Comments on: The Platypus And Us http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/ with Mart De Haan and Friends Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:45:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: kelvin http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-913 kelvin Fri, 09 May 2008 01:34:48 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-913 good evening every one as i read this mornings blogs and about the PLATYPUS this came to mind " the trinty god the father ,the son and the holy spirt " I'NOT saying he's a platypus just that tree thing were mentioned about the platypus but anyway as far as being all different coming from different culters and races we all meet the same savoir JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVOIR that is the very reason we talk about him in this fellowship we are brothers and sisters in gods family and we come in all shapes and sizes thank god for all good evening every one as i read this mornings blogs and about the PLATYPUS this came to mind ” the trinty god the father ,the son and the holy spirt ” I’NOT saying he’s a platypus just that tree thing were mentioned about the platypus but anyway as far as being all different coming from different culters and races we all meet the same savoir JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVOIR that is the very reason we talk about him in this fellowship we are brothers and sisters in gods family and we come in all shapes and sizes thank god for all

]]> By: dep7547 http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-912 dep7547 Fri, 09 May 2008 01:24:38 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-912 desert rose, I like the advice that daisymarygoldr has pointed out to you in using the shepherd/sheep reference. In fact, the most potent advice that our lord gave us is John, 10:29, when Jesus said of his sheep, "My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all and no one is able to pluck them from out of my father's hand." This verse tells me that once I have become his, that even I do not possess the power to escape his loving grip! Sure, I can be tested to the point of giving up all hope and even turn my back on him, but, except that it be his will, I have no power to just walk away. I agree with poohpity as well on the idea of feelimg hurt more by professing "Christians" who are so ready to take up their judgment seats with Christ because someone has fallen into a different trap than they have. If we evaluate scripture properly, we realize that even a white lie leaves as black of a mark on our souls as murder does. Jesus, himself promised that many adulterers, drunkards and thieves would enter paradise before many of the righteous would. I believe he lived up to his word when he promised one thief who was crucified with him, "today, you will be with me in paradise." I do not believe that as Christians, we are uncassifiable: In addition to being a Christian, I am also an English instructor and as such, everyone else seems to know what rules that I am supposed to follow. It is the same with Christians--people can identify us. In fact, many of our biggest critics are people who have backslidden or fallen away--they can be identified by their fruits, also. I especially like to identify the so called atheists who protest public displays of crosses and nativity scenes--how can people be offended by someone they do not believe in? Their very anger testifies to the fact that they once believed (and maybe still do). I guess a follower of Christ would pray heartily for such people. We can have interests in other things and still be united by faith. A church has to have a congregation as well as a minister. desert rose, I like the advice that daisymarygoldr has pointed out to you in using the shepherd/sheep reference. In fact, the most potent advice that our lord gave us is John, 10:29, when Jesus said of his sheep, “My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all and no one is able to pluck them from out of my father’s hand.” This verse tells me that once I have become his, that even I do not possess the power to escape his loving grip! Sure, I can be tested to the point of giving up all hope and even turn my back on him, but, except that it be his will, I have no power to just walk away.

I agree with poohpity as well on the idea of feelimg hurt more by professing “Christians” who are so ready to take up their judgment seats with Christ because someone has fallen into a different trap than they have. If we evaluate scripture properly, we realize that even a white lie leaves as black of a mark on our souls as murder does. Jesus, himself promised that many adulterers, drunkards and thieves would enter paradise before many of the righteous would. I believe he lived up to his word when he promised one thief who was crucified with him, “today, you will be with me in paradise.”

I do not believe that as Christians, we are uncassifiable: In addition to being a Christian, I am also an English instructor and as such, everyone else seems to know what rules that I am supposed to follow. It is the same with Christians–people can identify us. In fact, many of our biggest critics are people who have backslidden or fallen away–they can be identified by their fruits, also. I especially like to identify the so called atheists who protest public displays of crosses and nativity scenes–how can people be offended by someone they do not believe in?

Their very anger testifies to the fact that they once believed (and maybe still do). I guess a follower of Christ would pray heartily for such people. We can have interests in other things and still be united by faith. A church has to have a congregation as well as a minister.

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-911 daisymarygoldr Fri, 09 May 2008 00:17:10 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-911 Poohpity, just wanted to let you know that I earnestly prayed for you today during my lunchtime. Hope you didn’t take my joke about ‘getting even with you’, seriously. I am really very sorry and I hope you will forgive me. Even if you don't, I will understand…serves me right for being such a callous and insensitive Christian. Anyway, be assured that I love you dearly as a sister in the Lord and that you will be a prominent part of my daily prayers- for God to heal your hurting heart and take all the pain away. Sending lots of:):):)your way... -Daisy Poohpity, just wanted to let you know that I earnestly prayed for you today during my lunchtime. Hope you didn’t take my joke about ‘getting even with you’, seriously. I am really very sorry and I hope you will forgive me. Even if you don’t, I will understand…serves me right for being such a callous and insensitive Christian. Anyway, be assured that I love you dearly as a sister in the Lord and that you will be a prominent part of my daily prayers- for God to heal your hurting heart and take all the pain away. Sending lots of:):):)your way…
-Daisy

]]> By: poohpity http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-910 poohpity Thu, 08 May 2008 22:57:52 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-910 I forgot the most important thing the more you serve others by giving them LOVE you can feel what the Lord felt for us. I forgot the most important thing the more you serve others by giving them LOVE you can feel what the Lord felt for us.

