Comments for Been Thinking About http://www.beenthinking.org with Mart De Haan and Friends Sat, 17 May 2008 19:09:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Sixteen Tons and… by hal.fshr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/17/sixteen-tons-and/#comment-1025 hal.fshr Sat, 17 May 2008 17:35:07 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=162#comment-1025 I've alwasy enjoyed Sixteen Tons as a song. At one point in my life I found myself having to hold down two hourly full time jobs just to pay the bills. The lyrics of that song ran through my mind. This article has hit upon an interesting paradox of work related to prosperity. Certainly, the Protestant work ethic in general has resulted in economic prosperity. However, making connections, timing in acquiring a position and a series of good circumstances can really help. The converse is also true. I guess I would have to say that both options you've mention are realities and I have experienced both. On the whole it is wise to be an effective worker even in a less than desired work environment. To guard against crushed expectations, the believer might best be equipped with expecting both types of work/prosperity issues to appear in their life. C.S. Lewis made it a point that often our happiness is just beyond our reach pointing to heavenly bliss in the future. Thanks for raising this issue, Mart. It is very helpful. I’ve alwasy enjoyed Sixteen Tons as a song. At one point in my life I found myself having to hold down two hourly full time jobs just to pay the bills. The lyrics of that song ran through my mind. This article has hit upon an interesting paradox of work related to prosperity. Certainly, the Protestant work ethic in general has resulted in economic prosperity. However, making connections, timing in acquiring a position and a series of good circumstances can really help. The converse is also true. I guess I would have to say that both options you’ve mention are realities and I have experienced both. On the whole it is wise to be an effective worker even in a less than desired work environment. To guard against crushed expectations, the believer might best be equipped with expecting both types of work/prosperity issues to appear in their life. C.S. Lewis made it a point that often our happiness is just beyond our reach pointing to heavenly bliss in the future. Thanks for raising this issue, Mart. It is very helpful.

]]> Comment on Sixteen Tons and… by overcomer http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/17/sixteen-tons-and/#comment-1024 overcomer Sat, 17 May 2008 17:34:38 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=162#comment-1024 Some great insights here. I smiled a lot while reading it. I am 53 and had to wind up my one man business due to ill health three years ago. My 32 year marriage also failed since then. I may or may not get well and may or may not work again. But the bottom line is always your relationship with God. Many times in my business God created openings and “chances” that were just so obviously of him. God was as interested in my work as in my singing and praising him. He was as interested in how I treated my customers as in how I treated church friends. There comes a time in your Christian walk when you realise there is no difference between “heavenly” and “earthly “ things. It’s all one. I love the Ecclesiastes quote and I have totally come to realise that there are no winners or losers in Gods economy. Only obedient or disobedient children. Some great insights here. I smiled a lot while reading it. I am 53 and had to wind up my one man business due to ill health three years ago. My 32 year marriage also failed since then.
I may or may not get well and may or may not work again. But the bottom line is always your relationship with God. Many times in my business God created openings and “chances” that were just so obviously of him. God was as interested in my work as in my singing and praising him. He was as interested in how I treated my customers as in how I treated church friends. There comes a time in your Christian walk when you realise there is no difference between “heavenly” and “earthly “ things. It’s all one.
I love the Ecclesiastes quote and I have totally come to realise that there are no winners or losers in Gods economy. Only obedient or disobedient children.

]]> Comment on Sixteen Tons and… by poohpity http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/17/sixteen-tons-and/#comment-1023 poohpity Sat, 17 May 2008 16:43:31 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=162#comment-1023 My parents came from very poor backgrounds. I believe their thoughts were, we are going to make sure our children do not go without. My father became a lineman and my mother was a homemaker both however worked very very hard to obtain treasures here on earth. My father worked very long hours and had to travel where ever the work was so that separated our family at times. My mother on the other hand did not ever have the 10 second rule in our home it was so clean you could have something fall on the floor and leave it there for a week and it would still not be dirty. They both put everything into their work and pretty much that was who they were. I started using drugs and alcohol at 14 and continued until I was 35 when I began a relationship with the Lord in 1989. During the drug years I gave up guardianship of my daughter to my parents because I felt they had more money and could provide for her better than I could(that was only part of the reason). She was born in 77, then in 87 I gave birth to a son and then another in 89. Long story short, I did not want to loose them so I asked the Lord for His help to change my life and He did. I began my journey with the Lord doing all the right things, I went to college, was active in my church and held down a job. It started to sound a bit like my parents trying to measure my success by the things I did. My children were in daycare sometimes for almost 12 hours a day and I was their only parent. In 1997 I was unable to work because my left hip needed to be replaced during the process of giving blood for the surgery the blood bank found I had Hep C. Needless to say the rug got pulled out from under me or so I thought. I had to go on disability and guess what I got to stay home with my boys. My boys had ADHD which brings along with it some learning disabilities. Many times I would pick them up from daycare and find rug burns on them from two teachers holding them down on the carpet which made me so angry I could have hurt someone but anyway I no longer had to put them in daycare. Anyway my whole point of this story is we had to live off of very very little money. I never was able to give them everything I had monetarily. Sometimes we barely had enough food. The only family that was part of their lives was my mom. No uncles, aunts, grandpas and no father. These boys grew up in the church family and now my oldest son has made the attempt to go to college to become a youth pastor and the youngest graduates next week from high school with aspirations of becoming a police officer. High risk children who because of the Lord's intervention with the blessing of having health problems was able to save their lives from drugs and crime. I still have mega health problems, and need help with the graduation meal, but they have a wonderful life in Christ. He was my husband, provider, counselor and the best friend anyone could ever have. Sometimes one works so hard they are unable to smell the roses or spend anytime with the one who created them. I am feeling a bit lost because they were my job and now they are grown but am beginning to look expectantly at what the Lord has for me in the future to continue to do His work. I apologize for the length of this but it could have been really long if I filled it with all the ways the Lord provided. He is a very wonderful God. My parents came from very poor backgrounds. I believe their thoughts were, we are going to make sure our children do not go without. My father became a lineman and my mother was a homemaker both however worked very very hard to obtain treasures here on earth. My father worked very long hours and had to travel where ever the work was so that separated our family at times. My mother on the other hand did not ever have the 10 second rule in our home it was so clean you could have something fall on the floor and leave it there for a week and it would still not be dirty. They both put everything into their work and pretty much that was who they were.

