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Doug222 (Doug222)
Posted on Monday, July 29, 2002 - 8:29 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have a two question poll:

1. What is your definition of being free?

2. Are you free? Why, or why not? (This question is somewhat personal and therefore I understand if some choose not to answer it)

Doug
Freeatlast (Freeatlast)
Posted on Monday, July 29, 2002 - 12:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

1. The capacity and authority to think, feel, and act in accordance with conscience.

2. I am not yet free from a present, practical viewpoint. Although in Christ, I have the authority to think, feel, and act in accordance with conscience, I do not yet have the full capacity to do that. Sinful tendencies/habits, imperfect wisdom and knowledge of Christ, conflicts of conscience, and other assorted "baggage" prevent me from being fully free. Complete freedom will not be mine in a present, practical way until resurrection morning.
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
Posted on Monday, July 29, 2002 - 3:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Great questions, Doug. Here are my personal responses:

1. Being released from bondage to my own fears, neuroses, shame, hopelessness, and failure; being alive to reality bigger than my experience; Someone greater than myself taking responsibility for my welfare against forces more powerful than I can manage. It's being able to give up my own rights in deference to others without losing my identity.

2. I feel free compared to most of my past life! Like Freeatlast, I still struggle with my imperfections that get in the way. But internally I feel secure and freeóyet externally, I have 'way more responsibility to and for others than I've ever had before.

BTW, Doug, what prompted these thought-provoking questions?

Colleen
Lydell (Lydell)
Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 5:14 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think I'd have to say the same thing you have Colleen. It's being released from the prison of all that stuff that satan uses to trouble us, restrict us, and keep us from deeper relationship with God.

I'm interested too in why you are asking, Doug.
Lori (Lori)
Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 6:32 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

1. We received freedom in Christ at the moment we believe in Him--however very few ever use this freedom; they never rise above the human viewpoint of the Christian way of life. "Being free" is simple it means we are no longer slaves to the sin nature within us. We can chose to still live as slaves but we don't have to.

After we believe we have a new life within us---a new viewpoint in which to reason from, IF we will use it.

2. Am I free???? Right this moment, yes!!!! Praise the Lord!!! But this could all change in a moment----it is my decision whether I remain "free" or if I step back into the bondage of the sin nature/human viewpoint. Being free is a moment by moment decision---every thing in this world seeks to keep us in bondage.
Dennis (Dennis)
Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 4:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dear FAF friends,

Just a few lines to say that I will have outpatient surgery (lithotripsy procedure) tomorrow morning. Never having had any surgery in my first 56 years, I am mildly apprehensive of any surgeon.

I request your prayers during this hour of need.

In awe of the Great Physician,

Dennis J. Fischer
Sabra (Sabra)
Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 8:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Blessings Dennis, I will certainly keep you in prayer. I know that God has His hand on your life and there is nothing to be apprehensive of. He's got it under control. :)
Janet (Janet)
Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 9:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I too, will be praying for you! May God send His Peace to you!
Janet
Carol_2 (Carol_2)
Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - 7:41 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

God bless you Dennis! i am stopping to pray now, let us know how everything goes, love and prayers to all, carol
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - 3:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dennis, I'm praying now, too. Let us know how you are.

Colleen
Doug222 (Doug222)
Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - 8:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dennis,
I hope all went well with your surgery. To those who responded to my "probing" questions, thank you! I did not mean to leave you hanging, I've just been very busy lately.

As far as the reason for my question, I guess I have been in one of my introspective moods lately. It is probably a combination of my re-study of the book of Romans,especially chapter 8 (I find the need to do that periodically) and my reading of the book "Classic Christianity."

Intellectually, I know the things you guys are talking about, in terms of freedom, but I think that sometimes practically I have settled for just "being saved." I think there is a vast world of difference. One is a legal state, the other is a new lease on life.

Each of you provided some very profound statements in your definition.

Colleen you said: "Being released from bondage to my own fears, neuroses, shame, hopelessness, and failure." For me, this is the essence of freedom. It is the prize to which I pursue. It is a travesty to be released from these things, and then find yourself still holding on to them.

Freeatlast you said: "Although in Christ, I have the authority to think, feel, and act in accordance with conscience, I do not yet have the full capacity to do that." I agree wholeheartedly with your use of the term "authority." That is an awesome kind of power isn't it?

Lori, you said: "...very few ever use this freedom; they never rise above the human viewpoint of the Christian way of life. "Being free" is simple it means we are no longer slaves to the sin nature within us. We can chose to still live as slaves but we don't have to." I have racked my brains over the last couple days thinking about this very thing. I understand not being a slave to the sin nature, but practically, how do you overcome it. I guess this is where faith comes in. Its like when Jesus asked the man by the pool of Bethesda, "do you want to get well?" Then he told him to "pick up His bed and walk." The man could have chosen to continue to lie by the pool, or he could have jumped to his feet in faith.

