tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post419419444412372615..comments2023-12-30T00:13:46.213-05:00Comments on Abandon Image: The Rapture Already Happened!!!Tia Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08131181929874342944noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-53808483573163431512022-12-12T12:58:57.278-05:002022-12-12T12:58:57.278-05:00Shall I be honest with you all. It's clear the...Shall I be honest with you all. It's clear the rapture is yet to come. Why would God bring fourth this day so early in our time on this planet. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-87952601160254470962014-05-25T15:08:14.526-04:002014-05-25T15:08:14.526-04:00We have our denominational bubbles too. So many ar... We have our denominational bubbles too. So many are beating other parts of Christ' body instead of encouraging.I've yet to meet a Christian that has every bit of their theology right and I know that even if that happened I could not judge if they are right because my own humanity and lack of omniscience would limit me. I do believe that it is possible to like Christian culture... Christian movies and music and still reach out to the world and live out of the bubble. Now to say that all believers MUST like Christian movies and hymns or contemporary Christian music would be extreme. But it's also extreme if we say it's wrong to like these things. I've seen in my short time on earth that there is a good bit of grey and people are not so easily labeled. I don't agree with many beliefs in the emergent church (though I was once an emergent & charismatic) but I also don't agree with everything in conservative circles. Just because I am labeled a conservative Christian that does not mean that I am homophobic, pro-spanking, racist, or hey, even that I drive a mini van with WWJD stickers. Lol seriously, our labels are killing us. I know "liberals" who are God fearing people. I know conservatives who are full of grace and minister in every part of society. Ultimately, we are fallible human beings saved by God's grace. Anywho, the more bloggers speak out on issues maybe the stereo types will lose their grip. Persecution won't ultimately stop though until Christ returns. Alot of awesome Christians that have nothing to do with the American Christian sub culture, are still hated and being killed and imprisoned (check out Voice of the Martyrs if you haven't read it). Anywho, sorry to make such a long comment. I liked your article on not spanking. I'll comment there in a minute. God bless, sister! PS: For those reading: it is possible to not agree with homosexuality and still love homosexuals. You can love someone and not always agree. It makes no sense that there are those who equate agreeing with loving. My gay friends are perfectly fine with me having my own views. I have had open discussions with them but I would never beat them with my beliefs. Amber D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-88508013306081359362012-04-02T02:44:05.037-04:002012-04-02T02:44:05.037-04:00I wonder if the rapture will be in a virtual world...I wonder if the rapture will be in a virtual world rather then this one where technology gets to the point where people can live in virtual kingdoms.<br /><br />Maybe the whole tribulation will not even be in *this* world but rather in a virtual MMORPG that we live and breathe in if we want to participate in the economy game.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12258430081068577311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-46892658369106947572010-08-10T21:16:22.655-04:002010-08-10T21:16:22.655-04:00no, the rapture has not happened. Everyone just sh...no, the rapture has not happened. Everyone just shutup and stop being stupid, God would not abbandon us like this. And plus+, is would be 20,000,000,000,000,000 times worse than this. God is still here with us, the Anti-Christ is not in full control yet...........IT HASN'T HAPPENED!!!! yet...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-10535758269121034642009-05-11T16:56:00.000-04:002009-05-11T16:56:00.000-04:00I love this post. Truthfully if the Church doesnt ...I love this post. Truthfully if the Church doesnt get it right soon, the church will slowly die. <br /><br />I have been burned by the church and find it hard to get into church anymore. I still love Jesus but I am in turmoil because of Churchianity and its subculture of stupiditySpiritbearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07002446750909812249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-54688073101191467802008-11-14T19:53:00.000-05:002008-11-14T19:53:00.000-05:00unbelievable. Church means "body of Christ". Its t...unbelievable. Church means "body of Christ". Its that simple. This blog is for lazy people wanting to craft their own meaning of Church to suite them. Leaning to your own understanding. Redefine the word of God. Hear what your ears itch to hear.Cake and eat it too reality.Dont like going to Church? Just listen to this person,shell get ya fixed right up. Tell you what God "really means" when He speaks. Have another sip of her koolaid and youll be Nirvana.