| Poster | Thread | murrcolr
Member
Joined: 2007/4/25
Posts: 1839
Scotland, UK
| | Re: | | For your attention please read David Wilkersons urgent message issued today the 7th of March 2009.
[url=http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/]davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com[/url]
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Colin Murray
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|  2009/3/7 9:28 | Profile | crsschk
Member
Joined: 2003/6/11
Posts: 9192
Santa Clara, CA
| | Re: Observations | | A piece from Compton in [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=27637&forum=35&start=20&viewmode=flat&order=0]Gut Feelings[/url];
[i]I am just old enough myself to have seen dates and predictions come and go. The thing we worry about rarely happens. It's usually the thing we didn't see coming that gets us. I suppose the unpredictable convulsions and potentially transformative winds blowing through the entire world is in a good reason to give way to feelings in our guts and make pronouncements about the different images in our minds that disturb us, but this scripture comes to mind:
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."Some translations render "sound mind" into "discipline".
Let me share an observation that I think we should be mindful of and apply discipline to. We are too sophisticated. By that I mean that more people today have access to information, analysis, technology and material resources then ever before in the history of civilization. Quite simply, this advantage makes us spiritually weaker then our ancestors who had more room in their primitive heads for the Word of God.
Perhaps some here know of the phenomena where a person who has lost one of their senses, such as sight or hearing, experiences an increase in sensitivity from their other senses to compensate.
Well I believe our over-abundance of so called analysis, the veritable fire hose of expert opinion we can swallow every day, weakens our ability to hear the full counsel and comfort of God for these times. I have been observing a correlation between prophetic unctions and the news trends. It may very well be that sincere but undisciplined Christians are unable to tell the difference between God and the news.
If we think God is speaking to us through a 24 hours news channel, we can offer little leadership to the church, because each trial only causes our undisciplined minds to worry about the next trial. It becomes very hard to "not worry about tomorrow" when that's the main thesis of the media...and the human heart.
I'm not trying to sound "unafraid" of the events of our days, or to discourage one another from sharing our fears and burdens. I'm simply saying that we must protect ourselves from our own sophisticated answers to these burdens. If we tell the rich man that he cannot trust in his riches, then how can we rightfully tell the poor man to trust in his vegetable gardens and caves?
We who are in Christ need to shelter one another in Christ, and in that context we may get out of debt or plant our gardens. Yet those who are strong in Christ, should be careful of unwittingly boasting in their plans or resources, which only weakens those who are already weak in Christ. Save money and plant gardens, but we do a better service towards those who are weak in Christ to only hope in Christ and not confuse the issue with our own resources. This is for everyones sake because the poor man's vegetables can rot just as fast the rich man's money.
Blessings brethren,
Mike[/i]
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Mike Balog
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| | 2009/3/7 10:11 | Profile | crsschk
Member
Joined: 2003/6/11
Posts: 9192
Santa Clara, CA
| | Re: Observations cont. | | Quote:
For anyone to pin this on President Obama is just wrong, and betrays their political leanings. Forget pinning this mess on one political party, or one man, the seeds of this impending fiscal disaster lay at all of our doorsteps.
You all want to be "one nation"?
Then we should all 'own' this, it's us
Brother, agreed ... to an extent. All this turmoil has been building and been exacerbated for some time - Congress - Sub-prime -Banks- Lenders and buyers - The overextending like a carrot and the taking of it without thought or ... responsibility. Key word there.
One giant aspect of all that is upon 'us'. The mention of these things above and the general fallout and repercussions, the tentacles of it all.
Just some observations - I do take exception to the idea and pronouncement that "we are all to blame" for this current mess. How so? Though they remain largely silent, there are still many hardworking, [i]responsible[/i], moral and courageous souls that buck the trend and quietly go about their work and their lives without greed and without part or parcel in those activities taken advantage of, driven by greed and\or ignorance - over extended and now "under water". To lay this at the feet [i]also[/i] of the responsible ... is this not somewhat of that very ideal that so many fear, I.E. [i]socialism[/i]?
