February 25, 2009 7:17 AM
Sam wrote:
I always have (find) time to read about God. I had read your comments earlier from yesterday...and good ones they were also.
REALLY hope you can come Saturday. Tony says yes, Haven't heard from Rik. Dustin says maybe. Haven't heard from Rich. It is mostly celebration for Tony's and Rik's birthdays, so really hope all can come and make this great for them (oh yeah, my birthday as well). (and maybe one or more of yours????
February 25, 2009 8:58 AM
Anonymous wrote:
This chapter is a continuation of chapter 24, with the overall theme of 'be ready and do the right thing while you are alive' because, as Tony did a great job emphasizing in his post yesterday, understanding the fact that Jesus is coming back should impact our lives. That is exactly the point of the parable of the talents and the last story about judgment.
Reading chapter 24 was motivating for me yesterday. It affected my decisions. When I was watching TV last night, I was not nearly as tempted as I have been to watch something inappropriate. Why? Because Jesus could be coming back and I need to be prepared. So Jesus hasn't come back for almost 2000 years, what is the chance he will come back today? I think that it is miniscule, but the bottom line is that line of thinking is not only wrong, it is irrelevant. Since Jesus didn't know when he was coming back, I think the emphasis is that 'you just don't know when, so therefore, live every day doing what you know you should be doing' - and 'don't act as though God is not near - that He isn't involved - that He doesn't see - God is real, Jesus is real and Jesus will be coming back to bring about the judgment day.' Hebrews 12:29 says "...and so let us worship God with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire".
So here is something I am having a hard time figuring out. I know that we will be judged by grace right? Matt 24-25 says that we will be judged by our actions - whether we were 'ready' and specifically the end of chapter 25 regarding whether we took care of the 'needy'. How do we reconcile the two points of view? Matt 25 also matches up with Phillipians 2:12-13 says "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." I am sure this has been discussed before, but it is important for me to get this right in my head. Reply to this
February 25, 2009 10:06 AM
Sam wrote:
Every Christian asks these questions at some time in their lives, I am sure. No EASY answer...that is why we have 'grace' churches, 'works' churches, and the combination of the two. My personal take on it is that we are to live our lives for Christ. We know we will sin, as we are NOT Christ, not even LIKE Him, but we strive to be. I believe we COULD 'not be ready' if we simply gave up on God and lived our lives as we desire, but most true Christians don't really do that. They don't indulge (and that word is important) in the sins listed in Galatians and Ephesians, even though they may commit them off and on. Paul warned about 'living like this'---Paul!, the guy who says we are sinful. No, don't indulge in sins, confess your sins when you commit them (although I don't think you will lose your 'spot in Heaven' if you fail to confess them every time), and try to live a morally correct life, keeping Christ in the center of it. To 'be ready' for that unknown hour is to simply live your life daily for Christ, even though you will sin during that day.
February 25, 2009 11:36 AM
rik wrote:
I think this way-if I have faith and understand grace, God will use me for His works, His purpose, so I am not saved by those works, but I know my salvation is secure by them. It is a lifestyle. I do fall short every day (some days way shorter them others), but if I confess to God and the brothers who will pray for me and ask for forgiveness God will still be able to use me for his set purpose. Reply to this
February 25, 2009 8:55 AM
rik wrote:
The good news-I will be there on Saturday. Zack should be able to come also. The bad news- I will not be going to school in March. At first this sounds like good news for the Irish, but it turns out that I will be going to a wedding on the 14th of March in Mississippi. Nathan (Tom Crowell's middle child) will be getting married on the 14th of March. I guess it is not bad news per-say, but disappointing news. It is never bad when God joins two together. Reply to this
February 25, 2009 11:31 AM
rik wrote:
Hopefully there will be just one wedding for Nathan, but you will continue (God willing) to delight us with parties for years to come. plus My wife really wants to be there for Tom and Debra, and I had a hard time coming up with a viable argument to justify not going to the wedding. sorry. Reply to this
February 25, 2009 10:12 AM
Sam wrote:
I have problems with the 5 'good virgins'. When those who failed to do what they should have (that is, they had not prepared their lamps properly (and of course, the moral of the story is that they didn't prepare their lives properly)) asked for help from the 'good' virgins, they were refused. What kind of Christians were these 'good' five? Not very. Very selfish, if you ask me. I realize the final prize to which this story refers is eternal life, but these five had decided that THEY deserved it more than the others. They didn't even offer to give a little share of what they had. "Go fend for yourselves", they said. IF there wasn't enough oil FOR SURE (they even said 'there MAY not be enough' for all), then perhaps they could have said, LET'S go get some more so we can ALL go to 'the party'. But no, they simply denied the others the chance at eternal life (or in this story, the opportunity to be with the groom).
