Sunday, September 28, 2008

Next Shipment

The next shipment of medical supplies and equipment to Guatemala is booked to leave on Thursday, October 2. This container will include mostly items for general distribution, with only a few designated items. The ship sails on Monday, Oct. 6.

On Oct. 4 I leave for Arizona. I'll be out of the "bodega" (and away from my computor) for 2 weeks.

Please pray for a speedy trip for the container, and a safe trip for me. Go to "Bodega and Bikes" for details about my Arizona trip.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Grace Online

Very rarely, but sometimes, I post my personal opinions on theological matters on my web log and a few online forums that I belong to. I love a good theological debate with folks who see Scripture from a different perspective. It can be a great learning experience. Unfortunately, not everyone is wired like I am. Some folks are more emotional than I, and some see doctrines that I would consider debatable as incontrovertible. When I say “Unity in the essentials, liberty in the non-essentials, charity in all things,” someone might respond, “There are no non-essentials!” Perhaps if I were close to such a person, and could walk through life with him/her, my life and love might have a positive effect over time, but little is ever gained by starting a public long distance debate.

The key is relationship. The closer I am to someone, the more likely I am to be able to have a theological debate that is mutually edifying.

Most of the people we meet online we will never meet face to face this side of eternity. Our relationship will never be very close, and many who read our post are total strangers. We come from a broad range of backgrounds and Biblical traditions. We cannot fully know the heart of our closest friend, much less the folks we meet online. Here we can only share our words with one another. We will never be as close to those here as we are to those we share our lives with day to day. So, in order to not offend casual acquaintances and strangers, I try not to bring up controversial subjects online, and when/if I respond to a post I try to do so with love and respect. I’ve seen folks get belligerent and/or hurt on-line, and it‘s unfortunate. I choose carefully who I debate with, and when I read something on-line that I do not agree with I try to learn whatever I can from that person and move on, not allowing myself to be offended. After all, I may be wrong, and only the Holy Spirit can change my heart and mind.

Please try to be polite and respectful to those you meet online.

If you disagree with what I’ve just written, I am not offended. I hope you will extend to me the grace to be wrong.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Next Shipment

Our next container will sail the first week in October. The next three weeks will be very busy for me.