tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post7175931481928570155..comments2024-03-15T07:24:22.608+00:00Comments on Life on Wings - A Tribute to Dr Ern Baxter: Grace demands Radical Change ... !!Dan Bowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15661120561123767936noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-80587556331181921632009-01-27T17:51:00.000+00:002009-01-27T17:51:00.000+00:00Thanks for the read and the comment, Dan.As for yo...Thanks for the read and the comment, Dan.<BR/><BR/>As for your post- Ian is right! After the first time I publicly shared my struggle, I began experiencing more victory (granted, to experience victory, you have to face a temptation...)<BR/><BR/>But, Jesus used that same verse to encourage me- "My strength is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in your weakness." <BR/><BR/>:) Yay God- and may He bring you deeper into the beauty of freedom.<BR/><BR/>Blessings.Jennie Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14548644349631062557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-69103504036408004802009-01-18T10:47:00.000+00:002009-01-18T10:47:00.000+00:00Thank you Ian!! So great of you to leave a messag...Thank you Ian!! So great of you to leave a message - I must agree with you, I haven't seen the full fruit yet but get this distinct "sense" that God's got something in the air and something going on. Just a daily thrill!!Dan Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661120561123767936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-21734572942832769322009-01-17T19:09:00.000+00:002009-01-17T19:09:00.000+00:00Not much to add to what others have said, except t...Not much to add to what others have said, except to congratulate you on your honesty and courage. I believe this will be a pivotal moment for you in your life.Ian McNaughthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06766238870170621268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-4727234207259901122009-01-15T23:30:00.000+00:002009-01-15T23:30:00.000+00:00Ahhh Dan! We will meet soon I'm sure. I'm not mu...Ahhh Dan! We will meet soon I'm sure. I'm not much of an example...but I am loved!!!! lolUrsulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355792029205612109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-12623329247572821672009-01-15T22:03:00.000+00:002009-01-15T22:03:00.000+00:00Awww wow Ursula! Your visits and your comments al...Awww wow Ursula! Your visits and your comments always unlock such a prophetic burden whenever you come by!! I am so honoured and so amazed by your grace and your kindness and your warmth and your welcome!! We'll meet soon I know it, and I can't wait to learn about our Father from your example - I love reading your blog and come by regularly and will look forward to that post. I think fear is a key thing and something that must be broken. Brave and free!! Now THAT is a label that I WILL accept over my life!! Yayy!!<BR/><BR/>James - yere I saw that article too, like you say, while we can appreciate the guy's sincerity, I have been down that road of accountability. And it just doesn't work. I was accountable to a flatmate while I was at university - so we lived together and saw each other EVERY day!! And yet I still managed to find ways to sin and fall if I wanted. And convince my accountability partner that there was a valid reason. Only grace and a changed heart will do it!Dan Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661120561123767936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-64064216330073157322009-01-15T21:49:00.000+00:002009-01-15T21:49:00.000+00:00Dan. Brave one. Thats my prophetic name for you....Dan. Brave one. Thats my prophetic name for you...has been for a while. Brave one. That was an incredibly brave and beautiful post. I'm crying. I'm not other side of the pond...I'm on the same land mass, and I want you to know...I'll have lunch or dinner or whatever with you anytime. You are a blessing, and are washed white as snow. And you know, I'm with you on this. Isi and I have the same heart, I long and love sitting with the prostitutes, the homosexuals, the unlovely, the mentally disturbed, the druggies and the alcoholics...because I know my Jesus sets free. Not me and my rules and legalism, my Jesus. Only Him. And the fire in His eyes will consume them and burn them up for Him and Him alone. New creations will be born. I've prompted to write about Fear today on my blog, mostly because, well you reminded me of what God had showed me about fear...I'd be honoured if you would come by for a visit...and maybe you can relate. Blessings on you Brave One. The Brave and the Free!!!Ursulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355792029205612109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-16289502578135852232009-01-15T15:30:00.000+00:002009-01-15T15:30:00.000+00:00Interesting post - I've just read in the latest co...Interesting post - I've just read in the latest copy of "Evangelicals Now" about a young man who wrote an article called "Addicted to porn?" - although encouraging that the evangelical world is welcoming articles about these so-called "taboo" subjects as you rightly identified - on the other hand, a reading of the article is somewhat frustrating.