Lydell, you said: "It's being released from the prison of all that stuff that satan uses to trouble us, restrict us, and keep us from deeper relationship with God." I really believe that in order to grow in my relationship with God, it is necessary to "let go" of the stuff that has simply served as crutches in my life.

My study this week has focused on Romans 8:3,4, which says: "For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."


I see a condition there. Experiencing the abundant life is more than making an intellectual assent. It is recognizing what has not worked (being bound in my flesh to the law) and being willing to give up on those things in order to follow after the Spirit. The more I am willing to do that, the more of the abundant life I will experience.

Anyway, I am just thinking out loud. Thanks all for being a listening ear.

In His Grace

Doug
Gatororeo7 (Gatororeo7)
Posted on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 2:56 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Doug, You're definitely on the right track! Praise God for what he's showing you and may you continue to live in the freedom you are experiencing.

Joel
Dennis (Dennis)
Posted on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 8:29 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

ORGAN RECITAL

I successfully endured the lithotripsy procedure yesterday (the doctor inserted a stent to my right kidney that I will have for about a week). I was under general anesthesia for about 70 minutes. I had a kidney stone nearly the size of a marble--all pulverized now. Needless to add, I had a most uncomfortable night. I am expecting basic recovery within a few days.

Thank you for your prayers.

Dennis J. Fischer
Jerry (Jerry)
Posted on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 9:05 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That is great news about your surgery, Dennis! OK, so it does not feel so good now, but I imagine you are relieved that it is complete.

You said you were apprehensive. You know we were praying for you. I know Jesus was right there to help you with this. Although lithotrypsy is a relatively safe procedure, the apprehension is real and some risk is there.

It is so comforting to know that the Holy Spirit is with us even with relatively routine concerns!

I know it did not seem minor at the time. This is not to belittle the risk. This is just in comparison to, say, brain surgery or something like that. Anytime anesthesia is used, there is an important risk at hand.

Darn! I thought, perhaps, you were talking about my wifeís profession from the title. ;)
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
Posted on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 11:39 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Praise God, Dennis. We'll keep praying for you; I presume you have to go back to surgery to have the stent removed?

BTW, Dennis, thank you for sharing more re: your questions and thoughts. I understand what you are saying. The particular aspect of freedom which I am so grateful for in these areas of my life is that God usually works with me on only one or two major areas at a time. I think he knows how much we can do without becoming overwehlemed. God really does consistently bring new things to my attention that need "work". And they don't just get "fixed" right away. There are some particular things God has been dealing with me about for a couple of years and even longer. I'm just finally beginning to see how he is bringing resolution and obedience into my life in those areas. And there are new ones as he helps me experience his peace in the old ones.

Praise God for his faithfulness!
Colleen
Lydell (Lydell)
Posted on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 1:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That's right Colleen. And sometimes the process can be downright painful, especially if healing is involved. This letting go of yourself hurts. He doesn't heal it without showing you where the ouch came from to begin with, it seems. And that often comes in stages. You deal with a part of the problem, and then He works on a different aspect of the problem.

I was struggling once to understand why I wasn't getting victory over something, it seems it was like a boomerang that kept coming around and slapping me in the head. The Lord asked me how I thought a person permanently got rid of a boomerang. I replied that you threw it away, of course! well, hm, no, that didn't seem to be working. The answer is you throw it at His feet, and take a step backward...and then another...and another. That will make sense to someone else out there whose brain is wired like mine. And for those of you who don't get it, I'm sorry, that's the only explanation you are going to get! ha
Dennis (Dennis)
Posted on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 7:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Colleen,

My kidney duct stent will be removed through my bladder on August 13th. The stent was inserted to prevent damage to the duct while passing pulverized stone fragments. By the way, I wholeheartedly denounce kidney stones (smile). I am part of the ten percent of caucasian males that develop this condition. I will attempt to implement dietary changes to alleviate another stone formation. Supposedly, it only takes three minutes to remove the stent with merely a local desensitizer; however, cystoscopes are intimidating at best.

Oh yes, remember to delete cola drinks, coffee, broccoli, Swiss chart, figs, dairy products, berries, ad infinitum to prevent a medical condition described above. I guess the list gets longer with age.

Dennis J. Fischer
Janet (Janet)
Posted on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 8:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dennis,I was wondering how your surgery went...Praise the Lord, you sound like you are on the road to recovery.
God bless,
Janet
Freeatlast (Freeatlast)
Posted on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 7:20 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dennis, no more Swiss chard? Really? Darn! Bet you're gonna miss that! LOL

So glad your surgery was a success. Praise God for His mercy!
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
Posted on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 5:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

H-m-m, I've become rather fond of (gulp!) coffee! (I also like Swiss chardóweird, huh?!)

I'm glad you don't have to go through another general anesthetic, Dennis. We'll continue to pray for you!

Colleen

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