Comments for robdale.ca

Comment on Burning the Koran by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:55:00 +0000

Hey Peter,

Perhaps I should clarify. I’m not suggesting that it is peace-loving. I’m suggesting that Muslim-leaders claim it is peace loving. They speak out against 9/11, etc. And so, either we take them at their word or we acknowledge that this guy is speaking truth (even if his acting out by burning a Koran is unwise).

Comment on Burning the Koran by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:53:00 +0000

Thanks, Trevor. It shows again just how complicated this stuff can truly be.

Comment on Burning the Koran by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:52:00 +0000

Emma, awesome comment! I think you’ve nailed it perfectly. When you are insecure about your own beliefs, you attack others. When you are insecure about yourself, you tear down others so that you look bigger. This guy clearly does need prayer for all the reasons you mention.

Comment on Burning the Koran by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:51:00 +0000

Great thoughts, Julie. And, I totally agree with you.
I wont go so far as to blame the media (too easy a cliche), but this isn’t a story and it’s been made into one. IF this guy had been ignored, then this wouldn’t even be an issue.

Comment on Burning the Koran by PETER

PETER — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:34:00 +0000

Hi Rob, I agree with most of what you are saying. I believe that this pastor is not only unwise but would go as far as to say that if he thinks that burning the Koran is an action pleasing to God, there is something fundamentally wrong in his understanding of the gospel.

The only thing I don’t agree with is your implication that Islam is basically a peace-loving religion. I know that there are Christians who thought they could use violence to advance the cause of Christ, but in doing this they were clearly violating the New Testament and going against the early history of our faith in which, for the first three centuries, the gospel advanced and gained influence through faith, love prayer and servanthood, not through violence or the exercise of political power. In contrast, the Koran clearly does have many texts that support violence against “the infidels” and the early history of Islam (it advanced mostly through conquest) supports the view that violence is fundamental to Islam. That’s not to say there aren’t peace-loving Muslims. I have made friends of several Muslims and I believe that we are to treat all people with respect and assume the best, not the worst. But Jesus did tell us to be wise as serpents as well as innocent as doves, and I believe we should be under no illusions about the true nature of Islam. There are many within Islam who have an agenda to take over the Western world. This of course doesn’t justify what this foolish pastor is doing, because it is contrary to the way of Christ – but sometimes Christians who want to sound reasonable make Islam out to be more peace-loving than the evidence justifies.

Comment on Burning the Koran by Trevor Hilton

Trevor Hilton — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:45:00 +0000

Personally, I wouldn’t burn a Koran. It wouldn’t accomplish anything if I did, and feel I’m just lowering myself to their level. But, I disagree with many of the reasons given for him not to do it.
Muslims will get mad. They already are mad.
They’ll start bombing. They already are bombing.
It’s insensitive. It’s also insensitive of them to kill Christians, burn Churchs, etc.
It also bothers me that our own President supports a Kuwaiti citizens First Amendment right to build a Mosque near the site of the World Trade Center, but condemns an American citizens First Amendment right to burn a book.

Comment on Dear Brittany (Letter to a Daughter) by Trevor Hilton

Trevor Hilton — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:36:00 +0000

•Remind every guy who asks you on a date that your dad is the nastiest, meanest biker and has very big friends”

Reminds me of the time, when I was in college, I was going on a date. When I went to pick her up, her father was cleaning his shotgun. I wondered if he was telling me something.

I have a 3 year old daughter, Heather. Everything you said goes double for her.

Comment on Burning the Koran by Emma

Emma — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:30:00 +0000

What I’m about to say may offend some people, and for that I apologize. And please do not misconstrue my thoughts, because I’m not going to be able to articulate them very eloquently. This pastor needs prayer, big time…not because what he’s planning on doing is reprehensible and just plain immoral, but because the man obviously has very little faith in his faith. He obviously is so unsure of his own faith, beliefs and spirituality that he feels the need to bully others into following him. You remember that kid on the schoolyard who called you names and pulled your hair? He (she) felt really crummy about themselves and had zero self-confidence, so they felt the need to knock other people down to feel ‘up’. Those people need prayers, they need a hug, they need our compassion. This pastor needs to spend some time in the Word, and with God, to recharge his faith. Maybe then he wouldn’t feel the need to be such a bully.

Comment on Burning the Koran by Julie H

Julie H — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:55:00 +0000

The troops in Afghanistan are fighting for hearts and minds. They are trying to work with village elders and the people themselves to drive out the Taliban. They need to eliminate some of the places where terrorists can hide and re-group. This story — which I agree has gotten WAY too much attention — will be used as a propaganda tool. The Taliban will use it as one more reason why the people can not trust the Americans; more proof that the troops are the enemy. The longer these strongholds exist, the more troops will die.
Regardless of the situation overseas, this stunt is a slap in the face to the millions of peaceful, adherent Muslims who live in our communities, attend our schools and work among us day-to-day.
Does this guy have the ‘right’ to burn the Qur’an? of course. But I can hardly believe that this offensive act is anything that Jesus would condone.
Finally you ask if this act will be the catalyst for moderate Muslims to take up arms against Americans. No, but if there are one or two out there who are on the edge of fanaticism this may push them over the edge. As we saw in 2001, it only takes a handful to kill thousands of innocents.
Fanaticism, of course, is not unique to Muslims. Let’s remember, there are fifty Christians in Florida who are planning to burn Holy Books

“Where they burn books, so too will they in the end burn human beings.” — Heinrich Heine

Comment on Inspirational: Francis Chan by Lon

Lon — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:57:00 +0000

Yup great conversation – can’t say all my leadership conversations are like that… and yeah, it just seemed like Drisicoll’s nature, though people i know that’ve talked to him in person say he’s a lot less loud and confrontational… then again the camera was rolling and he’s got an image to keep.