| Author | Message | ||
| Maryann |
Hi Ya'll, Here is a new thread to chew on;-) First, I'm not aiming at anyone in particular, just everyone in general. And....that includes me. When we walk dow the street, do we radiate something, anything that others would want? Are our faces drawn and tight or relaxed and radiant? When some talks about us, what is the picture that flashes in their mind? Is it a SOMBER look? Is it a HOLY look? Fearful? Uneasy? Space Cadet? Unconcerned? Or is it that deep JOY that expresses its self on our face (and whole being for that matter) with a ready smile for anyone and filled with genuine concern for others as a whole person(s)? Are we so tied to our Christian circles that we only show our joy there? Are we like fish out of water when we are out of our little circle? I was around someone the other day that had a smile and hello for everyone!!! It was amazing to me to watch this. It didn't matter who it was, they got hello-ed with a smile! (I tend to be a bit shy around strangers but tried this a time or two in the last couple days and was amazed with happy responses!) I know that I tend to look the other way and ignore strangers because it is "hair raisin'" for me to acknowledge people in the parking lot or a check out line. How many of our neighbors do we know? I've lived next to someone for years and not known their name! That is a shame! If we know our neighbors, do they KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS? If not, WHY NOT? How many of our neighbors WANT to know us? ggggggg What do we talk about? If someone were to talk about us to a friend, what conversations would they remember us by? (Now, that is really scary!) I don't believe that everything that comes out of our mouth should be Bible! In fact, very little Bible should come out of our mouth in our general associations! BUT, what comes out should be filtered through Bible principles. Ouch, that hurts me! What is our lifestyle? What do we project by our lifestyle? What do we talk about? Is it uplifting happy stuff or mostly stuff that drags us and our listeners down? Ouch! Sure, we all have problems and some way more than others and these issues need airing. Do we air them darkly with anger and hate? Or with caring concern? Does our window to our soul tell people where our citizenship is? Do people ask us why we are filled with joy whether our world crumbling around us or everything is perfect? If people ask us where our joy comes from, do we sermonize them or do we keep it simple? Do we make FEW statements about our faith or do we bombard them with our knowledge? Do we ask questions, simple questions? Questions that make people want to talk to us? Do we relax people? If we are the kind of people that strangers feel comfortable around, we have half the witnessing battle won! Take a look at Acts 8 where the Ethiopian Eunuch and Philip met. Philip, I'm sure knew some serious Bible! Philip didn't jump in the chariot and say, hey man, let me tell you all about Isaiah. He simply ASKED, hey man, you understand that book you are reading? This gave the Eunuch the opportunity to say, hey man, I just came from Church and I'm really confused! (Sound familiar?)Philip then in a simple manner, met the man where he was and gave him the simple gospel resulting in one more person on the chariot to heaven. So bottom line is like the song, "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands," (I think that is how it goes?) can also say, "If your heart is full of JOY, Rad-i-ate. If you're saved and you know it, keep it simple......" Now that I got all wound up on this subject, how about someone adding to this;-)) Hmmmmmmmmmmm Upward and onward.........Maryann | ||
| George |
Maryann, You made some interesting points. But to go one step ferther, if we are not happy, or don't show it, why is that? Are we so tied up in our salvation we don't have time to be happy? If we have salvation right, are we confustd about all the rest of it? At times I think that even if we know that salvation is free we get so bogged down with trying to do all the 'other' things to be a good christian we don't have time to be happy, AND OF COURSE THAT WOULD BE WORKING OUR WAY. what do you think? Now on to a thought for the rest of you. I had a thought the other day. It seems to me that about 80% of the time that someone has responded to what I have posted, I have been misunderstood. I say that because the responces don't fit the thoughts or questions posted. And I have been told that what I write is hard to read, and understand. The only reason I bring this up is, to point out that the Bible is not easy to read and understand eather so I wonder if it is misunderstood at the same rate that I am. A frightning thought isn't it!!! I would like for you all to take a look the ratio that you are understood when you write here and let me know. If you are not understood any more than I am lets see if we can figure out why. Maryann, I am at the library and it is starting to fill up, so I better get going, If you know what I an talking about!!! George | ||
| Maryann |
Hi George, As to the library......Ha ha ha ha;-)) We really left to early didn't we;-(( As to your idea about a lot of the rest of us being mis-understood....that was a good thought. I think you may have hit on part of the problem. We ALL have been mis-understood at times! I think that when you have your own 'puter, you will be able to spend more time and thought on your post and that may it better for you. Sis | ||
| Max |
I think if we take seriously Jesus Christ's observation, "The kingdom of God is within you," we will realize that our mission field is all around us. And if that is so, the spiritual reality will be seen on our faces and heard in our words. Come on, SMILE at the next baby you see. Ask its mother how old it is. Then tell her the child is beautiful. Is that so hard? Hey, dudes and dudettes, this isn't about us! It's about Jesus Christ! Let's get our minds off of ourselves and onto Him. | ||
