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

[al_c]

52,000?

[al_c]

It was worth a try. ;o)

[al_c]

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Wednesday, May 07, 2003
Easter Weekday

First Reading: Responsorial Psalm: Gospel:

Acts 8:1-8 Psalm 66:1-7 John 6:35-40 Hence, I tearfully beg you to refrain from seeking the favors of the world and to renounce all that is carnal. It is impossible to follow both the world and Jesus. Let us live a life of renunciation, for our bodies will soon be dust and nothing else will last any longer.  -- St. Jerome

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

On that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria. (Acts 8:1)

Don't you find it amazing that since the beginning of time, Satan has tried to frustrate God's plan--but always unsuccessfully? Consider today's reading. A great persecution in Jerusalem may have driven most of the Christians out of Jerusalem and scattered Christians throughout Judea and Samaria--but it didn't halt the preaching of the gospel! Philip, for instance, simply went on to Samaria, where he took up once more his commission to share the good news.

Consider also the story of Adam and Eve. It was through the serpent's temptation that they fell from grace and were ejected from Eden. But that victory for the forces of evil did not bring God's plan to an end. God turned around and used the first sin as an opportunity to give the human race his greatest gift--the gift of his Son. As an ancient Easter prayer proclaims: "O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam that has brought forth so great a redeemer!"

Finally, consider Jesus' crucifixion itself. At the moment of his death, it seemed that the devil had won a sweeping victory. Jesus had been totally discredited by the religious leaders of Israel, and just about all of his followers had abandoned him. It couldn't get much worse than this. But, in fact, Jesus' death broke the devil's power over humanity; his resurrection reopened heaven's gate for us.

Philip and all the other apostles learned that God simply will not be stopped. Throughout the Book of Acts, we see how deeply committed he is to bringing his plan of salvation to fulfillment --both in the world and in every believer's life. So when it feels as if life is buffeting you from every direction, or when you feel discouraged, ponder God's power and his promises to you. Place yourself at the entrance to Jesus' empty tomb and know that his resurrection is your resurrection as well. Let God remind you that all things are possible with him and that even opposition ultimately serves his glorious purposes.

"Father, you are infinitely good and loving. You can do all things and you are always faithful to your promises. I entrust my life to you. May your perfect plan be my desire."

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God bless.

AC

[Quester]

52,000?

Hey, ... that's one for me.

[SoothingDave]

Actually, I wouldn't. But then, I'm not looking for JESUS to appear to me.

Fair enough.

SD

[CindyDawg]

Yeah, but at least they can be supervised and fired. It seems like children are running the public schools now days. I prefer homeschool but I realize it isn't possible for everyone though.

[CindyDawg]

I meant the 11th Left Behind series.

[CindyDawg]

I meant the 11th Left Behind series.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Insurance - an ingenious modern game of chance in which the player is permitted to enjoy the comfortable conviction that he is beating the man who keeps the table.

Ambrose Bierce
The Devil's Dictionary
1906

BigMack

[SoothingDave]

Oh. Then, nevermind.

SD

[CindyDawg]

LOL. I liked the movie too.

[CindyDawg]

Oh. Then, nevermind

I think this is the briefest post I have ever seen from SD :')

[SoothingDave]

Insurance - an ingenious modern game of chance in which the player is permitted to enjoy the comfortable conviction that he is beating the man who keeps the table.

LOL. Thanks, Mack. And the only thing scarier than the state forcing you to buy insurance from a private company is when the state forces you to buy their own insurance.

SD

[Invincibly Ignorant]

LOL. I liked the movie too.

hey I read up to book 9 and then realized I disagreed with the theology. But I'd still like to finish just for the entertainment value.

[OLD REGGIE]

Let's review this exchange:

(DouglasKC) Look, you're making the argument that it's okay to covet as long as your motivations are good. I don't agree with that any more than I agree that it's okay to steal as long as your motives are good.

(SD) Not at all. I am making the case that not all gambling for money is "coveting," hence sinful. Do you remember when you said it was, or do you wish to modify your definition now?

A case, incidentally, which Dave has been belaboring for two days.

(DouglasKC) You are flat out wrong Dave. The issue was about life insurance. My position is that life insurance isn't sinful because the person "betting" stands to gain absolutely nothing and thus isn't coveting anything, except perhaps a better life for his family after he's gone.

You redefined my position based on your own opinion, not mine.

(SD) Doug, I am disappointed in you. I expect Reggie to call me a liar no matter what, but I thought you would see. What was your definition of the "sin." Didn't I quote it from you verbatim?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now let's compare it with an exchange between Dave and me:

(SD) " . . . can you agree, as I gave an out earlier, that suffering helps to sanctify us?"

(Reg) NO! In some cases it may, in others, absolutely not.

(SD) Reggie corrects my statement again. Of course I meant that suffering may help to sanctify us, depending on our own attitude. Suffering turns some in to saints, and others into, ironically, insufferable people.

(Reg) Learn to say what you mean. Your "open ended" pronouncements leave too much for later "modification".

(SD) Learn to read what I say, instead of giving me the inquisition all the time.

GO BOTHER SOMEONE ELSE

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

According to Dave we are supposed to know what he means. We cannot quote him exactly and take issue with his statement.

Now Dave has been chasing, and demanding apologies, for two days because DouglasKC and I have claimed he took Doug's statement out of context to advance his argument.

Are there different rules for different people?

[malakhi]

In John 9, John talks about Jesus healing an ill man on the Sabbath, while the pharisees bash him with the second commandment ("Thou shall keep the Sabbath Day holy"), Jesus stands by His actions... HE INTERPRETED SCRIPTURE DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT THE BIBLE CLEARLY SAID

You're right -- you are no historian. First of all, there is nothing in the Torah which explicitly prohibits healing on the Sabbath. Secondly, the Pharisees were NOT one united group. There were a number of different "schools" of Pharasaism, the two most predominant being the School of Hillel and the School of Shammai. The Shammaites interpreted the Law very stringently, and their interpretation did prohibit healing on the Sabbath. The Hillelites interpreted the Law more leniently, and held that healing on the Sabbath was permissible. Jesus obviously agreed with the Hillelites. In Judaism, the Hillelite interpretation of the Law carried the day. Even today, Jews believe that it is not only permissible, but in some cases even required (if the situation is life-threatening) for medical people to heal on the Sabbath.

[malakhi]

Maybe when someone sues a district for $100 million and wins?

I have no doubt these sorts of cases have happened. And lawsuits would bring headlines, no doubt about it.

[CindyDawg]

The thing is that here they just raise our taxes to cover, so they have no accountability and do what they want.

[SoothingDave]

(SD) " . . . can you agree, as I gave an out earlier, that suffering helps to sanctify us?"

Since I was speaking to Becky, this statement is fine on its face. I do believe suffering sanctifies she and me. Or any serious person of faith.

That you take "us" to mean that this is some blanket statement for all of mankind is not my fault. As in your sizzling analysis of my "misreading" of Jim's bigotry, you were obviously reading an "all of" where it was not written.

Two can play your stupid games.

Now Dave has been chasing, and demanding apologies, for two days because DouglasKC and I have claimed he took Doug's statement out of context to advance his argument.

That's right. Cause Doug and you can not admit that you slurred me. I have showed you his words, his definition. He, and then you, accused me of making up something he did not say.

Answer the question. Did he or did he not say that all gambling for money is wrong?

SD

[malakhi]

Insurance - an ingenious modern game of chance in which the player is permitted to enjoy the comfortable conviction that he is beating the man who keeps the table.

Right. Its better to be the bookie. What do we name our insurance company?