My Thoughts

dvd_holc · #11 16th January 2006, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Just The Facts

Hi dvd

So what you are saying is the world is a different place now.

You also seem to be saying jesus did not ask people to leave their life behind and move forward in a new way.

Just to be sure I understand you is this what you are saying

Hey Just the Facts,

Yes, today is a different day with (No) the same struggles. Humanity itself makes many of the same mistakes over and over again. We live with the mistakes of the past which have developed civilizations to what we have today.

But, you may be hearing what I am saying in your context. I am neither a escapist, compromiser, nor a military zealot. Or at least I am developing still into none of them. Now, there is need of a police officer because of the disharmony that theives and murders cause. There is need for leadership within the community to ensure stability. There is need for the military because of global decay of governments. But, I am not even of these.

I put off my sinful nature as I am now a follower of Christ. I have been spiritually born into his living body. In the beginning, God gave the creation for us to participate in. The Christian is the restored humanity who God has purposed to be his shining light. We don't retreat from any need for just people. We are sent into the worst and best places to proclaim the good news that through Christ the Kingdom of God is being brought to bear into this world. Those of Christ are of his Kingdom. The cultures of this world are not seperated nor a reason to be seperated from his purpose of being as God first created us. We have been given this day to make passionate disciples of Christ who will lead the rest of humanity in complete faith. The finally restoration of the complete world is far off, but we live in great anticipation of that day. Whereas, we live out that way here and now. We don't shape the world to meet our needs because that is selfish. We don't force people to love because that is impossible. We don't run away from the world because God put us here. But we go into the world leading the way by charity, mercy, forgiveness, and love not to be heard by a form of correctness in our deeds. Instead, those things reflect grace which God gave us. Through spreading the message of grace will encourage others to live a life for Christ and take back what is ours to begin with.

Shalom,

David

dvd_holc · #12 17th January 2006, 02:41 PM

I wrote a friend about pride. I am trying to work out any prideful desires. The following is inside my thoughts on the subject:

Umm…the pride thing that is going on in me…I am trying to fully engage this world as a servant displaying grace whereas God is evident through me. I have the held onto the accomplishments of the past to justify myself better than others, to express that I was good at something or did X were well. In my nature, I have deep desire to compete. I get into debates, (use to) fights, athletics, (to certain degree) schooling (time it takes to get down, scoring, accomplishments), etc…wherever it was possible I had a chance to compete, I did. I have been characterized as being smug in victory. Sometimes, my competiveness became a subtle nature whereas it was something would vindicate me later. For the most part, it was subtle for me that boiled over at times. I had such an assurance because of my accomplishments…my justification to myself was hurting many relationships and was not productive at becoming a servant. C.S. Lewis said that a humble person could be prideful that he is humble. So what happened was that, my joy was in accomplishments of proving I was better. At times, I waited in midst of things as a hidden tiger waiting to pounce on its prey for it own needs. I hated the most in life those who were overly prideful in things, but in my subtle ways, I was what I hated because in the hidden places I was prideful. I was satisfied with the way I was in the past, but I recognize the problems I caused because of my pride.

So then, how do I respond to or react to things. What is God’s nature for me? Who am I? So if pride a direction of attachment after the result of accomplishments and being that I am always attached to my actions, who then should I attach myself?

I believe inherently pride takes. In my pursuit of being a servant, I no longer want to take where I should not. I participate in life but not all of life is mine to take. We all gain things from the world. I do have needs. But, what is that I can gain while being truly humble.

I do good deeds; however, doing good deeds is not justification to be pride in those things. My justification to myself and possible to others is not something to boastful of. I want to remove myself from any attachment that I don’t deserve. I have done nothing. It is all a gift. God’s grace has been given to me in different forms. He has given me life, job, wife, child, animals, car, house,…all things. I have participated in those things. Further, I have had times of great sorrow and joy in those things which were not under my control. Naturally, my desire is always to do want is joyful, but the results and circumstances don’t always produce joy. I have not controlled those events. God gives life in love for joy and sustenance. So then, I should acknowledge God’s grace fully and thank him for it. I believe the way I can bring to glory to him is by not attaching pride to anything. Then, I think if I should hear any praise of me I will bring it to God and leave it with a simple “thank you” afterward. It has been a struggle to just say, “thank you” and not respond to praise by telling of more times I did similar actions to increase in praise. I don’t feel I should have any pride when it is so dependant on God’s grace. I believe joy should be the resultant rather pride. In all things be joyful. Not that everything is good in nature. But in God’s grace I worship him for it and the chance to be his image bearer in the things he put me in the midst of.

dvd_holc · #13 17th January 2006, 03:13 PM

I ruin being a servent be being prideful in my deeds. There is tempation to be prideful and justify myself...But I don't believe that is the way to worship God or how God redeems us out of our sin. So then, in all things I seek to be humble and glorifying the Lord for his name sake. God does not give a blessing onto a person for themselves. He blesses people to be a blessing.

dvd_holc · #14 18th January 2006, 06:12 PM

Does self worth equal, produce, or bring about pride? Does loving oneself mean that you have pride in yourself? Can valuing oneself only produce pride? How do I respect myself without pride? Or, is pride valuing oneself greater than one should?