| Maryann |
Hi, Here is a quote that I thought I had lost from an author named Mary Wilson. It appears to be a secular quote but I certainly think is applicable to any Christian. "If you persevere toward your dream in joy, with true regard for others, you will be full of joy when you attain your dream. If you drive toward your dream with a storm cloud over your head, with little regard for others on the way, attainment to your wildest dream will be as a rock in the pit of your stomach." Maryann | ||
| George |
To all, I can see that my last idea was not too well recieved or not understood, so I will try again. If you guys misunderstand what I write most of the time, how can you be sure that you understand the Bible or anything else you read? How, you might ask does this have any relivence to anything on this forum? If you can't understand what is writen here, you wont be able understand what is writen anywhere else either. Right? And you couldn't get anything about religion or salvation right. It is the concept that I want you to see, not the fact that you are misunderstanding me. What do you say? Do any of you want take a shot at it this time? George | ||
| Max |
Yeah, George, shoot! | ||
| Patti |
George, you said: You made some interesting points. But to go one step ferther, if we are not happy, or don't show it, why is that? Are we so tied up in our salvation we don't have time to be happy? If we have salvation right, are we confustd about all the rest of it? Patti: I do not worry about whether I am "happy enough" in the least. Jesus says that the peace that He gives is not as the world gives. I think this would include the joy also. We are saved in spite of our different personalities. Some are bubbly, some are morose by nature. When we begin looking at ourselves and at others for "signs" of salvation, then we are missing the boat. Our focus for our salvation must remain the worthiness of the Lamb, not on our flaky and fleeting emotions. The nearest thing I can compare it to is being either an abused child or a loved and protected child. When you take an abused child and put him into a loving and caring environment, the psychological malfunctions will not merely cease to exist. The child can know that he is loved and cared for but at the same time, he cannot do anything about his dysfunctional tendencies. He can grow in security and confidence, but the damage has been done; the person is affected for life. Does the fact that the child continues to exhibit dysfunctional behavior indicate that he does not think that the foster parents care about him? Not in the least. It has nothing to do with the foster parents; it has to do with the abuse he has already experienced. The behavior patterns have been recorded and become a permanent part of his psychological profile. We are all "dysfunctional" children of God. We have this psychological disturbance called sin. By faith we can know that our heavenly Father has provided everything necessary for our salvation, but in reality, we still live in our dysfunctional flesh in a psychotic world. But our salvation is of the same Source: The doing and dying of Jesus Christ. Are we going to turn the tables now and begin to measure the reality of our salvation by personality profiles? I don't think so. Is it OK to try to inspire each other to a greater appreciation of and confidence in the saving work of Christ? Absolutely. But all of our overt reactions will vary, and, therefore, cannot be used as a competent indicator of our salvation. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Grace and peace, Patti | ||
| Max |
Galatians 5: 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. --NIV | ||
| George |
Maybe the statements as they appeared on the dates shown below, and the questions the bring up are crazy, but, it would be nice if some of you fine learned people would attempt to comment on them. Sep 20 I had a thought the other day. It seems to me that about 80% of the time that someone has responded to what I have posted, I have been misunderstood. I say that because the responces don't fit the thoughts or questions posted. And I have been told that what I write is hard to read, and understand. The only reason I bring this up is, to point out that the Bible is not easy to read and understand eather so I wonder if it is misunderstood at the same rate that I am. A frightning thought isn't it!!! Sep 28 If you guys misunderstand what I write most of the time, how can you be sure that you understand the Bible or anything else you read? Who would llike to expand on the thoughts above, Colleen, Max, Richard, Allenette? George | ||
| Patti |
Hi, George, Welcome back. I have missed your insight. You wrote: The only reason I bring this up is, to point out that the Bible is not easy to read and understand eather so I wonder if it is misunderstood at the same rate that I am Here is my take on understanding Scripture: The Bible can only truly be understood in the light of the Gospel of salvation by the doing and dying of Jesus Christ alone. The Gospel can only truly be understood when it is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. I know this is not the answer you were looking for. But when we understand the all-sufficiency of the work of Jesus Christ in our behalf, the Bible becomes very lucid and very consistent. We are promised that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, and Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The purpose of the OT was mainly to prophecy the coming of the Messiah; the purpose of the NT was to reveal and proclaim the arrival of the Messiah, and His accomplishment of His saving work for His people. In a nutshell: It is all about Jesus. Hope you are well. God bless! Grace and peace, Patti | ||
| Maryann |
Hi Patti, Your probably right. That probably wasn't the answer George was looking for;-)) Good answer on your part though:):) Maryann |
