Dear Dan: I ran into a conservative today ...

[SDG]

This thread is for entertainment purposes only.

It is designed for posters, like Berkley, who run into conservatives at the gas station, hospital, morgue ... wherever ... and are traumatized by such encounters. Please feel free to post your UC stories. Dr. Dan will soothe your pain ....

[Malvaro]

fellow Admin, can I open sarcastic threads too???? pretty, pretty please.... :D

[Michlow]

Dear Dan...

I saw a conservative at Walmart last week, but she didn't recognize me as Apostolic because I was wearing pants. Shouldn't she have recognized my Holy Ghost Glow???

Signed,

Only-Liberal-on-the-outside

[Nahum]

Well I, for one, am very concerned about this phenomenon.

If we keep running into conservatives, there won't be any left. Then who will you have to argue with?

[Ron]

Dear Dan, I ran into a Conservative today at the mall.
I was shocked. He was nice and friendly and seamed full of compassion.
He looked to be having a good time and even joked and was shopping just like others.

I thought these were just mythical creatures?:D

[SDG]

Dear Dan...

I saw a conservative at Walmart last week, but she didn't recognize me as Apostolic because I was wearing pants. Shouldn't she have recognized my Holy Ghost Glow???

Signed,

Only-Liberal-on-the-outside

I am convinced that many brethren are having difficulty "recognizing the Holy Ghost" glow, Only Liberal. This is probably best exemplified by some evangelists and preachers who are unable to recognize whether a tongue-talker is feigning or not.

Wearing pants or a skirt is not the biblical evidence that you are born of God, or Spirit-filled.

Jesus said, By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Paul tells us, For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.

My advice, is shrug it off and pray for the Walmart conservative's eyes to be opened.

[SDG]

Dear Dan, I ran into a Conservative today at the mall.
I was shocked. He was nice and friendly and seamed full of compassion.
He looked to be having a good time and even joked and was shopping just like others.

I thought these were just mythical creatures?:D

Ron,

Most conservatives I know are indeed nice, friendly and full of compassion. Perhaps reading the King James version has affected your worldview and has contributed to your belief in mythical creatures... where else will you find unicorns, leviathans, satyrs?

[BrotherEastman]

This thread is for entertainment purposes only.

It is designed for posters, like Berkley, who run into conservatives at the gas station, hospital, morgue ... wherever ... and are traumatized by such encounters. Please feel free to post your UC stories. Dr. Dan will soothe your pain ....
Dear Dan I have been liberated since I became a conservative. So does that mean that I'm a liberal?

[SDG]

Dear Dan I have been liberated since I became a conservative. So does that mean that I'm a liberal?


Dear Conservative Liberal,

In answering your question I can only hearken to the words of our Master.

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Whether you are a closet Conservative Liberal, a Compassionate Conservative or a Conservative Koolaid drinker, you should rejoice in the freedom we have in Christ Jesus.

[TRIPLE E]

Dear Dan,Sometimes I think I am a Conservative at other times a Liberal,most of the time a Moderate.How can I figure out which of the three I am? Am I a 3 in one?

[Mr. Steinway]

Dan, How do I become a conservative? :dunno (a slow pitch down the middle of the plate!:))

[rgcraig]

I vote Repulician, does that make me conservative?

[Steadfast]

I guess I'm an oddity here. I'm conservative and love people immensely. I love them enough to tell them the truth.

I believe in holiness... inside AND outside.
I believe in worship... exhuberant AND explosive.
I believe in separation... from the spirit of the world AND into a relationship with Christ.
I believe in maturity... not the sloppy 'now I can sin' bile BUT the 'now I want to live closer to God' kind.
I believe in purity... from compromised Apostolic deception AND from arrogant self righteous people.
I believe in grace... not the 'grace means I can walk in iniquity' OR the 'grace won't reach for sinners' kind.
I believe in mercy... for those that failed God to return AND for those who don't know him to experience.

On second thought, I think this whole, "I ran into a conservative that left me more warped" is only a sign of a much bigger problem. I meet people on both ends of the spectrum that don't sway my convictions one iota or leave me bitter at anybody. :rooting

On second thought... no advice is needed. I am conservative and balanced. I have no axes to grind or justifications to make. I love being where I am in God.

[rgcraig]

I guess I'm an oddity here. I'm conservative and love people immensely. I love them enough to tell them the truth.

I believe in holiness... inside AND outside.
I believe in worship... exhuberant AND explosive.
I believe in separation... from the spirit of the world AND into a relationship with Christ.
I believe in maturity... not the sloppy 'now I can sin' bile BUT the 'now I want to live closer to God' kind.
I believe in purity... from compromised Apostolic deception AND from arrogant self righteous people.
I believe in grace... not the 'grace means I can walk in iniquity' OR the 'grace won't reach for sinners' kind.
I believe in mercy... for those that failed God to return AND for those who don't know him to experience.

