February 25, 2008 6:40 AM
Sam wrote:
The Ten Virgin story is seldom heard in church today. I wonder why. Is it because there are so few left? Sorry, it's just that it seems virginity is not as prevalent as it used to be. You hear of so many teen pregnancies today, and see on TV and read in the papers about junk that entices young men and women to not practice abstinance until marriage, but 'safe sex' instead. What a strange world in which we live. Maybe we OUGHT to hear more preaching on the virtues of virginity. Maybe then our sons and daughters would know how to fight those temptations more successfully. This story today, about the five foolish and ten wise virgins, is really about, as verse 1 indicates, the coming of the kingdom of heaven. I am not familiar with the traditions surrounding the times this was written, about weddings and bridegrooms and 'virgins'. I am also definitely not convinced that these vrigins are women. LEt's thnk outside the box just one more time today. All women in marriage ceremonies I have read about, or observed, have been, with the exeption of the bride herself, have something to do with the bride, not the groom, as in this story. I know of no type ceremony where women wait for the groom (except of course, once more, the bride)....they concentrate on the bride. They help her get prepared. They cater to the bride. In this story, in all the references I have heard or found, these 'virgins' refer to women. WHY? Are not men who have not had sex, virgins? Cmon, think a little about this. Re-read the story. Why would society interpret these virgins to be women, and not men. Because we stereotype. I firmly believe that the reference to wise and foolish virgins in this story is to men, not women. It makes sense as the men wait for the groom to help him get prepared, like the bridesmaids do for the bride. Why am I being a stickler here, and even differing of the believed sex of these virgins? To get us to realize, not necessarily the moral of this story about being prepared for the coming of Jesus (although that IS the main theme of this story), but that our SONS need to be counselled on virginity. Our upside down society normally refers to women losing their virginity, but not so much men. And I bet in most cases it took both sexes to cause one of the two (or both) to 'lose' their virginity. Rich has a son, Rik has two sons, Tony has a son, and I have a son. Mine is no longer a virgin, and he lost it as a single man (he is still not married and has at least two children by as many women). You three have, I hope, virgin sons. Are you impressing upon them the importance of that? I hope so, they are our future. I don't know why I got onto this subject, instead of the moral of this parable, but I did. I thought outside the box one more time, as I encourage you all to do more often. Read into things, and take out NEW things, and let's discuss them. We just might learn something new that man has never discoverd!! -Sam Reply to this
February 25, 2008 8:11 AM
rik wrote:
cancled.... did you if you try to comment twice in one minute it will NOT let you. I just tried so I needed to wait for a new minute... ok how about now.. Reply to this
proof reading has been a challenge today! Reply to this
February 25, 2008 8:32 AM
rik wrote:
the word "know" is supposed to be in there. Let me try this comment a third time. Did you know if you.. I know for a fact I typed it in the second time. this webpage is messing with me! Reply to this
February 25, 2008 7:56 AM
Rich wrote:
I am not sure specifically why Jesus told these stories and why they are recorded back to back to back. They all seem to have a different specific message. All are supposed to be telling us about the Kingdom of Heaven. First I gather that this is about the kingdom actually in heaven at the end of time and not about the kindgom on earth - the church. These only make sense about the end of time.
The first story says that no one knows when the end will come so it is wise to be prepared at all times. There is no I will just repent at the last moment deal. No one knows when he or she will die or when our chance to live a pure and holy life will end. We need to live a righteous life all the time. To me this is the once saved always saved fallicy again. Ten virgins took their lamps to go see the bridegroom. As Mac pointed out (in depth), all 10 were virgins. Perhaps this means all 10 were "once saved." They all believed in the bridegroom and they all wanted to assist the bridegroom. How can one know of the bridegroom if they are not "saved?" But 5 of them are not prepared, perhaps are not committed, for the long run. They are not fully invested. They only brought some oil but not enough for the long haul. And when the bridegroom comes, they are not there. They lose out on their chance to be in heaven with God because they do not enter the game for the long run. Being a christian is a "long run" sort of thing. I am slowly but I hope surely learning that fact. Being a christian most certainly does not mean that life is better or easier. I am not sure what I would be like if I had not made my decision over 20 years ago, but I can at least envision a possibility that I would have more money, that I would not have a sick wife to care for, ..., that things would be different for me. I am not sure if they would be better or worse in the worlds' eyes, but I know they would be different. But none of that really matters. What matters is that I am right now one of these people waiting for the bridegroom. Am I prepared for the long run? Can I wait it out no matter what? Am I willing to invest my time and life in christianity? Or do I still have a foot invested in the world? Did I fill my lamp and do I have extra oil with me to make it to the end? I hope that latter, but with the week I just had, I am not sure. It is possible to leave christianity and lose out on heaven. Though Jesus' blood cleanses us from all sins, the journey is long and hard. There are many, many obstacles in the way. To make it to the end is difficult. But as the 5 who get in find out and as the 5 who are turned away learn, it is worth it. I think Jesus is telling us here that it is worth it.
