where did everyone go?

[MarkSB]

Oh, parties. Now that is sinful. Wasn't that against the 11th commandment, thou shalt not attend a party?

It wasn't forbidden, but Solomon did caution against getting too caught up in certain "social" occasions:

"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." -Eccl. 7:4

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 - The House of Mourning

 

[Nanopants]

It wasn't forbidden, but Solomon did caution against getting too caught up in certain "social" occasions:

"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." -Eccl. 7:4

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 - The House of Mourning

I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. -Ecc 3:12,13

Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart. -Ecc 5:18-20

A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance; -Ecc 3:4

I don't think Solomon was one to enforce sadness on others, as if it's wrong to be happy and to enjoy life.

 

[MarkSB]

I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. -Ecc 3:12,13

Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart. -Ecc 5:18-20

A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance; -Ecc 3:4

I don't think Solomon was one to enforce sadness on others, as if it's wrong to be happy and to enjoy life.

I do believe I said it wasn't forbidden.

As a side note he also tends to seperate the enjoyment which comes from God from the temporal enjoyment which comes from worldly pursuits. Probably not a good idea to confuse the two.

 

[Nanopants]

I do believe I said it wasn't forbidden.

As a side note he also tends to seperate the enjoyment which comes from God from the temporal enjoyment which comes from worldly pursuits. Probably not a good idea to confuse the two.

I don't think that we agree on what constitutes a "worldly pursuit." I for one do not consider the earth or anything that God has made to be evil.

 

[MarkSB]

I don't think that we agree on what constitutes a "worldly pursuit." I for one do not consider the earth or anything that God has made to be evil.

What are you talking about when you say "anything that God has made?" Material objects? Or principles (thoughts, ideas, beliefs, ect.)?

 

[Nanopants]

What are you talking about when you say "anything that God has made?" Material objects? Or principles (thoughts, ideas, beliefs, ect.)?

Matter, its form and function, and everything else which He made that I may be unaware of.

 

[MarkSB]

Matter, its form and function, and everything else which He made that I may be unaware of.

That makes your viewpoint so much more clear. (/sarcasm)

If I'm understanding what you're trying to say, wouldn't evil then not exist? I'm not saying that God created evil per se, but certainly you must believe that God gave his creations the capacity (ie the "free will") to do evil if they so choose?

 

[Nanopants]

Of course, but the capacity for evil is not the same as evil itself. Nobody argues that God did not make evil possible, without arguing that evil does not exist, in which case we'd be justifying terrible things.

 

[MarkSB]

Of course, but the capacity for evil is not the same as evil itself. Nobody argues that God did not make evil possible, without arguing that evil does not exist, in which case we'd be justifying terrible things.

Yeah, I'm really not sure what you're trying to get at here. Did I say somwhere that I thought the capacity for evil was the same as evil itself?

 

[Nanopants]

Yeah, I'm really not sure what you're trying to get at here. Did I say somwhere that I thought the capacity for evil was the same as evil itself?

You asked me. What are you trying to get at?

 

[MarkSB]

You asked me. What are you trying to get at?

Erm, mmkay. As ususal, nice talking to you dude.

 

[Rhamiel]

I do not hang out here a lot anymore because there are very few theological discussions and the ones that do come up are not very fulfilling

Christianity is lot bigger then some hipster Emergent Church scene

 

[Gracelands]

Hi all, I'm not sure where the new chit chat thread is so i'll put this here. Someone keeps having a dig at me saying that i look like a gorilla eg obesely overweight. I was really ill a couple of years ago and had to take pills that did make me put on weight. Mostly water because it comes off really rapidly. Someone took a picture of me during that time which is less than flattering and enjoys trying to taunt me with it online. I'm getting anonymous hate mail now lol. I'm laughing but the whole thing is insane.

Too late for pix sorry



This pic is from earlier today. My blackberry is playing up but ive got a few others going over. I'm not stick thin neither am i gorilla fat. Just normal, average weight. I hope that puts an end to the horribleness but i somehow doubt it.

 

[Gracelands]

(too late for pix sorry)

 

[ks777]

Look'n good Grace!

People give you anon hate mail? And follow you around online? lol. I had no idea. That's crazy. They should get a life!!

 

[Gracelands]

i look really witchy in that top one. Its not a long Morticia style skirt its a pencil skirt and black tights.

Thanks though Ks. I've still got a bit to go to get to the size i'd like to be but i'm content with the way my bod is looking considering i'm 45 and abused it for a large portion of my adult life.

It is crazy that they stalk me. If that is how they wish to spend their time i'm sure there are people far more hateful (and probably interesting) than me that they can direct all that venom.

 

[JohnyPoppacapolis]

So I am back. Has everything fallen apart without me?

 

[Gracelands]

A real regenerated born again christian lives a life of constant repentance. Though a real christian may not be perfect, they desire holiness and kill sin by the grace of God. Pride and haughtiness are killed, because they know that the only good that abides in them is from God. I know I have no good in me apart from The Holy Spirit working through me. I know that apart from Christ, I am wretched, vile and depraved. I desire holiness. I desire to know God more and make Him known constantly. I believe that by The grace of God, this attitude is perfection; humbled and hungry for holiness. Humbled and loving. Love is not only 1 Corinthians 13....that's what love looks like. If we love God, we love His statutes and desire to love Him more. If we say we love God but hate our neighbor, we are lying. Indeed we must stand firm in the faith and pray for others and ourselves

I love that. It reminds me of Pauls struggle in Romans 7. Thank God he wrote it! We are wretched.. totally and utterly but in our inner man we are Holy. Its also got a patristic tone to it GIG.

1So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!Romans 7:20

A really strong Christian once said to me that you should think of repentance as a cars window screen wipers. We need to keep on repenting. all day. i think it says that somewhere i'll have to look it up (unless someone knows the verse). We are continually being refreshed and made new. = )