On second thought, I think this whole, "I ran into a conservative that left me more warped" is only a sign of a much bigger problem. I meet people on both ends of the spectrum that don't sway my convictions one iota or leave me bitter at anybody. :rooting

On second thought... no advice is needed. I am conservative and balanced. I have no axes to grind or justifications to make. I love being where I am in God.But, do you vote Republican? :heeheehee

[SDG]

I vote Repulician, does that make me conservative?

Renda,

Not necessarily .... not all Republicans are conservatives.

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/uploads/rudy_leads_007.jpg

For example, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, now a 2008 Republican Presidential hopeful, is liberal on many social issues such as abortion, gun control, immigrant rights, etc.

Another example of liberal Republicans are the Log Cabin Republicans, who are gay wing of the party. There website states:

Republicans stand on the front lines of today’s most important battle for the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans. We need to work together as a powerful voice for inclusion in the GOP.

http://www.logcabin.org/img/dawn/custom_images/logcabin/membershipv2.jpg

However, knowing your track record and belief system, I can bet the farm that you are probably a conservative Republican.

[Steadfast]

But, do you vote Republican? :heeheehee

Does a ONE LEGGED DUCK swim in circles? :highfive

[SDG]

Dan, How do I become a conservative? :dunno (a slow pitch down the middle of the plate!:))

Senor PianoMan,

No hablo ingles.

Que crees? Que soy :crazy

[SDG]

I guess I'm an oddity here. I'm conservative and love people immensely. I love them enough to tell them the truth.

I believe in holiness... inside AND outside.
I believe in worship... exhuberant AND explosive.
I believe in separation... from the spirit of the world AND into a relationship with Christ.
I believe in maturity... not the sloppy 'now I can sin' bile BUT the 'now I want to live closer to God' kind.
I believe in purity... from compromised Apostolic deception AND from arrogant self righteous people.
I believe in grace... not the 'grace means I can walk in iniquity' OR the 'grace won't reach for sinners' kind.
I believe in mercy... for those that failed God to return AND for those who don't know him to experience.

On second thought, I think this whole, "I ran into a conservative that left me more warped" is only a sign of a much bigger problem. I meet people on both ends of the spectrum that don't sway my convictions one iota or leave me bitter at anybody. :rooting

On second thought... no advice is needed. I am conservative and balanced. I have no axes to grind or justifications to make. I love being where I am in God.

Steadfast,

I applaud such a firm unyielding stand ... you definitely did not grind any axes or make any justifications. Your side will be proud and maybe even ebullient.

P.S.
Can you help me put up a fence???

[Annie]

Dear Dan...I am suffering a sever identity crisis. To some I am conservative, to others, I am liberal. Personally, I think I am moderate.

Can you help me 'find myself'?????

Confused in the US of A.

[hammondb3klingon1]

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Klingon1

[J-Roc]

Dear Dan,

I have heard this phrase in OP circles about some Believers being "friends of the bride"? Do you know where this originated and what exactly it means?

[Fonix]

Dear Danny

My Pastor has preached a few times that we have no cliques in church, yet when we have a dinner he wants all ministers at a table all alone and no one else to sit with them so they place name plates. Is this a clique?

This has become a new trend. he use to sit with all the saints at various tables.

[SDG]

Dear Danny

My Pastor has preached a few times that we have no cliques in church, yet when we have a dinner he wants all ministers at a table all alone and no one else to sit with them so they place name plates. Is this a clique?

This has become a new trend. he use to sit with all the saints at various tables.

First, I would like to commend you for your courage in asking this question. All too often, we have come to believe that the man of God is infallible and beyond examination.

As I read your question I was reminded off Paul's beef with Peter, who acted in a similar manner, forgetting what God had done for the Gentiles and reverting to the sectarian mentality he once had.

Galatians 2 tells us the story:

11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him in public, because he was clearly wrong. 12 Before some men who had been sent by James arrived there, Peter had been eating with the Gentile brothers and sisters. But after these men arrived, he drew back and would not eat with the Gentiles, because he was afraid of those who were in favor of circumcising them. 13 The other Jewish brothers and sisters also started acting like cowards along with Peter; and even Barnabas was swept along by their cowardly action. 14 When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you have been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. How, then, can you try to force Gentiles to live like Jews?

There are some parallels to be drawn with this passage and your situation.

The most troublesome part of scenario that you described is that at one time your pastor sat with all the saints at various tables and apparently is contradicting what he espouses, and once practiced.

Sometimes, like all of us, pastors fall into the trap of pride that Peter fell prey to. Furthermore, we cannot discount that this might be a reason for his 'sudden' change. It may very well be he has lost his compass and needs to be reminded of what he has taught and once practiced.

