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Copyright © 2006
by Faithnet, Inc.
The Faithnetworker Newsletter
Vol. 2. No. 9, Novemenber 4, 2001
http://www.faithnet.org
Are "Christian" Chat Rooms Really Christian?

For nearly two years, Trevor Turner has managed a voice-activated discussion group session each Tuesday evening called Faithnet Fellowship.  Originally, Faithnet Fellowship was held on Firetalk and when Firetalk merged with Paltalk, it has continued there.  Paltalk has about forty discussion groups nightly in the category, "Christianity."

What has been surprising are the stories of participants who tell how they have been treated on "Christian" discussion groups.  One woman indicated she had been booted because her voice sounded like that of a teenager.  She tried to explain that a childhood illness had left her with the high-pitched voice and that, in fact, she was 44 years old.  Another, had a speech impediment.  But, the most baffling tales of rejection come from those who seem to be truly searching and have serious questions about Christian concepts.  It is a challenge to understand the frame of reference and the negative influences which now affect their faith structure.

Trevor's approach is not to convey a "holier than thou" attitude or to correct one's viewpoint.  Instead, he gives one an opportunity to share one's thoughts and feelings and, with the help of others in the group, convey that Christ is with them on whatever path they are traveling.  Just as the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus' walk on the road to Emmaus, as long as the search is sincere, at the appropriate time, Jesus will reveal Himself to them. It can truly be a redemptive experience for the individual involved and members of the group!

Giving Thanks

Cool Scripture Cite

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1)

Hot Internet Site

With the Thanksgiving holidays just around the corner, it is none too soon to begin our contemplations of God's blessings. Our Hot Internet Site for this issue is a home-grown web page produced by Georgia Sawhook, Fairfield, Ohio, as part of the Pastor's Wives Web Ring. Georgia's theme is thanksgiving and contains many related Scripture passages and prayers.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/5892/Thanks.html

What to Do with Grace?
Mark Sibley Jones

One of the most challenging concepts of the Gospel for me is grace. What is grace, anyway?

I used to think of grace in warm, fuzzy terms. Soft, sweet, kind . . . comfortable. It is so nice to think of being accepted by God regardless of who I am or what I do.

Grace challenges my "comfortable" view of God, however. My comfort zone, alas, is more about feeling good about the good I do. I'm a good guy, after all, and I try to do good.

Even a cursory reading of Romans will dispel this warm, fuzzy notion of grace. God's acceptance, Paul maintains, has nothing whatsoever to do with my goodness--and all to do with God's love.

The challenge, then, becomes one of "accepting the acceptance." A thousand protests arise in my thoughts. "But, what about my goodness?" "But, what about how much better I am than those evil people . . ." And so on, ad but infinitum.

Grace responds, "it doesn't matter." The playing field of God is perfectly level. The truth is (gasp) that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Grace makes short work of my self-righteousness and leaves me with two competing reactions. One, my own personal Hallelujah Chorus. The other, the searing pain of having my comfortable smug rug pulled out from under me.

So, what to do with grace? The New Testament writers encouraged us to give it back to God. Their word for grace was charis, and their word for thanksgiving, eucharisteo--returning grace for grace.

For me, gratitude is the ticket. The more I get into gratefulness, the more I can celebrate the gift that grace is.