Jonathan Paul Music - Latest Comments

Re: Ten Pages From My Journal Today

jonathanpaul — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:36:30 -0000

Thanks for taking the time to read and give me some feedback/encouragement, Audra! You rock!!

Re: Ten Pages From My Journal Today

audrakrell — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:24:40 -0000

Good stuff J! I like the one you grayed out here at the bottom about the moms rocking cradle, shaking while they tried to stand still. I also love all the parts where you talk about the person "telling you everything, not leaving anything out, telling you their own stories." Those lines are very powerful to me and make me want to keep reading!

Re: Rollerblading the Burke Gilman Trail!

Angela — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:33:01 -0000

How far does this trail extend??
What part of Seattle?
Are there other roller blading trails in on or near this area?

Re: Heroes - Watercooler Wednesdays

Guest — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:03:37 -0000

Interesting post. I have stumbled and twittered this for my friends. Hope others find it as interesting as I did.

Re: Little Jason

jonathanpaul — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 05:17:11 -0000

Thanks, ladies! And yes, Sarah, I did take these pics. And wow, little Jason is growing fast... You should see him now!

Re: Little Jason

Sarah — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:26:17 -0000

Did you take these photos Jonathan? I can't believe I haven't seen these yet. I knew Jason had his baby and saw other picture,s but these are great- he is a really cute baby! I love that gummy smile. Kids are precious.

Re: How do you connect to God?

Erik — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:22:40 -0000

Yes, you betcha very muchy! I've been thinking a lot about this sort of thing lately. Many practical theological problems we struggle with are solved by taking it from the angle of relationship rather than religious system. If God is real, why do we treat him like a rule book? A rule book, whether in terms of a self-help book or a morality tome, however insightful, ought not to replace knowing someone. For example, Paul talks about the famous tension between works and faith in Romans. Why are we so mixed up at times to think, well if God made me this way (sinful) then who can resist God? I should just be bad then. He'll forgive me, right? Would that really make sense in the context of a relationship to someone rescuing us from that sin? Would we poke a lion in the nose who had refused to eat us? It simplifies so many things when we approach God humbly and through his offered hand of forever-mercy and friendship. Mark Driscoll, a pastor I listen to often these days, puts it this way: If he asked his wife, in an intimate moment, "Honey, would you forgive me if I committed adultery?" And she gracefully says, "Yes, I would." Would it make any sense whatsoever that he would answer, "Great! See ya back at the breakfast table tomorrow"? Relationship not only helps us understand the study of who God is, but it is essential to it.

On the note of intercessors, I'd only add that God chose intercessors (probably as a shadow of the reality found in Christ, the ultimate intercessor) to give his words to the people to express his holiness and our lack thereof (at least that would be a big reason). I had forgotten that God invited the whole group up the mountain (I'd have to look at it again to comment better), but I think he also had a purpose in choosing special prophets after Moses rather than making the relationship directly open to everyone. So in some ways, it has changed but yet remains since Christ is our way to meet the Father (so we pray in Jesus' name). If someone has a problem with that, not realizing that they themselves view truth as exclusive, point out that, sure, there are many many paths to heaven, but all of those lead to the God-man Jesus, the "doorway". It is his house afterall.

Am I speaking truth?

Re: Twestival Seattle

foleymo — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:54:54 -0000

So glad you came out for it. We're planning another one for Sept. 12 to benefit a local charity -- YouthCare. I hope you can make it.

Re: Marriage and Men

Vbug — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:20:53 -0000

He had some good, biblical, truthful things to say. Too bad is was lost in the noise of his own anger, or tough love, or whatever he wants to call it. I felt like I was being vomited on the whole time I listened. I couldn't agree more with some of his points. I couldn't agree less with his philosophy of the emotional fabric of men and what they're able to "take" vs. the emotional fabric of woman. Gentle with woman, verbally abusive toward men. I'm sorry, but that is about as far from biblical truth as you can get. The human heart is no different, whether man or woman. The idea that you can shame a man into being a man and call him "idiot, loser, a joke, a fool, little boy, pansy", etc. is ludicrous, and it's unfortunate that Mark seems to adhere to this philosophy. I would actually even go so far as to say it's not only unfortunate, it's sinful. Maybe one day he'll get it.

That's my two cents worth.

Re: I’m ready

audrakrell — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:03:19 -0000

I think your words would make a great song. I love your new banner by the way!

That face above is not my face today. I have a big, happy smile!

Re: Little Jason

audrakrell — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:01:34 -0000

I said it before and I'll say it again, he is absolutely adorable! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pic above with the tie. I love his smiling. What a profound blessing he is!

Re: How do you connect to God?

jonathanpaul — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:22:39 -0000

So true, Bryan! Thanks for sharing your thoughts; I can certainly identify about connecting with God through nature! And I've also experienced the value in connecting with and incorporating more from the various Christian traditions.

Re: How do you connect to God?

