tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post115015458813603445..comments2024-01-06T07:53:11.832-08:00Comments on disabled Christianity: Disability awareness SundayJeff McNairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10029386598033932429noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-1151306311516458322006-06-26T00:18:00.000-07:002006-06-26T00:18:00.000-07:00Sounds like you had a wonderful day. When you said...Sounds like you had a wonderful day. When you said that "people without disabilities often think that disability is the defining characteristic of a person with a disability's life when they may not even recognize that they have a disability," I also noticed this from our class earlier this section when Mark, Joyce, Mark, and Ryan visited our class. I used to think that people with disabilities felt sorry for themselves and had difficulties living a normal life. I was completely wrong. Like you said people with disabilities often don't even recognize that they have one. I think that people with disabilities are perfectly capable of living normal lives. It is amazing that so many people showed up to "Disability Awareness Sunday" at your church. It sounds like you have a truly amazing church. More churches need to be like your church. I think more people need to recognize that we are all children of God and he loves us all equally. This class has really taught me a lot and has touched my heart in many ways. I also completely agree with your statement "The church would be changed if that type of attendance occurred every week." People should not just show up on this particular day, but they should be aware and supportive of people with disabilities every Sunday.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for sharing this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-1151035732517648102006-06-22T21:08:00.000-07:002006-06-22T21:08:00.000-07:00Well I'm sure this won't be the only time you have...Well I'm sure this won't be the only time you have this type of service. It's so wonderful to hear that there was a great turn out. I pray that the families continue to come and peoples minds continue to open to person's with disabilities. I need to visit your church someday, it's an inspiration :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-1150943460202927702006-06-21T19:31:00.000-07:002006-06-21T19:31:00.000-07:00Amen and AmenAmen and AmenImpossibleapehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11423495309073520479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-1150866344628596112006-06-20T22:05:00.000-07:002006-06-20T22:05:00.000-07:00What a blessing your ministry is! It is sad that i...What a blessing your ministry is! It is sad that it stands out as such. Every church should have as wonderful a ministry as you do, but unfortunately that is not the case. I hope that this can turn into a more frequent opportunity for this group to share their "abilities" with the congregation. Keep doing what God has obviously called you and your wife to, and hopefully more such ministries will grow as a result from your example.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-1150836671544130842006-06-20T13:51:00.000-07:002006-06-20T13:51:00.000-07:00I truley enjoyed reading, how much effort you have...I truley enjoyed reading, how much effort you have put into your church. It's a great sign that their are people out there that not only care, but actually does something about it. I haven't chosen a church to attend, and the looks of your church seem to be the best heart warming place to worship. You are correct, that there needs to be more churches with the same ideas as you. After reading, "Diabiltity awareness Sunday," I've realized I too, need to join this awareness, and share to my family and friends the importance of being aware that disabilities should not be judge as the entrance to anytype of church. Life is too short, and there is no need to judge. We are all loved in the eyes of God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-1150780045424723012006-06-19T22:07:00.000-07:002006-06-19T22:07:00.000-07:00As I am reading your comments on Disability awaren...As I am reading your comments on Disability awareness Sunday, I think about the time I had gone to church and sat very close to the "Disabled" section. It was during worship that I noticed the amount of praise and greatfullness these people had displayed. I was going through a rough time in my life and did not appreciate what God had done for me. Here I was self sufficent and healthy but still not content with my life. Looking over at a "Disabled" gentleman worshiping the Lord, I asked myself, "How can I be so ungreatful to all that has been given to me and still be complaining?" This "Disabled" gentleman showed my in his way I was actually the "Disabled".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-1150579939346875292006-06-17T14:32:00.000-07:002006-06-17T14:32:00.000-07:00Hopefully Disability Awareness Sunday will become ...Hopefully Disability Awareness Sunday will become "Sunday." It was wonderful to read of the turn out of so many Christians. It is certainly a much needed start. I hope everyone was able to comprehend the message given that day. Now that the congregation experienced the readings of Romans 15 and God's children, everyone will need to incorporate the message and move on to "normalcy." After all, isn't that what everyone deserves...a normal life at every level? Make every Sunday a normal Sunday. Pushing one message will make the congregation loose interest and it will make the special members the center of attention. I'm sure no one will want that. Changes must be made, so let us incorporate them into normal living needs...not "special" or "out of the ordinary" changes. By focusing on the "special" needs places these Christians on the outskirts of our society. Normal living changes will benefit everyone as a whole, including those with special circumstances. <BR/><BR/>The day we look at societal needs as a whole, we may be able to stop classifying those that make up our society. Marcia 06/17/06Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-1150228779859774292006-06-13T12:59:00.000-07:002006-06-13T12:59:00.000-07:00Sounds like a truly wonderful day. Thanks for shar...Sounds like a truly wonderful day. Thanks for sharing it. I am looking forward to seeing the video.<BR/><BR/>What I have often wondered is how do we get beyond seeing, thinking, and talking about people as disabled?<BR/><BR/>You said <BR/>"I then comment that people without disabilities often think that disability is the defining characteristice of a a person with disability's life when they may not even recognize that they have a disability."<BR/><BR/>If only we didn't have to bow to the neccessity of lableling. We have changed some of our terms for the better. We don't use the Mentally Retarded term any more but it seems that stigmas continue to be problem for the developmentally disabled.<BR/><BR/>It is difficult to talk to people about the need to value people with disabilities because a disabled person often is present and to need to defend them must make them feel strange since you say many do not consider disability as a defining characteristic.<BR/><BR/>I wish our society could get to the place that we didn't have to label at all, but I don't know how to get here.Impossibleapehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11423495309073520479noreply@blogger.com