So do I, but you don't see me getting all showy with it.
Posted on 03/19/2006 6:29:28 AM PST by thousand dollar hamburger
Later, Oirish. See? I really am done now!
See ya soon,I- Thatch
What was the middle thing?
Didn't you tell me I had already paid my dues when I caught my silk un...
Waitaminute. You're not the tax collector, are you? I already paid him off. Several times.
(You said it wouldn't hurt, didn't you? I think that's what you said.)
*ahem*
I don't have a checkbook. I have other ways of taking care of things. ;o]
Say...since when did YOU start to complain? Last I saw of you, you had a huge smile on your face and I was seeing you to the door.
Clear!
You silver-tounged devil...
Wanna come over after you fleece all these people? I'm sure I could find something to keep you occupied. ;oP
Monologue my bunny!
Excellent!
I could show you a thing or two about "occupation" I'm sure. I could occupy your time, your mind or even your favorite chair...and I don't need a "foundation" as I have a fairly solid one (or two) of my own.
;o]
*thhhhhbbbbbbbpppptttthhhhh!!!*
I thought about adding a line or two about using little doggies as dust-mops, but I didn't want to get in trouble.
Anyhow, I'm back--not that this is thrilling news... ;)
It is, actually, because now I have a replacement, as it is past my bedtime!
Have fun tonight!
I'm outta here for the night, kiddies.
Be good to yourselves, and I'll see you tomorrow.
I believe that is so, yes.
BTW, before I get too far along: You DID read the linked piece, right? Just want to make sure you have the same backdrop for reading my words as I did while writing them. Oh, and don't miss my caveat about language; Mr. Simmons' style is, uh, "unrestrained" in that regard.
The dragon in the first example may not be the same as the second.
Quite true, yet the symbology remains as it is and makes for intriguing conjecture.
One must be very careful so as to avoid taking two symbols from different periods and different cultures and then necessarily interpolating a literal correspondence between them.
It seems to me that the keyword, here, must be "necessarily" for, indeed, a literal correspondence may exist in the broader scope even though none was intended, nor even culturally significant, at the time. I am mindful that there is a greater Architect of history than we, and all things are according to His purposes; even the chosen symbols used in heathen legends. And, while there may have been contamination of the legend in the intervening centuries, the fact remains that the legend is currently accepted by Islam as-is and we may, therefore regard it as "official". Now, I'm not saying incontrovertibly, "This is what this means," but I point out the prallels to provoke thought with an eye toward a, "Now, let's see how this really turns out", posture. It could go any direction; it could run parallel to what I've laid out; or not, and I'm fine either way. What's core, to me, is that we engage the discussion of possibly valid parallels and symbology, so as not to be taken wholly unaware should any of them become reality.
Chalk that up in the "wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves" column.
Now, I didn't specifically include this part of the legend, though I included a Biblical parallel, but the angel Gabriel is said to have brought one of the stones used in the construction of the Ka'ba; that it either fell from heaven -- Islam's little piece of asteroid -- or was brought out of a mountain, having been preserved from the Garden of Eden, IIRC. So, there's the "falling from heaven" linkage, there.
...the purpose of the Great Commission is not to fight against earthly powers and authorities.
I agree that it is not primarily directed in that way. The principle enemies opposing the Great Commission are, of course, spiritual. That stated, the Apostle Paul speaks thusly in 2 Corinthians 10:5
"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,"While it is manifest that he is speaking in a predominantly spiritual vein, the fact remains that there are physical, Earthly entities -- individuals and organized bodies -- that promulgate "speculations", "lofty things" and raise them up against the knowledge of God, and, to the degree that this is so, those entities must be opposed in the temporal realm, even while the spiritual entities behind them are being opposed in prayer. Now, this temporal opposition need not have the character of a battle, but the spiritual aspect must be understood to be all-out warfare. The physical opposition is manifest around us in capmaigns to vote for moral things, to take a stand for higher moral and ethical principles, to expose the roots of organizations and individuals who pretend to ethical high ground while urging legislation to legitimize decadence, vice and moral terpitude.
In another way, also, the prosecution of the Great Commission requires some direct conflict with people; in the realm of ideas. We cannot fight lies with Truh unless conflicting ideas can be laid out and arguments exchanged. Paul spent many a Sabbath in the synagogues "reasoning" with both Jews and Greeks, persuading them of the Truth of the Gospel of Christ. So, in that sense, it is implicit in the Great Commission that a form of "fighting" against earthly powers must occur; for the Truth of the Gospel must conquer lies in the minds of men and that cannot happen without engaging the men themselves.
Christendom can only get its mojo on by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
That's a VERY good thing; if it relied on man, there'd be no hope at all. My point in bringing it up was not to imply that individual Christians could self-motivate to more spiritual activity; to "pump up the volume", as it were. That isn't reality, as you well note. What is reality, however, is that a serious attitude to prayer and a serious attitude to knowledge of the Bible, and a serious attitude toward seeing the Great Commission move ahead are three things that individual Christians need, and they are, presently, seriously lacking. Now, the awareness of those needs may come by the Spirit bringing it to their attention in different ways; internally, through the thought and prayer life of the individual; or externally, through hearing someone else talk or preach about it. But where there is no awareness, some who are aware have the onus to pray God make all others similarly aware. A fire spreads from a spark, to the tinder, to the twigs, to the kindling to the logs and so builds into a roaring blaze, which, left unattended, has the potential to consume vast swaths of forrested land. So does spiritual awakening. The Holy Spirit is always the spark. From there, individuals are the tinder, the twigs, the kindling and the logs.
Referring to spiritual awakening, Leonard Ravenhill said this, "Set yourself on fire and the world will come to watch you burn." IOW, stoke that small spark, stoke the individual determination to press in and engage the personal and relentless pursuit of the Face of God.
We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings;
Good thing Jesus didn't have that priority structure, eh? His compassion toward those who needed compassion has largely been co-opted by people who see everyone in every circumstance as needing it. They fail to note Jesus' excoriating rebukes of the Pharisees, and seem not to have noticed his stern admonitions to "stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you". Plainly, Jesus hurt some people's feelings. Remember the rich young ruler who went away sad? Jesus hurt his feelings by telling him the Truth. Christendom can no more live by the priority that we hurt no one's feelings, than a surgeoun can live by the priority that he harm no one's flesh. The evident fact is that sometimes you've got to carve on people to make them well; sometimes you've got to do additional damage before healing can begin, and, failing that, the patient will die. Well, if I've got to hurt you to save your life, guess what: you're in for some pain, though I'll try to minimize it.
Perhaps the rise of Islamic violence around the globe will serve to awaken a groggy Christendom to get over the "what will people think?" problem and more perfectly mirror the glory of its Master.
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