<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:rssdatehelper="urn:rssdatehelper"><channel><title>Pastor Russell - Comments</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell.aspx</link><pubDate></pubDate><generator>umbraco</generator><description>The latest comments for Pastor Russell's blog posts.</description><language>en</language><item><title>Re: God in the Week - Never Late</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---never-late.aspx#2834</link><author>Ellen Lyman</author><pubDate>Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:20:35 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---never-late/comment-1.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ Hi Russell, 

I always want to be early, too, and get annoyed when others are late. To me it shows disrespect to others and a selfish attitude.

A lot of our desire is because of training.  But much of it, I believe, has to do with our temperament. We can be trained to be early while children, but when we get out on our own, we revert back to what is comfortable for us. For instance, a mother can train us to put everything away while we are living with her, but when we are on our own, we will do what we want. Of course, I guess that may be part rebellion on our part. lol

After saying all that, I think we are all impatient when it comes to God's &quot;tardiness&quot; in answering prayer.  I agree. I need patience and He gives me a lot of practice.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: A Thankful Perspective</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/a-thankful-perspective.aspx#2704</link><author>future concepts</author><pubDate>Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:37:06 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/a-thankful-perspective/comment-1.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ High quality Distressed? Interest Your Child in Educational Computer Games]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: Resisting the Devil</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/resisting-the-devil.aspx#2561</link><author>sunglasses shop</author><pubDate>Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:13:08 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/resisting-the-devil/comment-1.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ Was an interesting article, thank you..]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: Count Your Surprises</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/count-your-surprises.aspx#2559</link><author>sunglasses online</author><pubDate>Thu, 27 May 2010 17:09:43 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/count-your-surprises/comment-1.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ Thanks for best news!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: God in the Week - Snow</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---snow.aspx#2303</link><author>Pastor Russell</author><pubDate>Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:33:20 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---snow/comment-2.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ Marge - Very well put. The 'measuring' of our faith is a very dangerous path to go down.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: God in the Week - Snow</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---snow.aspx#2292</link><author>Marge U.</author><pubDate>Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:53:11 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---snow/comment-1.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ Good question!  To me the measure of spritual growth can be measured by my inner thoughts, my actions, my reactons, etc. When I begin to see an improvement in my attitudes, and actions etc. about which I have brought to Him in prayer, I am thankful for His continued work in my life and LET HIM WORRY ABOUT &quot;MEASURING&quot; it. However, I need to realize there is ALWAYS room for improvement, so continued consultation with Him in whatever area I lack will always be necesssary.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: God in the Week - Hand Stamped Faith</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---hand-stamped-faith.aspx#2251</link><author>Thomas Ross</author><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:08:34 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---hand-stamped-faith/comment-1.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ That is so true in perhaps our ticket into church or the ministry...but I am so in awe that the Lord is continually stamping my hand each day into His presence! To be crucified with Christ is the greatest stamp we could ever have. We should be lining up every night to get our hand stamped for the next day.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: God in the Week - Glory in Death</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---glory-in-death.aspx#2246</link><author>Thomas Ross</author><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:55:19 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---glory-in-death/comment-2.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ I am not called to display my love for Christ in some grandiose exposition. He calls me to be a quiet, humble and obedient servant unassuming in my nature but complete in His holiness. There is sweet and safe communion between my Shepherd and His own because He knows me and I know Him.
&#160;&#160;
When I am lonely and feeling down,&#160;&#160; &#160;
I look at life and see His crown,
What emotions are on display,
When I see His splendor in full array.

Twas God who gave mankind His love,&#160;&#160;&#160;
When we deserved His wrath above,
He sent His Son who bore our hate,
We should have gotten our own fate.

I give Him nothing in return,
Sometimes His laws I even spurn,
Yet His love for me is always there,
His clothes of righteousness I wear.

O what a King that He should die,
And give it all for me and my,
He saved my soul from eternal hell,
And inside of me the Lord does dwell.

&#160;&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; Thomas Ross]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: God in the Week - Glory in Death</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---glory-in-death.aspx#2229</link><author>Brett Z</author><pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:42:27 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/god-in-the-week---glory-in-death/comment-1.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ Great observation! One could argue that the seasons themselves are a recurring picture and reminder of Jesus life, death, and resurrection.

