Illustrations
Pages: 1 2
Poster:
Oogyboogawa
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2007/05/05 02:01:28 AM
Well, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned on here that I'm planning to write devotionals so that I can share some of the things God has shown me through my experiences. I've been through things most people my age haven't, and some things that most people will probably never experience(both good and bad things). I also tend to view things in a different perspective from the average person. I think one of the reasons God carried me through those experiences and gave me a different understanding of things is to start preparing me to do this(and I know he's not done).
When I first told Les that I felt the Lord was calling me to do this, she asked me to post some of the devotionals on here. Well, I'm not going to do that(yet at least, I probably will eventually). However, I've got some other things to share that hopefully will be interesting, helpful, and in some cases may help you look at things from an angle you've never tried before. Not all of it will be extremely profound or anything, but who knows, maybe you'll get something out of it anyway, and maybe this topic will start some good discussions.
First, here's a bit of an explanation of what I'll be posting here. My dad is a preacher, as are many of our family friends. So growing up, I was in church every Sunday unless I was really sick. Over the years, I noticed that a lot of the sermons use illustrations to make their points clearer. Many times, it is something that doesn't seem to really tie into the topic of the sermon until the very end when it makes the entire point much clearer. I also noticed that a lot of people like hearing illustrations because they can be used to demonstrate a complex point through a simple story and they do it in clear understandable English. Over the years, I've heard a LOT of these illustrations. Some from my dad, some from other people, and the Lord has been showing me that just about anything can be used to demonstrate some kind of point, so I've even been coming up with some myself.
Recently, I've been trying to take some of the illustrations I've heard over the years and write them down. I eventually want to have an archive of illustrations so that if I need an illustration for a certain topic, I will be able to look through and find the best one for my point. Or, in some cases, I will see that I need to come up with a good one for that topic.
Those illustrations are what I want to post in this topic. Sometimes they will probably just be "rough draft" quality. I'm mostly just trying to get them typed out for now so that I have them there. Then later I'll go back and fix them up if they need it. Hopefully though, we will be able to get some good discussions going.
The first one I post will probably be the one I mentioned in my "Randonimity" topic, but I'll have to make another post to do it so I don't go over the character limit(I've been having to do that a lot lately lol).
---
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
When I first told Les that I felt the Lord was calling me to do this, she asked me to post some of the devotionals on here. Well, I'm not going to do that(yet at least, I probably will eventually). However, I've got some other things to share that hopefully will be interesting, helpful, and in some cases may help you look at things from an angle you've never tried before. Not all of it will be extremely profound or anything, but who knows, maybe you'll get something out of it anyway, and maybe this topic will start some good discussions.
First, here's a bit of an explanation of what I'll be posting here. My dad is a preacher, as are many of our family friends. So growing up, I was in church every Sunday unless I was really sick. Over the years, I noticed that a lot of the sermons use illustrations to make their points clearer. Many times, it is something that doesn't seem to really tie into the topic of the sermon until the very end when it makes the entire point much clearer. I also noticed that a lot of people like hearing illustrations because they can be used to demonstrate a complex point through a simple story and they do it in clear understandable English. Over the years, I've heard a LOT of these illustrations. Some from my dad, some from other people, and the Lord has been showing me that just about anything can be used to demonstrate some kind of point, so I've even been coming up with some myself.
Recently, I've been trying to take some of the illustrations I've heard over the years and write them down. I eventually want to have an archive of illustrations so that if I need an illustration for a certain topic, I will be able to look through and find the best one for my point. Or, in some cases, I will see that I need to come up with a good one for that topic.
Those illustrations are what I want to post in this topic. Sometimes they will probably just be "rough draft" quality. I'm mostly just trying to get them typed out for now so that I have them there. Then later I'll go back and fix them up if they need it. Hopefully though, we will be able to get some good discussions going.
The first one I post will probably be the one I mentioned in my "Randonimity" topic, but I'll have to make another post to do it so I don't go over the character limit(I've been having to do that a lot lately lol).
