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I have the intellectual curiosity to tackle some of those theological questions in the abstract, but not necessarily the stomach to battle determinedly for one position over another.

To me right now it is more important to learn to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in my daily life, and know what that means and feels like in the nitty gritty of the daily grind. Winning an intellectual battle at the cost of losing my peace of mind would be a hollow victory indeed....

Well put RWRF.... If I may ramble a bit, I think your have put it closer to what I have wanted to express but have not been able to put into words before.

Your post clarifies what feels so foul to me about the relgious debate on FR... I personally have more questions than answers, but I know what feels fair, and I know what feels foul. The nastiness over there does not speak well to convince me I need to be more doctrinal.

I feel very spiritual, but not very doctrinal right now. I have been more devout in the past than I am now, and yet less Christian in my behavior. Righteous and judgmental, but less Christian. I just don't think there is anyone alive who really knows... Those that claim to and get angry at any question lose their credibility with me. Like my friend who is willing to argue to the point of anger with me while I tend my bleeding horse, that God is trying to send me a message by tripping my horse on the trail. She not only believes that God has a message in everything, she believes she personally understands the message fully. I actually stood in the middle of the trail and yelled at her "If God is trying to reach me, then he should know me well enough to not pick on my horse! - I love this horse, and right now, he needs help, now stop it!". They, like my wacked out friend, seem to suck the joy right out of it for me... and that is too bad, because it would be nice to discuss the questions.

It is all in the abstract, and I trust my gut more than those folk. And when I hear some of them, my gut twists into a knot. And not because I think they have got me.... because I think they have not got it at all.

I liked reading your thoughts Hair. Let me apologize for any of my brothers or sisters in Christ who have been overly zealous in their approach to you.

I think some of us just like the taste of shoe leather so much that we enjoy sticking our feet in our mouths.

If you ever do have questions about the faith so many of us share please feel free to ask any of us more vocal Hobbiteers either here or via FReepmail. I know I would enjoy trying to answer as best I can. ;^)

I was gone when you and Bay had your accident. How is he doing?

They, like my wacked out friend, seem to suck the joy right out of it for me... and that is too bad, because it would be nice to discuss the questions.

Thanks for your response....the older I get, the less dogmatic I am becoming. I've been through overly zealous phases like your "wacked out friend". All I can say is, that with any luck she will grow out of it, (but sometimes they don't). For the time being, just try to see it as her way of saying she cares about you. Just nod, smile, and say "thanks for being concerned".

For me the following verse speaks to the kind of heart that the Lord wants us to have:

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness and self control. Against such there is no law.--- don't know the reference offhand...

See, I'm not really a fanatic at all, am I?