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We were talking today about restitution on the forum and it reminded me of this "cute" story which depicts our selfish human nature--the nature we possessed before Christ.
Two friends were robbed at gunpoint on the streets of New York. As they took out the wallets to surrender them to the thief the one man turned to the other and said, "Here, John. Here's that twenty-five dollars I owe you."
Do you know what OT statute the friend broke and how he broke the law of love?
We should not continue down that road. Please don't wait too long. I keep finding things from my garage in my kitchen.
Don't worry. I wasn't really waiting anyway...
Jeff. I really have a lot of fun posting to you, I truly do!
Like Laurie Ann and Jeanne both have stated, you have helped me to become even more solid in my faith. So, I can honestly thank you for that.
Believe it or not, I'd really even like to meet you some day (maybe in a very public place, AND from behind a bullet proof glass partition).
Anyway, I moved this here because I want to get along with you here on the RCC, but I am finding that quite impossible. It seems like every time myself and anyone else begins to have a more light-hearted type of fellowship, you jump in and initiate discord.
I looked around, and I really like the funny story you told here (although I have no desire to answer your question, which of necessity would negate the humor, and drive us off topic).
Here is another quick one. A pastor, a rabbi, and a lawyer walked into a restaurant together. The owner takes one look at the three and quips, "What is this, a joke or something!?!"
Maybe we can find fellowship in just talking, and not "spiritualizing" anything? Are you willing to try? Your move.
You place me in a hard position-- between a Rock and a hard place. On the one hand I want to be your friend and have good times just chatting. But on the other hand I am reluctant to engage in anything that doesn't have purpose. We will have to give account for every idle word in the judgment. To me, an idle word is something spoken which is of no value. It is trivial. There is no purpose to it just idle chatter.
Maybe we could talk about work. I understand you are in construction. I started my own construction business a year ago last month. So I am a newbie. But, this is a Radical Christian Café, not the Handyman's Corner. So the moderator would probably prefer we not clutter his server with idle chit-chat. Otherwise, he might decide to move more than just our garage contents into our kitchens. (Can you tell I love that expression?)
Sorry, I didn't get your joke. Here's a bit of humorous profoundness.
quote: Believe it or not, I'd really even like to meet you some day (maybe in a very public place, AND from behind a bullet proof glass partition).
I have had the same desire. It can be difficult at times to 'be yourself' on the Net. In many ways, we are a lot alike. I am just a few years older-- around 10. My wife works, I stay at home to care for a daughter. I work in construction. I fix up homes to sell at a profit. But I am sure your wife makes more money than mine.
quote:JeffL Said: On the one hand I want to be your friend and have good times just chatting. But on the other hand I am reluctant to engage in anything that doesn't have purpose. We will have to give account for every idle word in the judgment. To me, an idle word is something spoken which is of no value. It is trivial. There is no purpose to it just idle chatter.
I totally understand your mindset. I was taught that as well. Then one day I realized that The Bible uses the words "merry heart" three times in Proverbs.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Then I heard a story about "a man with cancer" that clamped onto those Scriptures while in the hospital. He really liked "The Three Stooges", so he ordered a bunch of VCR tapes of them, and laughed himself back to health.
That's what I heard, now here is what actually happened.
"In the 1960s Norman Cousins, longtime editor of Saturday Review, was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. He prescribed for himself a most unusual regimen for that time: a daily dose of belly laughter, administered through regular viewings of Marx Brothers movies. "Ten minutes of genuine belly laughter," he wrote, "would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep." Cousins believed positive emotions were crucial to recovery from disease—and recover he did, as he chronicled in his 1979 bestseller 'Anatomy of an Illness'."
My point? I don't think The Lord ever intended for us to go around terrified to tell a joke or "have good times just chatting".
I get great pleasure from seeing mt daughter laugh, (you should see her with the cat right now) and I think bringing joy and laughter into others lives is in no way "idle" ...nor is it a waste of time.
Please allow me to build a case?
One lone Scripture, put back in context... "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (from the KJV)
From the text, it would appear that The Lord was speaking about evil men attempting to speak truth. The Greek word interpreted "idle" here is also interpreted later as "slow," "dead," and "barren." Now that fits the Jesus I have come to know and love!
That's one reason I like you, I think perhapses we are more alike that you know! Our spiritual history's are almost identical, in many ways!
