tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post116296274423120936..comments2024-02-21T02:23:35.584-08:00Comments on 2012: Honesty and RelationalityRyan Lee Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483142871305228497noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post-21369502274242871282006-12-11T05:52:00.000-08:002006-12-11T05:52:00.000-08:00Thanks for your authenticity, Ryan. I totally see...Thanks for your authenticity, Ryan. I totally see the Ted Haggard situation as a tragedy exposing our lack of the practice of confession in our communities. Thank you for reminding me of that today.<br /><br />Chris K.<br />www.progressivespirituality.comChris Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09781695327447650562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post-1163086623540856452006-11-09T07:37:00.000-08:002006-11-09T07:37:00.000-08:00i don't think i am saying anything new here, but i...i don't think i am saying anything new here, but i just wanted to say that i am a total advocate of professional help + community. when i was 15/16 my parents sent me to a counselor and i just sat and stared at him every $100+ session without talking because i thought "what the f*ck does this guy know about me?" at that point in my life i had no community whatsoever and thus a counselor alone was not the answer...sometimes however, a counselor can also guide someone to utilize the community around them. i know later in my life that a lot of people close to me who have great communities really got so much more from a counselor than they would have ever gotten just purely from the untrained community around them. real breakthroughs required both. but.... that being said anonymous phone calls and counselling are two different things... but for some an anonymous phone call confessional might be the first step to being vulnerable amongst the community that loves that person. just my two cents :)Emma https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618383038994191738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post-1163068611735245552006-11-09T02:36:00.000-08:002006-11-09T02:36:00.000-08:00Well spoke Brian. I'm not trying to go all Tom Cru...Well spoke Brian. I'm not trying to go all Tom Cruise here and say that we do not need professional help ever! I'm jus suggesting that there is something about really being known that is healing...and that a move to anonymity might just be a move further in the wrong direction. And I'm thinking from what you said that we're in agreeance there.<BR/><BR/>Thanks everyone for the thoughts thus far,<BR/>RyanRyan Lee Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04483142871305228497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post-1163055152965894182006-11-08T22:52:00.000-08:002006-11-08T22:52:00.000-08:00Ryan, appreciate your opinioin... (nice shot at Ma...Ryan, appreciate your opinioin... (nice shot at Master's too)! Though I hope you're not throwing the baby out with the bathwater (on counseling)... You went to your Witch Doctor because you wanted help/advice--yet you still stay engaged with your community (and they all give you thoughts too)... do you not think that same thing could be true with counseling. In no way is Mark Driscoll suggesting that you pay someone to be your friend, but how about going to a counselor (wether paid for or not) who has expertise in a specific area. This with the right community could really be help, don't you think? {Trying to work some Biola slam in here... can't really find the right avenue? dang it! :-) }Brian Aabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896291751052230252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post-1163019558920436042006-11-08T12:59:00.000-08:002006-11-08T12:59:00.000-08:00This post is unbelievably poignant, been thinking ...This post is unbelievably poignant, been thinking about a lot of this stuff lately.<BR/><BR/>Was actually in a seminar a few weeks back talking about abuse, and bad family practices, and heard a lot of saddening statistics of stuff going on in the church, like incest, and sexual abuse. And I have to wholeheartedly agree with you that we need to be open about these things. I mean church should be a place where people are free to share their struggles and find healing. But yeah community really excites me, I think is definately the key to starting the healing process for things like porn addictions. It is amazing how when people are completely honest in sharing that healing can come. I really think its what Jesus meant when he said confess your sins to each other.<BR/><BR/>I agree with the above, thanks for your complete honesty here, its inspiring!Kirstyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236001596536999218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post-1163004315813988022006-11-08T08:45:00.000-08:002006-11-08T08:45:00.000-08:00You know, I'll just go ahead and say it... I don't...You know, I'll just go ahead and say it... I don't know that "professional help" really is the answer. Certainly your Masters background will confirm this! :)<BR/><BR/>I think that we are healed in relationship. What's the joke about a shrink being a person who is paid to be your friend? And while it might be a step to take, certainly "professional help" should be no sort of end in the healing process. If necessary, it should prime people to be honest in real relationships. "Professional help" is not real relationship.<BR/><BR/>Of course, that's just my opinion... - RyanRyan Lee Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04483142871305228497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post-1162999950867241662006-11-08T07:32:00.000-08:002006-11-08T07:32:00.000-08:00Ryan, very intriguing post. You say some very tru...Ryan, very intriguing post. You say some very true (and unfortunate) things about pastors (and the "god's" people make them out to be--and they sometimes desire to be). <BR/>Read an interesting post from theresurgence.com (Mark Driscoll blog). I would hope we'd have some pastors that not only could be honest (like you have suggested, modeled), but that would take the next step as well. He writes:<BR/>"Any pastor who is drifting toward serious sexual sin should have the courage, love for God, devotion to his family, and respect for his church to simply fall on his sword and resign before he goes down in flames. He must get the professional help he needs without fear of losing his position as a pastor. It is much better to be an honest Christian than a wicked pastor."Brian Aabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896291751052230252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post-1162993973985027162006-11-08T05:52:00.000-08:002006-11-08T05:52:00.000-08:00beautiful post my friend. i am privilidged to be o...beautiful post my friend. i am privilidged to be on this journey with you. thanks for your words - they are inspiring.ashdownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04645904757557336896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593204.post-1162992422912935272006-11-08T05:27:00.000-08:002006-11-08T05:27:00.000-08:00This is a hell of a post, Ryan. Your honesty is p...This is a hell of a post, Ryan. Your honesty is pretty amazing, and it's a gift to your friends and readers. Keep running the race, and know that you're not alone. Thanks for letting all of us (with whatever our struggles) know we're not alone either.mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08080869629149026665noreply@blogger.com