I agree with Kevin, but isn’t that what you want? And I’m not sure who’s notes are posted in this blog, but, I’m not too fond of the sexual undertones in it. i.e. “ring around the hiney,” or when you said the woman “railed” Greg at starbucks, or “respond to my love in a physical way”. Maybe you should try to re-word your writing, because it’s not only weird, but if God was actually like that, it would creep me out.

Micah

Well I hope God does not creep anyone out, because love is not a feeling it is an action, and hence must be responded to physically not emotionally. The wording is not perfect but I do not expect that from my pastors, or anyone else for that matter, I just expect love.

Jeff,

What other lens could I see it through? And I don’t think I’m wrong. You don’t see the sexual undertones?

Thanks Micah for making your points. I felt the same way. Jeff, why did you “apologize” about the confusion, but slam him in the previous sentence blaming him for “misread”ing you intent and filtering through his lens. Was your “sorry” sarcastic or genuine? Isn’t it ok for someone to interpret your writing? Isn’t that what people do with the Bible?

One of the biggest misconceptions in the Christian community,(or any community for that matter) is that love is a feeling. Christ said to lover your neighbor as yourself, he never said you had to like your neighbor. Love is a manifestation of your actions. Loving your enemies does not mean you have to like them. What it means is that if your enemy is hungry you have to feed him. If your enemy is cold you have to clothe him. Whether you feel like it or not.

This explains why people get divorced by using the excuse that they have fallen out of love with their spouse. They are confusing the feeling with what love actually is. Your feelings may change, but that does not mean you quit loving your spouse. You come home every night, you cook dinner, you eat dinner together, you pray together, and you stay together regardless of how you “feel” or for that matter, regardless of how the other person is feeling or acting. Love is an action not a feeling, it’s just a bonus, and easier, when you feel good about a person while acting like it. Real love is seen when you don’t feel good about a person, but love them anyway.

Christ loved the church, which is why he died for the church, an action, not a “feeling”.

So when Jeff says to respond to God’s love in physical way, what that means is if you don’t respond to God’s love in a physical way, you are not responding appropriately.

Excuse me while I go get another 8oz. cup of coffee.

Mark,

If love is an action and not a feeling, why does he say that God says “respond to my love in a physical way.” We would have to feel His love in order to act on it right? If we are just acting, where is it coming from? We would have to have the (feeling) that God loves us before we could respond in a physical way. So I guess in the most perfect way, love is a feeling. God is perfect, God is love. But good try.

“I have always been impressed with Greg Surratt and his passion for authenticity. Today was no exception.” Then the following statements procede…
“Mountain Dew + Antihistamine + Red Bull = temporary replacement for the Holy Spirit”
“if your theology doesn’t allow for the Holy Spirit…get some Red Bull.” AUTHENTICITY?

Let it go guys…let it go…otherwise we’ll have to get crazy and take it outside.

nothing a little thumb-wrestling won’t settle.

Jeff,

Even in here you present your sexual undertones.

“Let it go guys”?
“Otherwise we’ll have to get crazy”?

Jeff,

No problem, I would say I would do stand up at your church, but I’m afraid you would take it wrong.

Sex is evil?

Or maybe they were just Octavian slips…
HAHAHAHAHA

Jeff,
Thanks for taking one for the team.

Can I repost your blog as my own and see if I get this much attention?

B

*No sexual meanings intended…

Brett,

When someone compares his “pastor” to divinely inspired writer of Scripture, should God even let him live?

No, I just didn’t want anything to be read into what I wrote…

Phil,

Your comments are racist, not sexually undertoned. And had anybody mentioned cereal up to this point, or was this just a way to spew your racist venom?

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” -Luke 6:45

Jeff,

That’s what I thought the first time I heard you preach.

“It is the common danger and calamity of the Church, to have unregenerate and inexperienced pastors”

Man Micah….I may think Jeff is a little off sometimes…but quit disrespecting him. Having an opinion in one thing….but dissing him is another. Chill man. I never thought I would say this on Jeff’s blog, but get some weed and relax. It will all be ok.

Micah,

I don’t care what you call it…weed, pot, reefer, grass, cheeba, bone, leaf, nugs, fuzzies, midis, buds, hash, ganja…seriously…get some.

Micah
You are right.
If you are trying to bring upon condemnation then you need not go farther.
In my own self, I am a racist, sexist, hateful, angry, mad, sad, prideful guy.
Caring only about myself.
And for others, only as it affects me.
Thus the only identity I can cling onto is Christ.
Beleiving that the old man has died and the new man has come alive.
In light of this, what are you trying to prove?
To even accept your condemnation is to allow the old man to once again live.
Trying to bring upon self righteousness.
There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
Not because of perfection but because our identity is not our own.

Micah, I am talking about your state of mind. Forget weed…you need something stronger. An acid trip would knock you out for a day and get you off your computer and into another world. You can go there and talk to Freud about your “sexual” issues. But please, get off this blog. You wasting bytes.