]]> By: poohpity http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-909 poohpity Thu, 08 May 2008 22:50:29 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-909 3 Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." (Hosea 6:3) I believe that God's word was written so that we can have but a glimpse of who He is. Through reading the Bible we get to know who we worship and he will reveal more of Himself to us the more we crave spending time with Him. It also reveals who we are which history doesn't seem to change us very much. I believe that God loves each one of us just for who we each are individually. The very interesting part is that after reading the whole Bible we understand exactly what we have in common, humanity. I believe it is so important to accept others just the way they are and let God do the changing because we tend to mess things up. That gives us the time to follow Jesus's example of loving the unlovely. When we see someone hurting, hungry, lonely, tired, angry, thirsty and wanting that is the time when we are able to follow His example and take off our nice clothes and wrap our towel around us and serve them as if we were serving the King because you never know if that person may be JESUS. I love the Lord so much and owe all that I am to Him. He has taken my heart after being on the streets and addicted to drugs for 21 years and all the hardness that comes from that kind of life and turned my heart into one that is pliable like that of a child. In 1989 I started reading His Word and have continued until today but the hurt that tends to overwhelm me has not come from the world but from people who call themselves Christians and that is where my confusion comes from. Thank you so much for talking about this. In the New Testament Jesus addressed this when He continually confronted the religious leaders in His day. The platypus has nothing on us. 3 Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:3)
I believe that God’s word was written so that we can have but a glimpse of who He is. Through reading the Bible we get to know who we worship and he will reveal more of Himself to us the more we crave spending time with Him. It also reveals who we are which history doesn’t seem to change us very much. I believe that God loves each one of us just for who we each are individually. The very interesting part is that after reading the whole Bible we understand exactly what we have in common, humanity.

I believe it is so important to accept others just the way they are and let God do the changing because we tend to mess things up. That gives us the time to follow Jesus’s example of loving the unlovely. When we see someone hurting, hungry, lonely, tired, angry, thirsty and wanting that is the time when we are able to follow His example and take off our nice clothes and wrap our towel around us and serve them as if we were serving the King because you never know if that person may be JESUS.

I love the Lord so much and owe all that I am to Him. He has taken my heart after being on the streets and addicted to drugs for 21 years and all the hardness that comes from that kind of life and turned my heart into one that is pliable like that of a child. In 1989 I started reading His Word and have continued until today but the hurt that tends to overwhelm me has not come from the world but from people who call themselves Christians and that is where my confusion comes from. Thank you so much for talking about this. In the New Testament Jesus addressed this when He continually confronted the religious leaders in His day.

The platypus has nothing on us.

]]> By: Gale L. Jarvis http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-908 Gale L. Jarvis Thu, 08 May 2008 21:17:36 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-908 Good Evening everyone, Mart, I made it back, i thank you for this blog again Mart, as i have had time to read the comments from each one, and have enjoyed seeing the different points made, i do not know why, but pegramsdell struck me as being a very important thought i had not thought about, i should not care what i look like to others as i am following Christ, as Paul said he would become a fool for Christ sake. I mentioned this before, but repitition is also a good learning tool. I believe cutting a Covenant with God is where following Christ begins, God shed His Eternal blood so i could have Eternal life, if ( IF ) i would lay my life before Him as a living sacrifice. As bamatex mentioned getting my self out of the way is one of my problems. I believe there is no one way to follow Christ, but i believe it must start first thing every morning, or it will not start right, following Christ can only be done through the guidance from the Holy Spirit as my desires to do so come first, and then ask the Holy Spirit to help me Trust Him, Stop leaning on my inteligience, and acknowlege Him as i go through the day. Good Evening everyone, Mart, I made it back, i thank you for this blog again Mart, as i have had time to read the comments from each one, and have enjoyed seeing the different points made, i do not know why, but pegramsdell struck me as being a very important thought i had not thought about, i should not care what i look like to others as i am following Christ, as Paul said he would become a fool for Christ sake.
I mentioned this before, but repitition is also a good learning tool.
I believe cutting a Covenant with God is where following Christ begins, God shed His Eternal blood so i could have Eternal life, if ( IF ) i would lay my life before Him as a living sacrifice.
As bamatex mentioned getting my self out of the way is one of my problems.
I believe there is no one way to follow Christ, but i believe it must start first thing every morning, or it will not start right, following Christ can only be done through the guidance from the Holy Spirit as my desires to do so come first, and then ask the Holy Spirit to help me Trust Him, Stop leaning on my inteligience, and acknowlege Him as i go through the day.