<BR/><BR/>You can applaud the writer's sincerity. But he looks to "tools" like something called "www.covenanteyes.com" which is essentially a programme to send the list of sights you have visited to your accountability partners.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure many desperate to be free could access that and find it useful but is it the best thing to use something that works essentially by fear? Fear that if you do visit that "naughty" site then you will have your accountability partners on the phone? Fear of an uncomfortable discussion?<BR/><BR/>I am sure that any computer literate person could find a way to skirt round these "filters" if they really wanted to.<BR/><BR/>I am interested that you don't mention any legalistic "accountability groups" but talk more about the grace of God setting you free.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-70317264957350829662009-01-14T19:12:00.000+00:002009-01-14T19:12:00.000+00:00Woww .... the lovely, supportive comments keep com...Woww .... the lovely, supportive comments keep coming. I am so so grateful and don't deserve you guys as friends - even though we haven't met as Jon said!<BR/><BR/>Janelle, thanks so much - as you say, we may disagree on some stuff, but there's so so much more we DO agree on that far outweighs that! And what's fab is that we all share on heart to reach the lost, broken and hurting.<BR/><BR/>Thanks Jon - so blessed to read all your encouragements!! :) and I am honoured that we could by God's providence "meet" and hopefully go on much more to talk about things that will advance the Kingdom!!<BR/><BR/>Hey Maddy - great to hear from you and welcome, I am so grateful for you leaving a comment and glad it's of some use!! <BR/><BR/>And Chris, of course I would be delighted to accept you as a friend on Facebook! Have you got my email address to find me? Send it to CharismaticDan@yahoo.com. Although I say I am a "reluctant" user, I am on it every now and then!!Dan Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661120561123767936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-58409997125750249402009-01-14T08:49:00.000+00:002009-01-14T08:49:00.000+00:00Dan,I'd consider it an honour if you'd accept me a...Dan,<BR/>I'd consider it an honour if you'd accept me as a friend on Facebook....also that you'd be less reticent about replying...speaking as one terribly flawed individual being fixed up to a very honest one.Chris Welch - 07000INTUNEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17932291173536070080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-90576966410970035732009-01-13T16:46:00.000+00:002009-01-13T16:46:00.000+00:00Thanks for this. Thanks. Thanks. You don't know me...Thanks for this. Thanks. Thanks. You don't know me but I found your blog some time ago as I was looking for stuff about Rob Rufus. I love your blog because it is human and real(Hope this makes sense) unlike alot of christian blogs that may be sound but are dull and lifeless. Your blog communicates your passion and relationship with God. I am looking forward to a day when the church is able to show grace to all people.<BR/><BR/>Love MaddyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-85328980569106203582009-01-12T13:04:00.000+00:002009-01-12T13:04:00.000+00:00Dan, friend and brother, though we've never met.Th...Dan, friend and brother, though we've never met.<BR/><BR/>That a leader would seek to disfellowship you on the basis of a "feeling" is nothing short of scandalous. That other leaders in the church would condone and even support it such that you were booted out is saddening. That the name of the church has "Grace" in it, angers me!!<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing what is likely to offend some. Thank you for modelling such dependence on the grace of God in your life. Quite apart from the main challenge to overcome the bigotry so often applied in the name of the gospel, Heterosexuals can learn from you about this dependence on God's grace. It is this dependence and walking in grace and the Spirit that will allow them to stand when tempted to the many other sexual sins described in the Bible that are relevant to people inclined to heterosexuality!! I know I'll be learning that from you!<BR/><BR/>I love that you are seeking your identity in the truth of who you are in Christ, and not in the world's terms!<BR/><BR/>Finally, it's fantastic that you are not hiding in safe places for fear of temptation, but you are forging ahead in God's call. I believe that God is going to use you as a provocation to the church that retreats into ghettos because the world is a scary place. Keep on letting Him do that!!