My Plot to Block Comments
Someone told me about a discussion at another blog about the intentions behind my blocking of certain comments. Apparently it has something to do with comments waiting for moderation. (”It seems that only select individuals are being moderated.”)
Until someone wrote me about it, I had no idea that was even possible. I’m not intentionally moderating anyone’s comments. I don’t know how to do it. After checking with my expert, it may have something to do with comments coming in at a high-volume time or with comments that appeared to WordPress to be spam. Anyway, I don’t know how to block a comment on WordPress, and I haven’t been doing so.
(There was that one time back in blogspot days that I banned someone from my blog for repeatedly attacking a member of my family. I warned that it was a no-no and the person continued. So I pulled the trigger. Sorry, but it IS my blog. I don’t think I’ve ever deleted attacks on me or my positions. But my family is off limits for attacks. You can make your own rules for your blog.)
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We continue to face a most fundamental question of our faith: Why did Jesus come? If your answer reduces that to “he came to die for us,” then you’ll wind up in a very different place than if your answer is that “he came to live out and proclaim the reign of God.”
Long before Jesus died, he had disciples — people following him as he announced and displayed the Way of God. In his death and resurrection, he not only provided a sacrifice for sins but he also validated the Way that actually is salvation.
My wife and I attended an Easter service (actually it was more like a production) with her parents on Sunday in which the “story of Jesus” was communicated using song, video, scripture, etc. I was amazed at how limited the “story of Jesus” was. It started at his birth and ended at his resurrection.
What about the Jesus that was with God “before the foundations of the earth”? Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are only important in so much as they coincide with the overall “missio dei” and reign of God throughout history. God has been at work redeeming the cosmos to himself, and he became human as one part of his mission. Wow! I think we are truncating the gospel when we fail to see Jesus in the context of the master narrative, the work of God from before time until today.
As an aside, my wife astutely observed that someone with no church background probably would have been thoroughly confused at Sunday’s production. Video clips from the Jesus Movie and Passion of the Christ of various “Jesus moments” from his life, assumed to stand on their own as self-evident. Discussion of “eating flesh and drinking blood” — eeewww. Violent, bloody images of Jesus’ flogging. All these things are alright for us insiders (though I am increasingly turned off by such a focus on Jesus’ torture and pain at the cross…wasn’t it about “shame”, not pain?). We cannot, however, assume that “Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins” will stand alone as a self-evident statement in our society anymore. Many people know that statement, but they do not understand the full meaning of its importance within the context of “missio dei” when we limit ourselves to cliche “Jesusisms.”
Am I in the ballpark with the following? Sermon on Mount (Teaching Of Jesus) shows what God desires me to be; cross bridges gap between what He desires and what I am; resurrection/Holy Spirit enables me to now become. Worded differently–If I follow the teaching of Jesus, I will die but that’s okay cuz resurrection wins. I am attracted to His life/teaching; humbled by his cross; empowered by his resurrection. (If this needs to be moderated, that’s okay.)
Mike,
Can you email me. I wanted to speak to you about Highland’s Worship Minitsry. Thanks-
Why did Jesus come to earth? Many reasons.
As Max Lucado wrote “With the crunch of that first bite [of the fruit] Jesus set His foot on the path to the cross.” – IOW for our Reconcilliation and Salvation.
According to Hebrews, to be our High Priest, all the while being the perfect sacrifice – He fulfilled the sacrificial demands of God, for us, instead of us.
His life was one of perfection, giving us a glimpse of what God designed us to be, but knowing we couldn’t do it alone, Jesus lived it for us – Sanctification.
He was the master Teacher. He asked us to sit at His feet like little children to learn of Him and of Heaven awaiting us – Promise and hope.
He went to His death having asked the Father that it not have to be so – Questions for God are okay – He just isn’t required to answer our way, but in His will.
His death seemed like a sword in the heart of His ministry and His Kingdom to come – but the wonder of Resurrection breathed everlasting life into our lives.
Why did He come? Because He loves us and showed that love in everything He did and said – a love like no other seen before nor since. All He asks of us is to love Him, proclaim Him, live in intimacy with Him, make Him the center and reason for our lives, all the while sharing that great love message with others.
Oh my! How far I still have to travel to come to how He would have me to be, but His love will carry me home to Him one of these days.
PTL!!
Mike,
Who is that guy who spoke on Sunday? The recording about Sunday coming? Is that the same guy who says all the names of Jesus? I think you guys have played it before. I would like to get a recording of that.
As a new person to the “blogging world,” I have these observations.
None of my comments have been “moderated.” I have seen just about every side of every topic displayed — everything from the ones that get me excited and pumping my fist, and the ones that I read a little of and just have to skip the rest of it. I think Mike has made a great forum here for discussion.
