Comments on: A Pastoral Paul Cuts us Slack http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/ with Mart De Haan and Friends Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:58:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: mtman http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6052 mtman Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:20:45 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6052 Excellent post and follow up commments Mark L. We do have choices and how we exercise them defines the path of life. Not that it has any relevence to what you have posted but I attended a retreat probably 20 years ago where a futureistics expert make the qualified prediction that by the year 2020 third world countries would be coming to the USA to evanglize us. I guess that just shows how wrong even the experts can be because that happened several years ago.. Since this is a closed topic I hope you get to read this... Excellent post and follow up commments Mark L. We do have choices and how we exercise them defines the path of life.
Not that it has any relevence to what you have posted but I attended a retreat probably 20 years ago where a futureistics expert make the qualified prediction that by the year 2020 third world countries would be coming to the USA to evanglize us. I guess that just shows how wrong even the experts can be because that happened several years ago.. Since this is a closed topic I hope you get to read this…

]]> By: Mark L http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6048 Mark L Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:18:53 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6048 Laurielee, I refer back to this from time to time especially when I start getting bogged down with the affairs of life and the old thorn in the flesh rises up. God gave us free will and we "get" to choose which path in life we want to take. Sometimes I don't choose wisely and the Lord has to point me back in the right direction. Sometimes when I speak to the lost they say, "I don't want the "have" to go to church on Sunday", "they are always asking for money" I like to tell them, no where in scripture does God tell you, you “have” to go to church. Hebrews 10:25 tells us "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" While I believe it is true we don't "have" to go to church, instead we "get" to go to church. A place where we can exhort one another, pray for one another, be with like believers, be nourished on the Word of God and take at least one day a week to rest and give back to God with our Praise and Worship. There are many places in the world where people don’t “get” to go to church as we know church; they have to meet in secret places to avoid persecution. It is in those places where the church grows the most, in times of persecution. Where like believers can go before the throne of Grace and be filled. We live in a blessed country where can still worship God in a place of our choosing. Laurielee, I refer back to this from time to time especially when I start getting bogged down with the affairs of life and the old thorn in the flesh rises up. God gave us free will and we “get” to choose which path in life we want to take. Sometimes I don’t choose wisely and the Lord has to point me back in the right direction.
Sometimes when I speak to the lost they say, “I don’t want the “have” to go to church on Sunday”, “they are always asking for money” I like to tell them, no where in scripture does God tell you, you “have” to go to church. Hebrews 10:25 tells us “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” While I believe it is true we don’t “have” to go to church, instead we “get” to go to church. A place where we can exhort one another, pray for one another, be with like believers, be nourished on the Word of God and take at least one day a week to rest and give back to God with our Praise and Worship. There are many places in the world where people don’t “get” to go to church as we know church; they have to meet in secret places to avoid persecution. It is in those places where the church grows the most, in times of persecution. Where like believers can go before the throne of Grace and be filled. We live in a blessed country where can still worship God in a place of our choosing.

]]> By: Laurielee http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6032 Laurielee Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:11:42 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6032 Mark, I really enjoyed reading "I get to choose". Mark, I really enjoyed reading “I get to choose”.

]]> By: Mark L http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6024 Mark L Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:11:43 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6024 Saturday we got to see our pastor. We have not seen him for 2 months as he was stricken with an affliction the Medical Profession can not explain. It can on him suddenly with flu like symptoms and emerged as something that take took his sodium levels to a low and his enzyme lives to a high the doctors felt he would not survive. He gained over 70 pounds in fluid, kidneys shut down and slipped into a coma on an off. He stopped breathing and had to have a tracheotomy to keep him breathing. He was given all sorts of medications that did little or no good at all. He had over 100 tests that were inclusive. Twice his family was told he is not going to make it. The church fasted and prayed for him and I know at lest three other churches in the area were praying for him and had signs out asking others to pray for John Stumbo. The doctors told his family that there was one med left but it was dangerous. After consulting with the Lord it was decided to try it. The med brought on hallucinations where the battle for Johns life took place in his mind. A battle for the soul of John. After two months of Saturday we got to see our pastor walk on stag with a walker and with great difficulty speak of the great things the Lord did while in the hospital. Johns recover has been hard and slow, and faster then the doctors expected. John loves to sing and a song that went through his mind was, The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty Let all the earth rejoice All the earth rejoice He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide And trembles at His voice Trembles at His voice How great is our God, sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great, how great is our God Age to age He stands And time is in His hands Beginning and the end Beginning and the end The Godhead Three in One Father Spirit Son The Lion and the Lamb The Lion and the Lamb How great is our God, sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great, how great is our God Name above all names Worthy of all praise My heart will sing How great is our God Name above all names Worthy of all praise My heart will sing How great is our God How great is our God, sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great, how great is our God There was not a dry eye in church and we all sang... How great, how great is our God Praise Him!! Saturday we got to see our pastor. We have not seen him for 2 months as he was stricken with an affliction the Medical Profession can not explain.

