tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post8158006318159816667..comments2024-01-11T10:58:30.769-05:00Comments on Jesus community: to know and be knownTed M. Gossardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-32661578860049007182006-12-28T06:19:00.000-05:002006-12-28T06:19:00.000-05:00John, Such a great thought. Yes. Makes all the sen...John, Such a great thought. Yes. Makes all the sense in the world.<br /><br />I'm much of the time more than willing to open my (what can be, a big) mouth. But I have to keep working at being a good listener so others can do the same. And I think God is helping me in that way. There needs to be that "give and take", I think, for the intimacy in conversation that is needed, to occur.<br /><br />Thanks.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-23854899736441615092006-12-28T06:13:00.000-05:002006-12-28T06:13:00.000-05:00Mark, I like your thoughts here. The group can hel...Mark, I like your thoughts here. The group can help draw us out of ourselves in unhealthy ways, into a healthy and real expression of our true selves. But this requires the willingness on our part to do so.<br /><br />I think it's important to emphasize confidentiality and have a safe place, in which vulnerability is modeled. And I think from that can come the intimacy we really need before God with each other.<br /><br />Thanks.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-12723774051252150712006-12-27T15:00:00.000-05:002006-12-27T15:00:00.000-05:00Ted,
What came to mind when I read your post was t...Ted,<br />What came to mind when I read your post was the semantic tie between "communion" and "communication"--the communi--tie. Knowing can be expressed in intimate physical bonding, but also in bonding of the spirit through speech. As we speak openly (the vulnerability that Mark speaks of in his comment above) we get to know others at a deep, life-satisfying level. Exchanging thoughts through speech is an intimate act.John Fryehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02575709757912510374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-29219893342002343912006-12-27T10:25:00.000-05:002006-12-27T10:25:00.000-05:00Here's my response:
Intimacy demands vulnerabilit...Here's my response:<br /><br />Intimacy demands vulnerability. <br /><br />I've been talking with a small-group guru in San Antonio recently. He said vulnerability and intimacy also require community. I need others to make me vulnerable, to cut through my nonsense and call me to show my cards. When I show my cards, we have a chance to pursue honest intimacy.<br /><br />But, man, it's hard to show my cards. Because I know my bluff doesn't match what is really in my hand.<br /><br />To be intimate, I have to find someone I can trust to know me and still love me. That's hard. Really hard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com