It's Duluth Gary.  You got a Canadian accent there or what?!?

He's still speaking through you.

Here here!

Not that I want to push my beliefs on anyone as I believe it is a personal choice that you are allowed to make, but if I could recommend any book that sums up what it SHOULD mean to be a Christian it is "The Shack" by William P. Young. It speaks of the principles of love that you wrote about. Seriously, I thought about you when I read the book. Maybe it's because you have a wife named Missy, which just happens to be my name! It's a moving work of fiction-you should check it out.

Gary, thanks for the reminder. Christlike is not just saying you are a Christian, but Christians that are Christliked.

Oh by the way I'm not an atheist, by most definitions.

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” St. Francis of Assisi

This is one of my favorite quotes. I think a lot of your friends do just that.

Oh, by the way if you don't get the shack and read it I am getting it for you so you can read it while you are here. See you soon.

I am a practicing Roman Catholic and in some "Christian" eyes that is already one strike against me. How is that Christ like?

To those Christian Non-RC. Why does being RC make me less Christian.

And be honest. Gary you can thank me later for the spike in traffic.

Oh by the way, I'am on vacation in Rome Italy, just minutes away from the Vatican. Now you can't get more RC than that.

Being Christlike has nothing to do with being any particular denomination, RC or non-RC. It's being like Jesus was: humble, loving, openhearted to the poor and outcast and passionately on the side of the socially, politically, economically oppressed. It's good also to laugh. Most people I've met who have a doctrinal litmus test have failed the "Christ-likeness" test.

Keep up the witness, Gary.
Jack Schultz

did you ever consider the possibility that you are not christ-like... but perhaps Buddha-esque?

@lightinspiration - 

sez you.

oh boy here we go again! lol

hey lightinspiration, just curious... how old are you? (not being a smart ass, I am really just curious) you don't have to answer if you don't want to.

Jesus didn't come here to make himself appear superior and degrade everyone else, to make people feel
worthless, he came here to show people that the same things within him we all possess, he came here to awaken people, to show people that rather being powerless, wretched beings they are actually beautiful,
compassionate and loving beings, who simply have forgotten the Jesus in them.

Jesus did actually say that, its in the bible
he actually said, the things I do you can do too

@lightinspiration

I'm curious also

Age/Gender/Occupation

'Jesus did actually say that, its in the bible'

blah dee blah blah

the bible was written by men in a paternalistic, pre-technological, pre-scientific age to explain their superstitions in a dangerous and violent world.

your 'jesus' is nothing more than a retooled greek mythological archetype... translated so many times that the people that quote it probably aren't even getting it right.

is there good stuff in there for human beings? sure. but there are good things in lots of other places too. the upanishads. rumi. suzuki. the koran. daniel berrigan. thomas merton. maya angelou. david whyte. mary oliver. just to name a few...

Loving people is great, but obviously that doesn't make any of us truly Christlike. Being Christlike goes much deeper then just loving people, it would also mean loving people who hate you, or even those who have hurt you. It would also mean that you would want to do everything to please God the Father, and loving Him with everything that is in you. There are other characteristics of being Christlike, i.e being full of humility, and not materialistic.

None of us are perfect and are all dealing with things in our lives, but we can only become truly Christlike through the power of the Holy Spirit.

@lightinspiration - Jesus said I am the way..He is the only way, there is no other way..He also said My sheep hear my voice...if you are not a born again Christian you are not one of his sheep. 

blah dee blah blah blah blah.... still quoting ancient superstitious ramblings as the only truth in the world. yawn.

as for the sheep.... BLLLEEAT! (Doonesbury fans will get that one)

@fjblau - 

Believe what you want. We all have the right to choose how we believe, and I choose to believe Jesus is the Son Of The Living God, I don't believe the Bible is ancient superstitious ramblings, but is actually the Inspired Word Of God. I'm not going to make fun of, or condemn you for how you believe, as it is your choice. I just ask that you show respect to me and other Christians.

Sitting in church no more makes you a Christian than standing in your garage makes you a car. It is about your belief and your faith. Some have faith, some don't.

what is it with christians... for 2 centuries its nothing but "condemn", "judge", "punish", "scourge", "steal", "purge" and more judgement... and the minute someone calls them on their superstitious underpinnings its "waaah, you're persecuting me!!!"... and "you don't show me any respect"....

tell you what... when christians start respecting the beliefs, choices, lifestyles, orientations, proclivities and actions of others, I'll be more sympathetic. Until then, its just another ancient cult to me.

@fjblau - 

I admit that many so-called Christians have done wrong in the name of Christ, but they weren't following the teachings of Christ were they? Jesus said that He didn't come into the world to condemn it, but to save it. And just because I happen to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and I'm a Christian, doesn't mean that I don't respect others even if they believe differently, I do respect people of other faiths, but it doesn't mean that I have to believe the way they do.

The whole open minded/close minded debate that has taken place in the past here has always been ridiculous to me, because the truth is that everyone is close minded to something. You for example are close minded to Christianity and creation. To you Christianity is an ancient cult and the Bible is the myth.

which is exactly the problem... you Tim Ray, are not the arbitrator of what jesus "meant" when he supposedly "said" things. And the people that murdered millions in the name of christ shared your fervent belief that they too were doing "gods will" under a correct interpretation of that ancient mythology.

That's what happens when you base things on the supernatural.

Its not about being closed minded or open minded... its about being rational or superstitious.