Rich Kirkpatrick › Comments

"Yes, Fred. Sometimes we get too comfortable with a good player being in a "slot" that we do not push their boundaries to allow them to become leaders. The more leaders we have, the more teams, etc." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Yep. Read my first paragraph regarding speech and liberty. However, I like how one writer reminded us that the church failed because once again we put issues above people." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Yep. Read my first paragraph regarding speech and liberty. However, I like how one writer reminded us that the church failed because once again we put issues above people." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"It may surprise you that musician is a profession as is sound engineer. Some earn a humble living doing these things. So, if these are ones who feed their families by their art it is fair to at least consider paying somehow if a church can. Not all can." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"It may surprise you that musician is a profession as is sound engineer. Some earn a humble living doing these things. So, if these are ones who feed their families by their art it is fair to at least consider paying somehow if a church can. Not all can." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"You might also have to admit that others will hear it differently, especially if you give money to defeat gay rights. He has right to do all that he is doing and I agree with the biblical view of marriage, just not the politics. The point is, it sure does not make people a better Christian to stand in line for a chicken sandwich. What other things can we or should we be known for? It is simply a question." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"You might also have to admit that others will hear it differently, especially if you give money to defeat gay rights. He has right to do all that he is doing and I agree with the biblical view of marriage, just not the politics. The point is, it sure does not make people a better Christian to stand in line for a chicken sandwich. What other things can we or should we be known for? It is simply a question." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"This is to true. The flip side is as well. As we take a path the other direction, that leads to more of the same as well. Sowing and reaping. So, the good news is hope in grace that we can always take a different path no matter how many steps into the wrong one." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Janis, I think Christians are losing from this, and it is a big deal--world record sales, and people lining up after a politician mobilized them. We need a surrogated way to express our faith and keep being duped into a social and political war when we should be known more for that than being simply a political base. Realize this, that the expression here was not to likeminded people. It was for the world to see. Remember in Redding when the Sikh temple was vandalized? What Christian church showed outrage? Here in my town, people were calling Muslims terrorists because after 10 years a mosque was finally going to be built. It made the NYT. We have both an image problem and lack of a good track record. So, we should cry foul less and extend love more It is easy to hide behind our numbers." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Janis, I think Christians are losing from this, and it is a big deal--world record sales, and people lining up after a politician mobilized them. We need a surrogated way to express our faith and keep being duped into a social and political war when we should be known more for that than being simply a political base. Realize this, that the expression here was not to likeminded people. It was for the world to see. Remember in Redding when the Sikh temple was vandalized? What Christian church showed outrage? Here in my town, people were calling Muslims terrorists because after 10 years a mosque was finally going to be built. It made the NYT. We have both an image problem and lack of a good track record. So, we should cry foul less and extend love more, as It is easy to hide behind our numbers." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Steve, thanks for commenting. The "show of solidarity" is truly an insightful description. I am not sure the calls for conservatives to get fat and die from eating fried chicken are civil, nor being called "bigots" because theology says a lifestyle is wrong should deserve such a response. So, civility is something--with no clear majority ruling--that should reign in the discussion. Charity is needed! I am simply trying to express how Christians came across yesterday in my opinion and hope that helpful conversation then ensues." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Steve, thanks for commenting. The "show of solidarity" is truly an insightful description. I am not sure the calls for conservatives to get fat and die from eating fried chicken are civil, nor being called "bigots" because theology says a lifestyle is wrong should deserve such a response. So, civility is something--with no clear majority ruling--that should reign in the discussion. Charity is needed! I am simply trying to express how Christians came across yesterday in my opinion and hope that helpful conversation then ensues." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Regardless, it was obviously good for business! Truly, in the towns they market to there are plenty of fans. Perhaps people had to "support" by going Wednesday because many need validation for their faith's status in society. Are we a Christian nation? We want Chick-fil-A to be like Tebow and to be our surrogated spirituality in the public square. These both are actually good examples in and of themselves as people and business! The problem is more with the masses of cultured-Christians that use the symbols as cultural-political statements because faith is shallow both in theology and practice." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Regardless, it was obviously good for business! Truly, in the towns they market to there are plenty of fans. Perhaps people had to "support" by going Wednesday because many need validation for their faith's status in society. Are we a Christian nation? We want Chick-fil-A to be like Tebow and to be our surrogated spirituality in the public square. These both are actually good examples in and of themselves as people and business! The problem is more with the masses of cultured-Christians that use the symbols as cultural-political statements because faith is shallow both in theology and practice." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Offering support is indeed what it is--political, spiritual self-affirmation that only costs standing in line and being a consumer. This is all blown way out of proportion and actually profits all fringes on the Left and Right." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Offering support is indeed what it is--political, spiritual self-affirmation that only costs standing in line and being a consumer. This is all blown way out of proportion and actually profits all fringes on the Left and Right." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Randy, thanks, As a fellow dreamer, my hope is that Christians learn to better engage our culture without picking these lessor fights. I will surely continue to eat there, but just on a day they are not as crowded ;)" - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Randy, thanks, As a fellow dreamer, my hope is that Christians learn to better engage our culture without picking these lessor fights. I will surely continue to eat there, but just on a day they are not as crowded ;)" - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Yep, the bumper sticker thing is killing us all. Cathy is giving a less than full or clear picture of Christian faith if the only thing people see or hear is that he is anti-gay. (Look here for what he said in several places http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07.... It is not perhaps intentional, but it is the result. What many people are doing by buying a chicken sandwich is feeling spiritually righteous in the act all the while politically giving a statement as well. Shear genius on Huckabee's part and perhaps the tab from sales will allow more stores to open. I bet it will. In the end, controversy profits." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Yep, the bumper sticker thing is killing us all. Cathy is giving a less than full or clear picture of Christian faith if the only thing people see or hear is that he is anti-gay. (Look here for what he said in several places http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07.... It is not perhaps intentional, but it is the result. What many people are doing by buying a chicken sandwich is feeling spiritually righteous in the act all the while politically giving a statement as well. Shear genius on Huckabee's part and perhaps the tab from sales will allow more stores to open. I bet it will. In the end, controversy profits." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Congratulations Tyler! I look forward to reading your book!" - Rich Kirkpatrick

