Comments on: Building Bridges and Baring Souls

By: 31 Days to Why Church? - Narrow Paths to Higher Places

31 Days to Why Church? - Narrow Paths to Higher Places — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 07:23:18 +0000

[...] Day 19, 20, 21, 22: Building Bridges and Baring Souls (a super long multi-post) [...]

By: Alia Joy

Alia Joy — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:48:08 +0000

Yes, you’ve done it well Emily. Prayed hard for you this week, because I see that you love well and I think you can have a voice and beliefs and still do it. We just need to lean hard into God to navigate that path. So blessed by your gift with words and the heart that is consistently behind them.

By: Alia Joy

Alia Joy — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:46:22 +0000

Thanks Tonya. Canada’s not too far from Oregon, right?

By: Alia Joy

Alia Joy — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:45:53 +0000

Thanks Amy. I’m still chewing on it all and wondering how things might look different around here in my writing and my blog.

By: Alia Joy

Alia Joy — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:45:06 +0000

Last year I didn’t go and there was a freak snow storm and 10″ of snow, this year there was the Hurricane. Next year? A pestilence perhaps or plague of some sort. Even so, God willing, I will definitely be there next year and how cool would it be to finally meet in real life?

Thanks for your encouragement. I think we all struggle and I know there is a time to stand up for what I hold true. But I guess that the way I do it and the fact that I shy away from relationship with those that aren’t really like minded tells me something about how I view God’s grace and love. And it’s not a good thing. I’m trying to be more intentional about releasing those fears and judgements by God’s power.

By: Alia Joy

Alia Joy — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:41:43 +0000

Ann’s message really hit deep because like you, I have wrestled with that. How? What if? And when she spoke her message of grace, it was like she was speaking directly to me. I know I’ve cared more about likes or followers or people’s ideas about what I believe/don’t believe than I have about really loving the people beyond the issues.

I’m home now and appreciate all the love and prayers from afar.

By: Alia Joy

Alia Joy — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:38:44 +0000

I could cry right along with you Laura. It’s amazing how much fear can control our words and actions. How we wrestle with “not associating with bad company,” and showing grace and love to everyone. It’s just so yucky isn’t it? I felt the same when I read your post on politics recently. And I’ve congratulated myself on never really jumping into the messy fray of Politics and judgements but just because I don’t engage or attack doesn’t mean I”m not at fault because I haven’t really reached out to bridge the gap either. I swear I wish I could hibernate during the election years, our faith does such ugly things sometimes.

Thanks for your encouragement here. I am right there with you and I look forward to reading your post should you feel pushed enough.;)

By: imperfect prose

imperfect prose — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 02:16:36 +0000

oh girl. as you know, it’s been a long week for me… challenging, because i’m a people pleaser and i, too, am learning to step out of the ring. thank you for this. love you.

By: Tonya Salomons

Tonya Salomons — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:41:11 +0000

Oh friend… I love you! This honesty, this writing from a place of uncertainty and vulnerability – this is is what leads to the “knee bending grace” – you are a gift and If my arms could stretch all the way from Canada I would hug your neck friend.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:52:08 +0000

Thank you for this post. I think you really put your finger right on thoughts many of us have had. Appreciate your transparency.