tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post2159126436344925389..comments2024-01-11T10:58:30.769-05:00Comments on Jesus community: don't stand stillTed M. Gossardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-25205543989605748442009-01-14T23:29:00.000-05:002009-01-14T23:29:00.000-05:00L.L.,How very true. Sometimes that is exactly what...L.L.,<BR/>How very true. Sometimes that is exactly what I need. We see that in the Bible. And it is true, God gives to those he loves, even as they sleep- so that life and its outcome is essentially not up to them/us. We must trust and obey, as well as obey and trust.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-81909397968200126162009-01-14T23:27:00.001-05:002009-01-14T23:27:00.001-05:00Wingnut, Also thanks.Wingnut, Also thanks.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-14376280746486566092009-01-14T23:27:00.000-05:002009-01-14T23:27:00.000-05:00Wingnut,Yes, I've found myself wanting to live in ...Wingnut,<BR/>Yes, I've found myself wanting to live in the past in some ways, wanting to revert to what worked back then seemingly better than now, forgetting that so much has happened since then, and it would not be the same no matter how I tried.<BR/><BR/>But I like the way your pastor put it (I take it you mean Rob Bell), "prayerfully developing a spirit of acceptance towards change." Yes, so needed for sure.<BR/><BR/>Yes, regrets and wishes- we have to move on but in the present. Good thought and angle you give for me to consider more. But I certainly do believe in that. The past and the future are factors, but life unfolds in the present. That is where we live, and where we must learn to thrive and do well in God through Christ.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-71674844118435081522009-01-14T23:21:00.000-05:002009-01-14T23:21:00.000-05:00Lanny,Thanks for your good story. That would make ...Lanny,<BR/>Thanks for your good story. That would make anyone want to throw in the towel and give up, or at least scale down. Or maybe put some sort of fence up around your garden to keep deer and other animals out? Or some other means for that. Just curious.<BR/><BR/>Yes, I need this sort of message myself. Especially when everything is an effort as now, when I somehow twisted my back over the weekend, and it seems it's worse now this tonight. And the cold here. Heading to below 0 F.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-50716731017830017132009-01-14T14:08:00.000-05:002009-01-14T14:08:00.000-05:00Oh, but sometimes I honestly need a nap. :)I'm thi...Oh, but sometimes I honestly need a nap. :)<BR/><BR/>I'm thinking sometimes we move even in our dreams...L.L. Barkathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13333960142447144678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-8328193463752912542009-01-14T09:14:00.000-05:002009-01-14T09:14:00.000-05:00Our pastor did a teaching on that a while back. H...Our pastor did a teaching on that a while back. He talked about how we need to prayerfully develop a spirit of acceptance towards change. Because life does change.<BR/><BR/>And we cannot, no matter how much we convince ourselves otherwise, live in the past.<BR/><BR/>And we cannot, no matter how much we dream and hope and wish, live in the future.<BR/><BR/>We are here in the present, and we need to live in the present.<BR/><BR/>It is tough to do. I can't tell you how many times I have thought "When this happens, I'll do this."<BR/><BR/>or, "When I get this, then I will be more this."<BR/><BR/>or, "If that had not have happened, I'd be better off."<BR/><BR/>It's extremely dangerous to think like that, because it instantly destroys whatever is going on at the present moment.<BR/><BR/>Great thoughts, and a great reminder!<BR/><BR/><BR/>wingnutJason Jaspersehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16442551150692911766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-24930307410253618782009-01-14T04:47:00.000-05:002009-01-14T04:47:00.000-05:00Don't stand still for me was a message of "don't n...Don't stand still for me was a message of "don't not plant a garden." <BR/><BR/>One year we had some devastation come into our family. At that same time I lost my harvest in my larger garden to two fat deer, they ate everything, seemingly the day before I intended to harvest including flowers in bud. <BR/><BR/>One day, when all of the personal tragedy was closing in and effecting my heart on any future trusting of others and willingness to give again, ever, let alone again and again and again, I looked up as I was walking aimlessly toward the garden. I thought, "there is no way I am wasting my time on planting down here again in the spring." A voice clearly cut off that thought and said that I had no business thinking that I could not plant another garden. Even if it was highly possible that I would loose the next harvest and the next and the next. I was called to be a gardener and was to plant and grow. I knew immediately that the "voice" meant way more than my garden and that I was to stand in the face of way more than two fat deer. No matter how tiring, futile seeming, or purely painful. <BR/><BR/>As Christians one of our foremost duties to one another is to encourage one another to keep moving and not stand still. Or to keep planting and tilling no matter the losses. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for your honest humble encouragement to your readers.Lannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16018584509455303394noreply@blogger.com