I started using drugs and alcohol at 14 and continued until I was 35 when I began a relationship with the Lord in 1989. During the drug years I gave up guardianship of my daughter to my parents because I felt they had more money and could provide for her better than I could(that was only part of the reason). She was born in 77, then in 87 I gave birth to a son and then another in 89. Long story short, I did not want to loose them so I asked the Lord for His help to change my life and He did. I began my journey with the Lord doing all the right things, I went to college, was active in my church and held down a job. It started to sound a bit like my parents trying to measure my success by the things I did. My children were in daycare sometimes for almost 12 hours a day and I was their only parent.

In 1997 I was unable to work because my left hip needed to be replaced during the process of giving blood for the surgery the blood bank found I had Hep C. Needless to say the rug got pulled out from under me or so I thought. I had to go on disability and guess what I got to stay home with my boys. My boys had ADHD which brings along with it some learning disabilities. Many times I would pick them up from daycare and find rug burns on them from two teachers holding them down on the carpet which made me so angry I could have hurt someone but anyway I no longer had to put them in daycare.

Anyway my whole point of this story is we had to live off of very very little money. I never was able to give them everything I had monetarily. Sometimes we barely had enough food. The only family that was part of their lives was my mom. No uncles, aunts, grandpas and no father. These boys grew up in the church family and now my oldest son has made the attempt to go to college to become a youth pastor and the youngest graduates next week from high school with aspirations of becoming a police officer. High risk children who because of the Lord’s intervention with the blessing of having health problems was able to save their lives from drugs and crime.

I still have mega health problems, and need help with the graduation meal, but they have a wonderful life in Christ. He was my husband, provider, counselor and the best friend anyone could ever have. Sometimes one works so hard they are unable to smell the roses or spend anytime with the one who created them. I am feeling a bit lost because they were my job and now they are grown but am beginning to look expectantly at what the Lord has for me in the future to continue to do His work.

I apologize for the length of this but it could have been really long if I filled it with all the ways the Lord provided. He is a very wonderful God.

]]> Comment on Sixteen Tons and… by igetbored http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/17/sixteen-tons-and/#comment-1022 igetbored Sat, 17 May 2008 16:22:23 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=162#comment-1022 It's tuff out there no doubt. Even with a military back ground and college under my belt it seems it's still not enough. But staying close to God and tithing as much as I can has not failed me yet. Praise his name! It’s tuff out there no doubt. Even with a military back ground and college under my belt it seems it’s still not enough. But staying close to God and tithing as much as I can has not failed me yet. Praise his name!

]]> Comment on US and Israel by Mart De Haan http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/04/us-and-israel/#comment-1021 Mart De Haan Sat, 17 May 2008 15:28:23 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=119#comment-1021 igetbored, I'm convinced that being honest about Israel in her current state of unbelief can be one of the most loving things we could do. In ancient Israel the false prophets were the ones who encouraged her to go into battle with the assumption that God would protect his people even in their rebellion and unbelief. igetbored, I’m convinced that being honest about Israel in her current state of unbelief can be one of the most loving things we could do. In ancient Israel the false prophets were the ones who encouraged her to go into battle with the assumption that God would protect his people even in their rebellion and unbelief.

