tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035771623800448582.post8463297986507861389..comments2023-11-02T04:23:13.748-07:00Comments on brooke: 2008 Reflection: My Journey with Money and Faithbrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02319057752729247563noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035771623800448582.post-37263390530629208342009-01-12T08:10:00.000-08:002009-01-12T08:10:00.000-08:00Joel, I completely agree with you. Thanks for the...Joel, <BR/>I completely agree with you. Thanks for the comment. This is an area where I have a lot of questions, but not a lot of answers. I think absolutes are difficult to determine for most aspects of Christianity, and this aspect is one of the most challenging. I definitely think that you shouldn't feel guilty for going on a date with Katie. I don't often feel guilty going on a date with Matt, because we are trying to sustain a marriage, and that can be challenging at times. I like how you say that grace needs to be at the center of this topic just like others. That is a good perspective to take. However, I do still wonder how we can look over Jesus' statement about the difficulty for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. How are churches and Christians to take that?brookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02319057752729247563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035771623800448582.post-67823665419654617192009-01-10T09:14:00.000-08:002009-01-10T09:14:00.000-08:00great stuff, brooke. the only thing that i find so...great stuff, brooke. the only thing that i find so disconcerting about this line of thinking is that it can be never ending. and for some, it becomes quite binary, which often results in this self-righteous assertion of one's own lifestyle. it's interesting that as this group (meaning the emergent folk who seek social justice in all things) suggest the importance of an individual relationship with Christ within the context of a collective that the notion of financial absolutes would even emerge. i'm not sure we can have it both ways. i would think balance is very important as long as it's centered around grace. katie and i went on a date in boise for the first time in nearly 8 months -- now we could feel guilty, but our relationship needed it. should we never snowboard again; never head to the local pub, thus helping the local economy to have a couple drinks with some friends; is there a certain price i should pay for x; and should the church establish these parameters; or is this between the individual and God? <BR/><BR/>this is such a delicate area not just for the institutional church but for all churches. and i'm not entirely sure how to proceed other than to try and understand that the economical journey might just be the most difficult aspect of this life, and if this be the case, then grace needs to be at the center of it or it truly doesn't matter. <BR/><BR/>i am afraid of binaries and absolutes for everyone -- especially regarding areas in which i agree...<BR/><BR/>-joelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035771623800448582.post-24782052138413771372009-01-08T14:53:00.000-08:002009-01-08T14:53:00.000-08:00Brooke, you are amazing and i love you. WE ARE BA...Brooke, you are amazing and i love you. WE ARE BACK ONLINE!<BR/>momCarolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05056991752410695045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035771623800448582.post-59889494351353949032009-01-07T17:32:00.000-08:002009-01-07T17:32:00.000-08:00I can really relate to this post and I wish I coul...I can really relate to this post and I wish I could answer your questions. You have left me with a lot to think aboutMeggan Lambesishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02363654236118724654noreply@blogger.com