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All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
Poster:
Oogyboogawa
|
2007/05/05 02:10:08 AM
Quality Over Quantity? Quality Leads to Quantity!
I'm constantly hearing people talk about how we need to go out and evangelize more. Don't get me wrong, I agree wholeheartedly with that, but I would also like to make a different point.
The point I'd like to make is that we also need to spend more time discipling those that have already come to know the Lord. I've seen many times where people go forward in church to accept the sacrifice Jesus made for them. They will continue going to church for a while, but since there was nothing specifically in place to help with the growth of new believers, many times they don't see any growth and begin losing hope again and gradually slide away.
If we spent more time discipling those new believers, then they too would be able to go out and spread the gospel. That way not only are we showing people the truth, we are also helping them to grow in their relationship with God.
For example, let's say you lead one person to the Lord each year, and for the rest of that year discipled them, helping them grow and giving them the knowledge and wisdom to lead others to the Lord. Then the next year, you do the same thing with another person, and the person you discipled the first year does too. If you continue this pattern, it may not seem like you are doing much in terms of evangelism. However, the numbers grow quite rapidly.
In the first year, there would be one new believer. The second year, three(the one from the first year, plus two more). Following that pattern out:
Year---Number of new believers
1-------1
2-------3
3-------7
4-------15
5-------31
6-------63
7-------127
8-------255
9-------511
10-----1023
By the end of the 10th year, you would have only directly led ten people to the Lord. However, through that service, there would be 1023 people that not only now have a new personal relationship with God, but are also prepared to pass on that gift to others in coming years. For you to have led that many people to the Lord, that would be about 102 people each year. Not to mention all of the people you would have to witness to that would reject Him. And there would be no way for you to help each of those 102 people each year to grow significantly in their relationship with God.
Now imagine if not only you were doing this, but also the rest of your church. Now THAT would be an amazing form of evangelism in my mind.
I've always been told, "Quality, not quantity." Well, in this case, quality leads to quantities that would've been unthinkable before.
---
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
I'm constantly hearing people talk about how we need to go out and evangelize more. Don't get me wrong, I agree wholeheartedly with that, but I would also like to make a different point.
The point I'd like to make is that we also need to spend more time discipling those that have already come to know the Lord. I've seen many times where people go forward in church to accept the sacrifice Jesus made for them. They will continue going to church for a while, but since there was nothing specifically in place to help with the growth of new believers, many times they don't see any growth and begin losing hope again and gradually slide away.
If we spent more time discipling those new believers, then they too would be able to go out and spread the gospel. That way not only are we showing people the truth, we are also helping them to grow in their relationship with God.
For example, let's say you lead one person to the Lord each year, and for the rest of that year discipled them, helping them grow and giving them the knowledge and wisdom to lead others to the Lord. Then the next year, you do the same thing with another person, and the person you discipled the first year does too. If you continue this pattern, it may not seem like you are doing much in terms of evangelism. However, the numbers grow quite rapidly.
In the first year, there would be one new believer. The second year, three(the one from the first year, plus two more). Following that pattern out:
Year---Number of new believers
1-------1
2-------3
3-------7
4-------15
5-------31
6-------63
7-------127
8-------255
9-------511
10-----1023
By the end of the 10th year, you would have only directly led ten people to the Lord. However, through that service, there would be 1023 people that not only now have a new personal relationship with God, but are also prepared to pass on that gift to others in coming years. For you to have led that many people to the Lord, that would be about 102 people each year. Not to mention all of the people you would have to witness to that would reject Him. And there would be no way for you to help each of those 102 people each year to grow significantly in their relationship with God.
Now imagine if not only you were doing this, but also the rest of your church. Now THAT would be an amazing form of evangelism in my mind.
I've always been told, "Quality, not quantity." Well, in this case, quality leads to quantities that would've been unthinkable before.
---
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
Poster:
Oogyboogawa
|
2007/05/05 02:20:41 AM
And now to avoid confusion(hopefully), I'm going to post a couple of comments in another separate post.
