Comments for TWR Australia http://www.twr.org.au Life-changing messages. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:12:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 Comment on Inspired by God’s love for a gambling husband by Brittania http://www.twr.org.au/general/inspired-by-god%e2%80%99s-love-for-a-gambling-husband#comment-35 Brittania Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:10:44 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=70#comment-35 Keep up the good work. Keep up the good work.

]]> Comment on People Love Stories by Jeff Atkinson http://www.twr.org.au/general/people-love-stories#comment-20 Jeff Atkinson Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:07:11 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=448#comment-20 Nice writing style. I look forward to reading more in the future. Nice writing style. I look forward to reading more in the future.

]]> Comment on Abortion by Alister Cameron // Blogologist http://www.twr.org.au/theology-sandbox/abortion#comment-12 Alister Cameron // Blogologist Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:37:35 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=388#comment-12 I agree, Bob. One fundamental of leadership is "visionizing capacity"... meaning, the ability to sow seeds of vision, water those seeds and see them bear fruit in a mobilized following. Key to that is "spaced repetition". And, the point of what Bill is saying is that the spaced repetition of a lie works as well as that of a truth, sadly. By the way, this is also the essence of good marketing. Communications, per se, is aboutsaying the same thing simply and clearly and repetitively. I agree with you that the challenge for average Christians is to stop making a simple thing complicated, so that it loses its savour (saltiness, to be Biblical) and fails to "stick" because it's not repeated enough :) -Alister I agree, Bob.

One fundamental of leadership is “visionizing capacity”… meaning, the ability to sow seeds of vision, water those seeds and see them bear fruit in a mobilized following.

Key to that is “spaced repetition”. And, the point of what Bill is saying is that the spaced repetition of a lie works as well as that of a truth, sadly.

By the way, this is also the essence of good marketing. Communications, per se, is aboutsaying the same thing simply and clearly and repetitively. I agree with you that the challenge for average Christians is to stop making a simple thing complicated, so that it loses its savour (saltiness, to be Biblical) and fails to “stick” because it’s not repeated enough :)

-Alister

]]> Comment on Abortion by Bob Simpson http://www.twr.org.au/theology-sandbox/abortion#comment-11 Bob Simpson Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:42:12 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=388#comment-11 Hi Alister, I just looked at Bill Muelenberg's, "Culture Watch" again, and something struck me about his paragraph... "As with most contentious social issues, one way to make your case is simply to repeat a falsehood often enough, hoping mere repetition will win people over. As Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister once said, “If you tell any lie long enough, often enough, and loud enough, people will come to believe it.”" Do you know what struck me? This is what Jesus did when he preached the "good news of the Kingdom of Heaven". He wants us to preach it. Talk about it! Be witnesses for it! Practice it! Show it to our children; our neighbours; our workmates; school friends; friends in Rotary and Probus! Goebbels was smart. If you communicate the grace of God long enough, often enough, and deeply enough, people will come to believe it!" Why haven't we woken up to the simplicity of this? Bob Hi Alister, I just looked at Bill Muelenberg’s, “Culture Watch” again, and something struck me about his paragraph… “As with most contentious social issues, one way to make your case is simply to repeat a falsehood often enough, hoping mere repetition will win people over. As Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister once said, “If you tell any lie long enough, often enough, and loud enough, people will come to believe it.””

Do you know what struck me? This is what Jesus did when he preached the “good news of the Kingdom of Heaven”. He wants us to preach it. Talk about it! Be witnesses for it! Practice it! Show it to our children; our neighbours; our workmates; school friends; friends in Rotary and Probus!

Goebbels was smart.

If you communicate the grace of God long enough, often enough, and deeply enough, people will come to believe it!”

Why haven’t we woken up to the simplicity of this?

Bob

]]> Comment on What Scott said! by Bob Simpson http://www.twr.org.au/australian-scene/what-scott-said#comment-10 Bob Simpson Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:14:41 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=373#comment-10 Thank you Muriel. You are not feeble. Certainly not if you rely on his leading, hour-by-hour. You must be incredibly loved by God; and an inspiration to many people who know you. Bob Thank you Muriel. You are not feeble. Certainly not if you rely on his leading, hour-by-hour. You must be incredibly loved by God; and an inspiration to many people who know you. Bob