But . . . annonimity (sp?) can bring out the best and worst in us. As Grant said earlier, it is very hard to effectively communicate on the printed page. No raised eyebrows, slight of tongue, wry smile . . . all of which convey much more than our words. Could some of the things I pumped my fist in agreement with possibly have been sarcasm. I’m not sure how to deal with this — and I do struggle with how to write things that I am sure will be understood as I intended. Many times I do not write because I simply can’t do it.
My third observation is HOW (capitalized because I want to emphasize — it is said with a slight smile) do all of you do this all day long? Do you do anything else? I find it very difficult to keep up with all of you!!
Just my observations as a new blogger.
I believe Jesus came to show us who God is. He did that by the way he treated other people. He did that by showing us how the kingdom should look on this earth (thy kingdom come — they will be done on earth as it is in heaven — the way God does things). He died to show us that God is a giving and forgiving God. Jesus gave himself to show us that we are to give ourselves to others. I really can’t see how any of this can be separated.
I got moderated the other day in my first post. I made the comment that the gay community might be hurting its own cause by calling anyone who biblically and lovingly disagrees with the act of homosexuality a “homophobe.” Not everyone who disagrees with the act of homosexuality is homophobic and many people (myself included) disagree with the practice, but support equal rights for gay people. My point was the gay community should be careful not to alienate would-be supporters in the quest for justice.
Anyway, my post was temporarily tagged for moderation. Seemed a little odd to me, especially since I began my comment by calling Mike’s article the best I had ever read on this subject. I thought that perhaps it was because it was my first post or maybe I had not communicated my point very clearly. Or perhaps someone in the justice department just didn’t like what I said . However, the next day I noticed that the post was included once again, so no worries.
Still like Mike and the blog! God bless.
[begin lighthearted sarcasm]
VTC3PO-
According to GRANT (clearning throat), I hang out in Starbucks all day listening to U2 albums on my iPod and reading Jim Wallis. Obviously, with little else to do, its not difficult to monitor the comments on a blog or two.
[end sarcasm]
Looks like I just got moderated again. What up with that?
Much clearer, Matt!
One more thing — is there some list somewhere with all these abbreviations? Sometimes I can get it — and sometimes I just have no clue.
vtc3po….I am a college student that spends alot of time at my desk reading, writing and studying. So…every once in a while I pop in and blurt something out, then check back later..
I hear ya on the abbreviations..I just kind of look at the content around the acronym and try to figure it out. I did learn that IMHO is ” In My Honest Opinion” I kept reading that as im a ho …..then someone set me straight..
beverly, being a collage student, did you go to the beach for spring break?
WONDERFUL!! Thanks so much Beverly!! IMHO was the MAIN one I couldn’t figure out. It was driving me crazy!
Clint-
You’re just glad He came. Me, too. All the above commentary can be boiled down, for me at least, in the single question: Why am I glad?
(Mike’s original query, with a twist)
Without the Divine perspective of the past, even before time began, and with unclear (in a glass, darkly) perspective of the present, and very limited perspective of the future, how can I answer that question?
I’m saved, loved, redeemed, churched, befriended, blessed…….
Sometimes, on my better days, my answer is “Because He really, truly wants my heart.”
Hi Mike,
My comment wasn’t published til recently…I think? I commented for the first time on the homosexuality thread. I followed the links from a couple of my friends’ (who are ACU alumni) blogs. So…I’m not sure if it was b/c I’m a newbie or what. For what it’s worth, I could see my comment was “waiting for moderation” from my home pc…however from another pc, this weekend, it looked gone forever.
No worries…
Another thot regarding why Jesus came–When I hold my daughter I am filled with dreams of what I want her to become but at the most basic point I hold her because I love her and want her to feel loved. Jesus came to let me know my Father has dreams/plans for me but at the most basic point He came because He loves me and wants me to feel loved FORVER.
I am more inspired by a Jesus who was not resurrected. What if he died doing the right thing with no hope of resurrection? Now that’s selfless sacrifice. I think he calls me to do the right thing without regard to myself. If I do the right thing merely because I get a “get out of death free” card then that really doesn’t say a whole lot about me.
Maybe Jesus was just trying to get us to love our neighbor and showed us how to do it. Maybe he was more concerned about my neighbor suffering and me doing nothing to help than me believing all the right things about his death after he died.
Leland-
Maybe when Jesus chose to die for us he did not know he would be resurrected. I think Jesus’ choice to die was an example of his ultimate trust in God. Our lack of trust in God is what got us in trouble in the first place, right? So maybe part of Jesus’ mission and example of humanity was to reveal to us how he put all his trust in God and to inspire us to do the same.
Clint,
Well put.