]]> Comment on Why I Don't Go To Church by daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/04/03/why-i-dont-go-to-church/#comment-1020 daisymarygoldr Sat, 17 May 2008 15:04:15 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/04/03/why-i-dont-go-to-church/#comment-1020 Don Bradley, I’m assuming you are referring to the ‘local body of believers’ in “I believe there is a time to leave a church…”. Your legible reason about false doctrines being taught and followed is understandable. However, how will your ‘quitting’ under such circumstances prevent from adding chaos to the confusion? Again, its presumed that you have been an active member who has been around for a while. We do exercise discernment by staying away from a false teaching group but I don’t see any point to give up despite “all biblical means to correct the cause have been exhausted”. Don’t you think your perseverance to remain rooted could do more good than bad? Scripture does mention excluding an errant believer but never encourages to quit (pls correct me if I’m wrong). Maybe you could be the only redeeming reason for God to not remove ‘His candlestick’ from the midst of that church! Of course, no matter what the circumstances are God in His sovereignty even uses dissensions in His Body to disseminate His word!! Don Bradley,
I’m assuming you are referring to the ‘local body of believers’ in “I believe there is a time to leave a church…”. Your legible reason about false doctrines being taught and followed is understandable. However, how will your ‘quitting’ under such circumstances prevent from adding chaos to the confusion? Again, its presumed that you have been an active member who has been around for a while. We do exercise discernment by staying away from a false teaching group but I don’t see any point to give up despite “all biblical means to correct the cause have been exhausted”. Don’t you think your perseverance to remain rooted could do more good than bad? Scripture does mention excluding an errant believer but never encourages to quit (pls correct me if I’m wrong). Maybe you could be the only redeeming reason for God to not remove ‘His candlestick’ from the midst of that church! Of course, no matter what the circumstances are God in His sovereignty even uses dissensions in His Body to disseminate His word!!

]]> Comment on The "H" Factor by dep7547 http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/16/the-h-factor/#comment-1019 dep7547 Sat, 17 May 2008 02:24:23 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=155#comment-1019 Absolutely! Humility must examine the heart that receives it with graciousness. I think one of the most beautiful messages that I have ever heard was about all of the emotions that David went through when he composed "Psalm 51". After Samuel had made it clear to David that God had allowed his own name to be defamed in order to instruct David in the way of righteosness--David had no choice but to tearfully write this psalm with Godly sorrow. That is the way I have come to understand the fear of the lord. It is not so much being afraid of punishment as it is having that gut-wrenching feeling that we have disappointed him. Absolutely! Humility must examine the heart that receives it with graciousness. I think one of the most beautiful messages that I have ever heard was about all of the emotions that David went through when he composed “Psalm 51″. After Samuel had made it clear to David that God had allowed his own name to be defamed in order to instruct David in the way of righteosness–David had no choice but to tearfully write this psalm with Godly sorrow. That is the way I have come to understand the fear of the lord. It is not so much being afraid of punishment as it is having that gut-wrenching feeling that we have disappointed him.

]]> Comment on US and Israel by igetbored http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/04/us-and-israel/#comment-1018 igetbored Sat, 17 May 2008 01:25:10 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=119#comment-1018 Let's make one thing clear. Any church, pastor, or anyone in general who teaches hate towards Israel or that the church has taken Israel's spot in God's heart is truley wrong and will be judged for it by God. Israel is to be prayed for respected and loved for who they are. God made a covenant with Israel and it's people long ago and unlike humans God does not break is word. Get it right people and take these words seriously for every knee shall bow and every toung will confess. Let’s make one thing clear. Any church, pastor, or anyone in general who teaches hate towards Israel or that the church has taken Israel’s spot in God’s heart is truley wrong and will be judged for it by God. Israel is to be prayed for respected and loved for who they are. God made a covenant with Israel and it’s people long ago and unlike humans God does not break is word. Get it right people and take these words seriously for every knee shall bow and every toung will confess.

]]> Comment on The "H" Factor by poohpity http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/16/the-h-factor/#comment-1017 poohpity Sat, 17 May 2008 01:21:22 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=155#comment-1017 I believe that true humility is laying down your deity, power and authority, and living with your creation. ... Our humility comes with realizing we were not meant to go this journey alone and learn to see God in all of His creation and respect it and each other. My humility comes from not continually focusing on whether I am proud or humble but in my need for help to complete and enjoy this journey. I believe that true humility is laying down your deity, power and authority, and living with your creation. … Our humility comes with realizing we were not meant to go this journey alone and learn to see God in all of His creation and respect it and each other. My humility comes from not continually focusing on whether I am proud or humble but in my need for help to complete and enjoy this journey.

]]> Comment on 1987 Y2K and 2012 by igetbored http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/05/05/1987-y2k-and-2012/#comment-1016 igetbored Sat, 17 May 2008 01:14:32 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=142#comment-1016 Just because the bible says no one will know the hour dosen't mean Jesus's followers won't know. Jesus was talking about those who are not following him as the one's who will be taken off guard not his followers... Just because the bible says no one will know the hour dosen’t mean Jesus’s followers won’t know. Jesus was talking about those who are not following him as the one’s who will be taken off guard not his followers…

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