Even though we (including myself here) may sometimes feel like we don't know where to start when sharing the significance of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection with others, he really has given us a huge amount of material to work with in the way He has ordered the universe.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: The Heart of Worship</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship.aspx#2100</link><author>Brenda C</author><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:25:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship/comment-5.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ Good enough - this explanation is better than that particular analogy for me anyway. :)) THanks for clarifying.  Makes sense now.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: The Heart of Worship</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship.aspx#2099</link><author></author><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:17:56 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship/comment-4.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ Maybe the analogy doesn't work :)   I guess what I was thinking is that we breathe all the time but there are times that we breathe in stronger because of the moment. In the same sense, our whole life throughout the week should be worship and yet when we come together as a family of believers there is a special time of worship that we don't have individually. But if that's not helping, then don't worry about the analogy...  :)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: The Heart of Worship</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship.aspx#2098</link><author>Brenda C</author><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:20:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship/comment-3.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ THanks - the first two paragraphs help a lot, but I must admit I lost you on the spring day/cookie/perfume analogy.  Ok on the gathering worship being like breathing.  I get that, but the corporate worship...hu?  Are you referring to the aroma that one senses right away?  BUt if so, how does that relate to consistent breating of individual worship?  Say more:)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: The Heart of Worship</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship.aspx#2097</link><author></author><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:25:07 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship/comment-2.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ Brenda - I guess that's where we balance the emptying and the blessing that comes from worship. If we have truly worshipped, we leave with a blessing that 'fills' us because we have emptied ourselves....however, if we come to be filled with the blessing, then we miss it. So, if I come to the service with empty hands expecting God to fill me with His blessings, I walk away with nothing or something that only looks or feels like worship but isn't truly worship. However, if I come prepared to give completely of myself leaving nothing back, I walk away with His blessing. I know I'm not supposed to answer a question with a question, but I guess my response would be, "If God didn't give you the blessing that you leave worship with, would you still give completely of yourself?" When we answer Yes to that, then we are at a place where we are prepared to worship God completely for who He is rather than simply what we get out of worship.

I think the way we talked about the balance between corporate worship and individual worship in the series was that there really is no such thing as fully glorifying God alone - in order to fully glorify God, it must happen within community because none of us alone are able to give God completely the glory that He deserves. On the other hand, it is inconceivable that we would approach God together to worship Him if we haven't been worshipping Him individually. So, no, I wouldn't say that we 'hold off' worship. As we offer up our worship throughout the week, it is preparing us to worship God corporately. The blessings we receive from corporate worship prepare us to worship God individually. I guess I would say its not either/or but both/and.

Maybe we could say it this way!the worship/gathering that occurs throughout the week is like our breathing - consistent and nonstop. Corporate worship/gathering is more like when you walk outside on the first (I'll add 'nice'because we live in W. PA) day of spring or when you walk into a house where cookies have been baking or when you smell your favorite perfume/cologne on your spouse. Not sure if that analogy works its way through, but we can start there!   :)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: The Heart of Worship</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship.aspx#2096</link><author>Brenda C</author><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:04:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/the-heart-of-worship/comment-1.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ LOVED the message - thanks!

I had one question about the leaving worship empty.  When I pour out myself to God, I actually feel quite full - of God that is.  When you said we should leave empty, did you mean empty of ourselves? 

And with the idea of gathering to bring things to worship next Sunday - I like that idea very much, but I am puzzled by how that relates to my worship throughout the week.  When I find something to gather, do I "hold" off on the worship til Sunday?  I don't think you mean that.  Do we in a sense worship twice?  I'm a little fuzzy on this idea.  

Can you clarify?  

Brenda C]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Re: Cows, Cheerleaders, and the Morning Worship Service</title><link>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/cows,-cheerleaders,-and-the-morning-worship-service.aspx#2095</link><author>Abraham E. Sandler</author><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:43:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.pleasantviewcma.org/blogs/pastor-russell/cows,-cheerleaders,-and-the-morning-worship-service/comment-1.aspx</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ If God has done something more significant than carry a dead piece of pig across a chalk line ... then what kind of praise does He deserve (compared to Black and Gold "Fever"). -- Abraham E. Sandler]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>