I know that not every person you lead to Christ will be willing to surrender that much of their life to God that they would be able to do that. But I'll bet that if people were willing to devote their time to discipling new believers, they would be surprised how thirsty many of them are to grow.
Also, I'm guilty of not doing enough myself. This is something the Lord has really been convicting me about lately. I've always felt it would be cool to move to a region of some foreign country that isn't often reached by the gospel and live there long enough to set up a ministry and take a handful of the most devoted believers there and form an intimate relationship with them training them to go out and spread the Word. Who knows, I may still end up doing that(actually, I think there's a good chance I will). However, the Lord has been convicting me lately that I haven't been doing enough while I'm here. You don't have to go far away to spread the Word, there's people close by that need to hear it. That could be a whole other topic.
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All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
I know that not every person you lead to Christ will be willing to surrender that much of their life to God that they would be able to do that. But I'll bet that if people were willing to devote their time to discipling new believers, they would be surprised how thirsty many of them are to grow.
Also, I'm guilty of not doing enough myself. This is something the Lord has really been convicting me about lately. I've always felt it would be cool to move to a region of some foreign country that isn't often reached by the gospel and live there long enough to set up a ministry and take a handful of the most devoted believers there and form an intimate relationship with them training them to go out and spread the Word. Who knows, I may still end up doing that(actually, I think there's a good chance I will). However, the Lord has been convicting me lately that I haven't been doing enough while I'm here. You don't have to go far away to spread the Word, there's people close by that need to hear it. That could be a whole other topic.
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All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
Poster:
LES
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2007/05/05 12:49:15 PM
This very interesting and amazing considering how much is here I can agree with you. For those called to the
mission field it is amazing work indeed. I also think that you were right, there is much work to be done here at home. I know that I could be doing better --- I try to witness but I do not have an aggressive nature in that area. I am always willing to share my faith but as I said earlier so many people will just straight out tell
you that they do not want to hear it.
I would be very interesting in reading some of the illustrations that you mentioned. Our Pastor does that and I find it very effective.
Your illustration is a good one but I do not know if a goal is possible for new believers, that could be discouraging if you to focused on the goal.
Yes -- new believers need encouragement, at first so many are so enthusiastic only to drift when the "new" wears off or when they are no longer the focus of attention. Of course not all professions of faith are the real
thing.
I have an un related question -- since you are around church and such all the time -- have you heard the phrase "life time union" being used instead of the word marriage being used on a invitation. We got an invitation that said we were invited to the "life time union" of this couple -- it is a distant relative that I would not know if I saw them on the street, so distant that they wrote on the back of the envelope the daughter of ......... I had never seen that either ! We really did not know what to think -- the word marriage
was not mentioned -- it said the "ceremony" will begin ......... just wondering if that is a new idea or what !
This is a very interesting topic Oogy. Thanks for all that you have said and your willingness to follow where the Lord is leading you. We surely need young people on the front lines for the Lord.
mission field it is amazing work indeed. I also think that you were right, there is much work to be done here at home. I know that I could be doing better --- I try to witness but I do not have an aggressive nature in that area. I am always willing to share my faith but as I said earlier so many people will just straight out tell
you that they do not want to hear it.
I would be very interesting in reading some of the illustrations that you mentioned. Our Pastor does that and I find it very effective.
Your illustration is a good one but I do not know if a goal is possible for new believers, that could be discouraging if you to focused on the goal.
Yes -- new believers need encouragement, at first so many are so enthusiastic only to drift when the "new" wears off or when they are no longer the focus of attention. Of course not all professions of faith are the real
thing.
I have an un related question -- since you are around church and such all the time -- have you heard the phrase "life time union" being used instead of the word marriage being used on a invitation. We got an invitation that said we were invited to the "life time union" of this couple -- it is a distant relative that I would not know if I saw them on the street, so distant that they wrote on the back of the envelope the daughter of ......... I had never seen that either ! We really did not know what to think -- the word marriage
was not mentioned -- it said the "ceremony" will begin ......... just wondering if that is a new idea or what !
