The Neverending Story (The Christian Chronicles)

Associated Press ^ | 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

[DouglasKC]

When we are 60 years old, in God's eyes, we have a half hour before judgment.
No wonder when He says "seek ye the Lord while He may be found," He knows we humans haven't time to waste.
According to that, I have a round 13 minutes left, before judgment day.

Good post Jim. The time goes by faster and faster every day too huh?

[DouglasKC]

It hasn't happened. You're still in a fallen state. Proof? I have a receeding hairline and you probably still have a pimple.

Oh great. I have a receding hairline AND a pimple. I'm screwed.

[RobbyS]

While it may not be based on a Virgin Birth and a Resurrection, It seems that the identity of the Jewish people rests upon a supernatural escape from Egypt and a subsequent Theophany establishing the Law. SD Otherwise, how are the Jews different from the Irish who have been dispersed from their homeland?

[trad_anglican]

About 2 years after I got married, I realized that I didn't need any new music. I had already passed my formative years.

One of the nice things about having teenage sons is that I get some exposure to new music. I must admit that, cliche as it sounds, all the songs they play sound the same to me. Occasionally, I'll hear a cover of an old song and sometimes, I can whip out the old lp (yes, I kept mine) and play the original for them. Sometimes, they're even interested in hearing it.

My own tastes go back even further than the seventies (we'll pretend the 80's never happened from a music perspective) to what's called old time (or oldey timey) or mountain music. So I guess I'm not one to criticize about not living in the now. But Dave, Styx? God help us.

[SoothingDave]

If a 24 hour day in heaven, is the same as a thousand years to us humans on earth, what part of a day, or how many minutes would a man who lives to be 80 years old represent?

Hmmm. 80 years divided by 1000 is 0.08

0.08 times 24 hours is 1.92 hours. Yep, about 2 hours is right.

SD

[SoothingDave]

But Dave, Styx? God help us.

One of my early crushes during my formative years. I've got tons of their LPs. They were talented, had three different singer/songwriters and wrote thematic albums, which engaged my intellect.

SD

[trad_anglican]

But Dave, Styx?

I'm just teasing you. I actually liked some of their stuff, but the lead singers voice was like nails on a chalkboard to me. Thematic albums were fun, but I think it was all downhill from Quadrophenia.

[SoothingDave]

Thematic albums were fun, but I think it was all downhill from Quadrophenia.

The one with Sting riding his scooter around? I'm a little too young to get that one. I was singing a song from Tommy to Sarah the other day.

But for thematic albums that really rock, nothign beats Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime. Those guys were way too intelligent for a hard rock band. Their songs were about something, other than girls and cars. Kinda like Rush.

SD

[al_c]

Prayer alert: A pilot friend of a friend (best man at my friend's wedding some years back) is missing in Iraq as of Tuesday. The pilot in the lead plane said that he saw an explosion behind him and then saw nothing. I assume this was the F15 Strike Eagle that is reported to have disappeared over Tikrit. Please pray for this man and his wife who is also currently in Iraq.

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Wednesday, April 09, 2003
Lenten Weekday

First Reading: Responsorial Psalm: Gospel:

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 Daniel 3:52-56 John 8:31-42 O God, who avengest me, and subduest the people under me, my deliverer from my enraged enemies. And thou wilt lift me up above them that rise up against me: from the unjust man thou wilt deliver me.  -- Psalm xviil 48,49

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

In the Book of Daniel, we read the story of the three young men who were sent bound into a furnace to be consumed by the flames. Yet in the furnace, they walked about freely and raised their arms in praise of God. How would you react if it were you? Would you, like these three young men, trust in God's protection? Do you believe that nothing in all of creation can overcome the Father's plan for his beloved people?

Sometimes God allows us to go through trials so that he can accomplish his purpose in us. He will sometimes use such "fire" to release us from bondage. This fire can come in many different ways and from many different sources. For example, some people have explosive tempers or lack compassion for others, and that gets them into trouble. Others, like the three young men, are placed in difficulties through no fault of their own, but because of their faith in Christ and their commitment to his gospel.

Whatever their source, trials have a way of exposing our weaknesses and moving us to the Lord for healing and strength. By their very nature, they make us needy before the Lord. They are meant to bring about a deeper union with him as we allow our old lives to be crucified with Christ more deeply. Such fiery trials can go a long way in transforming our "good theology" into practical experience.

According to the story, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked out of the furnace without any smell of smoke on them (Daniel 3:27). Haven't we met people who have endured a litany of tragedies, yet still exude great joy and zest for life? Often, they speak of how good and faithful God has been to them, even of how their sufferings have brought unexpected fruit in their lives. They testify to the promise that as we draw close to the Lord through fiery trial, the presence of God within transforms our hearts and shines through our lives. God's presence has the power to drive out bitterness, self-pity, and hopelessness--all the smell of smoke that can so easily cling to us!

"Lord God, I praise you for your faithful and merciful love. To you I surrender all that I find difficult and burdensome in my life. Loose me from any chains that hinder your life in me."

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God bless.

AC

[nate4one]

I believe in the same heaven after death you do. I believ that the Revelation 21 was concerning the NOW, but I still believe that after death we go to what Paul called the 3rd heaven. It is where our spiritual bodies dwell with the Lord. It is the only state we are able to see Him as Moses partially did on the Mount.

That is why I say, there is no need to have some utopia here on earth. We graduate to a much better reality when we die.
What the Jews hoped for was a resurrection of the dead to be able to go to that 3rd heaven. It already happened. Now when we die, we go strait to it instead of going to Hades as in the past to await the resurrection.

[CindyDawg]

prayers sent for your friend, Al.

[SoothingDave]

From The Corner on NR:

An embed in the rough Najaf/Karbala area shares this with me:

I was out looking at some soldiers and one of them was sharing some cookies he had just received in the mail. A photographer walked over to him and asked in a heavy French accent for a cookie. The soldier glanced up and told him no cookies for anyone from France. The photographer claimed he was half Italian. Without missing a beat the soldier broke a cookie in half and handed it over.

[malakhi]

Try country, Dave. It stays with you. :')

So does my wife's meatloaf, but that doesn't mean I want to eat it. ;o)

[malakhi]

Please pray for this man and his wife who is also currently in Iraq.

Will do, al. May God protect him and keep him safe.

[JHavard]

(Tag line for sale or lease.)

How much would you charge to run this ad line for a month.

(Christ is the answer.)

JH :-)

[al_c]

LOL! But he shouldn't have done that. He may be just like the mouse ...

[malakhi]

How much would you charge to run this ad line for a month. (Christ is the answer.)

LOL!

[SoothingDave]

Don't know that mouse. Just the hungry caterpillar who eats and eats and eats and then becomes a beautiful butterfly.

We got the Veggie Tales movie "Jonah" for Sarah the other day. It's pretty funny. Have you seen it?

SD

[malakhi]

If you haven't met "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" yet, you will soon.

[malakhi]

We got the Veggie Tales movie "Jonah" for Sarah the other day. It's pretty funny. Have you seen it?

I didn't realize it was out on video yet. I'll have to rent it (for the kids, of course ;o).