First Off, An Apology from the Blog Manager:

Last night, I was a bit grumpy, and wrote an article for my personal blog, accidentally posting it to .Info. In the course of messing around with it, I accidentally deleted Jerry’s post just before it. I’ve recovered this particular post (”Yes, yes, yes…Oh, no”), but not the comments attached to it.

Below is Jerry’s original post, along with an update from Jerry (to save having to recreate where he and a few commenters had arrived).

Again, my apologies for the error…

The Original Post:

Friends,

I haven’t posted on anything from SOL for a while–fact is, I haven’t even visited it SOL much recently. I stopped in for a moment this evening to see what was happening and I was thrilled to see this post: The Centrality of the Cross.

My goodness, the author of Slice was rolling along beautifully. I mean it. It was a wonderful post with wonderful words and a wonderful reminder of the atoning work of Christ. Then, in the midst of the great piece about the Cross, and while I was reflecting on the work of Christ, I came across this:

At a time when emerging authors and leaders like Brian McLaren attack the all atoning work of Jesus Christ on that cross, how important that we remember that without it, we could not be saved.

I found myself saying: Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh…no! Ruined. Ruined because she just could not stop herself from from sneaking in an attack. I just wanted to say that I appreciated the post, the hymn, the brief history lesson, and the author’s reflections on her worship experience today. But in my opinion, the entire post was ruined because she just had to throw someone else’s name into the post.

If only she had left well enough alone. Yes, the cross is a beautiful thing. Yes, the cross should be preached. Yes, we should sing hymns, and Psalms and spiritual songs to our God. Yes, (sometimes) we should observe the so-called church calendar. But if that cross was for the author of Slice, it was also for others–even, and perhaps especially, those with whom she disagrees.

I’m sorry and sad that the post ended the way it did. I’m sad that an otherwise wonder word of encouragement ended so abysmally because she just couldn’t resist playing the role of the accuser. Sad. Really. Really. Sad.

jerry

Jerry’s Update:

Friends,

How shall i say this? Well, one of the difficult lessons one must learn in life is that it is unwise to become too comfortable in any environment. i learned that lesson again last night after i made this post and was called out by Joe Martino and a commenter named Nick. After several back and forths between the three of us, i updated this post and asked for the forgiveness of those with whom i had sparred (Joe & Nick), the other writers of CRN.info, and Mrs Schlueter.

Somehow, purely by accident (as Chris L will explain), the post was deleted from CRN.info. It was, to be sure, a pure accident and i assure you that it was not i who deleted it, that there was no subterfuge involved; i regret that it was lost. i’m just arrogant enough that i wanted people to read my update and apologies. All of those have been lost, but we have managed to recover the original post and it is reposted here with this update.

The point of contention is that i gave the appearance of being contradictory and inconsistent due to my posts and comments concerning Julie N’s posts at Loneprairie. i was judged as being unfairly critical of the author of Slice while being overly warm towards Julie’s posts without the same critical eye. In short, i was judged as hypocritical. i don’t deny that judgment and i apologize again to the readers and writers of CRN.info for that serious error and lack of judgment on my part. i offer no excuses. it was plainly and simply a poor choice on my part–especially after so much contention on other threads here last week.

i would be happy if you would disregard this post entirely (except for this update) and not even bother to read or comment (even if i know that is not going to happen). i retract my judgment of SOL’s post and the author’s intentions and stand humbly corrected by my peers. i ask for forgiveness of anyone that i have offended. i am thankful for the encouragement of the other writers here, but i have also decided to take a little time off from CRN.info to re-evaluate my reason for writing here and to think and pray about what the Lord wishes me to do with my time. i love writing and blogging has proved a helpful medium to that end, but i need to be certain that i am in the Lord’s will too.

thank You for your time and patience. i am still learning and growing and seeking. i offer again my apologies to the editors of CRN.info and the readers for my poor behavior in the thread of the OP (before it was deleted). i apologize to Joe M for accusing him of ‘bashing’ me. i apologize to Chris L for creating so much work for him. i apologize to Ingrid Schueter for my unfair reading and commenting on her post. i apologize to you, the readers, for letting you down and if i come back and write again, i promise i’ll do better.

may all of you be blessed in the Lord.

jerry