Comments for Troika Press http://troikapress.com Intentionally Examining Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:40:32 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Fighting for Relevance by Jorgen http://troikapress.com/2010/09/fighting-for-relevance/comment-page-1/#comment-669 Jorgen Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:40:32 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=699#comment-669 Matt, this is really good. It's important to keep in mind. There is a vast difference between 'knowing' someone and knowing 'about' someone. Getting to know a person is always going to be fraught with a degree of frustration; but, in the end, it's almost always worth it to have taken that step. Matt, this is really good. It’s important to keep in mind. There is a vast difference between ‘knowing’ someone and knowing ‘about’ someone. Getting to know a person is always going to be fraught with a degree of frustration; but, in the end, it’s almost always worth it to have taken that step.

]]> Comment on Musings, Meanderings, and Juxtapositions by WA Elder http://troikapress.com/2010/08/musings-meanderings-and-juxtapositions/comment-page-1/#comment-668 WA Elder Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:32:27 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=677#comment-668 Congratulations on your anniversary! One year and going strong ... KUDOS! Congratulations on your anniversary! One year and going strong … KUDOS!

]]> Comment on Musings, Meanderings, and Juxtapositions by Tweets that mention Musings, Meanderings, and Juxtapositions | Troika Press -- Topsy.com http://troikapress.com/2010/08/musings-meanderings-and-juxtapositions/comment-page-1/#comment-667 Tweets that mention Musings, Meanderings, and Juxtapositions | Troika Press -- Topsy.com Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:13:36 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=677#comment-667 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Devin D. Moon, Justin Louis. Justin Louis said: The Troika Press is 1 year old. http://goo.gl/2BvC [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Devin D. Moon, Justin Louis. Justin Louis said: The Troika Press is 1 year old. http://goo.gl/2BvC [...]

]]> Comment on Follow a Cord by Aleece http://troikapress.com/2010/08/follow-a-cord/comment-page-1/#comment-666 Aleece Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:33:38 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=682#comment-666 "You should give other people the benefit of the doubt, but strive to leave no doubt in regards to your own life" --- I like this. :) “You should give other people the benefit of the doubt, but strive to leave no doubt in regards to your own life” — I like this. :)

]]> Comment on The End of the Summer by Justin http://troikapress.com/2010/08/the-end-of-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-664 Justin Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:50:08 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=662#comment-664 Great conclusions about community. Have to say that I whole heartedly agree with your last statement. I think possessing vision for community is extremely valuable. Great conclusions about community. Have to say that I whole heartedly agree with your last statement. I think possessing vision for community is extremely valuable.

]]> Comment on Homes by K-Dawg http://troikapress.com/2010/08/homes/comment-page-1/#comment-663 K-Dawg Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:53:38 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=656#comment-663 Two songs popped in my head: One is out of the hymn book of the church in which I grew up: "This world is not my home I'm just passing through my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue - the angels beckoned me from heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore." The other is from a song by Matthew Price called "Home is Where the Van Breaks down:" "Some say home, that's where the heart is, but my home is anywhere I park it." It was a monumental moment when I realized I saw Salem as home over Montana. It's bittersweet. We have to leave people we love in either situation, but it gives us a reason to travel and visit all places that my have once been considered, "home." Two songs popped in my head:

One is out of the hymn book of the church in which I grew up: “This world is not my home I’m just passing through my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue – the angels beckoned me from heaven’s open door and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

The other is from a song by Matthew Price called “Home is Where the Van Breaks down:” “Some say home, that’s where the heart is, but my home is anywhere I park it.”

It was a monumental moment when I realized I saw Salem as home over Montana. It’s bittersweet. We have to leave people we love in either situation, but it gives us a reason to travel and visit all places that my have once been considered, “home.”

