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Post by shorti on Sept 2, 2009 11:38:46 GMT -4
So... in light of all of our differing views - I pose this question to everyone - mainly because I'm interested in seeing the responses... We were asked this in my small group recently & the answers were all intriguing & the question itself is thought provoking:
If you knew that Christ was coming to rapture His church a year from today - what would you do? What would you change about your life? How would you respond?
***Sidenote.. I guess you have to believe in Christ as the Messiah to have an opinion... I get that***
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Post by AquaHolic on Sept 2, 2009 12:07:35 GMT -4
So... in light of all of our differing views - I pose this question to everyone - mainly because I'm interested in seeing the responses... We were asked this in my small group recently & the answers were all intriguing & the question itself is thought provoking: If you knew that Christ was coming to rapture His church a year from today - what would you do? What would you change about your life? How would you respond? ***Sidenote.. I guess you have to believe in Christ as the Messiah to have an opinion... I get that*** If I believed this was going to happen....I would change nothing about my life. Its like speeding...and then slowing down when you see the police car...its really too late as they already know you are speeding. I try to live up to my own standards...sometimes I fail...but I still trudge on.
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Post by funnel101 on Sept 2, 2009 12:10:25 GMT -4
Christ is already here, within us. From Luke, chapter 17:
Assuming that I believed that rapture will happen (I don't, see quote above), I wouldn't change anything. I try to live each day as if it might be my last already. I suppose the only small difference would be that I'd make it to more Meetings for Worship on Sundays, knowing that there wouldn't be any long-term effects from not getting enough sleep.
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Post by - on Sept 2, 2009 20:45:38 GMT -4
I believe, as I am told what we do to help my father out with his illness and taking care of him, we wouldn't see it any other way, and this is our reason being here on Kent Island, and our family commitment coming before our personal wants and needs. I have no regrets what so ever. I can honestly say that I miss my church in Bethesda. And have not found a home church here yet, but I know of one that we will be frequenting. Not because it is Bethesda, but my church, the one that I grew up in, the one I was also married in, the one which dad was a minister there for 18 years. So that is my regret. I haven't been for a while and I miss my minister's sermons so much. That is my failure, I haven't been in 3 months.... For anyone who is interested, here is a nice video. I have posted it a long time ago, but it is a lovely message. www.theinterviewwithgod.com/-cg
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Post by Water Lady on Sept 2, 2009 23:08:18 GMT -4
I believe, as I am told that there is a special place in heaven for my husband and I for our reason being here on Kent Island, and our family commitment coming before our personal wants and needs. I have no regrets what so ever. I can honestly say that I miss my church in Bethesda. And have not found a home church here yet, but I know of one that we will be frequenting. Not because it is Bethesda, but my church, the one that I grew up in, the one I was also married in, the one which dad was a minister there for 18 years. So that is my regret. I haven't been for a while and I miss my minister's sermons so much. That is my failure, I haven't been in 3 months.... For anyone who is interested, here is a nice video. I have posted it a long time ago, but it is a lovely message. www.theinterviewwithgod.com/-cg Shorti - What a fabulous question! I'm going to really think about this for a day or so before I answer because, even though my first instinct is to respond "not to change a thing," something about family was tugging at the back of my mind. I just need to think on this... I do want to say though, I do not believe we get "brownie points" for doing the right thing. "Honor thy Father and thy Mother."Sorry, I just found that bit about "a special place" a little off...
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Post by shorti on Sept 3, 2009 11:58:45 GMT -4
CG - not trying to be debatable (is that even a word??? ) but... and maybe it's just a misread on my part... but while putting family ahead of self as well as others is noble - where is God? He should be before you, your hubby, your family & others... then all else will fall into place... at least that how i read it. There's one thing I've learned is that there (and I'm not saying you or your hubby so please don't think that) but there will be lots of people at the gates of heaven that will say... "Lord, Lord ..." and He will say "Go away from me... I never knew you" and those will be the ones that thought they had a relationship... so basically there's a long distance between knowing in your head & knowing in your heart - the longest 18 inches ever... So I would encourage you and anyone else to read this book... How Good is Good Enough by Andy Stanley and then when you are done with that one... try Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney Waterlady - It is a fabulous question! and does require thought... makes you go hmmm???