<BR/> Shes wrong. Shes teaching against Gods word. But,then again, Id say most posters on here,were already in this state of mind anyway, pretending to be enlightened by this prophetic person. Dont buy into this. Do yourself a favor and pray,Jesus will answer,just not via the internet. This person is no more or less than the people she speaks against,if she was correct.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-40792154788594322132008-11-13T14:13:00.000-05:002008-11-13T14:13:00.000-05:00I feel like Elijah when he was griping about being...I feel like Elijah when he was griping about being the only one left, and God gently chiding him to quit being a baby, cuz there are thousands out there under the radar. Thank you for articulating my thoughts better than I had been able to myself. I've sent your blog out to numerous people with the note: "this is what I was trying to say." ;-)<BR/>I haven't blogged in a very long time, but your words have stirred me to get back to it. Thanks.Jon Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18131181220469483476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-91492877170034296412008-09-28T12:45:00.000-04:002008-09-28T12:45:00.000-04:00Tia-am I to understand you support homosexuality?D...Tia-am I to understand you support homosexuality?Do you wish to sack all that Church people have done and put it out for pick-up?Do you wish to convey that you have made provisions for all those who might leave the Church and follow you?To dismiss all that Churches and the people who go,are just appreciated by you?You are being careless. Even though I can see your point,and don't completely disagree, I do no think you have the right to dismiss Churches,and their work.To me you sound like those you talk against.Please dont dismiss the work of Christians in Churches,there is more to be said than you just appreciating them.Your are sounding like all the work they do,is weak at best,and is more damaging than good. You are all about diversity.So is Obama.your doing harm to Churches,not trying to help them grow. You are misleading people.knightingalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10947693988515090298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-74663500446979901272008-04-30T22:11:00.000-04:002008-04-30T22:11:00.000-04:00Free Spirit, welcome! Come by anytime. I have had ...Free Spirit, welcome! Come by anytime. I have had many of the same thoughts as you and tend to agree with you. I wouldn’t make a rule that people SHOULD NOT attend “church,” but will always side with BEING the church over “going to church.” I think “church” has sadly been reduced to a Sunday morning meeting where people seek individualistic experience and “put on” spirituality, where little realness is displayed. <BR/><BR/>1. I guess how one defines “balanced” will determine how biblical of a concept it is. When I say balanced, I do not mean some performance-based to-do-list that to make sure you’ve covered everything. I am more referring to the tendency of going to unhealthy extremes. In an effort to “avoid evil” some christians isolate themselves from any contact with “the world.” Other become so obsessed with “church” and “getting to heaven” they neglect the call to bring about God’s kingdom on earth. I don’t view being balanced as achieving certain tasks, but avoiding extremes that render us ineffective. <BR/><BR/>2. I definitely don’t think we NEED church as we know it today, but I do think believers need to come together and have community with each other. Encourage each other, bare each other’s burdens, and meet each other’s needs as well as the needs of their local community. <BR/><BR/>3. As far as being accountable to each other, I do not think every believer has the right or obligation to barge in on other believers’ lives and keep them “accountable” to the doctrines they like best. I think as we develop relationships with each other, it’s natural that we share our struggles and weaknesses and each person makes the decision to INVITE someone into that and spur them onto growth. It should never be done in judgment or “I’m more spiritual than you, so let me tell you how it is” kind of thing. That’s just some nut on a power trip. :)<BR/><BR/>4. I absolutely think church as we know it needs to change. I can appreciate many of the attempts of the modern church. I think God works through imperfect vessels and systems all the time and good has come from modern church. However, as a living organism, the church needs to grow and change to carry out it’s walk with God. This will look different for every believer and I am not one to say “you should be doing this way and ONLY this way.” I’m all about diversity.Tia Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131181929874342944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-41798160710327462202008-04-26T14:30:00.000-04:002008-04-26T14:30:00.000-04:00Hi Tia. I'm a brand new reader. I really appreci...Hi Tia. I'm a brand new reader. I really appreciate your thinking. Can't imagine that you're not familiar with The Shack book, or So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore, (or The God Journey podcast) - all things that have irrevocably changed who I am and how I think, and sound so akin to your post here.