Things I Think…
1. When the fires swept through Southern Oregon the flames also burned away the sense of safety and security that many of us felt living in small town Oregon. “It could never happen here” turned into “it’s happening right now”. None of us will ever be the same. The consequences will go on for years and the psychic scars will be passed down through generations. This can happen to a nation…much of the trouble we are beset with now was birthed in 1963 when one man killed a popular President. That was the end of our national innocence and the beginning of the distrust of authority and conspiracy theories. We all live in Oswald’s world now…never underestimate the damage one man can do and how long that damage can last…
2. Never underestimate what the one God become man can do to reverse that damage…and only He can…
3. When I hear people talking about “faith over fear”, I hear “presumption over prudence”…
4. One of the lessons we learn as a child is that you can break things beyond repair…and then we forget it as adults…
5. If you’re not at least a little fearful and depressed right now, you’re not holy, you’re not paying attention…
6. The gates of hell won’t prevail against the church and neither will the church prevail against itself…
7. The commercialization of Christmas makes me sad sometimes until I remember it’s mostly just people wanting to make someone else happy…
8. We’re going to lose a bunch of good shepherds who were forced out of the ministry for their refusal to cater to political desires in the church. The hirelings will be left standing…
9. The church is not dependent on America to survive…the kingdom is without borders…
10. This is what Advent is supposed to feel like… it’s supposed to create in us a yearning for a Savior…it’s working for me…
Our church lost quite a few people because we refused to move Jesus over in favor of politics. There’s a church in town that loves to loudly bang the political drum that grew a lot this summer/fall. Its sad to me, but so be it. Our focus on Christ – and discipleship to Him – will not be changed.
The reason the Bible says “fear not” so often is because fear is everywhere. When it comes to fear, I often relate to the statement, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.”
#8 – oh how we need those shepherds…. God respecting/fearing teachers motivated by love of the Church and God’s Word! ! ! 🙏
Pineapple Head—I commend you for remaining faithful in your ministry of the gospel and not choosing to preach another gospel.
#8 And some churches are going to lose some good members because their spirituality was measured by their desire to be COVID safe and lack of support for a certain political figure and his party.
Before the pandemic and the election season, I taught through a series of messages on spiritual formation. Thanks to the watch-bloggers, we lost a few people then as well. The big complaint was that I talked about the value of silence and sabbath. Heresy!
“5. If you’re not at least a little fearful and depressed right now, you’re not holy, you’re not paying attention…”
My highly recommended mental health strategy.
I will probably catch crap for my opinion.
I think people are fearful and depressed because they live in debt and that debt consumes them 24/7. The debt may not be sin (or it may be), but what you let it do to you is.
I think (key words, I think) that people live in fear – not of getting Covid sick but missing work and missing a paycheck because they have debts to pay.
If 2020 teaches anything – get out of debt and don’t take on new debt.
Some people are fearful of missing a paycheck because they have rent to pay and they like to eat…
The average American making 50 – 100K per year are usually no better off trying to cover their nut than the guy just trying to scratch together rent and food. They have too large of a nut.
#5. I’m a mixture of fear, anxiety and anger… we left a communist/socialist country 40 years ago; arrived here to see people complaining about many things and wished they would go and live in my country of origin for two weeks… then they would appreciate what they have…
Here we are 40 yrs later appalled by what we see and hear happening!
Praise the Lord who hold my hand, I could not make it without Him!
#10. Yes indeed, I’m clinging to my Maker and my Savior… that is all I have that’s real and true!
Dave Ramsey thread alert…
The New Victor,
It’s funny, as of last week I had never heard of Dave Ramsey until someone here posted a negative article about him.
I did look into his message and was pleasantly surprised to find someone who had the same thoughts as mine about debt from a Christian point of view.
The Bible speaks negatively about debt / borrowing money. I doubt Jesus and his possee carried debt.
I have had zero debt for 4 years living off my social security alone – I think it would improve everyone’s spiritual life and improve one’s capacity to love they neighbor.
At least in my opinion.
Amen!
It hasn’t been that long ago when the only real debt the average working man could carry was his mortgage….
People prided themselves in managing to live on a weekly or bimonthly wage…. TV? Commercials? Dunno….
I disagree with a couple of Ramsey’s views, but overall it’s a good system and it’s helped a lot of people change their behaviors.