tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post1113768496541793987..comments2023-08-15T11:03:58.591-04:00Comments on Adventures in Sparkland: Dinner at the Pastor's HouseSparkling Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12799366562472325812noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-79994512397527312712008-08-01T13:28:00.000-04:002008-08-01T13:28:00.000-04:00Dianne: Thanks! Sometimes I feel like Alice, fal...Dianne: Thanks! Sometimes I feel like Alice, fallen down the rabbit hole into a strange, new world that I don't recognize. I expect to run into a mad hatter at some point, and a mock turtle.<BR/><BR/>Keera: I asked the pastor to explain how he can believe that anyone who doesn't accept Jesus as their saviour will not be going to heaven. The part of his answer that stuck with me was "a Stop sign is intolerant, but it has a purpose. Not all intolerance is bad." I'm not sold on that particular doctrine yet, but it was enlightening to hear his point of view.<BR/><BR/>San: Thank you. :-) I guess pastors need to offer good food to make their less appealing teachings more palatable.Sparkling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799366562472325812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-53036718614204824012008-08-01T12:17:00.000-04:002008-08-01T12:17:00.000-04:00Spark, I enjoyed your brain dialog. You captured ...Spark, I enjoyed your brain dialog. You captured that two-sided sense perfectly.<BR/><BR/>Sounds like a nice evening. Good food and discussion of spirituality--a delectable menu in my book.Sanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18245301334922883500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-46057346110843849312008-08-01T04:15:00.000-04:002008-08-01T04:15:00.000-04:00Your brain and my brain must've been separated at ...Your brain and my brain must've been separated at birth. ;-) I have those like-it's-two-different-people conversations going on in my head all the time.<BR/><BR/>What questions did you get answered? What new questions did you get? I just visited Europe's northernmost cathedral (there will eventually be a blog post) and attended vesper and felt both inspired and conflicted during and after. It did give me more "clues" as to where the conflict comes from, though. (Nudder blog post, that.)Keera Ann Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07466103379725251225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-58899763517123597602008-07-31T14:55:00.000-04:002008-07-31T14:55:00.000-04:00your two sides of the brain conversation is one I ...your two sides of the brain conversation is one I can truly relate to.<BR/><BR/>I don't always control it as well as you did and I know that gets in the way.<BR/><BR/>I continue to admire how open you are and how willing you are to take in all the newness.Diannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02946500110072411468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-63797294309799064882008-07-31T12:03:00.000-04:002008-07-31T12:03:00.000-04:00Nicole: Thank you! A hug is the perfect way to m...Nicole: Thank you! A hug is the perfect way to make my critical brain settle down. Issues of the heart need to be settled with the heart. Thinking too much about heart questions only leads one in circles.<BR/><BR/>Nilsa: Indeed, I hope one day to be able to return their hospitality. I don't have doilies, but we can get by without them. ;-)<BR/><BR/>Tink: Yes! I like my faith experience to be participatory, not passive. One-on-one or small group honest conversations are hugely valuable.<BR/><BR/>Claire: It was fun. :-) They also had a very cute, fuzzy, black cat. It was nice to meet her and rub her belly.<BR/><BR/>Jenski: The pastors and their families are genuinely open and generous. I really appreciate that. I haven't gotten any hints of snottiness or judgemental feelings from any of them.<BR/><BR/>Aurora: I guess that's it - culture shock. I'm used to sit-down dinners being family affairs, and if anyone brought a Bible containing the New Testament to the dinner table at any of my family dinners... Well, they may as well start throwing their food at the walls. That's how unacceptable it would be.Sparkling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799366562472325812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-80259926349277613572008-07-30T23:57:00.000-04:002008-07-30T23:57:00.000-04:00I want to sing 'there's a bible on the table hi ho...I want to sing 'there's a bible on the table hi ho hi ho' to the tune of "She'll be coming round the mountain," but I don't know how that would help. Sorry. Anyway, it actually sounds to me like culture shock more than 'being critical.' Passover dinner might be a useful comparison in that religious books are at the table in that context...?Emma Gorst https://www.blogger.com/profile/09692637018538270794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-30891136820362713012008-07-30T20:37:00.000-04:002008-07-30T20:37:00.000-04:00Good job keeping the critical brain under wraps. ...Good job keeping the critical brain under wraps. The K and B sound like they are really open to not only getting to know you, but also helping you explore Christianity and give you resources too. Nevermind the yummy dinners?!Jenskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05368202166540468533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-13949200169040516582008-07-30T18:37:00.000-04:002008-07-30T18:37:00.000-04:00Sounds like a fun visit!CxxSounds like a fun visit!