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Post by Water Lady on Sept 13, 2009 22:08:14 GMT -4
My initial response would have been to not change a thing; however, there are a few things I would change...
This question started me to thinking about how much time I spend planning for the future. I have my beliefs and I am a Christian, but I do spend time in my daily life planning, worrying, researching, hoping & speculating about the things I can do to "prepare" for the years ahead.
I'm talking about things like retirement, health care, my health in general...a couple examples on my part would be the following:
My husband is 18 years older than me. He is my best friend and a wonderful man. I think about it from time to time - I worry about his health and happiness - I wonder (occasionally) what will my life be like if he is no longer here...
A year ago, we took legal custody of my 16 year old niece. She's been through some pretty rough times. We live our lives trying to help her overcome her past and become the best person she can be. We have become completely devoted to her and feel responsible to her as if we were her real parents. We are trying to help her plan her future - make sure she goes to college - finds her dreams - I worry sometimes; what if something happened to us? Who would care for her then?
In my daily life, I pray for guidance and strength to make good decisions. The kind of decisions and choices that will effect my life today and tomorrow...
So, to answer your question - I would give up the worry and the "planning for tomorrow," spend my days with the ones I love and thoroughly enjoy the next 365 days!!!
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Post by deputy on Sept 14, 2009 8:15:29 GMT -4
If you knew that Christ was coming to rapture His church a year from today - what would you do? What would you change about your life? How would you respond? Which one is "His" church? I might join it if I knew.
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Post by shorti on Sept 14, 2009 13:06:24 GMT -4
If you knew that Christ was coming to rapture His church a year from today - what would you do? What would you change about your life? How would you respond? Which one is "His" church? I might join it if I knew. "His" church is referred to churches that are Christian - which means - follower of Christ...
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Post by speedergurl68 on Sept 15, 2009 16:42:28 GMT -4
Ok, now I have been thinking about this since I read it, and I think I have my answer ironed out enough to communicate it effectively.
To change, for any other reason than you feel led to change, seems hypocritical to me. So, I guess I wouldn't change anything based on that information. If, however, with no influence from that information, I felt I should change for valid spiritual reasons, I would change what I could.
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Post by falgar25 on Sept 15, 2009 20:18:47 GMT -4
Ok, now I have been thinking about this since I read it, and I think I have my answer ironed out enough to communicate it effectively. To change, for any other reason than you feel led to change, seems hypocritical to me. So, I guess I wouldn't change anything based on that information. If, however, with no influence from that information, I felt I should change for valid spiritual reasons, I would change what I could. Very well put. If I could think of something I would change then, I wouuld change it today.
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Post by Water Lady on Sept 15, 2009 23:19:24 GMT -4
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Post by einebierbitte on Sept 16, 2009 7:06:35 GMT -4
In the words of Tim McGraw "I would live like I am dying". In other words.... I would live each day to the fullest and enjoy the life and love around me each and every second. With that being said, I would hope that I would inspire others to do the same......
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Post by funnel101 on Sept 16, 2009 10:51:11 GMT -4
In the words of Tim McGraw "I would live like I am dying". In other words.... I would live each day to the fullest and enjoy the life and love around me each and every second. With that being said, I would hope that I would inspire others to do the same...... You ARE dying. So might as well start now.
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Post by shorti on Sept 16, 2009 14:02:07 GMT -4
WOW - Funnel... couldn't agree more... we are all given a specific amount of time to live... I don't know if I'm going to be driving home & get plowed by a tractor trailer (Gee I hope not, but I simply do not know)
SG - I get your point... it would seem hypocritical... the question is meant (at least to me) to reflect the things in my/your life that you would change if you knew. So simply... if there are things you would change because you know He'll be back in 1 year - then those are the things you should start to re-evaluate now - not knowing... Know what i mean?