]]> Comment on A time for everything … by Alice http://troikapress.com/2010/05/a-time-for-everything/comment-page-1/#comment-577 Alice Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:57:56 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=562#comment-577 Marcie, this is beautiful. I wanted to share some thoughts I had, forgive me if I rabbit trail off somewhere ;) I love how you mention to not be afraid of the unknown. So many thoughts pop into my head when I read that! I thought about how God is a sovereign God and how God has a plan and that He never forsakes us (even though we can be unfaithful) (Psalm 37:28, Heb. 13:5-6) and whom then shall we fear? What then should we fear? I also had a silly thought about Alice in Wonderland, when Alice is not sure which way to go and she is talking to the Cheshire Cat and she says, " Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat. "I don't much care where---" said Alice "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat. "----- as long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation. "Oh you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough." What I like so much about this part of Alice's adventures is the idea of getting somewhere no matter which way you go. Now, of course maybe that somewhere isn't always the best somewhere to be...and maybe it is a step in towards the wrong somewhere or it is the same place you have been for a long time... And I have been thinking a lot about seeking God's will and where He wants me to be-- and I don't know quite where that is right now but I know it is somewhere and I want to be there :) I don't want to stay in my safe harbor [any longer]. Unlike the Alice in the book, I DO care where I go and will certainly not be asking any cats for their advice :) And it is so ENCOURAGING to me to hear your BRAVERY as you are " willing to step out and do what I know to be true now, I probably won’t discern the next step that I need to take" and that you care where you are going, knowing God has given your life a purpose. The unknown can also be exciting! It sounds like you are embarking on an exciting adventure! I enjoyed your ship explanation- about setting sail and being in the harbor. And we can expect our ships to face certain danger and tribulation-- sea storms, icebergs, a broken mast or compass, sea monsters?? -- but God has warned us of this (2 Tim.3:12) and it is to strengthen our faith...our ship (1 Peter 1:6-7) And if we never leave harbor how can we ever grow? And you know what else is exciting? We may be afflicted but not crushed- perplexed but not despairing- persecuted but not forsaken- struck down but not destroyed (2 Cor. 4:8-9) because of Christ Jesus. Your writing is wonderful! Thanks for the encouragement ;) Marcie, this is beautiful. I wanted to share some thoughts I had, forgive me if I rabbit trail off somewhere ;) I love how you mention to not be afraid of the unknown. So many thoughts pop into my head when I read that! I thought about how God is a sovereign God and how God has a plan and that He never forsakes us (even though we can be unfaithful) (Psalm 37:28, Heb. 13:5-6) and whom then shall we fear? What then should we fear?

I also had a silly thought about Alice in Wonderland, when Alice is not sure which way to go and she is talking to the Cheshire Cat and she says, ” Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “I don’t much care where—” said Alice “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat. “—– as long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation. “Oh you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.” What I like so much about this part of Alice’s adventures is the idea of getting somewhere no matter which way you go. Now, of course maybe that somewhere isn’t always the best somewhere to be…and maybe it is a step in towards the wrong somewhere or it is the same place you have been for a long time… And I have been thinking a lot about seeking God’s will and where He wants me to be– and I don’t know quite where that is right now but I know it is somewhere and I want to be there :) I don’t want to stay in my safe harbor [any longer]. Unlike the Alice in the book, I DO care where I go and will certainly not be asking any cats for their advice :) And it is so ENCOURAGING to me to hear your BRAVERY as you are ” willing to step out and do what I know to be true now, I probably won’t discern the next step that I need to take” and that you care where you are going, knowing God has given your life a purpose.

The unknown can also be exciting! It sounds like you are embarking on an exciting adventure! I enjoyed your ship explanation- about setting sail and being in the harbor. And we can expect our ships to face certain danger and tribulation– sea storms, icebergs, a broken mast or compass, sea monsters?? — but God has warned us of this (2 Tim.3:12) and it is to strengthen our faith…our ship (1 Peter 1:6-7) And if we never leave harbor how can we ever grow? And you know what else is exciting? We may be afflicted but not crushed- perplexed but not despairing- persecuted but not forsaken- struck down but not destroyed (2 Cor. 4:8-9) because of Christ Jesus. Your writing is wonderful! Thanks for the encouragement ;)

