Christopher000 wrote:
...There are plenty of good ones... I admire anyone who has the knowledge, patience, courage, and feels led to do it.

Jon wrote:
...There's a way to preach faithfully the Gospel but still convey compassion and love to the people you're preaching to

John UK wrote:
It's true to say that new testament evangelism produced generally one of two responses: conversion or aggression against the evangelist.

John UK wrote:
I sometimes wonder if I'm far too soft in mine own evangelism.

Christopher000 wrote:
...but it should never be done in an in your face way that's sure to cause conflict, or whatever.
Or, even turn people off to Christianity as I see so many street preachers, who most definitely weren't called to street preach, do. I've watched many, many videos of these, and the in your face approach, the screaming, and following people as they scream, "Sinner! Sinner! Sinner!", doesn't plant too many seeds, I'd say.

Here's a different approach:

George Whitefield - “You blame me for weeping, but how can I help it when you will not weep for yourselves, though your immortal souls are on the verge of destruction?”

Unprofitable Servant wrote:
In my thinking, my concern needs to be over my own prayers than that of the unregenerate at a secular event. I like the little poem attributed to John Burton
I often say my prayers
But do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart
Go with the words I say?
I may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone,
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.
For words without the heart
The Lord will never hear,
Nor will He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.
Lord teach me what I need,
And teach me how to pray;
Nor let me ask Thy grace,
Not feeling what I say.
I feel the need is greater that my own prayer life be more consistent and fervent than to be concerned about the so called prayers offered by those, who ladybug aptly pointed out, who know not God.
Lord, teach us to pray!

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

MS wrote:
A helpful site that has ' The Mountain Sanctuary' conventicling poem that you posted.
www.thereformation.info/bond.htm

Chris G P wrote:
Typo from previous comment. It should have read lectio divina, not lectionaries diving!!!

I think I get your point about saying that God is not male. In our experience, being male implies the need for a female. (Else, what good is being male?) Yet we cannot say of God that He has ever had need of anything. Also, If we call Him male (what we think of as male), might we tend to create a caricature of God in our own image - one that belies His otherness.

Having said that, however, it is best to let God reveal Himself to us in His word, and He has consistently used the masculine to do that.

Liberal "Christianity" chafes against God as He presents Himself in the scriptures. One of the ways they attempt to de-throne Him is by decrying the scriptures as "patriarchal." You may remember the [URL=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Re-Imagining_(Christian_feminist_conference)]]]"Re-Imagining Conference"[/URL] in which a bunch of [URL=https://juicyecumenism.com/2012/07/03/1254/]]]feminists came together[/URL] to worship the feminine side of God. Obviously, [URL=https://voicesofsophia.wordpress.com/what-is-feminist-theology/]]]Sophia worship[/URL] is extreme, but I think it is a big part of the consistent attack we see on the masculinity of God.

Mike wrote:
Agree, Rodney, masculine ref is about authority. Thanks to Frank and you for the heads up reminder. What do you say of the angels, who also are spirit beings, also masculine referenced?

Great question. I'm not sure that I had ever considered it. The Bible teaches that Jesus in His incarnation was made "a little lower than the angels". So mankind is lower than the angels; angels are greater than we are. So I see a hierarchy there...

We sure don't want to ascribe to angels the authority that belongs to God. But, angels (as God's messengers / representatives) speak with the authority of God Himself. Christians, as well, speak with the authority of God Himself when we speak Biblical truth.

John UK wrote:
Wow Rodney, thank you. What wonderful words. Reminds me of: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

SteveR wrote:
...ladybugs..

The hardening of Pharaoh's heart was a fulfillment of God's promise to Moses before Moses arrived in Egypt.

And from that lonely, rugged spot,
Ascended rich and rare,
The incense of the contrite heart -
The sacrifice of prayer.
And angels, from the heights of heaven,
Did look complacent down
On the honoured heads that soon should wear
The martyr’s glorious crown.

Dave wrote:
No, no Rodney, the confusion started when I was laying on my back looking up at the stars.
That's when NASA got the photo, they actually thought Ken ham was starting his life size replica of mt Ararat, but in the second photo they can see I've rolled onto my side and it was just me knuckle magnet of a nose in the photo not mt Ararat.

Mike wrote:
I need a donut. Send me one.