The second story has always confused me. I believe it is that God wants us to use what we have for his glory and not for our own, but I am not sure.
The third story tells us to care for others on earth. Being a christian is not just about praying and reading Bible. It is about caring for others. Reply to this
February 25, 2008 8:09 AM
rik wrote:
Does anyone else feel like they, at time have run out of oil for ther lamp? I know I feel this way some times.
feed, cloth, help those in need. these are things I see Tony do all the time. I give you, Tony, credit for have the heart God wants us to have. I know I have the ability (the selfish nature in me) to walk right by someone in need and not help them. worse even I can see myself being that pirson who ask God when did I not feed you? (Lord forgive my selfish nature and help me see those in need). Sam, Rich, rik, I think we can learn something from Tony's heart for those in need. Reply to this
The Ten Virgin story is seldom heard in church today. I wonder why. Is it because there are so few left?
I don't know why I got onto this subject, instead of the moral of this parable, but I did. I thought outside the box one more time, as I encourage you all to do more often. Read into things, and take out NEW things, and let's discuss them. We just might learn something new that man has never discoverd!! -Sam
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I have to go to the gun range today. I will blog later.
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cancled.... did you if you try to comment twice in one minute it will NOT let you. I just tried so I needed to wait for a new minute... ok how about now..
Reply to this
... did you if you...
proof reading has been a challenge today!
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the word "know" is supposed to be in there. Let me try this comment a third time. Did you know if you.. I know for a fact I typed it in the second time. this webpage is messing with me!
Reply to this
I am not sure specifically why Jesus told these stories and why they are recorded back to back to back. They all seem to have a different specific message. All are supposed to be telling us about the Kingdom of Heaven. First I gather that this is about the kingdom actually in heaven at the end of time and not about the kindgom on earth - the church. These only make sense about the end of time.
The first story says that no one knows when the end will come so it is wise to be prepared at all times. There is no I will just repent at the last moment deal. No one knows when he or she will die or when our chance to live a pure and holy life will end. We need to live a righteous life all the time. To me this is the once saved always saved fallicy again. Ten virgins took their lamps to go see the bridegroom. As Mac pointed out (in depth), all 10 were virgins. Perhaps this means all 10 were "once saved." They all believed in the bridegroom and they all wanted to assist the bridegroom. How can one know of the bridegroom if they are not "saved?" But 5 of them are not prepared, perhaps are not committed, for the long run. They are not fully invested. They only brought some oil but not enough for the long haul. And when the bridegroom comes, they are not there. They lose out on their chance to be in heaven with God because they do not enter the game for the long run. Being a christian is a "long run" sort of thing. I am slowly but I hope surely learning that fact. Being a christian most certainly does not mean that life is better or easier. I am not sure what I would be like if I had not made my decision over 20 years ago, but I can at least envision a possibility that I would have more money, that I would not have a sick wife to care for, ..., that things would be different for me. I am not sure if they would be better or worse in the worlds' eyes, but I know they would be different. But none of that really matters. What matters is that I am right now one of these people waiting for the bridegroom. Am I prepared for the long run? Can I wait it out no matter what? Am I willing to invest my time and life in christianity? Or do I still have a foot invested in the world? Did I fill my lamp and do I have extra oil with me to make it to the end? I hope that latter, but with the week I just had, I am not sure. It is possible to leave christianity and lose out on heaven. Though Jesus' blood cleanses us from all sins, the journey is long and hard. There are many, many obstacles in the way. To make it to the end is difficult. But as the 5 who get in find out and as the 5 who are turned away learn, it is worth it. I think Jesus is telling us here that it is worth it.
The second story has always confused me. I believe it is that God wants us to use what we have for his glory and not for our own, but I am not sure.
The third story tells us to care for others on earth. Being a christian is not just about praying and reading Bible. It is about caring for others.
Reply to this
Does anyone else feel like they, at time have run out of oil for ther lamp? I know I feel this way some times.
feed, cloth, help those in need. these are things I see Tony do all the time. I give you, Tony, credit for have the heart God wants us to have. I know I have the ability (the selfish nature in me) to walk right by someone in need and not help them. worse even I can see myself being that pirson who ask God when did I not feed you? (Lord forgive my selfish nature and help me see those in need). Sam, Rich, rik, I think we can learn something from Tony's heart for those in need.
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I supose I need to proof read a little better. try this...
does any one else feel, AT TEMES, that they have run out of oil for there lamp?
I know I feel this way some times.
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