Oh, and about that joke... Often a joke starts with, "A pastor, a rabbi, and a lawyer..." So, the owner saw what he though must be a joke!
Be blessed, Matthew
P.S. Jeff, I'm not trying to argue or change your opinion. I'm just trying to give you a possible option as to what you have been told. You see, I love options! This is always my only intent when originally posting a "new truth" I feel I have found true for my own life.
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I am not terrified to tell a joke if I know a nice joke. But now when my mouth starts to open the Holy Spirit causes me to think a bit longer before I speak. It's just something that happens spontaneously from walking with the Lord and asking for His guidance.
My life has REALLY been changed by asking Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. It was VERY dramatic for me. My wife left for Virginia (we lived in California at the time) and came back 10 days later asking what I had done with her husband. It was DRAMATIC!
Let me just give you some idea of what happened that week I spent pleading with God. In a moment I stopped smoking, drinking, eating red meat, watching movies, telling dirty jokes, cussing, watching television, listening to the wrong type of music, partying, and on and on. (Some things will remain in the closet). What replaced all that was a lot of searching the scripture and reading Christian books. All of a sudden I enjoyed listening to hymns rather than rock-and-roll. I didn't even enjoy watching movies like Predator which I had just finished watching a week ago and thoroughly enjoyed. My wife truly didn't know who I was. She had no idea how to please me any more. She had no idea what I wanted. But I have never been happier than during those first few months when my love for Christ was fresh and new. I would have done anything for Him after understanding just what it was that He had accomplished out of His love for me.
Now, after 13 years and much association with other Christians, I find some temptation to throw in the towel. A voice whispers, Is it worth it. Are you truly free or in bondage with all these rules? Then I remember the verses in scripture that warns about the dog returning to his vomit and the pig returning to wallow in the mud. Did I want to take back all those things I struggled to get rid of for so long? No, I enjoy being free of them. I enjoy having the freedom to choose to do them or not to do them. Whereas, before, I wanted to stop some of them but couldn't find the strength. So I figure that I am now freer than I was before because I am not addicted to anything but Jesus and nothing controls my life like it did then. I count it true freedom.
Also, I think about the response of Peter when Jesus asked if he was going to abandon him like the other disciples. Peter said, Lord, where shall I go. I know that you are the Christ and that you have the words of life. So I asked myself, Where would I go? Who waits for me if I leave Christ? I want the freedom and the life that Christ offers to me not the bondage and slavery of sin.
Hopefully this will help you understand where I am at. I haven't touched on the merry heart yet but to quickly sum it up, I believe a person can only truly have a merry heart when God has forgiven them and they are at peace with God. Remember, the carnal mind is enmity with God. That is war, not peace. To be at peace with God must be something different than being carnal because "the carnal mind is enmity with God and is not subject to His laws; neither, indeed, can be." So then, peace with God must involve being subject to His law, allowing Him to be Lord of our lives.
David said in Psalm 51 that he wanted God to restore his joy and gladness and heal the bones He had broken so they may rejoice. In the sermon on the mount the Lord spoke of two very unlikely groups as being happy (blessed); those who mourn and those poor of spirit. They don't sound too likely to be laughing but the Lord assures us that they will be happy.
I guess I have said all this to say that it is the Lord who brings us lasting joy and merriment of heart. Unlike the passing laughter of comics that do cause us to forget our pain for a time, like narcotics and alcohol, the rejoicing of heart that the Lord brings is enduring and can weather strong trials.
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Hey, not a problem! Thanks for sharing!!! I know we are all different, and therefore what "works" for me would never work for someone else. Because of my wife's past, things that don't even faze me would be temptation for her.
The truth is, I was raised in "church" and being around the supernatural is a lot of my testimony. I was a "clean" sinner. My whole life has included "studying The Bible" ...and only now do I feel like I have begun to understand what The Truth really is.
I really like the "maze analogy" of our walk with Christ. Our paths may cross, but The Lord is leading everyone through the maze His way.
Oh, and for the record... I don't think any less of you for not thinking "just like me."
Be blessed, Matthew
Oh, and just to keep this on topic...
A man passed his daughter's room one night and overheard her repeating the alphabet ...in an oddly, reverent way. What on earth are you up to?" he asked. "I'm saying my prayers," explained the little girl. "But I can't think of exactly the right words tonight, so I'm just saying all the letters. God will put them together for me, because He knows what I'm thinking."
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