<BR/><BR/>Keep on bro!!Jon Sidnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11334532421779474096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-23315733768941618702009-01-12T05:10:00.000+00:002009-01-12T05:10:00.000+00:00The title alone of this post is amazing, let alone...The title alone of this post is amazing, let alone the actual thing! Dan, "perfect love casts out fear." I stand and applaud your courage.<BR/><BR/>Sadly, I agree that the church, in my own words, tends to "freak out" when it comes to reaching homosexuals. I think gender related issues is the main way that Satan is deceiving this generation, particularly the acceptance that homosexual activity and even marriage is now acceptable. Does that mean that we ignore them? I think Jesus would be the first to invite them into his home. I completely agree with you.<BR/><BR/>I respect you in so many ways. This post deepens that. We have our differences:-D, but we both believe that the Gospel transforms lives. Live in the good of that, my friend!janellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03562513623973041847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-38436521659295996142009-01-11T18:12:00.000+00:002009-01-11T18:12:00.000+00:00Message for Don:Some time back you were talking ab...Message for Don:<BR/>Some time back you were talking about the funniest thing you ever saw were Rockhopper penguins walking. Well we saw them...but you kind of disappeared.<BR/>And you're right . They are hilarious. Second only to a camel eatingChris Welch - 07000INTUNEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17932291173536070080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-41848027452904032982009-01-11T09:00:00.000+00:002009-01-11T09:00:00.000+00:00Wow!! I wasn't expecting all that!! You guys mad...Wow!! I wasn't expecting all that!! You guys made me cry! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you for your love and your unconditional acceptance ... I can't tell you what it means!! Particularly as each and every one of you, I haven't met in person! So you haven't seen how well I "act" the religious mask!<BR/><BR/>I guess when we all meet, and I know we will - I will just have to be "me"!!<BR/><BR/>Chris - I loved what you wrote, and your point is an amazingly valid one. I always felt some kind of "call" to the ministry but I knew with these "skeletons in my closet" that there is no way on earth I ever would - because as you say, it's just not on. Even the awesome Newfrontiers pretty much expect you to be married with a couple of cute kids!<BR/><BR/>But you know what - I am starting to realise that God's forging out a plan whether it's "official" ministry or not. And I don't particularly care anymore. I just want to be used!! With flaws and all!<BR/><BR/>R.J.W - hi and welcome and be assured your comments are VERY welcome!! I'm not sure if we have talked much but I love reading your comments on Julie and Lydia's blogs and appreciate your passion for grace IMMENSELY! Thank you - especially this point;<BR/><BR/>"We are righteous because we are in the ONE WHO IS RIGHTEOUS!!".<BR/><BR/>Wow!! Yes!!<BR/><BR/>Aww and Sheila, you are like my adopted mum/older sister (as per Julie and Lydia!!). I am soo blessed! I've got an extended family!! Thanks for your love, and for your acceptance - even if you did "suspect"! Again, I know that we will meet soon - money permitting!! And I can't wait!!<BR/><BR/>I texted Pete on the way back from work, and I said I think today is the first day that I have been truly free from a fear of "exposure" - that someone who knows a bit too much information will decide to tell all, "for prayer". That fear has gone, and I really do feel so loved and blessed! Thank you to all who commented and to all who have read.Dan Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661120561123767936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-75497473848673421432009-01-11T04:00:00.000+00:002009-01-11T04:00:00.000+00:00Dan...The Lord has set His love on you. That's fi...Dan...The Lord has set His love on you. That's final.<BR/><BR/>By far, no one cares here what "I" have to say. I don't pretend that anyone does...here, I am NOT "the pastor's wife", and I sort of LIKE the anonyminity.<BR/><BR/>But the Father's heart is towards you. <BR/><BR/>I will say this: I have known somehow, for over two years. Certainly, I didn't know details, didn't know a THING in the natural. The details are heartbreaking...I'm so sorry for what you have been through. But I've always known. You don't need confirmation...you probably believe me. But you can ask my husband, if you like. (I realize the internet is full of crazies...and since there is no way for you to know whether I am "one of those" or not, I'm not afraid of anyone verifying who I am or what I say...)