November 27, 2008 6:37 AM
Sam wrote:
On this day of giving thanks, I want to recognize a great friend. Tony. Tony will do anything for anybody; no matter how much one takes advantage of his love, he continues to drop what he is doing to help someone. I have never met anyone like Tony before. Hardworking, ever-loving, and gracious to the bone. He dones things, not for his benefit, but for benefit of others. He is repeatedly doing things out of kindness, yet gets very little thanks for his efforts. I want to take today, just to thank this man. Thank you, Tony. Solomon talks today in chapter 8 about meaninglessness as it applies to righteous men getting what wicked men deserve, and vice-versa. Tony does not get what he deserves. This too, is meaningless. I have seen, and even been party to, 'abuse' of Tony, by always asking him for something, rather than asking him what HE needs. This too, is meaningless. I have seen Tony suffer some severe family relationships, even though he loves each one of them desparately. This too, is meaningless. I have seen Tony do things for his family over and over even though they 'spit in his face' and continue to get in trouble. This too, is meaningless. But, as Solomon says, "here is the conclusion of the matter"; Tony is loved by God, and God will, when the time comes, treat Tony precisely like he has treated others...with deep devoted love. I thank you, Tony. "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. The joy will accompany him (Tony) in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun." Thanks for being a great friend and an awesome man of God, Tony. Reply to this
I have heard nothing but great things about you. I look forward to meeting you sometime. One overall lesson in Ecclesisastes is that things aren't always black and white. People do not get what they deserve, as Mac pointed out above. I was idealistic when I got married. I believed my marriage would be consistently awesome and that my kids would naturally be spiritual and make good decisions. I wish someone had warned me about my thinking! It has been very painful when that hasn't been the reality, and I often blame myself. That certainly is a fruitless exercise, right?
In a sense, it is like the situation surrounding Shadrach, Meshach, and Abnego and the fiery furnace. That no matter what was happening around them, they themselves were going to be righteous. It turned out good for them, but even before they could see that it turned out good, their attitude was "Go ahead and throw us into the fiery furnace - our God can save us. And even if He doesn't save us, we will not bow down to you..." They had very little control over the situation - they could only control their attitudes about it, saying 'even if things don't go well, we will stay surrendered to God and serve Him only'.
So all we can do is battle forward, learn, and persevere. So please excuse my ramblings and thanks for being a great example Tony. Reply to this
November 27, 2008 9:08 AM
Johnbob wrote:
This is going to be my theme scripture for today. Verse 15: So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.
I wouldn't call myself a joyous person - typically I am more melancholy. This is a verse that has several times in Ecclesiastes so far. It just says, 'Hey, I've tried all the sin and all the things that aren't 'sin' but things I fill my life up with (like great projects), and my conclusion is that those things just can't fill you up - so just eat drink and be glad". Sometimes being around family is difficult for me. They are great and my family is fairly functional - but I always feel like I don't measure up. But this passage says not to focus on measuring up or filling up - just enjoy being alive and, especially on a day like today, eating and drinking. Amen. I am glad that is in the Bible! Reply to this
November 27, 2008 10:11 AM
Tony wrote:
This is a day to be thankful. Thank full for great friends and relationship. Thankfull for awesome families. Thankfull for the country we live in. Thank full to be sons of God. Without God in our lives where would we be? Without God there is no true happiness. Objects and material goods do not fill ones soul. We have an emptiness that cannot be filled with anything except the love of God. With this love of God we get great families, great relationships, we have a great life! Life is what we make it. If one was to dwell on all the troubles of today it would drive you mad. So as the bible says,15" So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun." God is awsume and ALWAYS in control! Thanks for the GREAT relationships and Awesome friends! You guys are the best HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Reply to this
On this day of giving thanks, I want to recognize a great friend. Tony. Tony will do anything for anybody; no matter how much one takes advantage of his love, he continues to drop what he is doing to help someone. I have never met anyone like Tony before. Hardworking, ever-loving, and gracious to the bone. He dones things, not for his benefit, but for benefit of others. He is repeatedly doing things out of kindness, yet gets very little thanks for his efforts. I want to take today, just to thank this man. Thank you, Tony.
Solomon talks today in chapter 8 about meaninglessness as it applies to righteous men getting what wicked men deserve, and vice-versa. Tony does not get what he deserves. This too, is meaningless. I have seen, and even been party to, 'abuse' of Tony, by always asking him for something, rather than asking him what HE needs. This too, is meaningless. I have seen Tony suffer some severe family relationships, even though he loves each one of them desparately. This too, is meaningless. I have seen Tony do things for his family over and over even though they 'spit in his face' and continue to get in trouble. This too, is meaningless. But, as Solomon says, "here is the conclusion of the matter"; Tony is loved by God, and God will, when the time comes, treat Tony precisely like he has treated others...with deep devoted love. I thank you, Tony. "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. The joy will accompany him (Tony) in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun."
Thanks for being a great friend and an awesome man of God, Tony.
Reply to this
Tony,
I have heard nothing but great things about you. I look forward to meeting you sometime. One overall lesson in Ecclesisastes is that things aren't always black and white. People do not get what they deserve, as Mac pointed out above. I was idealistic when I got married. I believed my marriage would be consistently awesome and that my kids would naturally be spiritual and make good decisions. I wish someone had warned me about my thinking! It has been very painful when that hasn't been the reality, and I often blame myself. That certainly is a fruitless exercise, right?
In a sense, it is like the situation surrounding Shadrach, Meshach, and Abnego and the fiery furnace. That no matter what was happening around them, they themselves were going to be righteous. It turned out good for them, but even before they could see that it turned out good, their attitude was "Go ahead and throw us into the fiery furnace - our God can save us. And even if He doesn't save us, we will not bow down to you..." They had very little control over the situation - they could only control their attitudes about it, saying 'even if things don't go well, we will stay surrendered to God and serve Him only'.
So all we can do is battle forward, learn, and persevere. So please excuse my ramblings and thanks for being a great example Tony.
Reply to this
This is going to be my theme scripture for today. Verse 15: So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.
I wouldn't call myself a joyous person - typically I am more melancholy. This is a verse that has several times in Ecclesiastes so far. It just says, 'Hey, I've tried all the sin and all the things that aren't 'sin' but things I fill my life up with (like great projects), and my conclusion is that those things just can't fill you up - so just eat drink and be glad". Sometimes being around family is difficult for me. They are great and my family is fairly functional - but I always feel like I don't measure up. But this passage says not to focus on measuring up or filling up - just enjoy being alive and, especially on a day like today, eating and drinking. Amen. I am glad that is in the Bible!
Reply to this
This is a day to be thankful. Thank full for great friends and relationship. Thankfull for awesome families. Thankfull for the country we live in. Thank full to be sons of God. Without God in our lives where would we be? Without God there is no true happiness. Objects and material goods do not fill ones soul. We have an emptiness that cannot be filled with anything except the love of God. With this love of God we get great families, great relationships, we have a great life! Life is what we make it.
If one was to dwell on all the troubles of today it would drive you mad. So as the bible says,15" So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun."
God is awsume and ALWAYS in control! Thanks for the GREAT relationships and Awesome friends! You guys are the best
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Reply to this