http://www.metroi4news.com/2009/11/stand-for/ Highlighting the News from Florida's Central Corridor Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:47:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://www.metroi4news.com/2009/11/stand-for/comment-page-1/#comment-1348 Gordon Craig Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:04:31 +0000 http://www.metroi4news.com/?p=3600#comment-1348 Chris,    In our community, most of the people surrounding us are very conservative, judgemental, and discrimenating souls.  It's very difficult to stand up for what you believe against the masses knowing you will probably lose good friends in the process.  I think this is where most people fall, or should I sail fail.  Northwest Indiana is NOT Ann Arbor, Mich.  But thank God I grew up in a diversified college town like A2 and learned how important it is to look at and treat all people indiscriminately, with unrequitted love, without judgement and bias, and view people as equals, the same.  Unfortunately, I have not grown enough (yet) to let my beliefs show where I know I would be viewed as not fitting in, not acceptable, not wanted.   Gordon  Chris,
   In our community, most of the people surrounding us are very conservative, judgemental, and discrimenating souls.  It’s very difficult to stand up for what you believe against the masses knowing you will probably lose good friends in the process.  I think this is where most people fall, or should I sail fail.  Northwest Indiana is NOT Ann Arbor, Mich.  But thank God I grew up in a diversified college town like A2 and learned how important it is to look at and treat all people indiscriminately, with unrequitted love, without judgement and bias, and view people as equals, the same.  Unfortunately, I have not grown enough (yet) to let my beliefs show where I know I would be viewed as not fitting in, not acceptable, not wanted.  
Gordon 

]]> http://www.metroi4news.com/2009/11/stand-for/comment-page-1/#comment-1347 Cliff Wheeler Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:45:06 +0000 http://www.metroi4news.com/?p=3600#comment-1347 Convicted! Chris I am convicted of my shortcomings in all these areas and more every day of my life. That's my nature as a sinner. It's always "me first" and "the rest of the world wait in line". Sure , I can stand back and talk about all the injustices I see around me. When it comes  to actively doing something about it, the most comfortable position is to do nothing and hope someone else was moved by my comments and will take on the task. How arrogant and disgusting! Now, having said that, I do think I am like the majority of the world's inhabitants. Most of us, regardless of our socioeconomic positions, seek a level of comfort and superiority.  Even the most oppressed will find someone more oppressed and be lifted by a sense of superiority. This is not a statement of approval for that stance or rationalization of that position. I just think that it is the way it is, because we are sinners in need of a savior. We spend our lives in opposition to God. We want to be god of our lives while expelling God from our lives. If we would just let God be number one in our lives and love our neighbor as ourselves, we would do away with all social injustice. There have been times in my life when I too have been moved to action because I wasn't alone. A cause with merit was identified, and there was comfort in numbers.     Today, I recognize my status as a sinner. I have a Christian faith and I recognize my hope of salvation is not by my works, but by Christ's work in my life. However, as a Christian, it is my desire if not my duty to make a difference in the lives of others, because Christ loves them as He loved me. This doesn't come easily and it usually comes in "baby steps" and "brief opportunities". That is okay. It is still progress. It is God who takes the small things and makes them great.     Thanks for giving me something to think about tonight. Very convicting indeed. Convicted! Chris I am convicted of my shortcomings in all these areas and more every day of my life. That’s my nature as a sinner. It’s always “me first” and “the rest of the world wait in line”. Sure , I can stand back and talk about all the injustices I see around me. When it comes  to actively doing something about it, the most comfortable position is to do nothing and hope someone else was moved by my comments and will take on the task. How arrogant and disgusting! Now, having said that, I do think I am like the majority of the world’s inhabitants. Most of us, regardless of our socioeconomic positions, seek a level of comfort and superiority.  Even the most oppressed will find someone more oppressed and be lifted by a sense of superiority. This is not a statement of approval for that stance or rationalization of that position. I just think that it is the way it is, because we are sinners in need of a savior. We spend our lives in opposition to God. We want to be god of our lives while expelling God from our lives. If we would just let God be number one in our lives and love our neighbor as ourselves, we would do away with all social injustice. There have been times in my life when I too have been moved to action because I wasn’t alone. A cause with merit was identified, and there was comfort in numbers.
    Today, I recognize my status as a sinner. I have a Christian faith and I recognize my hope of salvation is not by my works, but by Christ’s work in my life. However, as a Christian, it is my desire if not my duty to make a difference in the lives of others, because Christ loves them as He loved me. This doesn’t come easily and it usually comes in “baby steps” and “brief opportunities”. That is okay. It is still progress. It is God who takes the small things and makes them great.
    Thanks for giving me something to think about tonight. Very convicting indeed.

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