<BR/><BR/>I told him what I felt was going on with you, back in 2006. It has not stopped me from reading your blog, receiving from you, or caring about you. (Can it be that long, that I've been "visiting" your blog?) <BR/><BR/>Only very recently (maybe two weeks ago?) during Christmas break, I, by chance, on a blog-lark, ran across something, somewhere, that you wrote that may have given me some obvious indication of your struggle. I don't even remember the details, to be honest. (I say that in the interests of total honesty and full disclosure - recently I DID read something that vaguely confirmed what I had sensed for a couple of years...) <BR/><BR/>Please forgive me, if it sounds like I am being superior or hyper-spiritual. The only reason I am letting you know that I knew it already, is so that you will know that each of the few times I've shared with you what I felt to be a prophetic word, or simply an encouraging word...it was with knowlege, by the spirit, of "where you are at". <BR/><BR/>I "get" grace. I'm a receiver of it. Some people "believe" in grace, others DEPEND on it. I assure you, I am one who depends on grace. If one whit of this Christian life depended on my performance, well...I'd quit tonight. Pure and simple. Because MY OWN NEEDS are too great, my own struggles are so difficult - much less serving and leading God's people to see Him in the midst of their needs and devastating experiences.<BR/><BR/>I also believe in freedom. I've been set free in all ways a person can be: instantly and supernaturally, and also progressively and painfully. Someday I'll share more of my stories. However it comes, salvation is from the Lord. FREEDOM is a God-thing, and I know it is more than a mind-set, more than a theology, more than a dream. You will walk free of every lie, and be delivered from every scheme of the enemy.<BR/><BR/>It seems trite and silly to say, on a blog, "You are loved." I'm here, you are across the pond. Who am I anyway? What could I possibly do for you? What skin is it off my....nose...(sorry - in my house, we *actually* say "butt")...to say "you are loved"? I know the words might mean nothing at all to you. <BR/><BR/>So, if you ever fly across the pond, I'll be here, dear one. You are *still* welcome to visit, as you have always been. You'll be treated with the southern hospitality that we North Carolinians and Tennesseeans are famous for. (Just had to include my dear Jamie in this - since she hails from NC) I'll hug your neck and you'll probably see me cry for you just a little - because I will want so much to just be able to erase your heartbreak.<BR/><BR/>We'll also laugh our heads off, enjoy the Lord's presence, and have some soul-nourishing conversation...honest and safe dialogue. A blog comment could never convey who I really am, nor could it convince you of the fact that I am not at all "off put" by your story.<BR/><BR/>Grace and Peace - truly. You are loved.Sheila Atchleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08989452938845114084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-64375557001394529552009-01-10T23:37:00.000+00:002009-01-10T23:37:00.000+00:00Well, gee, you don't know me and may not welcome m...Well, gee, you don't know me and may not welcome my comments but here goes:<BR/><BR/>God loves you and me and everyone else regardless of our performance, sexual orientation, or whatever. Heaven won't be populated by liars, homosexuals, or adulterers, etc. Heaven will be filled with people who accepted God's Grace and were made NEW CREATIONS! The cross was not about "cleaning up our act"; it was about giving LIFE to us instead of death. You are not your flesh or what you do!!! You are Christ made flesh again. If the ticket to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb is the perfection of our flesh, we're in a mess!! We are righteous because we are in the ONE WHO IS RIGHTEOUS!!<BR/><BR/>Please show me the person who has so grasped who we are in Christ that they don't miss the mark of their new nature. Please tell me how that affects how God sees them. It is not recognition of our shortcomings that transforms us but recognition of His Life in us.<BR/><BR/>Do you think God grades sin on a sliding scale?? Ummm, no! Any act of independence, anything less than walking according to the Spirit is sin. And Grace ABOUNDS! And Grace loves us to the living of a life so in union with Christ that our flesh is defined by His Spirit. But God does not, nor should we, regard ourselves AFTER THE FLESH.<BR/><BR/>You are loved. You are righteous. You are holy. Let who you are in God's sight define how you live. Live loved.<BR/><BR/>Grace to you in Christ.Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376340819465748862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-48050318451483113892009-01-10T22:55:00.000+00:002009-01-10T22:55:00.000+00:00make that "may THE LORD return to you what the loc...make that "may THE LORD return to you what the locusts have eaten" <BR/><BR/>Love what you shared Chris, you must have been typing while I was - I agree it's all about knowing, truly knowing that it's "Christ in us, the hope of glory" - we carry His very life with us, we are one, this is becoming more and more real to me all the time............we can't live the life, but He can!!lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495924200222561417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-34013680452002771872009-01-10T22:47:00.000+00:002009-01-10T22:47:00.000+00:00Dan, little brother of my heart (I think I can say...Dan, little brother of my heart (I think I can say that because I do believe you are a wee bit younger than me) - I too am proud of you! And ditto to what Jul said. I will publicly say I am sorry for all that you went through at the hands of the church! I am so grateful and hopeful, because he is turning your ashes into beauty. He is burning you beautiful and has indeed made you complete in Him - You have the Shalom of God, nothing missing nothing broken!! He will use you for good and already has through your testimony!! <BR/><BR/>It is indeed time for the church at large to see that the strength of sin is the law, and to stop putting the law on God's precious children. It is time for the church to stop regarding one another after the flesh. We look to the unseen - not the seen! We have been made perfect forever in HIM!! It is time for the church to SEE JESUS for who He really is - unconditional, pure unadulterated love, kindness, mercy and goodness and full of compassion and grace!!! He is more than enough!!<BR/><BR/>You indeed are loved! As are those you long to reach, who struggle with their "true" identity!! May you be richly blessed for you boldness and may return to you what the locusts have eaten in great measures!! <BR/><BR/>Yes I will say it (and not just for Julie's sake, haha) - I do love you! Thanks to his lavish love for me first!!lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495924200222561417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-71221937370054020772009-01-10T22:41:00.000+00:002009-01-10T22:41:00.000+00:00I'd got most of your story... I guess reading betw...I'd got most of your story... I guess reading between the lines...I was just hoping that you weren't currently in any relationships on the sly. One of the giveaways apart from Will and Grace and Mama Mia...was this...I know my own life...and I knew the fact that the grace of God was on you so strongly for some inexpressed reason....there had to be something you weren't saying in the blog, and I just guessed that that was it. In my own life I have been driven up the wall by the things I've allowed to control me. D'you know, in some senses they are worse than homosexuality....not peadophilia or murder or something...but there's no way people will read about the third level if I make them public....yet folks...these are the sort of crisises that cause you to crash into the third level. You have to find an answer, an inner answer...and fast...you cannot hang around in charismatic churches waiting for a Che Ahn who may or may not turn up. Like the crippled man at Bethesda, you leave the side of the pool...the charismatic portico...and you have dealings direct with the Living Christ...who says in effect...do you want to hang around the praise meetings waiting til my Presence comes...or do you want Me, Myself, NOW! I actually feel Maurice Smith had it easy...because he can write about his depression and crisis of confidence. It is still pretty respectable. What do you do where you cannot even mention what you have...because there is no leader anywhere that can handle it. And sadly this is still largely true with homosexuality too.<BR/>My authority in Christ comes from what God has written on my insides to more than counteract any problems. I still fall..though not in the same way. I'm out of my nightmare. I've found a Jesus that lives in me outside of meetings. And I don't mean that sentence in the same way that a new believer says it. I said the same thing after I was converted. I mean the Third level works...and my heart's cry is to join with any mature Christians to by the Spirit co-work with God to get as many secretly suffering charismatics out of their pain as quickly as possible....to learning this trick of Christ in them as them...as Norman and his crowd taught me...but never within a Baptised in the Spirit context.Great post, to say the least. Great post doesn't really cut it.Chris Welch - 07000INTUNEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17932291173536070080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13792024.post-28986912564590288302009-01-10T22:11:00.000+00:002009-01-10T22:11:00.000+00:00And so knowing how perfectly God loves you is cast...And so knowing how perfectly God loves you is casting out fear! Me too. <BR/><BR/>I am so proud of you for writing this! You are an amazing man of God, a man after his own heart. What a gift you are to the church, a what a shame some have been foolish enough not to see it. <BR/><BR/>Love ya (as Lydia would say, and probably will haha)!!!julhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15688008902332240637noreply@blogger.com