Having been raised in Pentecost, I have observed a widening gap between the ministry and laity in some of our circles. Each church and pastor is unique and different, but I see a trend. A levitical mindset that promotes nepotism and favoritism has gripped us, thus creating a clique of sorts.

However, there may be mitigating factors. As a pastor's kid, I have observed that at certain times various personalities may have the pastor's ear.

Perhaps the person(s) in charge of organizing these events has convinced him this is the best way to do things. Sometimes, in our efforts to be so formal and professional, things become impersonalized.

Or perhaps there is an innocent explanation for the change.

With that said, what should you do? Should you call your pastor out in public like Paul did. NO WAY!!! Paul had authority to do so.

So what to do, then?

Approach this situation, like our Master would, and as he instructed.

Matthew 18:15 says " Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

I am sure that if you approached your pastor, in private, with humility, reverence and candor you might be surprised with the outcome. Maybe he will give a better insight for the 'change'. Perhaps he will provide you with a perspective you did not see. Or perhaps you will serve as a wake up call for him.

Most of all, Fonix, continue to be subject to your pastor and pray for him daily.

[J-Roc]

Counselor, I don't appreciate you skipping me...I was on line first before Phonics with my question!! :ranting :ranting :ranting

[SDG]

Dear Dan,

I have heard this phrase in OP circles about some Believers being "friends of the bride"? Do you know where this originated and what exactly it means?

J-Roc

I know a little about this subject ... not enough to be authoritative. ..... but I will refer you to our resident historian, Sam ... try PMing him with this question ... he's a walking encyclopedia. One day I hope to visit him and his library.

Dan

[J-Roc]

I appreciate your thoughts, Maestro! Your words flow like honey...Man of God!







First, I would like to commend you for your courage in asking this question. All too often, we have come to believe that the man of God is infallible and beyond examination.

As I read your question I was reminded off Paul's beef with Peter, who acted in a similar manner, forgetting what God had done for the Gentiles and reverting to the sectarian mentality he once had.

Galatians 3 tells us the story:

11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him in public, because he was clearly wrong. 12 Before some men who had been sent by James arrived there, Peter had been eating with the Gentile brothers and sisters. But after these men arrived, he drew back and would not eat with the Gentiles, because he was afraid of those who were in favor of circumcising them. 13 The other Jewish brothers and sisters also started acting like cowards along with Peter; and even Barnabas was swept along by their cowardly action. 14 When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you have been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. How, then, can you try to force Gentiles to live like Jews?

There are some parallels to be drawn with this passage and your situation.

The most troublesome part of scenario that you described is that at one time your pastor sat with all the saints at various tables and apparently is contradicting what he espouses, and once practiced.

Sometimes, like all of us, pastors fall into the trap of pride that Peter fell prey to. Furthermore, we cannot discount that this might be a reason for his 'sudden' change. It may very well be he has lost his compass and needs to be reminded of what he has taught and once practiced.

Having been raised in Pentecost, I have observed a widening gap between the ministry and laity in some of our circles. Each church and pastor is unique and different, but I see a trend. A levitical mindset that promotes nepotism and favoritism has gripped us, thus creating a clique of sorts.

However, there may be mitigating factors. As a pastor's kid, I have observed that at certain times various personalities may have the pastor's ear.

Perhaps the person(s) in charge of organizing these events has convinced him this is the best way to do things. Sometimes, in our efforts to be so formal and professional, things become impersonalized.

Or perhaps there is an innocent explanation for the change.

With that said, what should you do? Should you call your pastor out in public like Paul did. NO WAY!!! Paul had authority to do so.

So what to do, then?

Approach this situation, like our Master would, and as he instructed.

Matthew 18:15 say " Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

I am sure that if you approached your pastor, in private, with humility, reverence and candor you might be surprised with the outcome. Maybe he will give a better insight for the 'change'. Perhaps he will provide you with a perspective you did not see. Or perhaps you will serve as a wake up call for him.

Most of all, Fonix, continue to be subject to your pastor and pray for him daily.

[SDG]

Dear Dan,Sometimes I think I am a Conservative at other times a Liberal,most of the time a Moderate.How can I figure out which of the three I am? Am I a 3 in one?

Dear Dan...I am suffering a sever identity crisis. To some I am conservative, to others, I am liberal. Personally, I think I am moderate.

Can you help me 'find myself'?????

Confused in the US of A.

EEE and Confused,

I've chosen to answer these two questions simultaneously being that in essence they are similar. As children of God we should not be suffering from an identity crisis yet because our carnal man, and outside pressures, would like to label things, we suffer from this travesty.

I may play the role of liberal, here at AFF, but I loathe labels ... be them liberal, moderate, conservative ... even Apostolic.

