Comments on: The Open Table Video

By: Martha Ray

Martha Ray — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:08:16 +0000

if i had high cheek bones and an i-phone, i’d call to tell you that i cried watching the video. it’s honest, transparent, and speaks the heart of the gospel. hope to check out the book.

By: Mike Stroud

Mike Stroud — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:41:56 +0000

So good, man! Keep at it. Your work is refreshing. Helps those of us in the south to think outside the “religious box” (we need a lot of help down here!).

By: Kat

Kat — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:57:00 +0000

I signed up. I’m trying to heal after over a decade in an abusive church. I’ve now quit church altogether, and am trying to figure out who the heck Jesus really is.

By: Debra Stevens

Debra Stevens — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:23:41 +0000

Well done!
God is good!!!! I think one of my favorite things to hear, is how people get to know God… we’ve all been on the other side of the fence at one point.. and what is it that gets us or helps us to climb over.
Deb

By: Hereandnow

Hereandnow — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:35:49 +0000

really, Jesus came to save Christians too .. [stole that from something I saw on Burnside Writers Coop]. But it’s best paraphrase of my post.

the point made about the video and it’s likely audience didn’t carry their own logic far enough. getting ANYONE to engage Him and pursue Him is THE point..even if they think they’re really healing and helping someone else.

By: Hereandnow

Hereandnow — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:31:21 +0000

really, Jesus came to save Christians too .. [stole that from something I saw on Burnside Writers Coop]. But it’s best paraphrase of my post.

next time you think you’re pulling the curtain back, make sure you don’t stop 1/2 way, or better still, don’t assume the worst.

By: Joel Clark

Joel Clark — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:32:06 +0000

I am the film-maker from South Africa who worked with Don on this project. The clip above is basically “the whole story”. In reality, it takes the viewer/participant 5 weeks to take this journey. We put this clip together because it really does show the beauty and simplicity of our journey, of each individual’s journey for that matter. This really had nothing to do with using any specific language, it was simply about seeing that journey in action. If you pick up a copy you will hear Rick, Jon and some others make statements which, I have never before heard in a church, but its not even about that, it is about making a space where people are willing and open to share their own stories.

Lastly… that “Summer Camp” music is some of the most profound and moving music I have ever heard. You can check out more of the artists music at http://www.virb.com/jasonclark

By: Philips

Philips — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:41:55 +0000

Don, I hit this site after a curious search for your profile on google while I am still reading your book “searching for God knows what?”.
I do believe that this video has the honest expression of Faith and life. I commend you for sharing this would the community. I tended to like this video just like your book. And It stuck to me that somehow we tend to like / agree with things that are inline with our thoughts or perceptions (travelling along common path to discovering the same island). It seemed obvious that you would want to potray, promote or share such ideas and thoughts which have the “Donish” flavor to it.
It was today that I was thinking about how we tend to become rigid / set in a mould when it comes God, sprituality etc. This I think is (also) true for people who may not be categorized as the “stereotype Christians”.
I was reading thru some of the comments and found that Chris Wignall made some very valid statements. I have notice that there is a tendancy to associate Jesus Christ (and so God the creator Himself) to some external concepts (relgious thoughts, ideas – using the same religious jargons).
But the truth of the matter is that God is able to reach out to lost sinner through different life experiences and yet the WAY is alway the only one through JESUS.
I am remided of the incident where a blind man was asked a bunch of relgious folks about how he was healed. He was say it was Jesus and these folks would try their best to convince the man that it was not possible that he could be healed. His answer seemed simple, I was once blind and now I see and I know that it was this man Jesus who opened my eyes.
Similarly I see a tendancy to somehow categorize, reason and justify the salvation exprience in words , phrases that have a universal acceptence of being God’s ways and means to save mankind. I am sure there will be many who will be there who will say I dont know these concepts (grace, redemption etc) that you are talking about. All I know is I was once lost and now I am saved by Him.
All praise be to God who is not restricted by mans ability to understand but who always surpasses our understanding when it comes to Him reaching to His lost Children.

By: Lori Rutherford

Lori Rutherford — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:53:19 +0000

Beautiful. Visually stunning. The honesty was so raw, that it was refreshing. I actually teared up.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:46:37 +0000

Hi Don, I love the concept. As I was watching the video I was thinking, “Wow! This is excellent! I can’t wait to post this to my Facebook profile. My non-Christian friends might really connect with this.”

But I was totally confused by the ending.

“come meet the author… the open table… an invitation to know God… switchvert… Thomas Nelson” and if I pause it and stare real hard I can make out thomasnelson.com which is an online store for religious products.

ok, I get it now, it’s a promotional video for the small group study. I just wish there was a version of the video that would end with a link to an evangelistic website where seekers could learn more about Jesus, so I could share it with my non-Christian friends.