Pastor's Window - Latest comments

Dalerc [Visitor] in response to: Giving, Taking, Blessed, Trust

Dalerc [Visitor] — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:34:17 +0000

And all of Gods People said Amen! We place all our trust in God, hoping somehow that will make us bigger, or better! Then people come along and say your no better than me or the rest of us! I believe that God will make all judgements known to each of us when the time comes! For I believe in his words alone when his judgements will come for mysake! Because no man stands Higher than God! I hope no one should think of themselves higher lost saved or otherwise until that Golden Book is opened on the final Day!

Nate [Member] in response to: It Must Be June

Nate [Member] — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:04:21 +0000

I know I've used quite a bit of "electronic ink" myself to tell you how much I appreciate your encouragement, but I'm using a little bit more! I am so thankful to be working with you and learning from you. Thank you for helping create an environment where I can flourish!

Ira [Member] in response to: Boys will be Boys

Ira [Member] — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:39:46 +0000

Thank you for your comment LSharp.
I want to be very clear about a couple of things although I can see that we are coming from two different perspectives.

"Guys are not excused by this to engage in bad behavior. BUT women are not excused from adding to the sexual stimulation of our culture."
My post and Mr Francis' in no way "blames" women for men's poor behavior. You are absolutely right. Men do need to control themselves and take responsibility for their own actions. But the Bible also makes it clear that love for one another includes being sensitive to each others weaknesses and proclivities. Our society today says, "Use your rights, who cares what others think" That is certainly America but not Biblical. Men are stimulated by sight. They just are. They can work to control their response to that stimulation, but they will be stimulated. Women who dress in ways that stimulate are not helping. I am not blaming them for men who don't control their response, that is on the guy, whether the response is the cat-calls or something much more inappropriate or violent. But for the person seeking to live Biblically, a girl should have love for her brothers and determine not to contribute to their struggle by putting temptation right in front of them.

And in response to your critique of Mr Francis, you may not know the same young women we do, but I know many that are rather naive about how the male mind works.

As for everyone being sold on the lie that rape is done mostly by strangers, I am not sold on that lie. Most rapists are known to their victims. I have a friend who was raped by her husband.

My post was not about blaming or excusing anyone, but about realizing that such activity doesn't help correct anything. Our society has become to sexualized and not private enough. In a sexualized culture, men will struggle more. I can't change the culture, but I can ask our Christian sisters to dress in love more than in style.

LSharp [Visitor] in response to: Boys will be Boys

LSharp [Visitor] — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:17:32 +0000

Yes, it IS entirely too permisible for men to be sexually promiscuous. Yes, there is an increasing problem of inappropriate public dress.
But the problem is not women.
The problem is a culture that promotes a double standard on sexuality. Men are permitted to have many sexual partners and be looked on as a stud; but any woman who does will be looked down upon as a slut or whore.
Women are allowed to dress in what they feel, (if anyone has a need to blame someone for the sudden epidemic of revealing clothing, society and the fashion industry are once again at falt) we do not live in the 1900s anymore.
Everyone is responsible for their own actions. If men have such a hard time resisting "temptation" then they need to learn some self-control, not blame others.
They are not being "set up", they are acting according to how they think. Saying that men are "set up" shifts blame and solves no problem.

Rick Frances- I highly doubt that "many young women are naive about what men think" when they dress in short skirts and scoop neck shirts. It is hard to ignore catcalls, whistles, and loud comments that many men feel entitled to make despite how uncomfortable it makes the woman feel.

If society condems rapists, then why are women told how to deter attackers instead of something being done to stop the rapists? Why is everyone being sold on the lie that rape is done mostly by strangers when in reality most rape is perpetrated by family members or dates?

I don't believe that society really exile stars and politicians "caught in the act". Society just gives them more attention and, unbelievably, people still listen to them.

Rick Francis [Visitor] in response to: Boys will be Boys

Rick Francis [Visitor] — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:16:14 +0000

You're right on, Ira. It seems like too many young women are naive about what men think when they dress inappropriately. How often have we heard, "None of the guys that I know would ever have those kinds of thoughts about me." More young men need to admit that they DO have these thoughts when they see overexposed women. That might help to convince some.

Holly [Visitor] in response to: Follow Your Nose to Happiness

Holly [Visitor] — Thu, 06 May 2010 11:24:55 +0000

How true, I've seen the results of this being played out in the life of my son.

Barry Trask [Visitor] in response to: Topless in Farmington

Barry Trask [Visitor] — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:36:39 +0000

appreciate the thoughts, Ira. So well put.

Natalee [Visitor] in response to: Knocking Down Pedestals

Natalee [Visitor] — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:54:29 +0000

This is one of the things that we love about our church in Westminster. They have shepherds, not elders or deacons. The pastor is called the chief shepherd. Of course people still call him Pastor Chris, but it's pretty clear that they are intentional about the shepherding bit!