]]> Comment on Abortion by Bob Simpson http://www.twr.org.au/theology-sandbox/abortion#comment-9 Bob Simpson Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:54:41 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=388#comment-9 Hi Alister, I've met Bill a couple of times, and I know he is a very honourable man. But I don't think political argument achieves much in this. Yes, it may sway votes in a political debate but it is unlikely to change people's hearts. I'm pressing the Christian community to be witnesses of love and grace towards people; these young men and young women, whose behaviour brings them into very difficult and traumatic emotional and spiritual circumstances. Of any group in the community, Christians should be seen by suffering people as the natural group that will bring them love, compassion, mercy and healing in what will be deeply troubling times. Many Christians do bring this healing. Sadly, many other vocal Christians are unloving and unkind in their harsh judgment. This causes greater suffering; and, is against Jesus' commandments. These same Christians are loved by Christ (he laid his life down for them, for goodness' sake) and Jesus commands them to pass that love onto the suffering. Standing against the forces that cause this suffering is another matter, for another time. It's great to talk with you. Bob Hi Alister,
I’ve met Bill a couple of times, and I know he is a very honourable man. But I don’t think political argument achieves much in this. Yes, it may sway votes in a political debate but it is unlikely to change people’s hearts. I’m pressing the Christian community to be witnesses of love and grace towards people; these young men and young women, whose behaviour brings them into very difficult and traumatic emotional and spiritual circumstances. Of any group in the community, Christians should be seen by suffering people as the natural group that will bring them love, compassion, mercy and healing in what will be deeply troubling times. Many Christians do bring this healing. Sadly, many other vocal Christians are unloving and unkind in their harsh judgment. This causes greater suffering; and, is against Jesus’ commandments. These same Christians are loved by Christ (he laid his life down for them, for goodness’ sake) and Jesus commands them to pass that love onto the suffering.
Standing against the forces that cause this suffering is another matter, for another time.
It’s great to talk with you.
Bob

]]> Comment on Abortion by Alister Cameron // Blogologist http://www.twr.org.au/theology-sandbox/abortion#comment-7 Alister Cameron // Blogologist Sun, 14 Sep 2008 07:46:23 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=388#comment-7 Thanks for contributing to the "noise" online about this, at such an important time. Thought you and your readers would be interested in some of what Bill Muehlenberg has been writing on the subject. Great material to help us understand the issues deeply: http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/09/09/even-more-abortion-myths/ -Alister Thanks for contributing to the “noise” online about this, at such an important time.

Thought you and your readers would be interested in some of what Bill Muehlenberg has been writing on the subject. Great material to help us understand the issues deeply:

http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/09/09/even-more-abortion-myths/

-Alister

]]> Comment on What Scott said! by Muriel Jones http://www.twr.org.au/australian-scene/what-scott-said#comment-6 Muriel Jones Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:29:51 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=373#comment-6 Just to let you know I received your email and did a rare thing for me entered your website. It's great! So easy to find my way around, and yes, it seems to me we are most reflecting Jesus when we live lovingly. At 80 years I feel rather feeble so just rely on His leading hour by hour. I was much impressed by the gentle encouraging way I was received when I contacted the office by phone some time ago. God bless and use you all. Just to let you know I received your email and did a rare thing for me entered your website. It’s great! So easy to find my way around, and yes, it seems to me we are most reflecting Jesus when we live lovingly. At 80 years I feel rather feeble so just rely on His leading hour by hour.
I was much impressed by the gentle encouraging way I was received when I contacted the office by phone some time ago. God bless and use you all.

]]> Comment on Why don’t we talk about heaven? by Bob Simpson http://www.twr.org.au/theology-sandbox/why-dont-we-talk-about-heaven#comment-5 Bob Simpson Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:25:25 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=337#comment-5 Hi John, Thanks for your comment. But how do we effectively communicate the amazing joy of heaven, as we are experiencing it now, to people who are suffering some of the terrible things that are happening in our society? How do we communicate it in a way that is compelling to people? How do we communicate it so that people will make their own choice to know that joy? Jesus must have done it brilliantly. His love for people was obviously deeply engaging? Love to get your further thoughts. Bob Hi John, Thanks for your comment. But how do we effectively communicate the amazing joy of heaven, as we are experiencing it now, to people who are suffering some of the terrible things that are happening in our society? How do we communicate it in a way that is compelling to people? How do we communicate it so that people will make their own choice to know that joy? Jesus must have done it brilliantly. His love for people was obviously deeply engaging? Love to get your further thoughts.
Bob

]]> Comment on Why don’t we talk about heaven? by John http://www.twr.org.au/theology-sandbox/why-dont-we-talk-about-heaven#comment-4 John Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:56:22 +0000 http://www.twr.org.au/?p=337#comment-4 The greatest two things about heaven are that we will be in the presence of God for eternity and secondly we will be released from any earthly pain and suffering forever. Those of us who live with Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord (Christians), know this promise is for real and certain. In the story, being in heaven would be a release from the pain of drug addicition. Sadly, our addiction should not be to earthly things like drugs, alcohol, sex, capitalism, maaterialism and similar; our addiction should be on knowing and sharing the great news of Jesus. The love of Jesus is something worth getting addicted to - that means, one day we will join Jesus in heaven. The greatest two things about heaven are that we will be in the presence of God for eternity and secondly we will be released from any earthly pain and suffering forever. Those of us who live with Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord (Christians), know this promise is for real and certain. In the story, being in heaven would be a release from the pain of drug addicition. Sadly, our addiction should not be to earthly things like drugs, alcohol, sex, capitalism, maaterialism and similar; our addiction should be on knowing and sharing the great news of Jesus. The love of Jesus is something worth getting addicted to - that means, one day we will join Jesus in heaven.

]]>