The Neverending Story (The Christian Chronicles)

AP ^ | 3/24/01

[malakhi]

The Neverending Story
An ongoing debate on Scripture, Tradition, History and Interpretation.

Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. - John Adams

Previous Thread

[CindyDawg]

I don't know why but I assumed you weren't able to communicate with your grandmother. If you can, ask her what her what her most scriptural parts are. If she is willing or can't communicate with you just read to her. John (chapter 3) would be a good place to start.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Yeah I know. I typed in the names of the regulars on two posts. Not all went thru. I thought it would work but it didn't. There was nothing that I didn't want all of you guys to read. No big deal.

Mine must of have been one of the ones that didn't go through. If it wasn't something that you didn't want ALL to see, then why didn't you just post them in the first place?

[IMRight]

I typed in the names of the regulars on two posts...Not all went thru.

Mine must of have been one of the ones that didn't go through.

There is an alternate possibility.

Have you considered that you might be irregular?

[al_c]

Disclaimer: If you want on or off of this ping list, FReepmail me.

The self-sufficient--those who thought they already had everything figured out--had no room in their hearts for Jesus' words. And what a shame!

Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Tuesday of Holy Week

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 49:1-6 Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17 John 13:21-33, 36-38 Whoever is humble, on being humiliated, humbles himself the more; on being rejected, rejoices in the disgrace; on being placed in low and mean occupations, acknowledges himself to be more honored than he deserves, and performs them willingly; and only abhors and avoids exalted and honorable offices.  -- St. Jane Frances de Chantal

The following is, as usual, from The Word Among Us:

Peter's prediction that he would lay down his life for Jesus has gone down as one of the most poignant boasts in all of history. Looking back on it now, we may be tempted to ask: "What was he thinking? But really, things like this happen all the time.

From the dawn of time, when our first parents chose to eat from the tree of knowledge rather than the tree of God's life, pride and self-sufficiency have been our downfall. Over and over again, God invites us to put aside our own agendas and be filled with his wisdom instead. And over and over again, we tend to think we can do just fine on our own. You can just picture God sitting up in heaven waiting for us to finally say: "Okay, Lord, I give up. I admit that I need you. Come and fill me with your grace and power."

One of Jesus' first public statements was that he did not come to heal the healthy but the sick (Mark 2:17). Throughout the gospels, those who responded to Jesus most positively were the ones in greatest need: the poor, the sick, and the demon-possessed. The self-sufficient--those who thought they already had everything figured out--had no room in their hearts for Jesus' words. And what a shame! Imagine how much the kingdom of God could have benefited from the zeal of a few more Pharisees or from the expertise of a few more priests and scribes. But it was not to be, and these leaders missed out on the greatest privilege anyone could know: serving the Lord in the strength of his Spirit.

How about you? How much room do you have in your heart for Jesus today? Don't be like Peter and tell the Lord that you already have all the resources you need to serve him. Admit your need for Jesus' grace and power in your life. Then watch as he pours a flood of the Holy Spirit's power into you, bringing a joy and peace that nothing in this world will ever give you.

"Jesus, I kneel before you now and admit my absolute dependence on your grace. Help me to see that apart from you I can do nothing. May I never boast in my accomplishments but only in you and your mercy."

----------

God bless.

AC

[ET(end tyranny)]

Have you considered that you might be irregular?

Not a chance. I take ground flax meal! :)

[IMRight]

You remind me of a Monty Python sketch:

M: Oh look, this isn't an argument.
A: Yes it is.
M: No it isn't. It's just contradiction.
A: No it isn't.
M: It is!
A: It is not.
M: Look, you just contradicted me.
A: I did not.
M: Oh you did!!
A: No, no, no.
M: You did just then.
A: Nonsense!
M: Oh, this is futile!
A: No it isn't.
M: I came here for a good argument.
A: No you didn't; no, you came here for an argument.
M: An argument isn't just contradiction.
A: It can be.
M: No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.
A: No it isn't.
M: Yes it is! It's not just contradiction.
A: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
M: Yes, but that's not just saying 'No it isn't.'
A: Yes it is!
M: No it isn't!

