Comments on: Living Behind The Gates

By: Adrian Crawford

Adrian Crawford — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:06:10 +0000

Brad very insightful post. Adrian Crawford’s last blog post..Does Racism Still Exist?

By: Clayton Bell | Online » The Hot Links!- 12.20.08 edition

Clayton Bell | Online » The Hot Links!- 12.20.08 edition — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:30:46 +0000

[...] Brad’s wondering if we’re doing anything to stay in touch with the “real worldR… [...]

By: alece

alece — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:23:52 +0000

wow. what a great paradigm-shifting challenge. i need to think about this... alece’s last blog post..nineteen: words

By: Cecil Chaney

Cecil Chaney — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:13:22 +0000

Great post Brad and and even greater question to ask those who serve or work at a church what they are doing to get out from behind the gates! For myself, as a lay person who teaches youth Sunday School and Christian blogger, I have found myself more times than I care to admit becoming a victim of worshiping the "practice" of church and losing sight of the reason I am there and the reason I serve. Jesus. When I find that some of the joy has gone out of my life and I am looking at things from inside of the church, I ask the Father to help me find my way back and to change my perspective. To challenge me and get me out of my comfort zone so I can grow. I have to make the choice to fight my way back. Satan does not want us to fight our way back. He wants us to stay on the spiritual couch, in our comfort zone dressed in pj's eating our favorite breakfast cereal not challenged and oblivious to those in need around us. His greatest joy is for a Christian to be ineffective and not grow up into what God dreams them to be. Cecil Chaney’s last blog post..Wise Men Still Seek Him

By: Clayton Bell

Clayton Bell — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:54:12 +0000

I am forever grateful for the nearly two years I spent doing PR in between stints in ministry. It radically shifted my view of ministry, work, people, and the call of God on people’s lives. We must constantly look to those outside of our world to tell us their hope, fears, stresses and views of family, ministry and work.

Great post!

By: themisfit

themisfit — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:19:38 +0000

I am a former pastor, I am taking a break after 7 years in full time ministry. I am now a trucker and have to say that I love the change. I can honestly tell you that I have done more ministry in the last year and a half then I ever did in a year as a pastor. When I go back into the ministry, I can't see my self being a pastor and not holding some form of a job in the "real" world, otherwise "touch with your audience…you start running out of life experience." themisfit’s last blog post..The Big 3

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:04:44 +0000

Really cool Brad. Not sure that I do anything to come out from my bubble but this lets me know that maybe I should more often. I am guilty of confusing volunteerism with connecting outside my bubble when in reality at some point I need to experience it. Helping out for a day, although nice, does not create the pain needed to sometimes understand. Joseph’s last blog post..10 Dont’s For A Politically Correct Holiday Season

By: Terrace Crawford

Terrace Crawford — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:51:38 +0000

Great post. Yes, I think we live in the bubble (er, behind the gates) too much. Celebrities get criticized but we are just as bad about losing touch. I'll never forget seeing a clip of Oprah pumping gas for the first time (she said) in 20 years! Wha? She didn't recall 'how' to do it either. I should turn the tables on myself here and where I've lost touch. Great food-for-thought Ruggles. Terrace Crawford’s last blog post..Borderline Coveting