<BR/><BR/>Great post! I agree with 98% of it. I am a mom of 4, product of religion, and now,consider myself officially an outside-the-box thinker. Been goin' thru a bit of a metamorphosis myself, breaking free from the very mentality you write of.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Got a few questions: <BR/><BR/>1) Why are we "supposed" to be balanced? I've never seen that word used in scripture, and not sure that it's really a concept Jesus taught. The closest I can come up with is we are not "in the world, but not of the world." I've always wondered where we came up with this concept that we so strongly defend. You know, I'm just really not into trying to balance anything; it sounds too similar to the rest of the "to do" list of religion that I've thrown away. <BR/><BR/>2) Do we really NEED the church? In the sense that we actually ARE the church, I suppose it could be argued. But, I'm leery of saying that I NEED anything other than Jesus and the Holy Spirit. "Church" within 4 walls, as we know it, is totally broken. While I couldn't agree more that the Body is meant to be united, I just don't buy that "church" is the only, or even best, way to go about it. Maybe we're not meant to go about it at all? Maybe its entirely the job of the Holy Spirit to unite us IN our spirit. Are we trying to usurp His responsibility? <BR/><BR/>3) And what of this concept of being accountable to each other? Are we really "supposed" to be? What if we are really only meant to be accountable to God? I believe that "confess your sins one to another" doesn't equate accountability as in "you keep a check on me in this area", like its someone else's responsibility to "keep me in check".<BR/><BR/>4) In one of your comments to Terry, you mention that some of the best experiences of your life happened during "those gatherings", which is wonderful, and I could say the same, but it begs the question: should we not tip the sacred cow of "church" just because it provides great experiences?<BR/>If we're in it for a great experience, then by all means stay; you'll get yours, but I've seen my own fallacy of staying involved in "church" just so I can have just another a "great experience", but often at the expense of deep and meaningful growth in Christ. <BR/><BR/>I don't mean to be rude here. I, too, am just at a place of challenging all I've ever known, and previously subscribed to. I'm mostly wanting to give food for thought.<BR/><BR/>I like you're blog and will be visiting more. And not just to antagonize you! :)Free Spirithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00942692680513002360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-16757759527262261302008-04-16T15:50:00.000-04:002008-04-16T15:50:00.000-04:00Thanks so much! Believe me, I come from dysfunctio...Thanks so much! Believe me, I come from dysfunction junction. There’s nothing traditional about the way I was raised. But there was beauty in it and beneficial lessens. :) God meets us where we are and our lives will look different from other believers. There’s diversity in the body. Good job looking to embrace all the prodigals out there! :)Tia Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131181929874342944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-37733497390031519662008-04-15T18:25:00.000-04:002008-04-15T18:25:00.000-04:00Tia Lynn,I am back lurking around your blog and I ...Tia Lynn,<BR/><BR/>I am back lurking around your blog and I am in love with this post. As my dear bloggy pal Terry pointed out in her comment, I used to feel so left out of the Christian blog world. Me a single mom, working full time, with no traditional bible home life. Well this fueled my desire to keep blogging and trying to reach those other prodigal children like myself in hopes that my testimony will show them Gods divine love for them all. I do believe that once the rapture does come, many of the people that you named off in your post will be sitting around scratching thier heads looking into the sky with a totally confused look on thier faces. The sad part is, they will honestly be confused. Thanks again for such a wonderful insight. I am learning to read and digest your spiritual food. It's not as hard to swallow as I thought:))) Look forward to getting to know ya!A Marriage After His Hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775387555981636393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-35750802650117461022008-03-01T17:57:00.000-05:002008-03-01T17:57:00.000-05:00Thanks Steve! I will definitely check out that pod...Thanks Steve! I will definitely check out that podcast. <BR/><BR/>Come back again!Tia Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131181929874342944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-77892080191165738292008-02-28T11:22:00.000-05:002008-02-28T11:22:00.000-05:00Greetings TiaI just found this blog using the Blog...Greetings Tia<BR/>I just found this blog using the Blogrush widget, and thought this entry was awesome and gives words to some of my own frustrations.