This is a very interesting topic Oogy. Thanks for all that you have said and your willingness to follow where the Lord is leading you. We surely need young people on the front lines for the Lord.
Poster:
Himura
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2007/05/06 01:23:33 AM
What you have posted is so true today Oogy and I have to completely agree with you. I have always been on the shy side so I know that I have not done enough in evangelism myself. I believe that missionary work is one of the best ways to serve the Lord. You truly devote yourself to the Lord when you have to completely trust Him to provide everything.
I would be greatly interested in reading your illustrations and will be looking forward to them.
Every believer needs encouragement although new believers in particular need extra encouragement since it is much easier to become discouraged when the difficulties start coming. It is important to be always ready to provide encouragement and should be especially willing to look after and give encouragement to new believers even when we don't feel like we have time because that is when they are most vulnerable.
I believe that Oogy's illustration is good but would be better when applied to experience believers. Although some new believers might not be daunted by the goal of the illustration, I think that most new believers would have a hard time trying to achieve the illustrations goal and might detract in their walk with the Lord by making them focus on the goal more than they should.
That is what I think and I could very well be wrong. The Lord can do anything and for all I know, this could be a very successful illustration that could work. But whether it works or not is not my concern, my purpose on this earth is to serve and worship the Lord by observing his commands and having trust and faith in Him.
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I would be greatly interested in reading your illustrations and will be looking forward to them.
Yes -- new believers need encouragement, at first so many are so enthusiastic only to drift when the "new" wears off or when they are no longer the focus of attention. Of course not all professions of faith are the real
thing.
Every believer needs encouragement although new believers in particular need extra encouragement since it is much easier to become discouraged when the difficulties start coming. It is important to be always ready to provide encouragement and should be especially willing to look after and give encouragement to new believers even when we don't feel like we have time because that is when they are most vulnerable.
Your illustration is a good one but I do not know if a goal is possible for new believers, that could be discouraging if you to focused on the goal.
I believe that Oogy's illustration is good but would be better when applied to experience believers. Although some new believers might not be daunted by the goal of the illustration, I think that most new believers would have a hard time trying to achieve the illustrations goal and might detract in their walk with the Lord by making them focus on the goal more than they should.
That is what I think and I could very well be wrong. The Lord can do anything and for all I know, this could be a very successful illustration that could work. But whether it works or not is not my concern, my purpose on this earth is to serve and worship the Lord by observing his commands and having trust and faith in Him.
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Poster:
Oogyboogawa
|
2007/05/06 04:51:14 AM
Alright, I've got a few more points to make now :P
I was just using "one year" as an example time. That makes me think of a good point though for why this particular situation would work better in a different country. Most countries(in particular the less industrialized ones) are nowhere near as time oriented as we are. In the part of Africa my dad went to a few years back for example, they don't even use different words for tomorrow or two days from now, three days from now, etc. They just change the inflection to emphasize it a bit more for longer periods of time. They're not worried about exactly when something will happen or how long something will take. Applying that to what I said, I basically just meant train them until they're ready and said one year because that made it easy to show how quickly the numbers grow. I think that if you had a good daily one on one training going with the other person though, it shouldn't take nearly a year to get to where they can witness to others, and a year should also be enough to get them where they can pass on some of their skills to the people they've witnessed to. Plus, since you're not trying to save the entire world yourself, you'd have time to help them out beyond the initial year if they need something. However, if after the first year they aren't fully prepared, there's no rush to stop giving them the training they need immediately after 365 days. Just kind of try to gauge when you think they're ready(and when they feel they're ready too), it may be longer than a year, and who knows, it could be shorter.
Also, when you're giving them the training, it doesn't have to be specifically so that they can take on this concept for themselves. They may not feel called to take on the life I've spoken of here. However, if over that time, they've truly been growing in their relationship with God, they will have a desire to share their faith, whether they take the responsibility of training them like I was talking about or not. Who knows, maybe some of the people would feel more led just to go out and witness, while others would feel more led to stay back and teach the new believers that are being brought in by the first group.