Bryan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:54:40 -0000

I've found that I connect most easily with God while I'm in nature. I experience and converse more with God in a few hours outside than I do in church in a month. As I've experienced different Christian traditions with friends, I find that each of them tends to have a different twist of connecting with God. What is considered the norm in an Anglican tradition is shunned by Baptists because they fear it could become distorted and vice-versa. In truth, I think we can learn a little something about relationship from each of the Christian traditions.

Re: How do you connect to God?

jonathanpaul — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:34:36 -0000

Thanks, Rachel! I don't think you're at all alone in that dichotomy, and as you suggest, I'm sure you'll find resolution by pursuing that relationship. :o) May we all do the same...

Re: How do you connect to God?

racheljoyklas — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:02:43 -0000

YUP. Relationship is always more complex and messier than a formula. Ever since (and probably before) Sinai when God invited the nation of Israel up the mountain and they delegated Moses, we've wanted an intermediary, a curtain, a ritual, a building to confine God to some sort of... tangible, containable THING available and controllable as satellite TV. The problem is that a deep relationship with God ACCESSIBLE but also CRAVED by Him. This is where God's passionate pursuit unsettles and confuses us. Or maybe I should say that it unsettles and confuses me. What in me cognitively wants, and yet fears, this offer of direct relationship? Perhaps I'm alone in this dichotomy. Perhaps not. And perhaps it is a relationship, not a formula, that will help me work it out.

~ racheljoyklas

Re: Little Jason

jonathanpaul — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:38:30 -0000

LOL

Re: Little Jason

Abigail — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:26:52 -0000

for now! :)

Re: Marriage and Men

Christina MacDonaldI — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:01:16 -0000

Type your comment here.Dear Mark , i was introduced to your web site by a male friend who raved on about your teaching!!!! I initially thought you where were way too much alpha male however,since listening to your teaching about men and marriage i realised how respectful you are towards women.What really spoke into my life was when you spoke about women been fearful about marriage that was me, due to the bad marriages i had seen.Thankfully God has done a great healing in my life in this very area and God is my Father and He would not give me anything or anyone that would harm me.I know that there are still good and godly men out there.I am also saying this in faith!!!!!! as i am unmarried woman who is looking for the best that God has for me.I know alot of men who could do with listening to this particular sermon .Thank you every blessing

Re: Why so serious?

jonathanpaul — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:55:44 -0000

That's a good point. I think I do more of pondering than worrying - for the most part. And I like the way you put that about a thought having you!

Re: Marriage and Men

douglas — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:34:27 -0000

thanks for posting. it reminded a blog friend of mine to post about it, so I heard it and really appreciate the God lesson in it.

Re: Why so serious?

Alicia78 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:20:37 -0000

Thinking a lot--pondering--and thinking too much--worrying--are, of course, two different things. Which one do you do more often? I tend to ponder things a lot. I also worry a lot, sometimes too much. It's something I am working on. I think the difference between the two (one of the differences) is the difference between having a thought and a thought having you.

Re: Why so serious?

jonathanpaul — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:31:31 -0000

Sometimes I wonder if I think too much... It's good to take a break from that too sometimes I guess. Gonna work to get some more lighthearted posts up sometime soon. And probably some heavier stuff too I suppose. :o)

Thanks for sharing your insights from working in the healthcare industry! I think you're exactly right; we need to put ourselves in other people's shoes and think how we'd want to be treated.

Re: Why so serious?

Alicia78 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:43:18 -0000

I like that you are blogging more regularly; your posts make me think.

This may not be what you are looking for at all but here is what I think: I worked in a trauma center for 4 1/2 years, and I still work in health care. It can be easy for people who have worked in the environment I have to become desensitized to other peoples trouble because, in a sense, we sort of have to in order to do our jobs. But we have to detach or go crazy with how sad it really is sometimes. I have noticed that some of the people who have been doing this job for a long time have lost the empathy that they may have started out with. And, truly, it can be difficult to hang onto it with certain populations--I find myself battling cynicism all the time. To keep my perspective, as simple and trite as it probably sounds, I have to put myself in my patient's position once in a while. When I find myself being flippant, or maybe getting irritated with someone I have to stop and think of how I might feel if I were them, and how I would want someone to treat me. I guess that works outside of work too.

Re: What do you need?

jonathanpaul — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:01:04 -0000

That's a great way to put it, Alicia; thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Re: What do you need?

Alicia — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:48:14 -0000

To put it simply, I think it *is* idealistic. However. I know that God knows me (everyone) best, better than we could ever possibly know ourselves. He really, truly is my best friend, and not in the human sense but rather in the sense that He *knows* me; any situation or crisis that I could possibly go through, He knows and understands better than any human friend possibly could. So He is the one I should take any issue to. He is the one I should speak to first with anything, major or minor. But we humans, we need that connection, that interaction of another human, someone to "touch base with," you know? I mean, it's right there in the Bible that we were not made to be alone. So I guess in that sense God isn't all we need...though really, He should be. How many times do we come away from talking with a friend feeling like we "talked things out" but...are still missing something? I've never really come away from talking to God feeling that way.