<BR/><BR/>Let's do the math:<BR/>If a typical church service is just 2 hours long, and the rest of us work 40-hour jobs or have 24-hour school weeks, then even if we are going to extra teaching meetings, we're still by DEFAULT 'in the world' way more than in a church building, so I'm curious as to how The Body of Christ gets itself so sheltered from the world. I admit to seasons of my life where I recognize I've allowed that to happen to me, and it's very easy, but still, it ought not to be true of us.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for posting this, you might like the latest episode of a podcast I do with another missionary (both of us are missionaries to the Netherlands--a place in need of mighty revival), and we called it "Has a Rapture Mentality Short-Changed This Generation?"---with the basic idea that generations before us haven't "built US" up to be a vibrant church in the world in the hear and now, because they thought they'd be raptured any minute now, and didn't "plan ahead" and helped create some of the messes we're in now.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure I'll be revisiting your blog regularly, from what I've seen you're quite a prolific writer! Keep up the good work!<BR/><BR/>SteveFIRE On Your Headhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513027949614930677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-50723586097523744822008-01-17T23:54:00.000-05:002008-01-17T23:54:00.000-05:00Hehe.Maybe they are like that precisely because th...Hehe.<BR/><BR/>Maybe they are like that precisely because they segregate themselves from the world. When people isolate themselves it is far too easy to label vast majorities of people without ever personally encountering the faces and stories behind their labels. And there really are plenty of wonderful Christians who do not venture out into the world because they are afraid or because church life can be awfully consuming. :) Thanks for commenting!Tia Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131181929874342944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-44897393967382338812008-01-17T22:09:00.000-05:002008-01-17T22:09:00.000-05:00Oh! Ho ho! No no no no! The Christians that ten...Oh! Ho ho! No no no no! The Christians that tend to completely segregate themselves from all of society (and here in South Texas, that includes 20 acres and a water well) are less than gregarious, lacking in compassion and rife with a judgmental vibe. <BR/><BR/>The fallen World doesn't need that kind of testimony, so maybe it's better that they work out their salvation with fear and trembling--in private.Grafted Branchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13234492249971474897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-75714604134725921552008-01-16T01:36:00.000-05:002008-01-16T01:36:00.000-05:00Michelle, I am honored! I was actually debating wh...Michelle, I am honored! I was actually debating whether to make that analogy, because I didnt want people to get offended, but at the same time when Christians remove themselves from the world, the comparison is fair. Thank you for your kind words!Tia Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131181929874342944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-83861974112692946322008-01-15T19:29:00.000-05:002008-01-15T19:29:00.000-05:00Hi Tia, you don't know me - I'm Christy's friend. ...Hi Tia, you don't know me - I'm Christy's friend. :) I just wanted to let you know I quoted you in Bible study this morning, went on a full blown schpeal (sp?) about the whole theme of "the rapture might as well have already happened" and someone said afterward, "Wow, that was good, where did you read that again?" and I said, "On my friend's friend's blog" and she looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears of course, but everyone had to agree that there's a real point being made here. I just thought you'd like to know you're being quoted now! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11953038703407913981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-50075816884277259412008-01-14T15:45:00.000-05:002008-01-14T15:45:00.000-05:00Yeah, the title was a cheap trick on my part to ge...Yeah, the title was a cheap trick on my part to get more readers... :)Tia Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131181929874342944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-44956017252758845892008-01-14T10:33:00.000-05:002008-01-14T10:33:00.000-05:00Tia, Excellent post! Fantastic. I heartily agree. ...Tia, <BR/><BR/>Excellent post! Fantastic. I heartily agree. The opening line caught my attention too..ha ha.Jeremy Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01778420126998625079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-21543908473149379632008-01-13T01:12:00.000-05:002008-01-13T01:12:00.000-05:00Standing ovation for this one Tia! Keep them comin...Standing ovation for this one Tia! Keep them coming.