Posted by Bryon on September 25, 2001 at 11:36:59:
In Reply to: In depth posted by Pastor Steven on September 24, 2001 at 21:06:13:
I remember your teachings well, and I have always loved to be there and listen and try to participate in our discussions (even though a lot of the time I had no clue how to contribute). I was just trying to see what kind of discussion a question like that would ignite. I would like very much to talk with you about these types of things, but I know you are busy. Sometimes when a person becomes somewhat detached from what they once new it's sometimes very difficult to just "waltz" back and continue where everything left off so to speak. I think you know what I mean. I think I get caught up in the way things used to be, you know? I think I am having a difficult time adjusting to not having such a close knit relationship with you and Cari, and everyone else for that matter.
I think I will carry this off the board now. I'll send you an email or maybe drop by when you are not too terribly busy, if that is alright.
: : Since you decided to reply on behalf of others, what do you think it means to believe in Jesus' name?
: First off, I replied on behalf of myself. I said what I perceived and what I felt led to share. I see no need to reply on behalf of the others you refer to; they expressed themselves quite well on their own.
: As far what I think it means to believe in Jesus name, I have taught about that in depth for years, as you well know and should remember, and I could probably write a book on the subject. One day I will. Of all people, you should know MUCH about my beliefs on that subject (unless you've forgotten all the years of my teaching you've endured). I just plain don't have time to write multi-thousand word essays here on the message board every time anyone asks such a loaded question. Therefore in this case, I chose to let others express themselves, and offered some loaded questions to fuel thought. As for me, I could talk ten hours on any one of the questions I posed. And then I could pose a few dozen more that I could talk about another ten hours each. But how can I possibly do that here? I would have to live my whole life on this board. I have another life, deeply involved in face-to-face fellowship, worship, teaching and church administration, all of which take a LOT of my time. Not to mention I have a respectable college-load, my daily Bengal business, and I am now preparing to begin recording an album. Tonight I will be up all night studying for multiple exams tomorrow, and this is after attending choir practice and a group leader meeting earlier in the evening.
: On another note, I would be happy to lead a study on this subject if there were even a small number of people who wanted it and would commit to coming. For that matter, I would gladly tackle any number of these kind of crucial subjects, if there were any demand for it. There seems to be little at this time. I'm afraid the friends we know well here have finally had enough of my teaching. And that I can understand. Fortunately, I believe there will be a new opportunity coming for me to teach a new group of people. :-)
: I can't preach or teach in-depth on the message board, though. And I personally can't answer that kind of question without going into depth.