tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259928642995486244.post516986309320214914..comments2023-10-08T07:15:19.060-04:00Comments on One Day At A Time: BLESSED BEMaureenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05716971493153383770noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259928642995486244.post-75959014584390731302008-09-05T18:12:00.000-04:002008-09-05T18:12:00.000-04:00William I am glad that my post, or rather those de...William I am glad that my post, or rather those dear verses as highlighted in my post, gave you some encouragement today.<BR/><BR/>In reading your comments, I couldn't help but compare the notion of having a self earned or inherited fortune in the temporal sense, with our heavenly inheritance. In the latter, we have no choice. It cannot be earned, by any means. It can only be freely given as a gift from God. And, we do not need to keep a watchful eye on the stock market, fearing it will diminish or disappear. It is guaranteed, reserved for us in the eternally secure keeping of Almighty God. <BR/><BR/>Some day all those that put their trust in temporal wealth, looking to it for security, prestige and reputation will see the tragic futility of having wasted their lives persuing increasing riches.<BR/><BR/>How blessed are we who, having little of possessions or reputation on earth, can look forward to an eternity enjoying that which is without price, the salvation of our souls.<BR/><BR/>"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forgeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the advice re Total Depravity. I realize it is a touchy subject for many. I am convinced, however, and that conviction flavours much of what I write. For me the notion that I am totally incapable of rescuing myself from myself only increases my appreciation of the grace of God. I cannot imagine believing any other way, but as you say, it is helpful to understand how different opinions and belief systems developed over the centuries. I am finding that out in my delving into church history as regards modern day church vs. New Testament church experience.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05716971493153383770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259928642995486244.post-51806322321509185402008-09-05T12:16:00.000-04:002008-09-05T12:16:00.000-04:00Melanie,Your wishes that "these verses speak peace...Melanie,<BR/><BR/>Your wishes that "these verses speak peace and joy to your soul as they do to mine" was realized for me -<BR/><BR/>According to the world's standards I am poor. This has been much on my mind lately. I have been steadily contemplating the material abundance of persons around me, and had been confounded by the level of wealth in evidence. I live near water, and while I used to know what yachts cost I had since lost track. I was astounded to find out that even middling cruisers go for $250,000 new, and that larger yachts are commonly sold in our area marinas for several million. Where I live, many, many persons have yachts of this description. I finally determined that not all this wealth, perhaps not even the majority of it, has been earned - much of it had been inherited. <BR/><BR/>Now, in America, "inheritance" is a word infrequently spoken - Americans admire persons who are self-made, and there is a palpable sociological contempt for those who didn't have to "work for it". Consequently, even if a person did inherit much of his or her wealth, that is not something he or she is going to talk much about. One unfortunate consequence of this social construct is that those of us not the beneficiary of inherited wealth may come to feel inadequate, if we compare ourselves to the people around us. <BR/><BR/>Now, the fossil record is a testimony, most especially, to the wholesale death brought upon the world by the Flood. Oil, natural gas, coal, peat and other hydrocarbon-based energy sources are the dead remnants of once living organisms that we feed/survive upon today. In the same way - whether men admit it or not - many today feed upon the flesh - so to speak - of their dead relatives through those relatives' legacies. This feeding off the dead is not sinful (inheritance played a major role in God's management of Israel in Old Testament days), but it is more than interesting to note the encouragement we are given in the New Testament to place our hope on a different sort of inheritance. <BR/><BR/>Your posting came at a good time for me, as I was lanquishing a little in self-pity at not having been the beneficiary of a temporal inheritance. Thank you. <BR/><BR/>I would also like to comment that you should be aware, if you are not, that many, many people do not believe in the concept of Total Depravity, which you so confidently assert. I do not point this out by way of disagreement, so much as to alert you to the fact that what some of us (as Protestants) assume as a given is not a "given" in the minds of millions. My recent study of the church and church history is opening my eyes to the remarkable diversity of opinion within and without of Protestantism. Being aware of the differing views will make you stronger and better equipped to defend your own views. You might consider doing an internet search on the words "Total Depravity" to get some flavor of the raging debate. (Hint - Liberals in particular reject the concept of Total Depravity).Suppressthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04276946492670327201noreply@blogger.com