I think Barb said it would be like speeding & then slowing down when you see a cop because they already know you've been speeding... and again If you believed that He would return, you would probably believe He does already know... the past, present & future...
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Post by - on Sept 16, 2009 20:14:45 GMT -4
Shorti, You asked me where is God. God guides my husband , my dad and myself every day. I'll always remember from Sunday School when I was a little girl, "That God is Everywhere", and I believe he is. He helped me find a life from Bethesda, as I miss the city so much. But he directed me to a true passion of mine which is helping animals. I'd always thought that if I didn't need to work, I'd love nothing better than to be a volunteer for The National Zoo. Well I'm not in Kansas anymore, and found an even better place to dedicate my volunteer work. With cats and dogs who were given a second chance. Actually my favorite saint is St. Francis of Assisi. The patron Saint of animals. www.americancatholic.org/Features/Francis/Who_Was.aspWhat an excellent question Shorti! -cg
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Post by ljp on Sept 23, 2009 23:03:56 GMT -4
To change anything would suggest that you weren't living right today.
So either: 1. you are living right or 2. you aren't and don't care.
I don't want to be doing anything today I would be ashamed of if He comes today and looks me in the face while I am doing it. I should be living my life day to day glorifying my creator because this is what he has asked me to do.
Shorti is right, the Bible says that there will be many who will knock yet not enter. He gives us strict instructions, very clear, very black and white. Yet many choose only to believe what makes them comfortable. Forgetting that what makes them 'uncomfortable' is that little sense of accountability. So they choose to ignore that part. Makes me sad a little.
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Post by shorti on Sept 24, 2009 9:29:40 GMT -4
To change anything would suggest that you weren't living right today. So either: 1. you are living right or 2. you aren't and don't care. I don't want to be doing anything today I would be ashamed of if He comes today and looks me in the face while I am doing it. I should be living my life day to day glorifying my creator because this is what he has asked me to do. Shorti is right, the Bible says that there will be many who will knock yet not enter. He gives us strict instructions, very clear, very black and white. Yet many choose only to believe what makes them comfortable. Forgetting that what makes them 'uncomfortable' is that little sense of accountability. So they choose to ignore that part. Makes me sad a little. LJP - me too on the sad part, because I know that I have loved ones who will probably be one of those unless something changes... i probably have loved ones who have already passed too that fall into that category, but I won't know this side of eternity.
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Post by Water Lady on Sept 24, 2009 22:53:07 GMT -4
"LJP - me too on the sad part, because I know that I have loved ones who will probably be one of those unless something changes... i probably have loved ones who have already passed too that fall into that category, but I won't know this side of eternity. " (How the heck did that happen...I couldn't make the quote go in the little box... ) Shorti - I would like to read more about this as I feel the exact same away about some of my family, both here and already gone... Could you point out the specific verses please?
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Post by speedergurl68 on Sept 25, 2009 5:51:34 GMT -4
I believe it's Matthew 7 21-23. But, I could be wrong.
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Post by shorti on Sept 25, 2009 7:26:20 GMT -4
I believe it's Matthew 7 21-23. But, I could be wrong. . Go sg - go sg- go! Yeah she is right... that is one... there are lots of places though... gimme some time to look 'em up & I'll post them... It's tough though... really tough... at least for me it is... I relate to things like this in this way... well sorta... it's like being in love w/ someone (because you are/should be in love w/ Him) you take the parts you like & the ones you don't like... you know? It's funny though... oh no here i go rambling again... Even today, there are parts of the Bible I don't like... but 2-3 years ago I would have said it's not the sole authority or I don't have to like all of it... now... I look inward & ask myself why I don't like that part... and typically it comes down to this... i'm holding onto something that applies in that part and it's conviction that makes me not like it... because that means I need to change & who likes change? We are prone to fight it... you know that old saying.... "Truth hurts"?
