Christian Carnival CXXX (130)

I am going to list the posts in the order they were received, with mine last. I had a plan for structure but those reading my post at the end will see why this Carnival is going to be a brick shy of a full load.

In Galatians, Paul talks about the fruit of the spirit:

Galatians 5:22 . . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

These were going to be the divisions this week, and I was going to extend it some. It is not that we walk in a vacuum or we walk in the Light: we either walk in the dark or walk in the Light - as I have discovered in the last two weeks. Above this point in Galatians are some "bad fruit" we can see when we walk in the flesh:

immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these

Imagine I have counter posed the good and bad fruit and then divided the posts into the sections.

Some of these are obviously ugly; and some of these are all too common, and perhaps excused, in the Body of Christ: ". . . enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions . . ."

Anyway, on to the Light of this weeks posts:

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Ruth at Journal of Ruth writes on "Why Do We Stay Away From Church?"

Buzz Brockway at The Buzz Blog thinks that "Sometimes Life is Hard"

Michael at Tantalizing if True wonders if calmness is a "fruit of the spirit" while making "The Case Against Calmness".

Jack Yoest tells us that the "GodBlogCon is Coming Soon" (and about his wife Charmaine's involvement).

Dave Lorenzo at The Career Intensity Blog examines what we must do when asked to make "Bricks Without Straw"

Veracity at The Way thinks we need to get away from this "anything goes" notion and emphasize that how we "Dress" matters to Him.

Martin at Sun and Shield presents "Thoughts on Submission and Slavery, Part 1"

John at Part-Time Pundit hears "Hollywood to America: You Must Watch Our Smut"

Barbara at Tidbits and Treasures believes we must, as Christians, learn "Forgiveness" as Jesus taught through His example.

John at Light Along the Journey explores what does it mean to be like God, and why do humans desire it in "Of Eve and X-Men"

Eric "Funky Dung" Williams at Alex Rarus starts "An Exchange on Gay Christians (Part I)" - the first of four posts on his half of an open debate on whether there is room for gay marriage in orthodox Christianity.

Chris at Welcome to the Fallout has a humorous courtship-themed rap parody: "Eminem on Courtship"

Anthony at Fides et Veritas thinks we ought to be wondering "What Would Jesus Say" when talking to others in "Stay, Tongue, Stay"

Polly at Life is a Buffet says to "Clean Up Your Act" so that people can really see what is important in your life.

Lisa at Crossblogging learned from the "Esther" veggie tale movie something about "Women in the Church"

Leslie at Lux Venit is discovering that "You Can't Judge a Church by its Sign"

Katy at Fallible asks: Can you "Imagine" how wonderful it must be to throw a cautious brand of generosity to the wind and have its place taken up by a radical life of giving?

Jeremy at Parableman reviews a number of "Leviticus Commentaries". Considering how often I end up picking this book "out of my teeth" after someone has thrown it at me - it is nice to have a list of Christian views of the book.

Penitens at Penitent Blogger looks at the insidious phenomenon of "Self-made Religion"

And I examine Ephesians 4:17-32 in the light (or dark) of my "Moving Back to the Hovel"

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Hope you enjoyed the rides. For past Carnivals see the links on the bottom left