Can I love myself without pride? Does love have pride? How do you express love of oneself without pride? How do you look after yourself without being prideful? Is pride the value of uniqueness? How can you express what you want without attributing part of your desire to pride or self worth?

Am I unique? Am I special? Am I worth to be loved or just selectively loved?

How do I humbly love myself, not be prideful in any way? Do compare myself to others? How do I examine myself to know that I am humble?

There are many tough questions. Each question seems to have its own struggle. So what is the struggle? Do I want truth? Do I want light on hidden places? What is my nature and what is a nature that is in full love? How do I cut through all the struggle into being someone who actual loves myself in way that does not take from others and glorifies God?

dvd_holc · #15 18th January 2006, 06:16 PM

I am a Engineer which is basically a problem solver. I love answers. Getting through the problem to the answer is driving force. Most of the time, it is really hard from me to sit still and listen with out a responce or answer.

dvd_holc · #16 1st February 2006, 05:59 PM

I can see inside of me a struggle that wants to be proven right and to do right. This desire seems to have certain overtones of pride within it. So then, I want to get rid of pride in all its forms, and be formed as a humble servant.

I know there is an ultimate right. I want to be apart of that. I believe through the transformation by the Hand of God that I become a Christian. By grace, I am saved.

Now, living out grace to everyone has with it a tone of a interlocking good and correctness. Still, I am reminded many times over that I continue to fall short of fully engaging in a loving way. I still sin...But there are times I know I have done good. The good I have done has not always been accepted by others. People challenged it. They want to verify if I was good or not. Each person has this ability. Still, if there is a ultimate right that is beyond our own personal rightness then it would be brought forward one day and vindicated where every it occurred.

So then, in what way do I look forward to this...to my justification or lack there of?

So I ask myself what is justification? By the definition, it has 2 directions...proving validity/correct or bring about a just act.

Well…I can accept either occasion I am right and you who oppose me are wrong. Then on other times, I am wrong and you are right…but there is the strong desire for justice to shine fully…so then how am I am attached to it? Is it that I share some of the glory of justice or am I happy to been apart of justice by participating in it.

If I should approach being apart of justice by bring part of the glory to myself, I have been vain and prideful. I have faith that my personal justification is actual my fully engage justice to this world and letting that justice validate itself. And, when it does I continue to stay humble by not taking any of the glory. Instead, I remain giving glory onto God for shining through me. My justification is the participation. My proof of being a Christian is the justice that goes through me. I stand without a defense against accuser or disbelievers of my own identity. I continue to look to give grace to those who need it (and not deserve it). Thanks be to you God revealing to me a way to be humble and not lift myself up. Your justice is complete. May your image fully pierce this reality.

dvd_holc · #17 2nd February 2006, 04:28 PM

I have come across the move Merry Christmas. It comes out March 3. I was filled with tears when I watched the trailer. I hope this can touch others

Merry Christmas (Joyeux Noel) Movie Synopsis:
This movie is inspired by a true story, which occurred in the trenches of the World War I battlefield on Christmas Eve in 1914. When war breaks out in the lull of summer 1914, it surprises and pulls millions of men in its wake. Christmas arrives, with its snow and multitude of family and army presents. But the surprise won't come from inside the generous parcels which lie in the French, Scottish, and German trenches. That night, a momentous event will turn the destinies of four characters: an Anglican priest, a French lieutenant, an exceptional German tenor and the one he loves, a soprano and singing partner. During this Christmas Eve, the unthinkable happens: soldiers come out of their trenches, leaving their rifles behind to shake hands with the enemy.

http://www.empiremovies.com/movies.php?id=5906&merrychristmanjoyeuxnoel.htm

Some more great infromation in the press kit from:

http://www.sonyclassics.com/joyeuxnoel/

dvd_holc · #18 8th February 2006, 04:17 PM

Eph. 2:8-10
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

John 8:31
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 10:10
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Gal 5:
1It 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.
16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 John 4:18
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Hebrews 11:
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Gal 3:
26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Duet. 6:
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Romans 11:
17If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Duet: 8:10
10When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Eph 4:11-16
11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

1 Peter 2:12
12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Thess. 5:21
Test everything; keep the good.

Phil 4:4-9
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Det 30:
19This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

dvd_holc · #19 8th February 2006, 04:19 PM

I think I want my last post as my signature...it is a bit long...

dvd_holc · #20 8th February 2006, 04:35 PM

I am doing well right now, but my wife is not. Will anyone who reads this please pray for her. I would appreciate it. She has been having allergic reaction to something. We don't know what. She has been having hives for the last 2 weeks. Last weekend, her eyes swelled up nearly shut, and when we got to the ER, her throat started to swell up. We aren't sure what is causing it. About two years ago, she had hives for about 6-8 weeks then they went away. At that time, the specialist she saw did not want to do the test to find out what was wrong because it went away...Well, she is going to get tested on Thrusday, but until then she has to be off medication until then(since Monday)...so she has no relief in the next many days. I want you can pray for healing. Thanks.