Tue, Sep 25th - 1:27AM

Just a stringing together of some scripture...

Philippians 2:5-7 (AMP)

    ⁵Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

    ⁶Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,

    ⁷But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.

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Matthew 26:39-42 (NIV)

 ³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

 ⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. ⁴¹"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

 ⁴²He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

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John 5:20-23 (NAS)

 ²⁰"For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.

 ²¹"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

 ²²"For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,

 ²³so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

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Matthew 28:18-20 (AMP)

    ¹⁸Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

    ¹⁹Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

    ²⁰Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

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Exodus 20:12 (NLT)

 ¹² “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Tue, Sep 11th - 2:24AM

Purpose and Truth

The stupid thing about my latest failure is what it was all about:  Something I wanted to do and was not wrong in and of itself.  I had to deny myself something that I did not want to.  Not for my need, but for someone else's and I was angry about that.  This was something I really enjoy a lot and had to give it up for someone else.  I was not very graceful in this.  If not for my desire along these lines, I think I would have ignored the offense and just moved on.  Therefore, my fleshly desire (to edit) is the root cause of this.  My desire to edit is not a God given instruction that I have to heed.  I can see nothing bad that would have happened by my failure to do so except that I would have had less fun.

Jon,  I am sorry this caused you so much pain.  You should know you have no guilt in this, but I understand how it can steal your joy and sap your strength. And I cannot enjoy editing your work in light of that.

It started with encouragement.  Jon would like to write, and I think he has the heart for it and I hope the endurance to see it through.  We, collectively, encouraged him and I don't think anyone saw that as wrong.  We were all good at that point.

Jon put stuff up and asked for comment.  I can be very cutting, and know this.  In an editor, this is almost a required ability.  In trepidation, I shared my willingness to go there.  I consider Jon to be fairly tough, but know he, (as everyone does) has a sensitive side that can be hurt.  I know he will have enough pain just in the writing.  I wished to be sure he would have ample opportunity to tell me to back off at any point that I was getting too rough.  If he submitted his work for publication, he would get no such consideration from a professional editor.  But unless you have written something at least good enough for an editor to consider close but not quite good enough, you will not know that.

Jon kind of laughed it off and said I'd have to "be tougher than that."  So I knew he was ok with it so far.  But I read into a comment that seemed to insinuate to me that I was breaking him down and not building him up.  Yes, we are entitled and even obligated to express these things.  And truthfully, there may have been no such meaning intended in the words posted. I should have taken no offense, but I did.  To be honest, if that very same assessment had been made by another brother, I would have simply confronted that on it's own merits or lack thereof.  It came from a woman, however, and a strong confrontational challenge from a woman feels very much just like the physical sensation of having your private parts grabbed for me.  I do not like it at all!  When a woman disagrees with me in other ways, it is not the same.  I can not fully put into words exactly what the difference is except that to say that it is possible to disagree from a submissive role.  It is possible to be domineering and say nothing and seemingly be in total agreement and yet not agree at all!  I lack the words to fully express this.  Pray for understanding from the Spirit, for I cannot give it to you.

That women and men are not the same is fundamental to me.  I may not have their roles quite right, but to act like they are the same is tantamount to lying for me.  I cannot do it.  Homosexuality is wrong.  If men and women were freely interchangeable, that could not be so.

The worst part is that one of our sisters here believed it was her comment I was objecting to!  Teri did not take my saying 'we were good' at face value.  My silly offense now became hers.  For her this is a sensitive subject.  People tell her not to preach and that it is a sin for a woman to preach.  I can't quite go there.  I can only clearly see it as wrong when a woman takes authority from a man.  It does not mean that she cannot act with authority, just that she cannot take it.  And the authority she has is like that of a daughter in the house of her father.  They can make an oath and it can stand, but only if her father, the one with the authority invested in her, does not object.  So, if she speaks in perfect agreement with scripture, Her Heavenly Father would let it stand, (at least I would think he would) and so should I.  The difference is so very subtle that I don't think I am ever understood, and that is frustrating.  And I think the biggest offenders are not standing behind a pulpit, but if I go down the path of discussing that, those who do not understand the first part will only be offended further.

Sure, that is sooo OT.  So is the part in Proverbs that calls wisdom in the feminine and later makes it clear that the One the world was created through is that Wisdom.  So please don't go to that 'throw out the OT' place that people mistakenly seem to think Christ did.  Fulfill not Abolish.  Not one Stroke.  Remember that, please!

I still do not know the totallity of my Purpose.  It is not, however, defined by even the desires of You, my brothers and sisters in Christ. At times I am harsh.  I can go there quite naturally, it seems.  I am not convinced that it is part of my purpose, but neither am I convinced that it is not!

I look at Paul, not to say that I am like him, but as an example of what can be.  I can see him being very harsh.  He writes of his pain when he is harsh.  Can you feel his pain as a palpable thing?  I can!  Paul told the Church at Corinth to expell a brother bragging of his sin and disgracing grace.  Later he told them to restore that same brother.  The reason for both instructions was the same!  For the good of that brother!  And Paul felt pain to tell them these things.  The fullness of God's Love for us does not just allow Him to punish us at times (for our own good), rather it demands it.  Without that, His Love would be incomplete, imperfect and unworthy of being called Godly!

I run into "Christians" that refuse to chastise and punish their children thinking that it is 'unloving'.  They have bought the lies of Satan and given full reign by this ungodly world we live in and its sweet sounding but totally untrue 'wisdom'.  I am kind enough to believe they are still my brothers and sisters, even if misguided in this thing.  I'd hope you could be so kind for me.  If I am wrong, tell me so in a way I can understand.  Ladies, you are at a disadvantage, but not without hope! Men, you can slap me silly if need be!

I am still trying to figure out what to do if Jon writes more and asks for comments.  I considered sending him my comments by email, and won't say that is wrong, only to say that it somehow felt wrong (deceptive, actually) to me, and therefore for me to do it would be sin.

In all of this, I am not sure where I should consider myself strong or weak (in alignment with Romans 14), however, whereever it is possible for me to do so, I must give up what is not important for the sake of others.  I don't have to like it (although it would be better for me if I did) and it may be a point that allows me to know whether I am strong or weak in a matter.  I guess that what can really tee me off is when something is done that seems like it is judging me and judging me wrongly.  Can I not make the same mistake (seven times seventy times even!) and ask for forgiveness?  I try so very hard to give up what I can, but it is not easy!

Long and short:  I understand some of what I may have done wrong and ask forgiveness for it.  For the other things I am not aware of, I also ask forgiveness, but allow that you may see a need to tell me what I did do wrong so that I can be very specific where needed.

In Christ,

Mel