"I wanted Fred, Craig, Janis and the rest of "all y'all" to know that I did write this: "The full picture of who Dan Cathy may be is dwarfed and Christianity is represented as a boycott religion once again." And, I edited slightly the first sentence to paragraph two by adding "accidentally" because I stand corrected. That is what I meant to say, not that Cathy INTENDED anything other than an affirmative simple statement as I said in this last article much better. (Please read that one, too). Picking Sides: Chick-fil-A as read meat for Conservatives & Liberals" - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Spending millions in the political arena is gonna make it hard for Cathy to overcome that as his primary point of context to the general public. That is a fact, not the whole story of who he is, however. Also, couple that with the general boycott nature and political baiting of Christians and the message being sent to the public is what it is. You may feel differently, but communicators need to own the result of their message as well. Granted, all the forces are in place. But, some of those are par for the course. So, people are not ignoring the good. It is just the sum of it when we push power and politics into the mix. Getting pissed off is really our problem--all of ours. We do not think enough and discuss enough these issues that are far more complex than a chicken sandwich. My last post explained how I think we have been duped into all of this. I think it is proper to ask the question about how we come across. This is not a biblical compromise, but for the sake of the gospel. On..." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Craig, He was being interviewed by a politically motivated Christian outlet. looking for a controversy because they are journalists. Both sides (Right and Left) are guilty of the red meat consumption here. Read my post from last week to clarify full context of my thoughts, please. :) We are being "hated" for being angry, defensive, and not living out most of what we preach. But it is the potential fascism is scary. Boston, Richmond, and Chicago have been trying to bully with government power. That is a danger and actually the ACLU even as decried these. We have boycotted Disney, and you name it in the past years. So, what does that say? When will we learn that it is not a compromise of scripture to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves in how we express our views?" - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Fred, I am glad you are stirred! Do we want to define our faith by what we are against? Are politics really the answer, or is living out our own marriages a better choice? Seriously, we choose a wedge like this and this is why it gets in the news (my other post explained the picking sides issue). Standing up is good. Being wise about what is being "heard" is also good. Of course, I agree with Cathy and like him and like chicken. A lot. But, I am not sure spending millions on politics against a group is really something that as a front face I would not do." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Janis, we all have choices. And, rights are rights. What I said here is that there is a message being sent that is unhelpful and literal, regardless of heart motives. I know what a fish bowl is like and I have met him at a couple conferences. I would like to see more than this one issue not be the definition of Christianity. We have liberty to do many things, and we should all support Cathy as I do in that realm, But, that does not mean the message being sent is helpful." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"You make my point for me. This is not news. What is happening here is a scenario where people on BOTH sides are riled up and manipulated. This drama over nothing creates a windfall for the news, and donations to activists on both sides of the issue. So, the question (5) perhaps is muddled in that Cathy has given millions to politically fight against gay rights. How about highlighting other charitable causes? I would suggest that to Cathy as a way to show he is more than hot on this one issue, which we know little of in comparison. But, its his right. In fact, many who disagree with him agree it IS his right. That liberty to speak, regardless of people liking it, needs to be protected." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"Where civilizations fail is where liberty fails to exist. This post really is about whether we will be polarized over a chicken sandwich or learn to think more deeply. I tend to think Christians have been duped into abdicating to the political machine and government what we should own ourselves. Government should protect liberty. To redefine is wrong, only because to "define" in the first place may be wrong as well. One thing that will help? Evangelical Christians should learn to not have a divorce rate higher than the population. That will define marriage better than preserving or changing a law." - Rich Kirkpatrick

"As have I. I wonder if we lived our "worldview" out better, would society be willing to react differently?" - Rich Kirkpatrick

"I think in the OT all people were called to worship God. And, the Church is the Church, whether in a building or not. The point is a "both and" here--the church service is designed to send out people as we equip believers, but in 1 Corinthians 14 we clearly see Paul teaching about how to treat unbelievers in our midst. The point is this: we all have convictions. This is not a theological debate. I am just trying to allow you to affirm the veracity of others who have a different conviction than you do. There really is not clear blanket answer for all time in all places on this issue, right? RK" - Rich Kirkpatrick