 |
| Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > General Chat > Dr Boyd & John Sanders...Is God To Blame? | Forum Quick Jump
|
| 
1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 9/19/2004 8:26 PM (GMT -6) |   | Hi,
Selah and I are together for our last night, and I wanted to say that this past weekend at the "Is God To Blame Conference" has made a difference in my life, and in my walk with Jesus Christ. Now I have to go home and put it into practice! Ah, the challenge of discipleship! But it is worth it all. I won't go into all the details of how I believe God has orchestrated this whole thing (not predetermined!), but I believe He did - and, Selah was such a blessing to me. I knew this whole "event" was a miracle in my life, and that the Father wanted to speak to me about some things - and He has.
I'm not a person who throws out compliments as "empty flattery" but, I've been around long enough on the board that I think most know that. I would like to express a heartfelt thanks to you Dr Boyd. I realize that you probably have no idea of the extent that God influences lives through your ministry. I could tell right away (and, I mean right away) that you have a pastor's (a shepherd's) heart, and that your dear wife has the same spirit.
Just in Case you ever wonder (as Max Lucado would say) - your life and ministry is greatly appreciated. I have a friend where I live, whose life has been dramatically changed with the open view, and your work (your books) have been the major part of that. This board is a continuing source of encouragement for me, and so many others, as well.
I know that God has richly blessed you already, but I pray (and I will pray for you both by the way), that God will continually refresh and renew you both, give you both new visions in your ministry for Him, and that you will be encouraged, and strengthened - that you will experience great joy in resting in Him. He delights in you. In fact, (a bit poetical here) - if you listen - I think you'll here Him singing over you!
God Bless. It was a joy to meet you both!
Jo-Anne (the journey continues...) 
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
| | Back to Top | | |
 |
Tom
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 10353
| Posted 9/20/2004 4:57 AM (GMT -6) | | Selah, did you belly dance? You said you would. Did I miss it? 
So happy you guys had a great time! I had speaking engagements of my own here in Virginia. Couldn't make it out. Next time!
Tom | | Back to Top | | |
|
Leila
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 9/20/2004 9:15 AM (GMT -6) | | I've just got to agree with everything Jo-anne said about the conference. It was fantastic. I felt pretty nervous driving all the way out from Virginia, wondering what the EEM was all about, if I would be the only non-theologian, if Dr. Boyd would be all that I imagined him to be.... Well, I still don't know what the EEM was all about, and I probably was the most ignorant Christian and least-read person in attendance, but that doesn't matter. The conference totally exceeded my expectations in every conceivable way. (And I am a very critical person by nature so I never say things like this...)
Before I left for Indiana, I felt that I knew Dr. Boyd -- from reading briefly about his personal life, learning a bit about the inner workings of his mind from this discussion board, and sensing his heart from his ministry. Part of me was a little afraid that meeting Dr. Boyd in person would only be a let-down, that he couldn't possible live up to the image I held of him. Well, he didn't just live up to it, he exceeded it. Meeting Dr. Boyd and talking with him personally has shown me he is not just a brilliant theologian, but has a tender, compassionate, loving heart.
This conference was so much more than an academic experience.
I didn't simply hear the words of Boyd and Sanders, I felt their implications for my life.
I have been on a difficult spiritual journey since becoming a Christian. I have always found it difficult to find meaningful fellowship with others; I have often felt that questioning my faith was a sign of weakness; I have been confused and misled by perhaps well-meaning, but totally uninformed, irresponsible clergy; I have been tainted and easily influenced by societal messages, etc. etc.
Dr. Boyds' writings have spoken to me in times of doubt. This web site has been the only place I have taken part in meaningful, relevant theological discussions and it has helped me so much with questions I have had, or just by reading silently.
But though the web site and books have helped me immensely, I still have found myself experiencing spiritual valleys of depression, longing for meaningful, person-to-person Christian fellowship, and seeking a church home. But attending this conference, talking to Drs. Boyd and Sanders, and having interesting, authentic, intelligent face-to-face discussions with other board members has helped lift me up spiritually. I truly feel a new direction and hope in my life.
Jo-anne -- it was a real pleasure meeting you. You have a true Christian heart. I read your book on the car ride home, and I was truly touched. Thanks so much for sharing it with me and Nick. I'm so happy for you that you were able to attend this conference. I know how much it meant to you.
Selah -- I loved talking to you, learning from you, and getting to know you as a person. You are amazing, brilliant, and loving. Your words of affirmation were such an encouragement to me.