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-24890363886874732182008-01-12T21:20:00.000-05:002008-01-12T21:20:00.000-05:00Terry, I love ya, and not just because you told me...Terry, I love ya, and not just because you told me I was right :)<BR/><BR/>Angela, I am so HAPPY you posted! The clarification you made is VITAL. We NEED the church, the body to be united, to teach, to serve, to provide community, to be peacemakers, etc. Those are necessary and uplifting aspects of the Body. It’s just the emphasis on making our own version of EVERYTHING to run parallel to the world, instead of intersecting it. I chose to go to a public college for just that reason (and it’s cheap). I am friends with the campus crusade folks, who do their thing in the midst of the world and interact with other clubs on service projects and such things. Then, on my own, I get to meet all sorts of interesting people from all different walks of life. It helps me remember that I DON’T always have the answers or KNOW what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. <BR/><BR/>I would never advocate the rejection of “church,” although I think our concept of what church really is, needs to broaden. Too many have reduced “church” to a Sunday meeting. What needs changing is the mindset, not necessarily all the activities, although I personally could do without the corny stuff. :) We can be part of churches, concerts, colleges, retreats, and the like. Some of the best experiences of my life happened during those gatherings, so I would never want to “do away” with them. We need to redefine the mindset claims being “set apart” is being physically set apart or kept away from the world. Being set apart should mean demonstrating the love of Christ IN the world and TO the world. <BR/><BR/>You are completely right about balance. We need that foundation of fellow believers to sharpen each other and bare each others burdens. Thanks for weighing in sisterTia Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131181929874342944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-37410180936580512692008-01-12T13:49:00.000-05:002008-01-12T13:49:00.000-05:00Totally agree Terry.Totally agree Terry.musicmommy3https://www.blogger.com/profile/05737575036149219677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-34883000534204280212008-01-12T13:20:00.000-05:002008-01-12T13:20:00.000-05:00I agree with you, too, musicmommy. Hence my call f...I agree with you, too, musicmommy. Hence my call for balance. We need other believers to sharpen us and call us to account. We need to go to unbelievers to share the gospel with them. I think Tia was expressing concern that many unbelievers are turned off by what they see as the unrealistic, isolationist, and sometimes crazy approach to religion and holy living exhibited by many believers. For the record, I don't think most Christians really live that way. I think Christian television and the media often paint that picture and those who don't know any better accept it as reality, which makes it even more important for us to get out there and show people how wonderful the Christian life really is.Elspeth https://www.blogger.com/profile/17495546895657214080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159579060332591141.post-12057958979405728032008-01-12T12:44:00.000-05:002008-01-12T12:44:00.000-05:00Hmmm, I agree with what you are saying but I also ...Hmmm, I agree with what you are saying but I also believe in balance. I know that you do too but since this is article was meant to shake us up and burst the bubble it didn't come across that way to me. (well, I guess it did in the part where you said that the programs and schools and such were not bad but that it shouldn't be all we are involved in-paraphrase)<BR/>I'm not saying this post isn't true but I think what we need is both. We need to be immersed in the lives of the unsaved and at the same time be joined together with other believers. It's a balancing act. Too much worldly influence without the balance of the Body is not going to be good (IMHO). Too much Body and not enough <BR/>contact with the unsaved is also not good-for the reasons you pointed out. <BR/>I believe that it is Scriptural that we need both. Jesus talked of us being in the world and He certainly was but He (through Paul) also talked about not forsaking getting together with other belivers because we need each other. <BR/>Again, I'm certainly not advocating a bubble life. I'm just saying that there is truly a balance here. <BR/>I know you believe in hanging out and getting together with other belivers I just wanted to throw the balance thing out there for other readers. :)musicmommy3https://www.blogger.com/profile/05737575036149219677noreply@blogger.com