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Post by speedergurl68 on Sept 25, 2009 15:31:17 GMT -4
All those years of "sword drills" in VBS finally paid off!!! ;D
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Post by funnel101 on Sept 25, 2009 15:51:04 GMT -4
Shorti, I want you to know that I respect you for taking your faith so seriously and really thinking about it. Too many people just swallow what their parents or pastors or priests tell them without bothering to question and decide for themselves. And, personally, I can think of few things, if anything!, that should be taken more seriously than one's faith. So: you're awesome.
That being said, I disagree with your opinion of the Bible. You call it the "sole authority". For me, God/the Holy Spirit is the "sole authority". I believe that the Bible was written by divinely-inspired people for people of their own time and culture. I believe that God wouldn't give messages that couldn't be understood by those people. (For example, Jesus's parables focus a lot on farming because that was what most people did back then. If his parables were about, say, banking or electrical engineering, I don't think anyone would have bothered writing them down.) For me, I think attempting to understand the society in which the words were written is extremely important to actually understanding the words themselves. As a Quaker, I believe in continuing revelation: that God is still speaking today and that all have access to Him. So, for me, when I read the Bible, I don't take it as the first authority, but as an inspiration to lead me to God.
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Post by shorti on Sept 28, 2009 9:32:31 GMT -4
Shorti, I want you to know that I respect you for taking your faith so seriously and really thinking about it. Too many people just swallow what their parents or pastors or priests tell them without bothering to question and decide for themselves. And, personally, I can think of few things, if anything!, that should be taken more seriously than one's faith. So: you're awesome. That being said, I disagree with your opinion of the Bible. You call it the "sole authority". For me, God/the Holy Spirit is the "sole authority". I believe that the Bible was written by divinely-inspired people for people of their own time and culture. I believe that God wouldn't give messages that couldn't be understood by those people. (For example, Jesus's parables focus a lot on farming because that was what most people did back then. If his parables were about, say, banking or electrical engineering, I don't think anyone would have bothered writing them down.) For me, I think attempting to understand the society in which the words were written is extremely important to actually understanding the words themselves. As a Quaker, I believe in continuing revelation: that God is still speaking today and that all have access to Him. So, for me, when I read the Bible, I don't take it as the first authority, but as an inspiration to lead me to God. Funnel - In ways we agree... I believe that God still speaks today in very relevant ways and that all have access to Him, but I think where we may disagree on this is that in order to have access to Him, you have to accept Jesus. However, I do believe the Bible is my "users manual" for how I should live my life. I do disagree that the parables are also relevant to today. They are parables, they had to be relevant to those who He was teaching, but also they had to be understandable to all - including you & me. The Bible is also instrumental in discerning what we believe we are hearing from God.
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Post by funnel101 on Sept 28, 2009 10:58:52 GMT -4
Shorti, I want you to know that I respect you for taking your faith so seriously and really thinking about it. Too many people just swallow what their parents or pastors or priests tell them without bothering to question and decide for themselves. And, personally, I can think of few things, if anything!, that should be taken more seriously than one's faith. So: you're awesome. That being said, I disagree with your opinion of the Bible. You call it the "sole authority". For me, God/the Holy Spirit is the "sole authority". I believe that the Bible was written by divinely-inspired people for people of their own time and culture. I believe that God wouldn't give messages that couldn't be understood by those people. (For example, Jesus's parables focus a lot on farming because that was what most people did back then. If his parables were about, say, banking or electrical engineering, I don't think anyone would have bothered writing them down.) For me, I think attempting to understand the society in which the words were written is extremely important to actually understanding the words themselves. As a Quaker, I believe in continuing revelation: that God is still speaking today and that all have access to Him. So, for me, when I read the Bible, I don't take it as the first authority, but as an inspiration to lead me to God. Funnel - In ways we agree... I believe that God still speaks today in very relevant ways and that all have access to Him, but I think where we may disagree on this is that in order to have access to Him, you have to accept Jesus. You hit the nail on the head there. That's exactly our disagreement.
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