I realize the story was told for a reason....'be prepared', but I also think the actions of half of the ten was despicable. Anyone else feel the same? Reply to this
February 25, 2009 2:59 PM
Dustin wrote:
Have you ever had that friend, relative, co-worker, brother, or sister that when you saw them, some how it turned out that you ended up loaning them money, clothes, food, or something almost every time you saw them? You know they have a job. At what point do you tell them 'NO, I will not help you amy more you are a grown person and need to fend for yourself!'
Im sure you all at some point have done this to someone in your life. you decided to not loan them the money(etc.) because you knew that it was foolish to do so. you knew that money was'nt coming back. Maybe it might put you in a position were you wouldnt be able to pay something (bills or whatever) that had bad repercussions. A position were you were not prepared. Am i making any sence?
Basically the five wise virgins that came prepared were not sure that they were going to be able to pay the bills(make it thru the night with enough oil). So when the foolish asked for help the wise said 'sorry, no, i cant help you'. At some point in our lives we will be faced with who can we help and who is beyond help (to the point that it is harmful to us to render that help). Also the bridegroom said at the virgens when they met at the door to the wedding 'i tell you the truth, i do not know you'. The foolish virgins tried to get in to late.
This is jesus saying 'be ready you never know when the bridegroom will show up, and dont try to save your self when i come back because i (at that time)will have never known you'.
You always have to try to do right(be prepared) and keep Jesus in your heart or when that day comes you may hear 'i tell you the truth, i do not know you'. Reply to this
February 25, 2009 3:09 PM
Dustin wrote:
I saw a bumper sticker today,it read: 'In case of rapture this vehicle will be unmanned'.
It made me giggle and i thought 'wow, is that bumper sticker going to guarantee you a place in heaven or is your faith that strong'. i hope i wasn't judging her. Reply to this
February 25, 2009 11:24 AM
rik wrote:
How do you share your personal salvation? can you say here borrow part of my baptism or here just use some of my faith? each has to gain there own conviction, some things can not be shared. the only exception I see is husbands and wives(one flesh), but they wouldn't be virgins would they. Reply to this
February 25, 2009 3:16 PM
Dustin wrote:
I got a call from Tony earlier. we should all pray for him he is having vehicle trouble and is stuck in Waco Tx. I have helped him as much as i could over the phone and o'reilley auto parts are bringing the parts to him. Lets pray that he gets home safely with out any more trouble and that he gets his job done right with out any complications. Reply to this
I always have (find) time to read about God. I had read your comments earlier from yesterday...and good ones they were also.
REALLY hope you can come Saturday. Tony says yes, Haven't heard from Rik. Dustin says maybe. Haven't heard from Rich. It is mostly celebration for Tony's and Rik's birthdays, so really hope all can come and make this great for them (oh yeah, my birthday as well). (and maybe one or more of yours????
Reply to this
This chapter is a continuation of chapter 24, with the overall theme of 'be ready and do the right thing while you are alive' because, as Tony did a great job emphasizing in his post yesterday, understanding the fact that Jesus is coming back should impact our lives. That is exactly the point of the parable of the talents and the last story about judgment.
Reading chapter 24 was motivating for me yesterday. It affected my decisions. When I was watching TV last night, I was not nearly as tempted as I have been to watch something inappropriate. Why? Because Jesus could be coming back and I need to be prepared. So Jesus hasn't come back for almost 2000 years, what is the chance he will come back today? I think that it is miniscule, but the bottom line is that line of thinking is not only wrong, it is irrelevant. Since Jesus didn't know when he was coming back, I think the emphasis is that 'you just don't know when, so therefore, live every day doing what you know you should be doing' - and 'don't act as though God is not near - that He isn't involved - that He doesn't see - God is real, Jesus is real and Jesus will be coming back to bring about the judgment day.' Hebrews 12:29 says "...and so let us worship God with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire".
So here is something I am having a hard time figuring out. I know that we will be judged by grace right? Matt 24-25 says that we will be judged by our actions - whether we were 'ready' and specifically the end of chapter 25 regarding whether we took care of the 'needy'. How do we reconcile the two points of view? Matt 25 also matches up with Phillipians 2:12-13 says "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." I am sure this has been discussed before, but it is important for me to get this right in my head.
Reply to this
Every Christian asks these questions at some time in their lives, I am sure. No EASY answer...that is why we have 'grace' churches, 'works' churches, and the combination of the two.
