HI, PhYL. O. SOPhYCAL here, but you can call me Andy.
THIS IS RATHER LONG, SO I'M GOING TO LET IT SIT A FEW DAYS!!
THIS IS RATHER LONG, SO I'M GOING TO LET IT SIT A FEW DAYS!!
Early in my Blogging career-- I had several people who stood by me when I was ready to quit. I started this as a Journal of my Spiritual life, as well as my day to day growth and failures, and never intended to let it be read. IT STILL ISN'T- LOL--except for YOU fantastic people. I journaled for many years, and to look back and see the growth--ESPECIALLY through the failures, and mistakes is AWESOME!!!
One special person who was there, was I Eat SnowmanPoop....and she helped me more than she will ever know, along with several others. I was trying to figure out how to write, and one person described my writing as a ceaseless or rambling flow of conscious thought that was sometimes hard to follow. I agree. I'm still just like that--I can't seem to capture the essence of ONE particular point at a time.
Thanks to Patrick Tillett also, for confirming this when he said, One thing he looked forward to on visiting was that he never knew what he was going to get! I take that a High Praise coming from Mr Versatile himself! Someone else said that, "I am all over the place, and meant it in a nice way!"
Last night while reading
THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S WILL by Chuck Swindoll, I struggled with the following:.
How can I post some of the stuff I do and, then talk about God? Hang in here and maybe we'll find out. It's because it's who I am, as well as WHO's I AM. I try to be true to both sides of my dual nature. Isn't that a cop out, to hide behind your belief system and write anything in the name of honesty!
In other words- BS/HYPOCRISY???
I don't know. I will say that a lot! I just DON'T KNOW---YET!!!!! But maybe we'll find out. I do straddle the fence, and struggle to stay on the side I believe is where I belong. Interesting though, Christians have been killing people for a long time in the name of God. I'll never be able to defend everything I think and say 100%, as I'm still learning, but if need be I'll try. I am totally open to all opinions. That's why I don't Screen responses, or limit visitors, etc. Who am I to judge?
Anyway he was talking about the Prophet Jeremiah, and when God called him, this dialogue back and forth ensued. This is only the First Verse of a lot of dialogue between God and Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 1:5 (New International Version)
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
A great site for all things Biblical- and to look up scriptures if you want to read a little more is:
BEFORE YOU WERE BORN:
1. I Knew You.
2. I Consecrated (set you apart for ME)
3. Appointed him as a Prophet to all Nations
We were dropped in the Middle of a FINISHED NOVEL, FILM, PLAY etc, and before we were born, we had our assigned parts. This opens up way to much to cover about Predestination, Free Will, and many other subjects here..so I'm going to try to stay on track! It's a MIRACLE!!!
Before I was Formed, in Mom, I was set apart to do certain things in Life. I happen to be a Christian, by my own CHOICE! So, out of all the Billions--
WHY ME?? Why was I chosen? What am I to Do? What's Your Will for Me?
WHY did I get picked beforehand, to have eternal life out of the Sea of Humanity on this Earth? I always get picked LAST! ( I knew You). ((Then--DEFINITELY-WHY DID YOU PICK ME? LOL!))Why did you set me apart (Consecrated), when you first wrote the Novel of Life? Why was I chosen (appointed) to write on a Blog. I still had the choice to turn Him down as well. Just because we are picked, does not mean we will play for that team. We can always, NOT CHOOSE, or Choose, and then Quit etc.!
POINT: It blew me away, that I was chosen. (WE ALL ARE:, but that's another 500 posts!), before I was born. When tragedy strikes, a Mom miscarries, we lose a 16 year old to a drunk Driver, Wars are fought and loved ones lost, inherent evil seems to run a muck; when that strikes us we have no trouble saying:
WHY ME????
The fact that God allows us freely to choose or reject HIM, His Son and His Word, allows us to tap into a Higher Power for help, and SOMETIMES find answers to some very tough questions and problems in life, is awesome!!!
