Comments for nothing is written http://craigborlase.wordpress.com thoughts and more from craig borlase Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:31:38 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on this church limps as it walks by Annie http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/this-church-limps-as-it-walks/#comment-220 Annie Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:31:38 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/this-church-limps-as-it-walks/#comment-220 Hmm... Odd. I wrote something similar (sort of) on my blog. Living here in Nashville, smack in the middle of the so-called "Bible Belt" of America I'm struck with how very dissonantly faith and "normalcy" converge. I wonder how many of my fellow church-goers are mere pew warmers, heading to church because it's what is expected of them. I wonder how many go to encounter God and how many go because, as my one friend will say, "it makes me feel good." I wonder if I'm a bit too haughty, a tad to legalistic or expectant of what I want the faith of my neighbors to look like. Perhaps I'm projecting my desires for my own faith on others? Who knows? All I know is that, for some in my circle, their faith is the pretty wrapping paper or the bow that puts the finishing touch on the package they let the world see, not the loveliness inside. Hmm… Odd. I wrote something similar (sort of) on my blog. Living here in Nashville, smack in the middle of the so-called “Bible Belt” of America I’m struck with how very dissonantly faith and “normalcy” converge. I wonder how many of my fellow church-goers are mere pew warmers, heading to church because it’s what is expected of them. I wonder how many go to encounter God and how many go because, as my one friend will say, “it makes me feel good.” I wonder if I’m a bit too haughty, a tad to legalistic or expectant of what I want the faith of my neighbors to look like. Perhaps I’m projecting my desires for my own faith on others? Who knows? All I know is that, for some in my circle, their faith is the pretty wrapping paper or the bow that puts the finishing touch on the package they let the world see, not the loveliness inside.

]]> Comment on i have no idea why i’m posting this by AlexaPepich http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/i-have-no-idea-why-im-posting-this/#comment-193 AlexaPepich Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:16:30 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/i-have-no-idea-why-im-posting-this/#comment-193 Hello All ! I want to share this great product i've used to stop smoking - <a href="http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/member.php?u=32571" rel="nofollow"> Nico Not ! </a> It helped me to quit smoking in less then a week without any of the withdrawal symtoms. Hello All !
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]]> Comment on what’s wrong with worship by Annie http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/whats-wrong-with-worship/#comment-143 Annie Fri, 29 May 2009 17:25:53 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/?p=125#comment-143 Hmmm... Craig, I couldn't agree with you more on this. There's an uncomfortability I feel when I hear friends and strangers sing the praises of not the God who inspires the songs, but the songwriters themselves. They (the fans) spend a fortune on merch, wait hours in line to buy tickets or meet the artists, trample each other to get the best view (of what I often ask/fear), tell people they can't "worship" unless so-and-so leads them to that posture, etc. It's an odd place the worship leader (or "lead worshipper" as Matt Redman reminds us) finds him-/herself in -- to accept the compliments and simultaneously direct the people (and the praise) up to Whom it belongs. I've been in "Music City" (aka Nashville aka Christian Music Capital) for a few months now and am often bewildered and saddened by the people I encounter. There is an overwhelming air of "What can you do for me?" Sadly, this is most apparent in the Christian. Trying to find authenticity or brothers and sisters who strive to reflect Christ to this world and to each other is like looking for a needle in a haystack as tall as the Empire State Building. The ones who are seeking to walk in this manner are out there I'm sure (and hope/pray), they're just hiding amongst the bright lights, hipsters and Honky-tonk bars. Oh, and that Kirk Franklin quote? It just ripped a whole in me... in a good way. Thanks, friend! :) Hmmm… Craig, I couldn’t agree with you more on this. There’s an uncomfortability I feel when I hear friends and strangers sing the praises of not the God who inspires the songs, but the songwriters themselves. They (the fans) spend a fortune on merch, wait hours in line to buy tickets or meet the artists, trample each other to get the best view (of what I often ask/fear), tell people they can’t “worship” unless so-and-so leads them to that posture, etc.