To be clear I am not taking [i]you[/i] to task brother, only utilizing your comments and generalizing them along with so much talk that says 'We are [i]all[/i] to blame." Or are complicit. At the same time, pointing fingers and the 'blame game' itself is just cowardly and by extension so is so much of this 'fear mongering', it's everywhere and I am observing it as so much of a self fulfilling prophecy.
As Compton put it so succinctly and if I might add ... Just about everyone either is or wants to be a prophet these days. Speculators are not just for Wall Street but Main Street, the 'Man on the Street' and now with the advance of these vast means of communications such as the Internet ... Everyone is also now a pundit and a journalist taking a shot, a guess, a hypothesis ... an opinion. We are full of experts and analysis's and here I am just adding to the mix with conjecture but I hope I can stop and stay at the point of observation.
Responsibility.
Honesty.
Straight speaking.
Morals.
Virtue.
Candor.
Backbone.
Courage.
Character.
Righteousness.
Fundamentals. Hard work and honest wages for honest labor. There ought to be [i]justice[/i] and accountability. Doing the right thing is righteousness. Not flowery speech but actions that define and deliver, give impudence and meaning to words - These things it appears 'we' sorely lack. Certainly far too many in our government - It's overt and obvious. Blame? Or is it just plainly evident?
Sometimes stating the obvious seems practically absurd. "You are right!" But that is not the motive, how to ... [i]change[/i] the mindset, to turn back to the simplest of matters, to foundational aspects, principles ...
[i]We[/i], as those carrying the lofty title and burden bearers of ultimate truth - [i]Christan[/i]- should be, by nature, (new nature) embodiments and example of these traits as a matter of course, without a word spoken - Not adding, guessing or 'prophesying' about things that we have not the faintest idea about. Whatever is on the horizon we can not just deduce from current events and worse from speculating the speculators - It's a world of confusion. Nobody, [i]nobody[/i] knows what tomorrow will bring, God alone and Him only.
Of all people - Will we be the ones that have our heads on straight [i]if[/i] and [i]when[/i] things go to pieces? Is this where our minds and attitudes and actions will prove themselves stalwart, as ones to confide in - unshaken and steadfast, calm and contented - not without a right kind of [i]fear[/i] that warns and prepares but stops short of that which the world, the media especially fuels and self propels into actuality - "Speculators".
I am eminently indebted and grateful for simple, basic, 'caught rather than taught' aspects of my, dare I say it - "Catholic upbringing" - I have nothing to boast about but learned that true aspect of taking responsibilities for my actions. If I screwed up, it was [i]my[/i] fault. Period. You do that which is right, all the time, whether your being watched or not and if you have the faintest resemblance of a God given conscience you recognize that this 'watching' goes on without end.
Recognize that doing right will at some point put oneself at a disadvantage, but you do it anyway. It's not in a sense of self justification or to further a sense of self importance - "Will not the judge of all the earth not do right?"
I have been observing a great deal - Lingered about some other financial sites - Forums - Taking it all in without comment largely. It's interesting how you can get a feel for discerning truth from error - fact from fiction -speculation from ... well it is full of this, grasping at the straws of tomorrow -
'Perhaps' is a good word. Even the most astute and studious, factual and diligent can't predict with any real good track record. As MC put it and I could not agree more forcefully, we are in the age of information overload and a great deal of it is faulty - mere guess work. We buy it up into our thought trains and start expecting if not actually putting things into play by [i]fear[/i]. Wilkerson [i]may[/i] be right - Perhaps - But he also stated that he has '[i]been saying this for ten years[/i]' [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=27763&forum=34]David Wilkerson just sent this letter out to the world!!![/url] - I truly love him but I cannot take this into my head any more than the latest round of guess work that we are either at a bottom in the market or just on the cusp of the worst depression ever.
I cannot get away from the Lords own bottom line:
[i]Watch[/i] - Watch and [i]pray[/i].
Why? And for what is it we are to be 'watching' for? Too speculate and guess - To pronounce, to be emotionally swayed by ... the overload of pundits and opionators of our own frame or those of our 'old frame'?
And what is it we are to be praying for?
I will leave those to your own thoughts and meditations. I do not say it with anything frankly in mind nor for further guess work. We must figure it out for ourselves.