JET -- I really enjoyed meeting you and your wife, and I had a great time talking with you over lunch. It sounds like we have struggled with a lot of similar issues and I hope this conference was helpful to you as well.
Sparknheart and John Earp -- I wish we had more time to get to know one another. But John, I have to say again, thank you so much for posting about this conference. We would never have heard of it otherwise.
Dr. Boyd -- please know that you have made a difference in my life. You have helped me wrestle with my inner doubts -- the questions that seem unanswerable, the passages in the Bible that seem inconsistent or nonsensical. You have given me courage to be an authentic Christian. And in so doing you have touched my heart. Seeing and feeling your passion for Christ and your love for people has truly inspired me. You have a beautiful wife, inside and out, and I thank her for supporting your ministry and sharing you with all of us. And I want you to know that I will always pray for you both.
-Leila | | Back to Top | | |
|
Leila
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 9/20/2004 9:18 AM (GMT -6) | | | TGB- Where in Virginia are you speaking? Just wondering if you're in the neighborhood... | | Back to Top | | |
|
Tom
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 10353
| Posted 9/20/2004 10:30 AM (GMT -6) | | Hi Leila-
I live in Richmond right now. Will be here for the next year. I'm out speaking pretty much every week-end (up and down the East coast).
Where are you?
Tom | | Back to Top | | |
|
selah
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1210
| Posted 9/20/2004 12:36 PM (GMT -6) | | Greg,
Thanks for bringing Shelley (or does Shelley bring you? ) it was nice to see her for more than the occasional passing moment in the hallways of WHC. Sadly, I've never taken the opportunity (though I have often thought) to say what Leila just said so well "You have a beautiful wife, inside and out, and I thank her for supporting your ministry and sharing you with all of us." I just want to echo those thoughts and say that I am really thankful too. The ripple effect of Shelley's support of your work has allowed hungry, annoying, and painfully needy students (i.e. me) to wrestle with thoughts and learn vital teachings & strategies from you that ultimately impact others through our work and ministry... for the Kingdom.
God bless you both. You are always in my prayers.
love
selah | | Back to Top | | |
|
Leila
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 9/20/2004 1:00 PM (GMT -6) | | Hi Tom -- I live in Fairfax. Let me know if you'll be around here. I'd love to meet you and hear you speak. (What are you speaking about???)
Selah - Thanks for your kind words as well. I definitely want to stay in touch. And please call when you're in the DC area. | | Back to Top | | |
|
JET
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2002
Total Posts : 397
| Posted 9/20/2004 1:09 PM (GMT -6) | | Well, I also had a nice time and enjoyed meeting the other CVM’ers (j moon river, leila, Selah, Sparknheart, and JohnEarp). I also had a chance to speak briefly with Doc and Dr. Sanders. My wife enjoyed meeting everyone and chatting with Mrs. Boyd. Doc was brilliant despite the technological difficulties. The ladies’ choir in the adjacent room (divided only by a partition wall) was great too! Any other speaker would have had surely lost those of us ADD folks (right, Selah?). Friday night, without the aid of a projector, Doc summarized the six theses from Satan and the Problem of Evil while the ladies next door provided a musical backdrop including an enthusiastic performance of the Southern Gospel hit, “Only God Knows”. And whenever Doc concluded a point, the piano next door would begin the intro to the next song (thus introducing the next Trinitarian Warfare Thesis). After the Friday night session, Selah introduced j moon, leila, and I to Doc who generously stayed late to talk and answer questions. The next morning, after a couple of testimonies from the EEM folks, Doc and his backup singers did their thing. Had lunch with j moon, leila and spouses. Some folks did a little shopping (I didn’t know there were Amish people sewing quilts in Taiwan). After lunch, Doc and Sanders took questions from the attendees for an hour or two before Sanders began his presentation. A large group attended the Sat. eve. dinner at a family style restaurant (great food) where I got to know Sparknheart a little bit and John Earp was kind enough to give me a five minute “MG for Dummies” tutorial. After Sanders’ second presentation, he and Doc took more questions. Then the moderator announced that Doc and Sanders wanted to spend some time “alone”. (Doc quickly clarified that their wives would be with them.) The event concluded with more testimonies from the EEM folks, including one who was saved at a large crusade held by an evangelist known as David Lee Roth. So, since I don’t know any good Kierkegaard quotes (and in keeping with the musical theme of the conference), I’ll just sign off with a Van Halen quote that I found with a quick Google search: “I'm telling you, ow Show, show your love babe, ah, yeah (Show your love) Ow, whoo, woo, show (show) show your love babe, ah, yeah (Show your...) Show me “
Peace,
JET
| | Back to Top | | |
|
JEE
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 1466
| Posted 9/20/2004 1:18 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Leila
John Earp -- I wish we had more time to get to know one another. But John, I have to say again, thank you so much for posting about this conference. We would never have heard of it otherwise.