<BR/><BR/>CxxClairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15681193035888306703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-82404554413442985222008-07-30T16:23:00.000-04:002008-07-30T16:23:00.000-04:00Your brain and my brain must be on the same wave l...Your brain and my brain must be on the same wave length. ;)<BR/><BR/>I like this hands-on, intimate approach to religion. I always found churches or youth groups too stuffy. I mean, they're good in their own way, but nothing like a sit-down dinner with discussions!Tinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16188363142469404823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-40188721890171135562008-07-30T16:10:00.000-04:002008-07-30T16:10:00.000-04:00Sounds like a gratifying supper. Maybe someday you...Sounds like a gratifying supper. Maybe someday you'll be able to invite one or both pastor's to your house for a meal?!Nilsa S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11960351638623857751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-78873912535044543952008-07-30T13:30:00.000-04:002008-07-30T13:30:00.000-04:00Big hug to you to make your critical brain shut up...Big hug to you to make your critical brain shut up!<BR/>:)<BR/>And that stuff looks yummie and the people seemed nice!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-45386521490653239682008-07-30T11:57:00.000-04:002008-07-30T11:57:00.000-04:00Unsigned: It was. :-)Ron: It was a weird mix of ...Unsigned: It was. :-)<BR/><BR/>Ron: It was a weird mix of formal and informal. Doilies on the table, but the hostess was wearing a plain T-shirt, shorts, and bare feet. <BR/><BR/>Jameil: Thanks! There are more converts in the church than I had anticipated. It's very welcoming.<BR/><BR/>Whatigotsofar: You have a point there. People who have lived in Canada for many generations tend to move away from the faith and traditions of their ancestors and join the mainstream secular culture. That being said, the other pastor is Canadian born and bred. I think it's good that we have a mix of older and newer Canadians. Keeps us all on our toes with regard to the brotherhood of mankind and all that. (or the siblinghood of humankind or whatever).Sparkling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799366562472325812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-66677358767752879122008-07-30T08:38:00.000-04:002008-07-30T08:38:00.000-04:00Is it just me, or is Canada not producing men of t...Is it just me, or is Canada not producing men of the cloth? Every service I've been to has had an imported priest. Or is there some sort of holy man exchange program taking place? Canadian born priests go to Hungary. Hungarian born priests go to the Jamaica and Jamaican born priests come here.<BR/><BR/>I'm not just trying to make light of the situation, I'm also trying to raise a point. Do we, as a society, not take faith seriously enough and therefore, have to import people just to work in our churches and temples?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-90546498769964115422008-07-29T23:47:00.000-04:002008-07-29T23:47:00.000-04:00wow! cool! i like being along on your journey! ...wow! cool! i like being along on your journey! and i'm glad your brethren can share your perspective! that's great!Jameilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02242625946552047911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-38959686070844297242008-07-29T23:21:00.000-04:002008-07-29T23:21:00.000-04:00Sounds like a nice visit. If you're going to be a ...Sounds like a nice visit. If you're going to be a member of this church it sounds like a good way to get to know them, which of course is the same they are doing to you ;)<BR/><BR/>Although your description of things it sounds like it would have made me nervous, just a bit to formal. I prefer a much more laid back atmosphere for everything.Warped Mind of Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15670039992710968421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-83977520769344893652008-07-29T21:54:00.000-04:002008-07-29T21:54:00.000-04:00Mmm... Sounds tasty!Mmm... Sounds tasty!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com