It can on him suddenly with flu like symptoms and emerged as something that take took his sodium levels to a low and his enzyme lives to a high the doctors felt he would not survive. He gained over 70 pounds in fluid, kidneys shut down and slipped into a coma on an off. He stopped breathing and had to have a tracheotomy to keep him breathing. He was given all sorts of medications that did little or no good at all. He had over 100 tests that were inclusive. Twice his family was told he is not going to make it.

The church fasted and prayed for him and I know at lest three other churches in the area were praying for him and had signs out asking others to pray for John Stumbo.

The doctors told his family that there was one med left but it was dangerous. After consulting with the Lord it was decided to try it.

The med brought on hallucinations where the battle for Johns life took place in his mind. A battle for the soul of John.

After two months of Saturday we got to see our pastor walk on stag with a walker and with great difficulty speak of the great things the Lord did while in the hospital. Johns recover has been hard and slow, and faster then the doctors expected.

John loves to sing and a song that went through his mind was,

The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

There was not a dry eye in church and we all sang…

How great, how great is our God

Praise Him!!

]]> By: Mark L http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6022 Mark L Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:41:53 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6022 I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have. Today I can complain because the weather is rainy. or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free. Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste. Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive. Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born. Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses. Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships. Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do. I can complain because I have to go to school or Eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge. Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul. Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have! I can Choose to trust in the Lord with all my heart and know He is the author and finisher of my faith. I get to Choose. Pass this on I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important.

My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have. Today I can complain because the weather is rainy.

or

I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free. Today I can feel sad that I don’t have more money

or

I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste. Today I can grumble about my health

or

I can rejoice that I am alive. Today I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me when I was growing up

or

I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born. Today I can cry because roses have thorns

or

I can celebrate that thorns have roses. Today I can mourn my lack of friends

or

I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships. Today I can whine because I have to go to work

or

I can shout for joy because I have a job to do. I can complain because I have to go to school

or

Eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge. Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework

or

I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me.

I get to choose what kind of day I will have! I can Choose to trust in the Lord with all my heart and know He is the author and finisher of my faith.

I get to Choose.

Pass this on

]]> By: Mart De Haan http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6007 Mart De Haan Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:30:10 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6007 rdrcomp, I agree that there are probably a lot of those factors, but like you, want to be so careful not to add to the distress of those who really do have medical issues. rdrcomp, I agree that there are probably a lot of those factors, but like you, want to be so careful not to add to the distress of those who really do have medical issues.

]]> By: kaliko88 http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6006 kaliko88 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:45:53 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6006 I also was gently comforted today by songs. One was on the radio, a folk/bluegrass program I love on Sundays. I got introduced to the music of John Smith and a song called "Down a Gravel Road" where I was caught by the phrase 'gratitude is a friend of mine'. I'm still trying to track it down so maybe I can purchase a download. And then when I read this I was instantly reminded of John Waller's song "While I'm Waiting" from the movie Fireproof. A strong, encouraging message in that one, and one I can instantly share as it's on his MySpace page (if anyone wants to hear it). It seems to fit perfectly with today's observations. Spring kicked off here with a week of warm weather and a night of storms bringing much needed rain. Today was cooler, but breezy and sunny. I welcomed it in by opening the windows and enjoyed dozing into a restful nap as I watched my cats enjoy the fresh air and the sounds of birds. I also was gently comforted today by songs. One was on the radio, a folk/bluegrass program I love on Sundays. I got introduced to the music of John Smith and a song called “Down a Gravel Road” where I was caught by the phrase ‘gratitude is a friend of mine’. I’m still trying to track it down so maybe I can purchase a download. And then when I read this I was instantly reminded of John Waller’s song “While I’m Waiting” from the movie Fireproof. A strong, encouraging message in that one, and one I can instantly share as it’s on his MySpace page (if anyone wants to hear it). It seems to fit perfectly with today’s observations.