In response to you saying that this would be more suited to older/more experience believers: I think after one year devoted to training like this, they would see more spiritual growth than many believers do in many years. Sadly, most Christians today spend very little time each day devoted to their relationship with God. Many dust off their Bibles to go to church Sunday mornings, and sometimes Sunday evening or Wednesday evening. I think that with a year dedicated to intimate training and devotion, they would grow into mature Christians. Yes, there would still be more to learn, but there always is.
Going back to what I said about the different mindsets in other countries, especially the "less developed" ones; People in places like that are more willing to COMPLETELY dedicate their lives to something. I think it would be easier to find people willing to devote themselves to something like this in one of those countries.
Haha... post was too long again...
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All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
I was just using "one year" as an example time. That makes me think of a good point though for why this particular situation would work better in a different country. Most countries(in particular the less industrialized ones) are nowhere near as time oriented as we are. In the part of Africa my dad went to a few years back for example, they don't even use different words for tomorrow or two days from now, three days from now, etc. They just change the inflection to emphasize it a bit more for longer periods of time. They're not worried about exactly when something will happen or how long something will take. Applying that to what I said, I basically just meant train them until they're ready and said one year because that made it easy to show how quickly the numbers grow. I think that if you had a good daily one on one training going with the other person though, it shouldn't take nearly a year to get to where they can witness to others, and a year should also be enough to get them where they can pass on some of their skills to the people they've witnessed to. Plus, since you're not trying to save the entire world yourself, you'd have time to help them out beyond the initial year if they need something. However, if after the first year they aren't fully prepared, there's no rush to stop giving them the training they need immediately after 365 days. Just kind of try to gauge when you think they're ready(and when they feel they're ready too), it may be longer than a year, and who knows, it could be shorter.
Also, when you're giving them the training, it doesn't have to be specifically so that they can take on this concept for themselves. They may not feel called to take on the life I've spoken of here. However, if over that time, they've truly been growing in their relationship with God, they will have a desire to share their faith, whether they take the responsibility of training them like I was talking about or not. Who knows, maybe some of the people would feel more led just to go out and witness, while others would feel more led to stay back and teach the new believers that are being brought in by the first group.
In response to you saying that this would be more suited to older/more experience believers: I think after one year devoted to training like this, they would see more spiritual growth than many believers do in many years. Sadly, most Christians today spend very little time each day devoted to their relationship with God. Many dust off their Bibles to go to church Sunday mornings, and sometimes Sunday evening or Wednesday evening. I think that with a year dedicated to intimate training and devotion, they would grow into mature Christians. Yes, there would still be more to learn, but there always is.
Going back to what I said about the different mindsets in other countries, especially the "less developed" ones; People in places like that are more willing to COMPLETELY dedicate their lives to something. I think it would be easier to find people willing to devote themselves to something like this in one of those countries.
Haha... post was too long again...
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All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
Poster:
Oogyboogawa
|
2007/05/06 04:56:08 AM
<continued...>
All that being said, it wasn't really meant to be taken literally(well, in some ways it is I guess). It was more just to show that if we spent more time training the new believers, it would eventually lead to more new believers and a more spiritually mature church. I don't expect people in this country to take a full year out of their lives to something like this. Whether they are the "mature" believer doing the training, or the new believer receiving it. However, setting up classes in our Sunday School or maybe evening services to help out the new believers would be a great step. I know some churches have what they call "discipleship training" but at least at the churches I've seen, that's not really targeted to new believers.
While it wasn't meant to be taken literally, I would love to eventually be able to at least attempt this sometime in my lifetime. I feel like the Lord may take me down that road someday, I can't say when though. Until then, I'll have to rely on him to give me the strength to do what I can wherever I am.
And yes Les, there will always be those that simply don't want to hear it. I've heard a statistic given that 9/10 people you witness to won't accept Him. I don't know if that's true, I've never really counted. It's easy to be discouraged when you think about those 9, but try looking at it the other way. That means 1/10 WILL accept him! My dad said something similar to that in one of his sermons a few months ago before challenging the church to witness more. After that, he would ask them, "Have you found your nine yet?" Of course you shouldn't be discouraged and give up if you witness to 10 people and none of them accept him. When you find that one that is willing to accept the Lord, it will make it worth it all.
