First, welcome back!!! I actually missed your daily letters and commentary. It has proven to be a great place to contemplate, reflect and then comment upon (at great length, sometimes) the many topics you have opened. The field of cultivation that was my family has been strewn with the darnel of American modern culture, to the degree that one child barely speaks to us as we are dangerous i.e. believing Catholics and conservatives. This one has taken seriously the internet admonitions to no longer associate with such dangerous persons as my wife and I. My wife, a kinder and more generous soul, reaches out to her (I believe she is still a her, although she may have morphed into a they). I will content myself with waiting and outliving her stubbornness. I was a fool in my 20’s as well, and remember Mark Twain’s quip about his father’s ability to learn at an advanced age.
My greatest sadness is that we were blessed with four children, and none of them is even dating (except possibly for the aforementioned rebel). Our relationship is close with the others, but they are a product not only of our family but of the modern corrupting culture. The excellent interview that Klavan the Elder with Dr. Sax spells this out well. They were too old to have cellphones but they have been injured by this culture.
We are leaving our lines of communication open, and cherish the relationships we have with 75% of our progeny. We pray, we hope. We are storming the gates of Heaven with our prayers, and will continue to hope for reconciliation and maturation (happened to me in my early ‘30s).
Thank you for this! The principle of letting go reminds me that “other control” is nowhere listed in the fruits of the spirit. Rather we are called to self control which enables us to deal with the plank in our own eye so that we can love others to a purpose.
Since I have nothing else to do on this cold winters night I will talk to you about judgment, which you seem preoccupied with. It’s true Jesus says in the beatitudes to judge not , that ye be not judged. But he immediately goes on to say that we will be judged with the judgment we judge. We know we will be judged, that’s a given. So our final judgment is relative to what judgment we make. And that leads to many other scriptures which say how to judge: righteously, not rashly, with the light of Christ and in Zechariah we are told to execute true judgment showing mercy and compassion. So it seems judge we must, to know good from evil. But what kind of judgment is the crux of the matter. In the beatitudes Jesus says to ask and it shall be given. Should we not therefore ask God how to judge, ask for his righteous judgment, how to deal justly and walk humbly? When He says to judge not, I take that to seriously mean I should not rely on my own judgment but instead seek diligently in the light of Christ to know good from evil. Enjoy talking to you all. We probably should talk more with our Father.
The Samaritan woman spread the Word and other Samaritans came to hear Christ preach. Later Peter and John visited Samaria
Acts 8:14-15 ,17
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
I've heard so many times from my friends at church, once they let go, and get out of the way, God is able to do His work, in His time, to save their loved ones. I've realized just showing pure love to people is healing for me and for others.
First, welcome back!!! I actually missed your daily letters and commentary. It has proven to be a great place to contemplate, reflect and then comment upon (at great length, sometimes) the many topics you have opened. The field of cultivation that was my family has been strewn with the darnel of American modern culture, to the degree that one child barely speaks to us as we are dangerous i.e. believing Catholics and conservatives. This one has taken seriously the internet admonitions to no longer associate with such dangerous persons as my wife and I. My wife, a kinder and more generous soul, reaches out to her (I believe she is still a her, although she may have morphed into a they). I will content myself with waiting and outliving her stubbornness. I was a fool in my 20’s as well, and remember Mark Twain’s quip about his father’s ability to learn at an advanced age.
My greatest sadness is that we were blessed with four children, and none of them is even dating (except possibly for the aforementioned rebel). Our relationship is close with the others, but they are a product not only of our family but of the modern corrupting culture. The excellent interview that Klavan the Elder with Dr. Sax spells this out well. They were too old to have cellphones but they have been injured by this culture.
We are leaving our lines of communication open, and cherish the relationships we have with 75% of our progeny. We pray, we hope. We are storming the gates of Heaven with our prayers, and will continue to hope for reconciliation and maturation (happened to me in my early ‘30s).
I've missed these astute observations that I would never think of on my own, but which cause me to slap my forehead with a "duh". Yes, Yes, and Amen.
Thank you for this! The principle of letting go reminds me that “other control” is nowhere listed in the fruits of the spirit. Rather we are called to self control which enables us to deal with the plank in our own eye so that we can love others to a purpose.
A beautiful reminder as I am struggling through those lovely rebellious teenage years with my daughter.
Since I have nothing else to do on this cold winters night I will talk to you about judgment, which you seem preoccupied with. It’s true Jesus says in the beatitudes to judge not , that ye be not judged. But he immediately goes on to say that we will be judged with the judgment we judge. We know we will be judged, that’s a given. So our final judgment is relative to what judgment we make. And that leads to many other scriptures which say how to judge: righteously, not rashly, with the light of Christ and in Zechariah we are told to execute true judgment showing mercy and compassion. So it seems judge we must, to know good from evil. But what kind of judgment is the crux of the matter. In the beatitudes Jesus says to ask and it shall be given. Should we not therefore ask God how to judge, ask for his righteous judgment, how to deal justly and walk humbly? When He says to judge not, I take that to seriously mean I should not rely on my own judgment but instead seek diligently in the light of Christ to know good from evil. Enjoy talking to you all. We probably should talk more with our Father.
Excellent! Looking forward to reading your content and enjoying the journey.
The Samaritan woman spread the Word and other Samaritans came to hear Christ preach. Later Peter and John visited Samaria
Acts 8:14-15 ,17
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
I've heard so many times from my friends at church, once they let go, and get out of the way, God is able to do His work, in His time, to save their loved ones. I've realized just showing pure love to people is healing for me and for others.
The more diversity there is in an ecosystem, the stronger and healthier it becomes. The same for heaven.