My personal take on it is that we are to live our lives for Christ. We know we will sin, as we are NOT Christ, not even LIKE Him, but we strive to be. I believe we COULD 'not be ready' if we simply gave up on God and lived our lives as we desire, but most true Christians don't really do that. They don't indulge (and that word is important) in the sins listed in Galatians and Ephesians, even though they may commit them off and on. Paul warned about 'living like this'---Paul!, the guy who says we are sinful. No, don't indulge in sins, confess your sins when you commit them (although I don't think you will lose your 'spot in Heaven' if you fail to confess them every time), and try to live a morally correct life, keeping Christ in the center of it.
To 'be ready' for that unknown hour is to simply live your life daily for Christ, even though you will sin during that day.
Make sense?
Reply to this
I think this way-if I have faith and understand grace, God will use me for His works, His purpose, so I am not saved by those works, but I know my salvation is secure by them. It is a lifestyle. I do fall short every day (some days way shorter them others), but if I confess to God and the brothers who will pray for me and ask for forgiveness God will still be able to use me for his set purpose.
Reply to this
The good news-I will be there on Saturday. Zack should be able to come also.
The bad news- I will not be going to school in March. At first this sounds like good news for the Irish, but it turns out that I will be going to a wedding on the 14th of March in Mississippi. Nathan (Tom Crowell's middle child) will be getting married on the 14th of March. I guess it is not bad news per-say, but disappointing news. It is never bad when God joins two together.
Reply to this
You really mean you're going to the wedding instead of your 'brothers' party....that hurts....
Reply to this
Hopefully there will be just one wedding for Nathan, but you will continue (God willing) to delight us with parties for years to come. plus My wife really wants to be there for Tom and Debra, and I had a hard time coming up with a viable argument to justify not going to the wedding. sorry.
Reply to this
I have problems with the 5 'good virgins'. When those who failed to do what they should have (that is, they had not prepared their lamps properly (and of course, the moral of the story is that they didn't prepare their lives properly)) asked for help from the 'good' virgins, they were refused.
What kind of Christians were these 'good' five? Not very. Very selfish, if you ask me. I realize the final prize to which this story refers is eternal life, but these five had decided that THEY deserved it more than the others. They didn't even offer to give a little share of what they had. "Go fend for yourselves", they said. IF there wasn't enough oil FOR SURE (they even said 'there MAY not be enough' for all), then perhaps they could have said, LET'S go get some more so we can ALL go to 'the party'. But no, they simply denied the others the chance at eternal life (or in this story, the opportunity to be with the groom).
I realize the story was told for a reason....'be prepared', but I also think the actions of half of the ten was despicable. Anyone else feel the same?
Reply to this
Have you ever had that friend, relative, co-worker, brother, or sister that when you saw them, some how it turned out that you ended up loaning them money, clothes, food, or something almost every time you saw them? You know they have a job. At what point do you tell them 'NO, I will not help you amy more you are a grown person and need to fend for yourself!'
Im sure you all at some point have done this to someone in your life. you decided to not loan them the money(etc.) because you knew that it was foolish to do so. you knew that money was'nt coming back. Maybe it might put you in a position were you wouldnt be able to pay something (bills or whatever) that had bad repercussions. A position were you were not prepared. Am i making any sence?
Basically the five wise virgins that came prepared were not sure that they were going to be able to pay the bills(make it thru the night with enough oil). So when the foolish asked for help the wise said 'sorry, no, i cant help you'. At some point in our lives we will be faced with who can we help and who is beyond help (to the point that it is harmful to us to render that help). Also the bridegroom said at the virgens when they met at the door to the wedding 'i tell you the truth, i do not know you'. The foolish virgins tried to get in to late.
This is jesus saying 'be ready you never know when the bridegroom will show up, and dont try to save your self when i come back because i (at that time)will have never known you'.
You always have to try to do right(be prepared) and keep Jesus in your heart or when that day comes you may hear 'i tell you the truth, i do not know you'.
Reply to this
I saw a bumper sticker today,it read:
'In case of rapture this vehicle will be unmanned'.
It made me giggle and i thought 'wow, is that bumper sticker going to guarantee you a place in heaven or is your faith that strong'. i hope i wasn't judging her.
Reply to this
How do you share your personal salvation? can you say here borrow part of my baptism or here just use some of my faith? each has to gain there own conviction, some things can not be shared. the only exception I see is husbands and wives(one flesh), but they wouldn't be virgins would they.
Reply to this
T'would hope not!
(Being virgins, that is).
Reply to this
I got a call from Tony earlier. we should all pray for him he is having vehicle trouble and is stuck in Waco Tx. I have helped him as much as i could over the phone and o'reilley auto parts are bringing the parts to him. Lets pray that he gets home safely with out any more trouble and that he gets his job done right with out any complications.
Reply to this
new update possible fuel pump failure.
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Where to invest?
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