I’ve had comments pending moderation before… I was convinced it was because a few weeks before I brought up a certain up and coming birthday.(wink) But after reading that Amy Grant’s (not the singer) comments were pending moderation too, I just decided it was a techno glitch. Mike is many, many things, but a commuter savy techo wizzard he is not! I can’t see him taking the time to moderate each comment (family attacks aside). Now if this were Matt Elliott’s blog, it would be a whole different story!:)
I think I am a combo life teachings/ressurection person, but I am not admitting to any fondness for the Gaithers! Grant, you crack me up even when you are serious.
Mishun ukomplisht, SG. (Luv yur blogg.)
Sad thing is, I read that with no problem GB!
By the way Mike there was a discussion about your moderation of comments on another blog recently too… but we came up with very different conclusions in comments! Look here http://fivehearts.blogspot.com/2006/04/its-officially-busy-season-for-young.html
Hope you don’y mind that Amy!
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” Hebrews 2:14-15
Hey there. I hope that you had a good Easter! See you at/on…Thanksgiving? 13 days left of school for me!!! Love you, give out hugs for me!
Aquino & Childer’s book, “Unveiling Glory” is such a good study on Jesus. I’m glad Mike recommended it in an earlier comment.
I hope to meet Grant Boone sometime. His humor appeals to me, and the implications of his inferences are astute!
vtc3po wrote: My third observation is HOW (capitalized because I want to emphasize — it is said with a slight smile) do all of you do this all day long? Do you do anything else? I find it very difficult to keep up with all of you!!
I’m afraid I’ll have to admit to being addicted to reading the comments. I’m probably the reason Mike has so many hits on his site. It’s just me reloading throughout the day to see what folks have to say!
(I’m home all day. I need a break from the never-ending list of things to keep a home running, plus trying to convince the kids that they want to do their school work.)
John 4:34 – My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
John 6:29 – Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 17:4 – I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
All this was before the cross.
I’m late again today!! So sorry, Mike if my little corner of blogworld stirred up anything. I was just joking around and figured you had a moderate comment feature enabled.
That’s what I get for starting rumors, huh! (The previous post I wrote about having to take a drug test for a new job. The same day Mike had blogged about his steroid shot, so I took a pot shot at our blog church senior pastor therefore putting me on the “black list” of commenters). I have an unusual sense of humor.
Great scripture references, Craig.
I have been called many things before but never “usual”.
Goodnight Nurse! 78 comments? oh my goodness!!
78 *unmoderated* comments…
What did Jesus of Nazareth’s followers do (especially the male ones) after 3 years with the healing, teaching Jesus? Cut and run.
Three days later, after realizing his divinity and receiving the Holy Spirit, those same people were transformed into ‘Pillars’. Only one died naturally.
3 years or 3 days…
This comment has be monitored and removed for the sanctity of all civilization.
Seriously, I tried to comment here earlier today and I got this screen that said “Easy cowboy, only one comment at a time.”
I have a large question on banning people from a blog (I did it on mine as well). You sated that certain things (your family) were off limits so the person was banned. How does that small verbal offence relate back to 9/11 and a great offence of more than 300 people killed. Our nation turned the other cheek in 1993 when the WTC was attacked and several other times in the 90’s when our interests around the world were attacked and our citizens killed. Where is the need of a people to defend their most vulnerable in the face of viscious attacks ok? As a Soldier in the US Army, that’s what I and most of my comrades see our job as, standing between you, your family, and my family, and other families,and people that want us all dead. Just a question I’ve pondered all day.
Ed,
Maybe a huge question here is why do those people want “us all dead”? I’m those people aren’t just stupid or evil, in fact, they may have very good reasons for not particulary liking us. Maybe some of “our interests” around the world should be changed.
mIKE
jESUS CAME SO THAT WHEN i LOOK AT A SOCCER FIELD IN ZAMBIA, AND SEE 3000 PEOPLE CUED UP{BRITISH SPEAK} FOR MEDICAL CARE I AM NOT TOTALLY OVERWHELMED. BECAUSE DESPITE THEIR POVERTY,CHRONIC POOR HEALTH AND NO REAL HOPE OF ANSWERS TO THESE THINGS, I CAN SPEAK JESUS, AND KNOW hE IS THE ONLY ANSWER.ZAMBIANS TEACH ME HOPE COMES IN THE JOY OF LIFE HERE IN HIM AND THERE IN HIM AND ALWAYS IN HIM .
Laura..wow..that is powerful..I love your amazing daughter, by the way!
Jesus came down so we could go up.
Martin,
I completely agree that we need to understand why “they” dislike us to such an extent that they want you and me dead and to the best of our ability, not do those things. At some point though, the actions that have killed over 5000 citizens must be considered evil in my opinion. The President of Iran hates Israel and has promised to destroy them when he gets nukes. That is evil, whether you understand his motivation or not. At what point are we (or Israel) to act. BTW, I’m not advocating military action, I’m in the military and I don’t want to go. At some point though, somebody has to.
Blessings!
Tell me about my revealing finish I have read a good joke in internet
How do you get holy water? Boil the hell out of it.