It’s an odd place the worship leader (or “lead worshipper” as Matt Redman reminds us) finds him-/herself in — to accept the compliments and simultaneously direct the people (and the praise) up to Whom it belongs.

I’ve been in “Music City” (aka Nashville aka Christian Music Capital) for a few months now and am often bewildered and saddened by the people I encounter. There is an overwhelming air of “What can you do for me?” Sadly, this is most apparent in the Christian. Trying to find authenticity or brothers and sisters who strive to reflect Christ to this world and to each other is like looking for a needle in a haystack as tall as the Empire State Building. The ones who are seeking to walk in this manner are out there I’m sure (and hope/pray), they’re just hiding amongst the bright lights, hipsters and Honky-tonk bars.

Oh, and that Kirk Franklin quote? It just ripped a whole in me… in a good way. Thanks, friend! :)

]]> Comment on hands up by Nutunfoto http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/hands-up/#comment-99 Nutunfoto Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:02:41 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-99 Great site this craigborlase.wordpress.com and I am really pleased to see you have what I am actually looking for here and this this post is exactly what I am interested in. I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor :) Great site this craigborlase.wordpress.com and I am really pleased to see you have what I am actually looking for here and this this post is exactly what I am interested in. I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor :)

]]> Comment on uganda, january 09 by Benzo http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/uganda/#comment-98 Benzo Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:33:45 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/?p=79#comment-98 Hi, Craig. This is a thought that has been bothering me about How Christians in the west are forever representing Africa, as that poor dark continent which must be rescued by the christians from the world. I don't think it's an wrong that people are trying to help out but how it has been so commercialised. Poor black, skinny kids on cd covers, christian organisation advertising themselves through their charitable deeds for Africa. Etc etc. I hate the way Christians represent third world countries, as if poverty is the only currency of our land. How authentic r these charity acts where people flx into our dark world to spend time with those poor people of God. Just a thought... Hi, Craig. This is a thought that has been bothering me about How Christians in the west are forever representing Africa, as that poor dark continent which must be rescued by the christians from the world. I don’t think it’s an wrong that people are trying to help out but how it has been so commercialised. Poor black, skinny kids on cd covers, christian organisation advertising themselves through their charitable deeds for Africa. Etc etc. I hate the way Christians represent third world countries, as if poverty is the only currency of our land. How authentic r these charity acts where people flx into our dark world to spend time with those poor people of God. Just a thought…

]]> Comment on hands up by Benzo http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/hands-up/#comment-97 Benzo Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:52:10 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-97 That's the kingdom. Beyond the exterior there is a greater hope. Cool blog. Nothing is written. That’s the kingdom. Beyond the exterior there is a greater hope. Cool blog. Nothing is written.

]]> Comment on hands up by Missy Logan http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/hands-up/#comment-96 Missy Logan Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:51:21 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-96 Reading this made tears fall out of my eyes. Reading this made tears fall out of my eyes.

]]> Comment on and I thought that bruce springsteen’s sliding crotch was impressive… by michael Courtney http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/and-i-thought-that-bruce-springsteens-sliding-crotch-was-impressive/#comment-95 michael Courtney Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:59:31 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/?p=102#comment-95 So why did your yorke meter move? As a yank who can't get enough of thom I must know. Oh and this is the michael with the excite.com email acct. I just changed it So why did your yorke meter move? As a yank who can’t get enough of thom I must know. Oh and this is the michael with the excite.com email acct. I just changed it

]]> Comment on hands up by KentB http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/hands-up/#comment-94 KentB Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:46:12 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-94 I'm reminded of the comments C S Lewis made upon his weekly attendance at his small local church (which he attended altogether for thirty years): "I disliked very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the great merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realised that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realise that you aren't fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit." (From "God in the Dock") I’m reminded of the comments C S Lewis made upon his weekly attendance at his small local church (which he attended altogether for thirty years): “I disliked very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the great merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realised that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realise that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.” (From “God in the Dock”)

]]> Comment on hands up by Mark http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/hands-up/#comment-91 Mark Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:20:58 +0000 http://craigborlase.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-91 Hi thanks for a great post. I'll be back :) Hi thanks for a great post. I’ll be back :)

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