And yes, there will be those that make the outward show of accepting Him, but don't truly. There's nothing you can really do about that. It's not our place to judge, because we can't truly know. Only they and God know what's truly in their heart, and they'll have to deal with Him about it when they die. Let's just say I wouldn't want to be in their position.
For the wedding thing, I've never seen anything like that. I've always seen the words "Wedding" and "Marriage" used.
---
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
All that being said, it wasn't really meant to be taken literally(well, in some ways it is I guess). It was more just to show that if we spent more time training the new believers, it would eventually lead to more new believers and a more spiritually mature church. I don't expect people in this country to take a full year out of their lives to something like this. Whether they are the "mature" believer doing the training, or the new believer receiving it. However, setting up classes in our Sunday School or maybe evening services to help out the new believers would be a great step. I know some churches have what they call "discipleship training" but at least at the churches I've seen, that's not really targeted to new believers.
While it wasn't meant to be taken literally, I would love to eventually be able to at least attempt this sometime in my lifetime. I feel like the Lord may take me down that road someday, I can't say when though. Until then, I'll have to rely on him to give me the strength to do what I can wherever I am.
And yes Les, there will always be those that simply don't want to hear it. I've heard a statistic given that 9/10 people you witness to won't accept Him. I don't know if that's true, I've never really counted. It's easy to be discouraged when you think about those 9, but try looking at it the other way. That means 1/10 WILL accept him! My dad said something similar to that in one of his sermons a few months ago before challenging the church to witness more. After that, he would ask them, "Have you found your nine yet?" Of course you shouldn't be discouraged and give up if you witness to 10 people and none of them accept him. When you find that one that is willing to accept the Lord, it will make it worth it all.
And yes, there will be those that make the outward show of accepting Him, but don't truly. There's nothing you can really do about that. It's not our place to judge, because we can't truly know. Only they and God know what's truly in their heart, and they'll have to deal with Him about it when they die. Let's just say I wouldn't want to be in their position.
For the wedding thing, I've never seen anything like that. I've always seen the words "Wedding" and "Marriage" used.
---
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
Poster:
LES
|
2007/05/06 12:46:00 PM
That is an excellent and enlightening point Oogy. I was thinking about it from the point of my experience. It is a wonderful thing for you to share your insight and to share the things that your father has learned in the
mission field. You are very blessed to have the teachings and example of your fathers life.
I had not ever thought about time being so pointless to underdeveloped nations, I should have-- I spent time with the Navajo people when I lived in Utah. When it takes all day 1 way in a horse drawn wagon to fill water barrels, and then you camp out under the most primitive conditions and take a day to get home -- time is different for them too. I do thank you Oogy for the reminder that we view things from a privileged perspective here. I would honestly like for you to thank your Dad, it would be a privilege to meet him sometime.
I do not have much time this Sunday morning but I want to tell you Oogy that you will be in my prayers today.
I think that you are really being called to do some wonderful things for the Kingdom, I am so pleased that you are sharing these thoughts and causing me to think.
I did not mean to say that I am discouraged about sharing my faith, I continue to share my faith and I am grieved for those that continue to reject him and for those that prefer a life of sin. I think it is true that for all things there is a season and I have noticed ( and talked about it with my friends ) there is a time to step back and let the younger people use the zeal and enthusiasm of their youth to serve the Lord -- it is good for them and good for the church. As older and longtime Christians I think we then proceed on to help support and advise and yes -- encourage new believers. ( adult believers if you will ) My view is that I need to do what I can -- to accept change -- to do what the Lord is leading to do and not to try to hang on to what I used to do
or want to do -- I do not think that any of us should approach this with a preconceived notion of what sounds like fun or is interesting. We truly need to be open to what the changing role is that the Lord has for us in his Kingdom. This conversation has made me think of a favorite him of HR's. I think I will post it after this.