Of course, there is a political reality in Apostolicdom that places an impetus to define who we are based on our some of ideologies and views but, in reality, it's bunch of hogwash fed to us by the enemy of our soul who would seek to divide us.

My dad hated titles and labels. No one dared to call him 'Reverend". Everyone just called him brother Manny. That's what we are, brothers and sisters.

Dad always taught us that the greatest positions/titles we had in the Kingdom were that of servants and children of God.

Jesus said:

Matthew 20
25
But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the
rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
men exercise authority over them.
26
It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great
among you must be your servant,
27
and whoever would be first among you must be your slave;
28
even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.

The Word also tells us:

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,
13
8 who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God.


Interestingly, enough when Jesus referred to his disciples he labeled them simply as 1. believers, 2. disciples, and 3. children of God and even friends

Lastly, my advice is that you continue to be balanced and temperate. I think that is why you have refused to lean to either extreme. You refuse to be a greasy gracer or a legalistic ritualistic traditionalist. You do have committed to not abuse God's grace, while keeping his commandments in love. You have separated yourself unto God, shunning the things of this world, but not to the extreme of living a dry religious existence. For this, I commend you.

Let Christ in you, define you. Find yourself in Him.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY

[Fonix]

Counselor, I don't appreciate you skipping me...I was on line first before Phonics with my question!! :ranting :ranting :ranting

Thats because your not HICK enough. Thats Fonix. Not Phonics

[Steadfast]

Steadfast,

I applaud such a firm unyielding stand ... you definitely did not grind any axes or make any justifications. Your side will be proud and maybe even ebullient.

P.S.
Can you help me put up a fence???

My 'side' thanks you.

As for fences, mine are still good and solid. I also made sure they are on 'good' ground. I suggest you do the same.

[TRIPLE E]

EEE and Confused,

I've chosen to answer these two questions simultaneously being that in essence they are similar. As children of God we should not be suffering from an identity crisis yet because our carnal man, and outside pressures, would like to label things, we suffer from this travesty.

I may play the role of liberal, here at AFF, but I loathe labels ... be them liberal, moderate, conservative ... even Apostolic.

Of course, there is a political reality in Apostolicdom that places an impetus to define who we are based on our some of ideologies and views but, in reality, it's bunch of hogwash fed to us by the enemy of our soul who would seek to divide us.

My dad hated titles and labels. No one dared to call him 'Reverend". Everyone just called him brother Manny. That's what we are, brothers and sisters.

Dad always taught us that the greatest positions/titles we had in the Kingdom were that of servants and children of God.

Jesus said:

Matthew 20
25
But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the
rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
men exercise authority over them.
26
It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great
among you must be your servant,
27
and whoever would be first among you must be your slave;
28
even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.

The Word also tells us:

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,
13
8 who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God.


Interestingly, enough when Jesus referred to his disciples he labeled them simply as 1. believers, 2. disciples, and 3. children of God and even friends

Lastly, my advice is that you continue to be balanced and temperate. I think that is why you have refused to lean to either extreme. You refuse to be a greasy gracer or a legalistic ritualistic traditionalist. You do have committed to not abuse God's grace, while keeping his commandments in love. You have separated yourself unto God, shunning the things of this world, but not to the extreme of living a dry religious existence. For this, I commend you.

Let Christ in you, define you. Find yourself in Him.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY

Thanks Dan for answering my question ,hope you stick around in case I have any more question!

"As the sugar hides in tea ,help me Lord to hide in Thee"

[SDG]

My 'side' thanks you.

As for fences, mine are still good and solid. I also made sure they are on 'good' ground. I suggest you do the same.

I had a dissertation on fences but I'll put it on the back burner, today. I appreciate your advice, Steadfast -- truly.

[mizpeh]

I had a dissertation on fences but I'll put it on the back burner, today. I appreciate your advice, Steadfast -- truly.

Dear Dan,

How will I know a conservative when I see one? Is dress standards the only things that identifies a conservative from a liberal? Or are there more to these labels than that?

BTW, Do you charge by the hour or the post?

[Chan]

This thread is for entertainment purposes only.

It is designed for posters, like Berkley, who run into conservatives at the gas station, hospital, morgue ... wherever ... and are traumatized by such encounters. Please feel free to post your UC stories. Dr. Dan will soothe your pain ....
I think it's really mean to go around running into people! Are you so blind that you couldn't have walked (or drove) around them? :)

Yesterday, as I was walking home from work, a woman in an SUV rammed into the back of the car in front of her. She then backed up her SUV, turned it around, and drove away. She parked in a parking lot less than 50 feet away and went inside the building in front of it. If you're going to start running into conservatives, don't do what this woman did; instead, drive as far away possible as fast as you can. :)

[Bryan]

glad I can be an inspiration...

[mizpeh]

bump