Entirely too simple. And maybe that is my only attempt, to launch forth from Compton's words;
[i]Let me share an observation that I think we should be mindful of and apply discipline to. We are too sophisticated. By that I mean that more people today have access to information, analysis, technology and material resources then ever before in the history of civilization. Quite simply, this advantage makes us spiritually weaker then our ancestors who had more room in their primitive heads for the Word of God.[/i]
Just that simple and just that difficult to peel ourselves away from it all.
[i]Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.[/i] Jas 4:14-17
... ye know not what shall be on the morrow.
... what is your life?
... him that knoweth to do good
[i]... ye ought to say ...[/i]
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Mike Balog
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| | 2009/3/7 12:12 | Profile | MaryJane
Member
Joined: 2006/7/31
Posts: 3057
| | Re: | | Greetings Mike
Let me begin by saying I went to bed last night feeling a bit discouraged and confused. Just after I posted my last post to this thread, someone posted the thread from David Wilkerson(I don't have a problem with that thread just with my heart). I took in a deep breath read through it then decided to just leave it in the hands of the Father. I was still feeling a bit confused when I woke up but then this morning when I got up and was having my morning coco, I sat down and read what you shared Mike. I just wanted to say thank you for posting.
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This part especially that you wrote I think in some ways applies to me: "It may very well be that sincere but undisciplined Christians are unable to tell the difference between God and the news."
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The above statement is why I am so thankful for other brothers and sisters in Jesus to help remind me not to give in to old man, sinful self patterns of behavior. I have in the past blurred the lines between what the news has to say and what is truly from Father. My dear husband is so patient, and does lovingly remind me that we walk by faith in Jesus daily not by fear. He encourages me daily to repent of those fears and worries that are most defiantly not of Him.
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This that you wrote also touched a cord within my heart: "If we tell the rich man that he cannot trust in his riches, then how can we rightfully tell the poor man to trust in his vegetable gardens and caves?"
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Again this really spoke to me and reminds me so clearly that my hope is in Jesus and not in anything that I can do.
For now, my husband has suggested and I believe he is right, I am going to read less news and spend my time in the Word and in some of the wonderful teachings here in SI. The best way to be ready for any future events that may be difficult is to be strong in Jesus, to know Him and walk with Him daily.
Any way I just wanted to say thank you for sharing Mike and everyone else too.
God Bless you all and have a wonderful weekend
MJ
edit: The quotes I use were from the post that mike shared of what mike(Compton) posted on the other thread Gut Feelings. Just so as not to be to confusing I wanted to thank you both for writing and for sharing it here with me as well. SO thank you both Mike and Mike(Compton)
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| | 2009/3/7 12:17 | Profile | Questor
Member
Joined: 2008/12/25
Posts: 78
| | Re: Preparing for Hard Times | | Jesus lived in a country where the unfortunate were not left to starve, and where hospitality was one of the dearest customs of the land.
Also, in an agricultural society, one of necessity had to have barns full...to hold the yearly harvest for the year. It was extra barns that we are warned against.
As for not fretting over our lack, Jesus was advocating trust in the Lord to be able to not WORRY!
Wisdom in the form of the Holy Spirit pressed upon me to get in six weeks minimum supplies to get through times of unrest and lack of supply...and when the preparations had been made for many besides my family, it is little enough to prepare. Buy Beans, Salt, Oil, Flour, Sugar, Jam, Canned everything...just add to your weekly store list as God gives you the ability, and then stop worrying about it.
Whatever you have will be less than needed, but valuable to have, because it always is.
But please, be careful not to preach about God providing for us when we [i][b]refuse[/i][/b] to provide for ourselves...wisdom and prudence are gifts of God also. |
| | 2009/3/7 20:47 | Profile | MaryJane
Member
Joined: 2006/7/31
Posts: 3057
| | Re: | | Greetings Questor
You wrote: But please, be careful not to preach about God providing for us when we refuse to provide for ourselves...wisdom and prudence are gifts of God also.
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I am not sure I understand what you wrote or if it was even directed at me or someone else??
God Bless
MJ |
| | 2009/3/7 23:03 | Profile |
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