tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post113188920049731361..comments2023-08-20T01:16:36.709-07:00Comments on Decompose: Conversion StoriesMike Duranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223354088258809968noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132518739252112272005-11-20T12:32:00.000-08:002005-11-20T12:32:00.000-08:00Thanks, Mike. Coming from a PK background, I had G...Thanks, Mike. Coming from a PK background, I had God pretty tidy for some time. Then God put me into a group of converted Hell's Angels, gays, prostitutes, druggies, and on, and on, and on. I never knew so much fun or cried so much with others. Just another reminder that God loves to mess with our hearts . . . and theologies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132323654256060522005-11-18T06:20:00.000-08:002005-11-18T06:20:00.000-08:00Kelly, that's like asking a survivor when she got ...Kelly, that's like asking a survivor when she got saved. Was it when she grabbed the last life vest before the boat sank? Was it when she hung on, refusing to surrender to the dark ocean, for days? Was it when the fishing boat just "happened" by? Was it when she was physically pulled out of the water? Or was it the months of physical and emotional recovery needed to get her land legs? Okay, so when was she saved? For me, the question isn't about dissecting a specific time, but affirming a specific condition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132322711595543622005-11-18T06:05:00.000-08:002005-11-18T06:05:00.000-08:00Heck, it took me five years to figure what side of...Heck, it took me five years to figure what side of the Calvinism / Arminianism debate I fell on - ha, ha. Define those lofty Bible school terms for me and I'll try to figure out where I am. <BR/><BR/>Okay Mike, without reading all the previous comments above, what do you do with someone who doesn't know when the actual conversion took place. Was it when I was 6 and said "the prayer"? As a teen when I wrestled with choices, or 7 years ago when I fell flat on my face and gave up "my rights"? <BR/><BR/>Thanks for the post - now I'll read the other comments, see what you stirred up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132154823432865512005-11-16T07:27:00.000-08:002005-11-16T07:27:00.000-08:00Well said, Mike. We have to remember God is able t...Well said, Mike. We have to remember God is able to meet the individual where that person needs to be met. Who are we to tell Him HOW He must do it? LOL I can just see it -- Ane, standing with a finger pointed at God's chest, "You can't do it that way -- it's just not proper!" Paul told us he was all things to all people so that he might win some. So goes it with conversions. Again, well put, Mike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132153605942570772005-11-16T07:06:00.000-08:002005-11-16T07:06:00.000-08:00Gina said: " You're story is excellent, Mike, and ...Gina said: " You're story is excellent, Mike, and so was this post."<BR/><BR/>I agree with Gina.<BR/><BR/>Other Mikemichael snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928294752314542520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132078042092310322005-11-15T10:07:00.000-08:002005-11-15T10:07:00.000-08:00Mike, Once again, such good stuff to think about. ...Mike, Once again, such good stuff to think about. You are sooo right. My husband Dave came to the Lord 2 years ago. He had NO religious background whatsoever and his only Bible knowledge came from Veggietale videos he watched with our daughters. We were having a terrible trial at the time and he just came to God saying, "Things haven't been going very well with me in charge. I think it's time to let the Big Guy take over." He didn't know how to pray and couldn't even tell you who Abraham was, but God changed his life. <BR/>Janet RubinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132059422197383572005-11-15T04:57:00.000-08:002005-11-15T04:57:00.000-08:00Hey Melody, you make it sound like a conversation ...Hey Melody, you make it sound like a conversation w/ Jacob is a chore. And I hope you're not suggesting all pot-smokers are simple-minded. I'll have you know, I read <I>High Times</I> from cover to cover back then.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132030537986737492005-11-14T20:55:00.000-08:002005-11-14T20:55:00.000-08:00I feel like I just had this conversation with Jaco...I feel like I just had this conversation with Jacob. I'm glad that God accepts the simple minded yet he is so complex. I'm glad the simple minded can have a relationship with God and know that he loves and forgives them too. If it wasn’t for this, then how would the pot smokers ever know Jesus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132018999763231272005-11-14T17:43:00.000-08:002005-11-14T17:43:00.000-08:00You're story is excellent, Mike, and so was this p...You're story is excellent, Mike, and so was this post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16151988844185350316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132013813630527672005-11-14T16:16:00.000-08:002005-11-14T16:16:00.000-08:00Excellent post. Thanks for taking the time to writ...Excellent post. Thanks for taking the time to write this.Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16106076315144936177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132005984062720962005-11-14T14:06:00.000-08:002005-11-14T14:06:00.000-08:00Ame, thanks for dropping by. (And you know I'm ble...Ame, thanks for dropping by. (And you know I'm blessed you do, Heather.) I'm glad to see you've thrown away your theological shoehorns. The road is already "narrow." We needn't make it moreso with our checklists. For me, I'm in the kids camp.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132003742358476202005-11-14T13:29:00.000-08:002005-11-14T13:29:00.000-08:00Very, very nice. And, when did God ever define Hi...Very, very nice. And, when did God ever define Himself or His love as "conventional?" I am sure your conversion story epitomizes why Jesus came - He came for the brokenhearted, for those chained by whatevers . . . I love the unconventionality, undefinability, of God. Thanks for sharing your brief "testimony;" it reveals the depth and intimacy your were able to express in your fif short story.Amehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14358641966141610513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14752420.post-1132001350835281782005-11-14T12:49:00.000-08:002005-11-14T12:49:00.000-08:00Mike, I agree with this. We can debate doctrine al...Mike, <BR/>I agree with this. We can debate doctrine all day, but in the end the only thing that really matters is if you believe in Jesus as Savior. When the Philippian jailor asked Paul what he needed to do to be saved, Paul didn't give him a jumbled sermon about do's and don'ts. Paul simply told the man to believe. It seems too easy. Guess that's why a child can understand it so easily while grown-ups work to make it difficult. Great reminder, Mike!<BR/>HeatherHeather Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018641352722945047noreply@blogger.com