tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489508338418299441.post1009634808023502796..comments2023-06-07T11:14:09.963-05:00Comments on BLOGLES by Samuel Ogles: Moving out of FearAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15638903673687076245noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489508338418299441.post-11190173475836902532013-03-16T15:56:29.161-05:002013-03-16T15:56:29.161-05:00I enjoyed this one greatly. Thanks Sam!I enjoyed this one greatly. Thanks Sam!amandalainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00692253844016875427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489508338418299441.post-70636073200543439352013-03-13T12:16:11.364-05:002013-03-13T12:16:11.364-05:00Also, if I were to write a philosophy of spiritual...Also, if I were to write a philosophy of spirituality it would now include that God wants "the most beautiful and miraculous version of our lives."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15638903673687076245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489508338418299441.post-64336197705607286432013-03-13T12:14:33.813-05:002013-03-13T12:14:33.813-05:00So writing a blog is quickly becoming a great way ...So writing a blog is quickly becoming a great way to build self-esteem, haha. Thanks, really. I love talking about these things with people and finding the common ground (though recognizing differences as well). There's something to be said for sharing these experiences together, I think. I get a great deal from people's comments (both on and off the blog) whether they relate to what I'm thinking about or not. Maybe that stems from how deep a mystery God is? <br /><br />And I get a lot from yours. As always, you write beautifully!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15638903673687076245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489508338418299441.post-68160438314561789892013-03-13T11:41:36.162-05:002013-03-13T11:41:36.162-05:00Really glad it was helpful! But to answer your que...Really glad it was helpful! But to answer your question, I've just begun using feminine language for God out of a recognition that all of creation is contained within God and comes out of God. Both male and female - whatever the essence of those categories is - are contained within God. Maleness is just as godlike as Femaleness. I've also started using feminine language to be more inclusive and out of a recognition that Jesus is the only member of the Trinity that is gendered. Even though we use "Father" for God (which is not wrong and is part of an important tradition), we know that God/Trinity is neither male nor female. "It" language takes away from God's personhood to me. So interchanging male and female language is appropriate and more indicative of God's true nature. I think that's my answer right now.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15638903673687076245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489508338418299441.post-18023859001643285612013-03-12T16:14:39.079-05:002013-03-12T16:14:39.079-05:00I agree with Marc about that beautiful excerpt. Th...I agree with Marc about that beautiful excerpt. This whole post is really lovely, Sam. <br /><br />I've had to give this topic a lot of thought, too, as I try to figure out what I'm doing (especially where I'm going) post-grad school. Sometimes I think the things that scare me the most are the ones I should most readily embrace as potentially good candidates: teach English in Prague! Move to Seattle! Move to Europe without any real plan at all! The fear that I have of doing any of those wondrous things does not mean they are wrong per se; it more than likely means that God has bigger plans for me than I have for myself. And I agree that God doesn't communicate His will to us using fear tactics. <br /><br />So what if we live a life of faith? Not everything will make sense in the moment, there are times we will feel horribly uncertain or inadequate (we need to remember the source of those feelings too, and let's just say it's never God). God's voice is one of reassurance because He stands outside of time and He's already seen the most beautiful and miraculous version of our lives. He offers peace not cavalierly or out of naivete, but because of what He knows about our futures. And they are bright.<br /><br />I'm excited to see your next step, Sam. You're wonderful.Richellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17039166030650623696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489508338418299441.post-25850115766314627252013-03-12T15:04:46.267-05:002013-03-12T15:04:46.267-05:00Good stuff Sam...this statement was very helpful t...Good stuff Sam...this statement was very helpful to me and I like how you explained it: <br /> "God will never guide you to His will by making you afraid to do the opposite, as if His designs aren't good enough in themselves and He can only win us over by doing a smear campaign against the alternative.....But God is not calling us to flee from something but rather to run toward something, the Supreme Something, God Him/Herself."<br /><br />However, I'm curious as to why you referred to God as "Him/Herself."Marchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11350068618699289054noreply@blogger.com