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Last year we didn't have any weighting.

I thought we used the same pt system last year.

[SoothingDave]

Thanks as always. From the Isaiah reading:

"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Amen.

Also not the OT and the Psalm both contain "in the womb" imagery. We are not far removed from the Annunciation.

SD

[SoothingDave]

I thought we used the same pt system last year.

I remember it just being 5 pts per game in each round.

SD

[Alex Murphy]

What's an 808b?

[ET(end tyranny)]

There's only been one guy who has been blowing his cool around here since yesterday.

I already freepmailed Mack about his last post.

Why would you think that meant Mack? There were a couple of very nasty people here yesterday, and as far as I know neither of them has been banned. Neither of them was Mack either, imo. I think most people reading the thread, know exactly who the raging bulls were! lol

[IMRight]

Ooh ooh! Mr Kotter!

I remember this one.

It's a drum thingy (or maybe a guitar thingy)...

I think it's old-people music. :-)

[pegleg]

Then you're the winner.

No, bass picked UConn

Last year we didn't have any weighting.

Yes we did. Last year NOBODY picked the winner so those extra points for the Championship game weren't a factor. You won because you had the most points, same as bass this year.

I think it's a better system and we never actually discussed the rules this year.

Thought we did.

[Quester]

Here is another which may work for you ...

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a worthy woman ? For her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.

12 She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband [also], and he praiseth her, [saying]:

29 Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; [But] a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.

[Zack Attack]

Man crushed by beer keg in car crash

Maybe he shoulda been drinking "light" beer. :)

Hag Hamatzah Sameach

[CindyDawg]

lol. Is this ever going to end? See my above post.

[ksen]

So God, in your estimation does indeed arbitrarily decide who gets saved and who doesn't.

I don't consider God's own good purpose to be arbitrary.

From your position, you are better off simply admitting the obvious and saying "Yes, God grants grace to some and not to others and we haven't got a clue why. By picking some for salvation God has chosen the others for damnation. He is sovereign and that is His business."

Isn't that what we have been saying?

Unless you want to deny God's Omniscience, by the very act of Creation God has chosen who goes to Heaven and who doesn't.

That makes the fault for damnation ours and not that of God's ineffable choice.

God is not responsible for our sin. It is our sin that damns us. Just because God doesn't step in to stop Mr. X from going where he is naturally heading while God does do so for Mr. Y does not make Mr. X's damnation God's fault.

And this is exactly how God made the people whom He will then damn.

Wrong, God made Man in His own image and He saw that it was good. After that Adam fell and our nature became corrupted. Now we are after the likeness of our father Adam. The only person God created without mediation was Adam, and Adam was good when he was first created.

I fail to see how any Calvinist notion of Free Will can account for man's responsibility for his fate. Beacause you admit that all is God's Sovereignity....Don't muddy the issue by proclaiming a "free will" that can be of no consequence.

Then you fail to understand Calvinism. Our fallen nature has been so infected by sin that the Bible describes us as being dead. Every part of our being is affected by sin. Therefore every action we take and every thought we think is affected by sin.

Then God steps in and removes the obstacle to our believing in Christ. When the obstacle is removed we freely believe in Christ.

God chose to create certain men for damnation. Just say it.

Again, unless you want to deny God's Omniscience you believe the same thing.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Do you consider me to not be a regular here?

[Quester]

My suggestion? (after an already lengthly answer): You've lost your grandmother, and if you were close enough that you've been asked to give a eulogy, that can't be an easy thing. Perhaps you should spend a few hours reading through Scripture for your own healing. You might be shocked at what is revealed to you. You just might find exactly what you were looking for.

And of course, you'll be able to truthfully say "I was reading through Scripture to comfort myself at grandma's passing and I came upon the most wonderful thing ... "

This is a good suggestion, IMHO.

[RnMomof7]

If I remember correctly I think you asked for me to get help . Snerkel is one of the best apologists on cults in the swarm, so after some discussion I asked her .