fallen world. Having faith means accepting that we won't always understand. The flood and other difficult stories in the Bible illustrate just that. Easily said, not so easily accepted, I know. Going through a trial can test all that we hold true about God's nature. I like what Bonnie said about the promise that He will be there with us in those difficult times. That is my greatest comfort. Wow, Ed. I’ve just been catching up on this dialogue–came over from Bonnie’s. I’m so grateful for people like you and Bonnie who don’t shy away from these tough questions.

Yes, Paul said we would have trials. He struggled with his own thorn. Sorrow is part of this fallen world. Having faith means accepting that we won’t always understand. The flood and other difficult stories in the Bible illustrate just that. Easily said, not so easily accepted, I know. Going through a trial can test all that we hold true about God’s nature.

I like what Bonnie said about the promise that He will be there with us in those difficult times. That is my greatest comfort.

]]> By: Dee http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/comment-page-1/#comment-3182 Dee Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:46:08 +0000 http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/#comment-3182 That helps. I knew the answer, but it is good to hear it again. By reading the rational reasons calmly stated, I am once again reminded of the personality of our Lord and the reality we face in life on this side of heaven. That encourages me and right now I need that encouragement. Thank you. :D That helps. I knew the answer, but it is good to hear it again. By reading the rational reasons calmly stated, I am once again reminded of the personality of our Lord and the reality we face in life on this side of heaven. That encourages me and right now I need that encouragement. Thank you. :D

]]> By: ed http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/comment-page-1/#comment-3181 ed Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:03:54 +0000 http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/#comment-3181 Bonnie, that's a great insight. Jesus reveals the Father to us, so I think you're right on the money with that one. Bonnie, that’s a great insight. Jesus reveals the Father to us, so I think you’re right on the money with that one.

]]> By: What’s The Difference Between Trouble and Trials? | Faith Barista http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/comment-page-1/#comment-3180 What’s The Difference Between Trouble and Trials? | Faith Barista Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:52:37 +0000 http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/#comment-3180 [...] response, Ed wrote up a post on In A Mirror Dimly, and I cheered.  He did an excellent job delineating two things that are often scrunched [...] [...] response, Ed wrote up a post on In A Mirror Dimly, and I cheered.  He did an excellent job delineating two things that are often scrunched [...]

]]> By: Faith Barista Bonnie http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/comment-page-1/#comment-3179 Faith Barista Bonnie Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:21:06 +0000 http://inamirrordimly.com/2010/03/06/the-storms-of-life-god-hard-times-and-the-cost-of-discipleship/#comment-3179 Ed, You took the bull by it's horns and avoided giving Sunday School answers. I particularly loved how you juxtaposed these 2 summarizing points: "#2... We can take cracks at explaining these events, but we’ll never be fully satisfied with the mystery of these passages. It’s hard to figure out just how involved God was in these events." "#3... Jesus reveals God’s commitment to self-sacrifice and reconciliation." There's a key in unlocking how we look at those troubling OT passages: how do we view God? What do we really believe about Him? If it's not so positive, then I think we'll see that emphasis in our interpretation. And if is positive, that image will come out as well. I think that is part of the mystery -- how we each experience God -- and if that god we experience is Jesus, then that personal relationship will influence our read of God in the Scriptures. Ed,

You took the bull by it’s horns and avoided giving Sunday School answers.

I particularly loved how you juxtaposed these 2 summarizing points:

“#2… We can take cracks at explaining these events, but we’ll never be fully satisfied with the mystery of these passages. It’s hard to figure out just how involved God was in these events.”

“#3… Jesus reveals God’s commitment to self-sacrifice and reconciliation.”

There’s a key in unlocking how we look at those troubling OT passages: how do we view God? What do we really believe about Him?

If it’s not so positive, then I think we’ll see that emphasis in our interpretation.

And if is positive, that image will come out as well.

I think that is part of the mystery — how we each experience God — and if that god we experience is Jesus, then that personal relationship will influence our read of God in the Scriptures.

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