Good morning and God Bless as we all head out to worship this morning.
mission field. You are very blessed to have the teachings and example of your fathers life.
I had not ever thought about time being so pointless to underdeveloped nations, I should have-- I spent time with the Navajo people when I lived in Utah. When it takes all day 1 way in a horse drawn wagon to fill water barrels, and then you camp out under the most primitive conditions and take a day to get home -- time is different for them too. I do thank you Oogy for the reminder that we view things from a privileged perspective here. I would honestly like for you to thank your Dad, it would be a privilege to meet him sometime.
I do not have much time this Sunday morning but I want to tell you Oogy that you will be in my prayers today.
I think that you are really being called to do some wonderful things for the Kingdom, I am so pleased that you are sharing these thoughts and causing me to think.
I did not mean to say that I am discouraged about sharing my faith, I continue to share my faith and I am grieved for those that continue to reject him and for those that prefer a life of sin. I think it is true that for all things there is a season and I have noticed ( and talked about it with my friends ) there is a time to step back and let the younger people use the zeal and enthusiasm of their youth to serve the Lord -- it is good for them and good for the church. As older and longtime Christians I think we then proceed on to help support and advise and yes -- encourage new believers. ( adult believers if you will ) My view is that I need to do what I can -- to accept change -- to do what the Lord is leading to do and not to try to hang on to what I used to do
or want to do -- I do not think that any of us should approach this with a preconceived notion of what sounds like fun or is interesting. We truly need to be open to what the changing role is that the Lord has for us in his Kingdom. This conversation has made me think of a favorite him of HR's. I think I will post it after this.
Good morning and God Bless as we all head out to worship this morning.
Poster:
LES
|
2007/05/06 12:47:19 PM
On The Jericho Road
As you travel along on the Jericho Road
Does the world seem all wrong and heavy your load
Just bring it to Christ your sins all confess
On the Jericho Road your heart He will bless
On the Jericho Road there's room for just two
No more and no less just Jesus and you
Each burden He'll bear each sorrow He'll share
There's never a care for Jesus is there.
On the Jericho Road blind Bartimaeus sat
His life was a void so empty and flat
But Jesus appeared, one word brought him sight
On the Jericho Road Christ banished his night.
On the Jericho Road there's room for just two
No more and no less just Jesus and you
Each burden He'll bear each sorrow He'll share
There's never a care for Jesus is there.
Oh, brother, to you this message I bring
Though hope may be gone, He'll cause you to sing
At Jesus' command sins shackles must fall
On the Jericho Road you will answer His call.
On the Jericho Road there's room for just two
No more and no less just Jesus and you
Each burden He'll bear each sorrow He'll share
There's never a care for Jesus is there.
Poster:
Himura
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2007/05/07 03:31:35 AM
You have made an excellent point Oogy and I can easily see you doing missionary work. As Les said, you are fortunate and blessed to have such a wealth of example's and teachings from your father.
I understand what you mean now and it makes complete sense. Unfortunately , I have never been a situation like that and have never thought of it that way. :( I can see why it would work better in a place where time is not so much of a issue and the only concern would be to serve the Lord which would involve edifying and strengthening new believers so they grow stronger in the Lord.
I know myself that I have a problem actually sharing my faith with other people. Much of it has to do with the busy life I have and unfortunately, difficult time I have actually opening up to people. I tend to hole up and I take a long time to warm up to people and actually start forming a friendship and this process can take months sometimes. This is one area that I need constant prayer in and would appreciate your prayer for me.
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I understand what you mean now and it makes complete sense. Unfortunately , I have never been a situation like that and have never thought of it that way. :( I can see why it would work better in a place where time is not so much of a issue and the only concern would be to serve the Lord which would involve edifying and strengthening new believers so they grow stronger in the Lord.
I know myself that I have a problem actually sharing my faith with other people. Much of it has to do with the busy life I have and unfortunately, difficult time I have actually opening up to people. I tend to hole up and I take a long time to warm up to people and actually start forming a friendship and this process can take months sometimes. This is one area that I need constant prayer in and would appreciate your prayer for me.
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