Spring kicked off here with a week of warm weather and a night of storms bringing much needed rain. Today was cooler, but breezy and sunny. I welcomed it in by opening the windows and enjoyed dozing into a restful nap as I watched my cats enjoy the fresh air and the sounds of birds.

]]> By: poohpity http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6005 poohpity Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:11:57 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6005 I believe what Paul was trying to say is that no matter what we are going through in this world things tend to distract us from serving the Lord. I would even venture to say that when we do anything for the lest of these or tell someone of the salvation offered by the Lord our eyes are upon God and not on us. When we are busy with the work God has intended for us to do I have found relief from a lot of negative feelings and that includes depression. Paul tries to let us know that whatever our station is in life we can be used by God to benefit someone else. Our days are numbered and we are called to serve as Jesus served but if we are so busy with the things of this world and our wants then there is not enough time in a day to look beyond ourselves to be Jesus to someone else. I believe what Paul was trying to say is that no matter what we are going through in this world things tend to distract us from serving the Lord. I would even venture to say that when we do anything for the lest of these or tell someone of the salvation offered by the Lord our eyes are upon God and not on us. When we are busy with the work God has intended for us to do I have found relief from a lot of negative feelings and that includes depression.

Paul tries to let us know that whatever our station is in life we can be used by God to benefit someone else. Our days are numbered and we are called to serve as Jesus served but if we are so busy with the things of this world and our wants then there is not enough time in a day to look beyond ourselves to be Jesus to someone else.

]]> By: Laurielee http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6002 Laurielee Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:29:41 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6002 This morning, on awakening, I was contemplating on how nothing and no one in our life is "ours" to keep. We have no guarantees of having those we love about us for the duration of our earthly lives, no guarantees of health, happiness, or length of life. The only guarantee, and the only constant, is our Lord Jesus and Father in Heaven. Though it's been repeated so often, it is so true...He will never leave us or forsake us. I am in such a state of praising Him today. Without Him, what would I have? Life would not be worth the effort it takes to go on. A clear look at the earthly life of Christ doesn't reveal a life without opposition, pain, and physical and mental anguish. Could we really exchange the lives we've lived for the cup He had to drink? Could we even live the lives the Apostles did? How many stood by Him at His darkest hour? Even Jesus felt abandoned..."My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" According to Merriam-Webster... "Forsaken; to renounce or entirely turn away from". We know, from Christ's resurrection, that God did not ultimately forsake Him. And He won't forsake us. He loves us with an everlasting love...and we don't even deserve it! I am so thankful, because who am I that He should be mindful of me? What is one basic, true fact that we know about God? He cannot lie. Ps. 50:14 & 23. "Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on Me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give Me glory. 23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me. If you keep to My path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." That's a promise...what are we thankful for? This morning, on awakening, I was contemplating on how nothing and no one in our life is “ours” to keep. We have no guarantees of having those we love about us for the duration of our earthly lives, no guarantees of health, happiness, or length of life. The only guarantee, and the only constant, is our Lord Jesus and Father in Heaven. Though it’s been repeated so often, it is so true…He will never leave us or forsake us. I am in such a state of praising Him today. Without Him, what would I have? Life would not be worth the effort it takes to go on. A clear look at the earthly life of Christ doesn’t reveal a life without opposition, pain, and physical and mental anguish. Could we really exchange the lives we’ve lived for the cup He had to drink? Could we even live the lives the Apostles did? How many stood by Him at His darkest hour? Even Jesus felt abandoned…”My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” According to Merriam-Webster… “Forsaken; to renounce or entirely turn away from”. We know, from Christ’s resurrection, that God did not ultimately forsake Him. And He won’t forsake us. He loves us with an everlasting love…and we don’t even deserve it! I am so thankful, because who am I that He should be mindful of me? What is one basic, true fact that we know about God? He cannot lie. Ps. 50:14 & 23. “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on Me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give Me glory. 23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me. If you keep to My path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” That’s a promise…what are we thankful for?

]]> By: rokdude5 http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/03/08/the-pastoral-paul-cuts-us-slack/#comment-6001 rokdude5 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:24:57 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=4429#comment-6001 Though I want to be joyful in my heart as we should be, Im sadden by the events that occurred at MaryVille Baptist Church this morning. Lets lift them up in our prayers. Though I want to be joyful in my heart as we should be, Im sadden by the events that occurred at MaryVille Baptist Church this morning. Lets lift them up in our prayers.

]]>