Thank YOU for coming. I'm thrilled to hear that it was as positive an experience for you as it was for me. It was great meeting you and your husband, and so many other people from the CVM board. Evangelical Education Ministries (EEM) is an organization devoted to Moral Government Theology and the Open View (Actually, they have believed in and taught the Open View since the 1960s). Many campus evangelists are loosely associated with EEM, primarily due to the fact that MGT and OVTism is so well geared towards answering skeptics.
Ditto to the comments about Shelley Boyd. I told my wife when I got home that Shelley reminded me so much of our senior pastor's wife Coleen, who is basically about the sweetest and kindest person you'd ever meet. (My wife would have come, but with a 19-month-old toddler, she felt it would be too difficult, which of course, I agreed with).
I enjoyed meeting sparknheart, and again, thank him for splitting the cost of lodging with me, though I have to admit his late-night questions Saturday night until, what was it, three or four in the morning? caused me to oversleep and miss the Sunday a.m. worship service.  Dude, you've GOT to read that Moral Gov't material you got at the conference.  Actually, I didn't mind answering your questions; in fact, I so rarely find someone who even wants to ask the kinds of questions you were asking that I couldn't have gone to sleep even if I'd tried.
Anyway, I thought I heard someone say there were several others from the CVM board who attended, but I guess I didn't get a chance to meet them. I'm truly sorry I didn't get to meet everybody. Hopefully one of these weekends my wife and I and our little Chloe will be able to come visit Woodland Hills and meet more of the CVM gang.
If I left anyone out it is certainly nothing personal. I'm still running on a sleep deficit right now, and when that is true I have a lot of trouble remembering things.
http://revivaltheology.net | | Back to Top | | |
|
Leila
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 9/20/2004 1:41 PM (GMT -6) | | You are too funny JET! I'm still laughing...great recap of the weekend.
| | Back to Top | | |
|
Leila
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 9/20/2004 1:43 PM (GMT -6) | | | Thanks John, for clarifying the mission of EEM...was trying to figure it out all weekend. | | Back to Top | | |
|
Tom
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 10353
| Posted 9/20/2004 2:48 PM (GMT -6) | | Leila-
My wife was born and raised in Arlington. Cool. We love D.C. and whenever we're there we try to eat at the Lebanese Taverna (great Lebanese food!).
Anyhow, being missionaries, I take a one-year furlough every four years and visit churches challenging Christians about how they think, pray, and relate to Muslims. I'm in Fairfax, Arlington, Burke, Centerville, and other places in Northern VA for the next year. Sometimes my wife (or wife and kids) is able to come along with me, sometimes not.
Tom | | Back to Top | | |
|
Truth Aficionado
Registered Member
Date Joined Dec 2003
Total Posts : 1544
| Posted 9/20/2004 3:31 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Leila
I've just got to agree with everything Jo-anne said about the conference. It was fantastic.
Dito 
quote:
I probably was the most ignorant Christian and least-read person in attendance, but that doesn't matter.
Sorry Leila, but I beg to differ, I think that honor belongs to me. John Earp can testify to my ignorance, I have been known to riddle him with questions that keep him up all night scratching his head.
quote:
Before I left for Indiana, I felt that I knew Dr. Boyd -- from reading briefly about his personal life, learning a bit about the inner workings of his mind from this discussion board, and sensing his heart from his ministry. Part of me was a little afraid that meeting Dr. Boyd in person would only be a let-down, that he couldn't possible live up to the image I held of him. Well, he didn't just live up to it, he exceeded it. Meeting Dr. Boyd and talking with him personally has shown me he is not just a brilliant theologian, but has a tender, compassionate, loving heart.
Wow, The discipline of Boydhism is spreading beyond my neighborhood? Just kidding. I agree, Dr. Boyd has a knack for reaching people’s hearts through their mind.
“Promoting faith that satisfies the head and enflames the heart” It's this very thing that first compelled me to take notice of his teachings and it’s the same type of head to heart relationship that keeps my interest.
quote:
Sparknheart and John Earp -- I wish we had more time to get to know one another.
