WalMart has decided to drop the lawsuit and the Shanks can keep the funds needed for long term care. Thank you to WalMart for doing the right thing. Be nice if those attorneys who charged her so much do likewise.
After months of (very interesting) "lurking," I finally have to post. John, you are the most non self-righteous, most open-minded minister I've yet to come across. Kudos.
Though raised a Catholic, I've been disenfranchised for many years and disagree with a number of official Church positions. Yet I often find myself clinging to and even defending the tenets of my original faith, mostly in response to in-your-face, door-knocking, blatantly Catholic-disparaging, "if you don't believe what we do, you're evil" proselytizers. Right or wrong, I can't help but believe that personal experience frames one's opinions. I can pinpoint one experience in particular that very likely set my attitude (maybe unfairly prejudicially, but very real nonetheless) toward one Christian denomination, though this is neither the time nor place to relate that long story. (I really find it amazing that so many of these folks are blind to the fact that others perceive them as preaching hate--the antithesis of what they purport to preach.)
All that aside, my point is this: I admire & respect your words, not just because you write very well, but because they seem to come from a heart and mind that truly appears to be not just open but grounded in the real world. I may not be ready now --or ever--to totally abandon Catholicism, but further dialogue could be quite interesting . . .
You are right! John is a wonderful pastor & blogger. You might find it interesting that he grew up Catholic and was on his way to joining the preiesthood. I encourage you, if you haven't already, to come visit St. Mark's United Church of Christ sometime. The church is very much like John -- non-judgemental, warm, and welcoming. No one is going to acost you at the front door and start hounding you to join. I am a firm believer that our relationship with God can only be fulfilled on a personal level. John & St. Marks allows you to explore this relationship how you see fit, without dogma or judgement, but with love and acceptance of you as a child of God.
4 comments:
After months of (very interesting) "lurking," I finally have to post. John, you are the most non self-righteous, most open-minded minister I've yet to come across. Kudos.
Though raised a Catholic, I've been disenfranchised for many years and disagree with a number of official Church positions. Yet I often find myself clinging to and even defending the tenets of my original faith, mostly in response to in-your-face, door-knocking, blatantly Catholic-disparaging, "if you don't believe what we do, you're evil" proselytizers. Right or wrong, I can't help but believe that personal experience frames one's opinions. I can pinpoint one experience in particular that very likely set my attitude (maybe unfairly prejudicially, but very real nonetheless) toward one Christian denomination, though this is neither the time nor place to relate that long story. (I really find it amazing that so many of these folks are blind to the fact that others perceive them as preaching hate--the antithesis of what they purport to preach.)
All that aside, my point is this: I admire & respect your words, not just because you write very well, but because they seem to come from a heart and mind that truly appears to be not just open but grounded in the real world. I may not be ready now --or ever--to totally abandon Catholicism, but further dialogue could be quite interesting . . .
To pr gal,
You are right! John is a wonderful pastor & blogger. You might find it interesting that he grew up Catholic and was on his way to joining the preiesthood. I encourage you, if you haven't already, to come visit St. Mark's United Church of Christ sometime. The church is very much like John -- non-judgemental, warm, and welcoming. No one is going to acost you at the front door and start hounding you to join. I am a firm believer that our relationship with God can only be fulfilled on a personal level. John & St. Marks allows you to explore this relationship how you see fit, without dogma or judgement, but with love and acceptance of you as a child of God.
Thank you so much pr gal. I was raised RC and would love to chat with you some time if you'd like. It's an interesting journey to be sure.
Thanks a lot Ringmaster. I appreciate your comments about both St. Marks and me.
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