Wednesday
Nov172004
Mysterious Ways
Wednesday, November 17, 2004 at 9:44PM
A Time article on U2's latest album:
The indispensable wisdom of the rhythm section was proved most recently during the making of U2's new album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. For all its success, U2 has never enjoyed making records, largely because the force and diversity of the band members' personalities, combined with their politeness and respect for one another, turns the process into something slow, sloppy and complicated
Reader Comments (15)
What is it about U2 that impresses you Darryl?
George, I don't plan on getting into a debate on the merits of U2. I just happen to like them.
Darryl, I don't plan on debating either, I was just curious what it was that you like about them. I'm curious now about Saturday night live I'll check it out again this Sat. I remember the last time you posted something about that show I checked it out and turned it off after the first three segments were all of a sexual nature and very disgusting. I'll check it out again though maybe they have cleaned it up. Not likely but we'll see. Maybe we could use this to discuss how we as Christians should be discerning regarding what we watch. Maybe I could encourage all your readers to watch it this Saturday night and ask yourselves how your holy walk with God as a child of God may or may not be compromised as we entertain ourselves with this type of show. Then maybe for those of us who are going to meet next week we could engage in discussion on this whole issue of compromise.
George: Don't watch SNL on my account. If you're interested, the part I'm excited about is U2's appearance. Their last one on SNL was amazing, as was their Superbowl appearance a couple of years back. I certainly don't plan on debating compromise next week; I'd much rather get to know some people first. Let's start there and see what happens.
yea, you're right, that should be the start. You just got me fired up again with this post, that's all. I will check out SNL though, just to see what the excitement is all about. I will watch with a discerning spirit and maybe down the road we can talk about it and entertainment generally and what exactly would constitute compromise and how do we decide and how do we glorify God with our entertainment choices and all that. Looking forward to meeting you and others next week. Is the guru of blogworld Jordon Cooper really going to be there?
That's the rumor. George, just hear me. I think you might hear me saying, "SNL is good and wholesome." What I said is that I am looking forward to watching U2. Watching U2, I am confident, is a good entertainment choice at least for me. As for the rest of SNL, that's something you need to decide for yourself. I think you already have actually. See you next week.
I will watch and decide again Darryl. Are there some principles I might use in deciding? That's my question to you and others. You say I need to decide for myself. Should I take into account my relationship with God in deciding? What would you consider compromise? How do we engage our culture without compromise? What is compromise? I never, I repeat never, see any kind of discussion about those sorts of issues on your blog or other emerging type blogs where you express any kind of concern about how we engage the world without becoming part of the world and stuff like that. I don't get that. If you don't see that as a huge issue in the Christian life what is? Ok sorry, I'm debating, see you next week.
George: Old news, my friend. We've been over this many times.
yea, we have Darryl, but I don't recall where you've nswered those questions, other than to say what you have again above, that we each need to decide for ourselves. My question is how do we decide, by what principles. A 16 year old at your church asks you or Ed how he should decide what to watch or listen to or how to discern on the internet, what do you tell them? I'm not asking you to answer me here but I would suggest they are valid questions that desperately need to be addressed in the church. What sets us apart? Ok sorry I'm debating again, I can't stop. See you next week. What time?
George, I think you need to remember the nature of a blog. I think you're looking for Bible studies or sermons. There are some blogs that do this, but I have chosen not to. If I did, I would probably cover material like what you're asking for. This is a blog where I comment on life or on things on my mind. Truthfully, this is not an area in which I'm struggling to come to a position right now. If you were writing and struggling with how to come to a decision on this, I would engage. You have a very clear decision and you are measuring me against that standard. That is why I have chosen not to engage. All that to say - I am not going to go down this road with you. But I would urge you to set up your own blog and say what you need to say there. I'm not saying this to be cheeky; I really mean it. It's on your mind and you should find your own way to communicate it, other than using my comments.
Point taken Darryl. I have no desire to have my own blog. I've told you before I find it interesting to have this dialogue at this point in time as I become aware of all the different opinions within the Christian world. I'm learning that's for sure and I'm grateful for that. The whole area of compromise I believe is so huge in many a Christian life. I'm talking generally here so don't take it personal but here's what I have observed in blog world of emerging folk; -always so quick to judge the "institutional" church -so negative about life generally -so self centered -so much wanting to be different and pleasing to people. -more concerned about what the world thinks of them, then what God thinks -more focussed on self and what pleases me than on God and what pleases Him -not much expression of their joy in the Lord -so engaged with the things of this world -so cool, they think its cool to claim their love for God and be able to curse and generally use disgusting language -quite clear they ain't into God's Word much, don't even hardly talk about that, gotta make sure we please the people with the other stuff, make sure the message is short, in fact insist on that. -seem so discouraged I'll be honest Darryl, I find it sad because so many people are following along and aren't really being fed with what God wants to feed them with. Don't you think the church needs to get the people in the church fired up for God again? Where's the real passion for God? Where's the honouring of His Name in blog world. Where's the love for Him expressed in the blogs. Has there ever been a time in history where the children of God really need to turn back to God and to honour Him with our lives and with our conduct andd set ourselves apart. How are we different Darryl? What does it take to experience God in our lives? To receive His blessing on the work that we do to further His Kingdom. Don't we all want to do that? Is there anything better than witnessing the transformation of a person bound in sin (Ephesians 2:1-3) to a new life in Christ verse 4-5. I'll tell you, that's what I'm fired up about. I was at a prayer meeting this week at our church and prayed with someone who just committed her life to Christ. The enthusiasm as she testified to the goodness of God in her life and how she's fired up in her witnessing to others. Its the greatest thing man, when I hear stuff like that I get chills and thank God for all He has done and is doing and wants to get done. How does He do that though? What's our part? How does compromise thwart His purposes? You may not wish to engage me in this discussion Darryl, that's up to you of course, I'd just challenge you to think about it though. I'll think about it again also as I join you in watching SNL tomorrow night. I'll tell you what I can't wait for though. I can't wait for Sunday morning where once again I'll be fed from God's Word about the really important things in this life.
George, I suppose you find what you're looking for. As I look at a lot of blogs I see: -people who aren't perfect, but they're not pretending -people who are able to enjoy art and beauty for their own sake, even if some of that art and beauty is not "Christian" (as if there is such a thing as Christian art and beauty) -people who are refreshingly honest about the failings of the institutional church but who still realize they could do no better, and the church continues to be the bride of Christ -people who are taking big risks and paying a heavy price (financially and otherwise) to fulfill their calling In fact, as I read your list, I've found things that are very unfair. I'd be careful about making some of these allegations. I don't know where you got your list from, but you and I are seeing very different things. If that is what you're seeing, I can't imagine why you continue to read the blogs you do. Do something else; it isn't helping you. I keep reading because I am meeting some amazing people who are not at all like what you have described.
It is helping Darryl. More than I can express here, I'll save it for when we meet.
George, I hear you and I appreciate the balance you bring to these more liberal/post modern/emerging type blogs thru your comments. However, there are more conservative Christian blogs out there as well, that discuss the things you're looking for. You may want to drop by them from time to time to maintain your sanity. Fire me an email and I'll send you some links. Jacob.
George: You should check out Mark Robert's blog. I think you would like it (http://www.markdroberts.com/). I think you guys need to be a bit careful. It's easy to label and put others down - in which world am I liberal? Some of the comments in this thread are a little unfair, not to me (I can handle that) but to others. And then, ironically, you criticize others for being critical of the church. Strange.