Ditto, that was one of my only regrets. I wish we could have spent more time getting acquainted with all the folks from CVM. But it was nice to at least meet everyone and spend a little time associating smiling faces  to names from the board.
I think it is a consensus; Greg’s better half is a real sweetheart.  I was privileged to sit next to her for lunch and agree with everyone else, she is a real darling.
Blessings to all,
Mark
| | Back to Top | | |
|
selah
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1210
| Posted 9/20/2004 5:14 PM (GMT -6) | | Hi JET,
It was a pleasure meeting you and your lovely wife. Regarding ADD, it was a battle, for sure. One minute I was listening to Greg...next thing ya know I was singing soprano in my head. Yep, it was painful for a while there. Kudo's to Greg for staying on track -- guess he's no rookie
BTW, I hope we see more posts from you. You are such a smart guy!!
Keep in Touch,
love
selah
----------------------------------------------------------------------
sparkinheart -- nice to meet you too. Sorry we didn't get to talk much. We'll have to make a point of it next time.
Blessings and love,
selah
----------------------------------------------------------------------
JOHN,
What's up? We didn't even meet!! Next time I'm going looking for you.
You can run but you can't hide .
love
selah
______________________________________________________________________
"When we acknowledge that all of life is sacred and that each act is an act of choice and therefore sacred, then life is a sacred dance lived consciously each moment. When we live at this level, we participate in the creation of a better world."
Scout Cloud Lee | | Back to Top | | |
|
Leila
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 9/21/2004 2:07 AM (GMT -6) | | | Tom - Could you let me know when you'll next be speaking in northern Virginia? I'd love to hear what you have to say about reaching Muslims. If you recall my original post on this board, it's a topic close to my heart. | | Back to Top | | |
|
Tom
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 10353
| Posted 9/21/2004 2:58 AM (GMT -6) | | | | |
|
Truth Aficionado
Registered Member
Date Joined Dec 2003
Total Posts : 1544
| Posted 9/21/2004 6:33 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by JEE
I enjoyed meeting sparknheart, and again, thank him for splitting the cost of lodging with me, though I have to admit his late-night questions Saturday night until, what was it, three or four in the morning? caused me to oversleep and miss the Sunday a.m. worship service. Dude, you've GOT to read that Moral Gov't material you got at the conference. Actually, I didn't mind answering your questions; in fact, I so rarely find someone who even wants to ask the kinds of questions you were asking that I couldn't have gone to sleep even if I'd tried.
I'm still running on a sleep deficit right now, and when that is true I have a lot of trouble remembering things.
Hi John,
I fell asleep around 3:00am and you were still answering questions. I woke up at 5:30 to go home. I tried to say thanks and goodbye, you started to wake  up and mumbled something about how resting in Christ was part of the moral govt. and any thing short of that was some kind of physical depravity... as I quietly shut the door behind me.
Thanks for the thought provoking conversation. It was a great to meet you and hope to see you again at next years EEM conference.
God Bless,
Mark | | Back to Top | | |
|
JEE
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 1466
| Posted 9/21/2004 7:36 PM (GMT -6) | | | | |
|
GregBoyd
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 1818
| Posted 9/27/2004 6:11 PM (GMT -6) | | Wow, do I and Shelley feel LOVED ON. Such kind words. Gives me a lump in me throat! Honestly. I really had a fun time, largely because of the CVMers who were there, a fine night with John and of course, Shelley being with me (she just decided to go at the last minute). But the whole EEM crowd was kind, stimulating and attentive.
Here's one thing that came from the conference most of you wouldn't be aware of. The CVM board was seriously thinking about ending the board. We thought perhaps it had run its course. the original purpose was for me to interact with people, but I have obvously felt led to put my time into writing and speaking more these days. And It costs about 8 bills a year to keep up. But when Leila, Moon J and several others expressed how much the board meant to them... well, as of right now, it seems worth the 8 bills. So we've decided to keep it going, at least for the time being.
Shelley and I again that you for your kind and affirming words and for the fun we had down in Amish land.
Greg
"The responsibility is with the chooser -- God is blameless." Plato, Republic, 10. | | Back to Top | | |
| 30 posts in this thread.
Viewing Page : 1 2 |
| Forum Information | Currently it is Monday, November 09, 2026 6:47 PM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 97,718 posts in 6,040 threads.
In the last 3 days there were 0 new threads and 0 reply posts. View Active Threads
|
Forum powered by dotNetBB v2.42EC SP3
dotNetBB © 2000-2026 |
|
|