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-906 daisymarygoldr Thu, 08 May 2008 18:41:39 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-906 Even as an individual I can relate myself to the Platypus. Look at this poor creature…he doesn’t seem to fit in with any specific group. That is the identity of a follower of Christ- as we choose to deny ourselves, pick up the cross and follow Him. This does not mean that Jesus wants us to become monks and hole ourselves in caves or forsake our families and neglect our daily duties. Even as life continues in this earthly body our self-wisdom, self-importance, self-strength and self-dependence is being put to death by the effective work of the cross. It is very, very difficult to let go of ‘self’ especially for me… my spirit is willing but the flesh is sooo weak. It is comforting to know that it His work in progress that allows me to decrease in order that He may increase. It is then that the world identifies me as a Christian by the fruits of love, mercy, kindness and gentleness that I produce by abiding in Christ the true vine! desert rose: you don’t have to worry about God not being pleased with your following Him. It seemed good to Him to choose and shepherd a bunch of dumb sheep- who often tend to go astray. He never gives up but does everything in His power to safely lead us home:) Even as an individual I can relate myself to the Platypus. Look at this poor creature…he doesn’t seem to fit in with any specific group. That is the identity of a follower of Christ- as we choose to deny ourselves, pick up the cross and follow Him. This does not mean that Jesus wants us to become monks and hole ourselves in caves or forsake our families and neglect our daily duties. Even as life continues in this earthly body our self-wisdom, self-importance, self-strength and self-dependence is being put to death by the effective work of the cross. It is very, very difficult to let go of ‘self’ especially for me… my spirit is willing but the flesh is sooo weak. It is comforting to know that it His work in progress that allows me to decrease in order that He may increase. It is then that the world identifies me as a Christian by the fruits of love, mercy, kindness and gentleness that I produce by abiding in Christ the true vine!
desert rose: you don’t have to worry about God not being pleased with your following Him. It seemed good to Him to choose and shepherd a bunch of dumb sheep- who often tend to go astray. He never gives up but does everything in His power to safely lead us home:)

]]> By: hal.fshr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-905 hal.fshr Thu, 08 May 2008 18:20:54 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-905 An effective parachurch group that works on college campuses and in the military has a very clear profile of what it means to follow Jesus. With Christ at the center (2 Cor 5:17), we are to grow in four key areas of communication: God speaks to us through the Word (2 Tim 3:16); We speak to God through prayer (Phil 4:6-7); We speak to other believers through fellowship (Heb 10:24-25); We speak to unbelievers through witnessing (Rom 1:16). These are important areas of Christian discipline. However, I think Mart's point about our uniqueness as individuals and as part of Christ's Body is critical. God is not interested in making us all the same as a cookie cutter might. Instead, God wants our diversity of temperaments and gifts to glorify Him. An effective parachurch group that works on college campuses and in the military has a very clear profile of what it means to follow Jesus. With Christ at the center (2 Cor 5:17), we are to grow in four key areas of communication: God speaks to us through the Word (2 Tim 3:16); We speak to God through prayer (Phil 4:6-7); We speak to other believers through fellowship (Heb 10:24-25); We speak to unbelievers through witnessing (Rom 1:16). These are important areas of Christian discipline. However, I think Mart’s point about our uniqueness as individuals and as part of Christ’s Body is critical. God is not interested in making us all the same as a cookie cutter might. Instead, God wants our diversity of temperaments and gifts to glorify Him.

]]> By: pegramsdell http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-903 pegramsdell Thu, 08 May 2008 17:35:24 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-903 You know I don't think the platypus knows what he looks likes and I don't think he cares. I hope and pray I can be like that one day. Just love and live for Him and forget myself. It's all vanity anyway, isn't it? You know I don’t think the platypus knows what he looks likes and I don’t think he cares. I hope and pray I can be like that one day.
Just love and live for Him and forget myself.
It’s all vanity anyway, isn’t it?

]]> By: agapelife http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/08/the-platypus-and-us/#comment-900 agapelife Thu, 08 May 2008 15:10:27 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=147#comment-900 .Thanks everyone for what you written. It it Balm for the suffering we do, and food for our spirit. Yes it takes a Living Church(we are the Church, not a building or a denomination) which God is building up to bless each other and build one another up. Know matter who they are. The prerequisite is that they know and accepted the Lord, and desires o do His will .Thanks everyone for what you written. It it Balm for the suffering we do, and food for our spirit. Yes it takes a Living Church(we are the Church, not a building or a denomination) which God is building up to bless each other and build one another up. Know matter who they are. The prerequisite is that they know and accepted the Lord, and desires o do His will

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