]]> Comment on Adultolescence by K-Dawg http://troikapress.com/2010/07/adultolescence/comment-page-1/#comment-553 K-Dawg Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:47:35 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=618#comment-553 I have several thoughts in response to this: 1. It makes me realize that life is easier now. The difference between when Frank was a young man and where young adults are today is immense. We take for granted the amount of ease technology has provided us and we've truly become lazy. Lazy in communicating (snail mail and real writing -> e-mails and acronyms), simple tasks (hand-washing dishes -> throwing them in the dishwasher) and lazy in jobs (hard-labor -> office jobs). Now... I don't think these changes are all bad. I love e-mail, I love the dishwasher(!), and office jobs are tasking, too. Times have changed... so it makes me question what it really means to grow up now. Which brings me to my next thought. 2. What does it mean to grow up? Does it mean to move out of the parent's house and be financially independent? Does it mean to become fully responsible and focused in work and/or family? Does it mean to have a family extended from the original immediate family? Is it about maturity? I feel like financial independence is a huge step in "growing up," but one can be financially independent without fulfilling any of these other "grown up" qualities. One can be very mature, but still rely on parents. As we grow do we need to let go of fun and adventure? ...I think I often fear the idea of "growing up" because I don't want to stop laughing and having fun in life. For some reason these ideas are connected. Is that because society sells it as such? 3. In certain positions in life it is important to maintain a youthful mind in order to relate to younger individuals. I immediately think of youth pastors and people involved in ministry with anyone younger. Sometimes these individuals or couples seem to be immature and at times even obnoxious... but they have adopted the lifestyle to fit their mission. Are they missing out on growing up? ...hmm... "We wanna be like Peter Pan, we don't wanna grow up!" I just think I'm going to live forever. Eighty-seven is the first age I consider old. I have several thoughts in response to this:
1. It makes me realize that life is easier now. The difference between when Frank was a young man and where young adults are today is immense. We take for granted the amount of ease technology has provided us and we’ve truly become lazy. Lazy in communicating (snail mail and real writing -> e-mails and acronyms), simple tasks (hand-washing dishes -> throwing them in the dishwasher) and lazy in jobs (hard-labor -> office jobs). Now… I don’t think these changes are all bad. I love e-mail, I love the dishwasher(!), and office jobs are tasking, too. Times have changed… so it makes me question what it really means to grow up now. Which brings me to my next thought.
2. What does it mean to grow up? Does it mean to move out of the parent’s house and be financially independent? Does it mean to become fully responsible and focused in work and/or family? Does it mean to have a family extended from the original immediate family? Is it about maturity? I feel like financial independence is a huge step in “growing up,” but one can be financially independent without fulfilling any of these other “grown up” qualities. One can be very mature, but still rely on parents. As we grow do we need to let go of fun and adventure?
…I think I often fear the idea of “growing up” because I don’t want to stop laughing and having fun in life. For some reason these ideas are connected. Is that because society sells it as such?
3. In certain positions in life it is important to maintain a youthful mind in order to relate to younger individuals. I immediately think of youth pastors and people involved in ministry with anyone younger. Sometimes these individuals or couples seem to be immature and at times even obnoxious… but they have adopted the lifestyle to fit their mission. Are they missing out on growing up?

…hmm… “We wanna be like Peter Pan, we don’t wanna grow up!” I just think I’m going to live forever. Eighty-seven is the first age I consider old.

]]> Comment on Creative Expression by Aleece http://troikapress.com/2010/06/creative-expression/comment-page-1/#comment-546 Aleece Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:13:43 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=605#comment-546 I really like this. I love how you make question of motive and intent, selfish or selfless... Why are we seeing what we see? Where and what is the true source of this beauty that makes me want to capture it in whatever way I can? WHY do I want to capture it? The questions you ask in the end, the who, what and why I too believe are important. I find that when I become inspired to create something it is generally because of people. It is usually because I have seen something beautiful, whether it be in a person or something else, that I want to so badly capture and express what I have seen-- most of the time I cannot capture the true essence of what it was-- but I like your point about perspective -- " it is negative when the expression becomes being about the person, and not what is being expressed." Great point :) I really like this. I love how you make question of motive and intent, selfish or selfless… Why are we seeing what we see? Where and what is the true source of this beauty that makes me want to capture it in whatever way I can? WHY do I want to capture it? The questions you ask in the end, the who, what and why I too believe are important. I find that when I become inspired to create something it is generally because of people. It is usually because I have seen something beautiful, whether it be in a person or something else, that I want to so badly capture and express what I have seen– most of the time I cannot capture the true essence of what it was– but I like your point about perspective — ” it is negative when the expression becomes being about the person, and not what is being expressed.” Great point :)

]]> Comment on Apolitical Majors by Ben http://troikapress.com/2010/06/apolitical-majors/comment-page-1/#comment-539 Ben Mon, 28 Jun 2010 04:21:19 +0000 http://troikapress.com/?p=588#comment-539 Again Matt, you have hit it so well and so deftly. It's the very reason I have increasingly drifted away from the political fervor of my youth. Ultimately it's not the politicians or the analysts that define society and make the changes that people so desperately want. It's not the elected officials or the speech writers or even the presidents that change nations for better or ill. As Douglas Gresham once said, the worlds leaders are in the classrooms, in the film and music studios, and at their desks churning out books you and I will never read. (Twilight, anyone?) They are the ones who subtly and quite often unintentionally redirect the hearts and minds of men. In a truly democratic society, it can be none but these men and women. Ben Again Matt, you have hit it so well and so deftly. It’s the very reason I have increasingly drifted away from the political fervor of my youth. Ultimately it’s not the politicians or the analysts that define society and make the changes that people so desperately want. It’s not the elected officials or the speech writers or even the presidents that change nations for better or ill. As Douglas Gresham once said, the worlds leaders are in the classrooms, in the film and music studios, and at their desks churning out books you and I will never read. (Twilight, anyone?) They are the ones who subtly and quite often unintentionally redirect the hearts and minds of men. In a truly democratic society, it can be none but these men and women.

Ben

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