Again: Rambling! But It just struck me after 28 years of being a Disciple of Jesus, that I just realized again- HE PICKED ME!!! I didn't pick Him! He picked you too.
AGAIN I SAY: WHY ME???? THANKS FOR PICKING ME!!!!!
A CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK:
1.INVITE A FRIEND TO LUNCH. A CLOSE, VALUED FRIEND.
2. SET THE GROUND RULES BEFOREHAND...say: "TODAY LET'S TALK ABOUT..................." **
3. LISTEN- LISTEN- LISTEN...TO WHAT'S SAID!
**IT'S BEEN SAID THAT THE LOWEST FORM OF CONVERSATION IS PEOPLE!
We can all Gossip- or talk about others......
THE NEXT LEVEL IS EVENTS: WEATHER, SPORTS, POLITICS, ETC.
AND THE HIGHEST LEVEL IS: TRUTH OR IDEAS!
Why not pick a topic on some Universal Truth, or a sound Idea, or Principle, and see how much more talking than eating is done......I'M JUST SAYIN.... AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS THAT WEEK!
Why not pick a topic on some Universal Truth, or a sound Idea, or Principle, and see how much more talking than eating is done......I'M JUST SAYIN.... AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS THAT WEEK!
LOVE YOU ALL
PhYL O. SOPhYCAL
Good stuff!!!! I might try it -- it will depend on what the doc say!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGod love you John, I turn to you for humor and the Lords word more than you know.
ReplyDeleteI also happen to like that you are real John. I like that you are connected to God and that, while you admit to your shortcomings, you don't go around crediting God for them. I can't always follow your train of thought and struggle to find the page you're on but I know you are trying very hard to communicate something difficult.
ReplyDeleteJust had an interesting book club meeting which I will say was my lunch with a friend because it qualifies.
Jeannie,
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is hard to express sometimes--well- Most times! and Yes that DOES COUNT!!!!
John
A great post, my friend. We were picked, we know not why.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Christians have killed in the name of God...but we are not perfect. So have Indians, Muslims, Jews, etc etc.
We are all human.
But they can tell we are Christians by our love...meaning the ones who live a good life, treat one another like brothers, and have love...THESE are the true Christians.
Kay-- Everything OK? Thanks for being such a faithful Friend
ReplyDeleteJ
Sweeti,
God Bless you my Special friend! And thanks so much!
J
Joe-- Amen, my friend-- A Great big Amen! Excellent post reply!!
John
Great Post John, You are so right when you said we were picked and that we did not pick Him, it is a blessing to have been picked and it is an honor to know you my Friend.
ReplyDeleteYou are a wise man and you being all over the place is a good thing I agree.
John,
ReplyDeleteYes, I do believe we MUST be related!! LOL
and my boys will be SOOO excited that someone is also Gamecock crazy!!
Thank you for your message... as someone who is struggling through this Christian life, it is nice to be reminded that God did, in fact, CHOOSE us!
I had NO IDEA so much white dawg dookie was involved in a spirtual journey....
ReplyDeleteHeff- it is the mess-ence of the God's! Oh--I'm going to hell for that one!
ReplyDeleteGuess what dude--I found some white dookie- and then saw the most beautiful owl you have ever seen. The rare white owl- is it a pellet--what do they call it--oh yeah---OWL SHIT! Has some bones of field mice in it and a good bit of fur. I know for sure it was an owl as I stared him eye ball to eye ball last pm.
We have a tiny Opossum--could fit in your hand- and I have to see why he is around by himself. If it's just him I may stake him out as Owl bait- and snap some shots!!!!
Would that be cool!!
Later,
John
I don't know how I missed this, but here I am...
ReplyDeleteWherever we are in life, it's right where we're supposed to be at that moment. I don't see any confusion or contradictions in what you post. You are clearly a spiritual person.
Now let's just forget about using that Opossum as owl food. He's on "our" side... umkay?