Comments on some past posts and links ...
DM:
Hi, thank you for your note and the various links you send around. Regarding the link to Andrew Wommack, after I sent you that (I hadn't finished watching the whole thing when I sent it) I actually had second thoughts, as after seeing it all, I can't say I agree with everything he stands for, the word of faith movement and prosperity gospel. I used to watch him and listen to his stuff a lot, sometimes daily, but got disillusioned regarding certain aspects of his approach and teaching. So all that to say, I think the link I'd sent you isn't really worth watching. More and more I am just getting back to the pure Word for my feeding (Solo Scriptura) and only good solid Bible teaching. Tim Keller for one is quite solid along these lines.
MB
MB
Iron sharpeneth iron and I miss the lively banter of a “home meeting”. I don’t miss the meeting part of it, but I do miss the lively banter with intelligent people.
I would like to further banter the “prosperity gospel that a lot of Christians adhere to”. I know that so much of our teaching in the past, we swallowed, hook, line and sinker and now we are older and wiser and are making more personal decisions, based on our personal faith. When I joined the family, the ‘’Brother Sun” movie had just come out and we prided ourselves in the fact that we didn’t love the things of this world and we labored not for the meat which perishes. We lived hand to mouth and it was part of our doctrine of living by faith.
But Dad also encouraged us to move from Rags to Riches and even commented that we would be a financial power someday. So which one was right.
I have found that I place a different value money, I like having a substantial, reliable income. I like the freedom to buy my wife nice gifts. I like to travel and visit friends and family and I like the freedom to take time off. I feel I live in a mansion, have access to a swimming pool and gym. (Well, it's because of the nature of our business, which does take a lot of time and energy. My students in Kenya would look at my lifestyle and chide me ... ”so you don’t believe in a prosperity gospel?”
I personally feel and experience God’s love everyday and my praise time happens on a regular basis. We are able to employ several locals which has made their quality of life better. I once heard a man say, “the best and most valuable thing you can give someone is a job”.
I might alter that and add in the Lord, opportunity for spiritual growth and spiritual training whenever possible.
In the bottom of my heart, I wish there was a way to work together to make more money, to provide safety and security for more people and to provide jobs for more people. But for now, it’s just in my mind and heart until the Lord makes a way that is very clear and stress free. I don’t mind financial pressure, I don’t mind debt, I don’t mind failing, although my grace for all those things are getting thinner as I age in experience, wisdom and years.
I guess to express my prayer request, to you, my friends, is that our 3 main, young, Mexican project managers, will develop a deep personal love for Jesus and a desire to make the same sacrifices we were willing to make, when we gave our all to a common cause. They have the potential to do great things, make substantial amount of money, but how to get a person to learn to give is not easy. Although I have lived, been taught, listen to sermons, etc. etc. on giving and generosity;--every time I send out my tithe and financial gifts, I squirm. My wife can’t give enough. There you have it … a few thoughts, a little confession and honesty and a prayer request.
MB
I am trying to figure out, what “glaring offences” you are talking about.
When working for Dad, in the past, I was constantly forgetting to do things he asked me to do. Things that he considered important. One day he said to me, “Son, you have a really good forgetter”. Sometimes I just forget things that were said or written in the past. Also I live in a senior community, which is my other excuse for forgetting things. Like the 2 seniors who were out golfing. The one old timer said, after hitting the golf ball, “my eye sight isn’t that good, did you see where my ball went.” The other old fart responded with, “yes, I saw exactly where it went but my memory is bad, so I forgot where it went.”
I know you and I have had some in depth communication, but I have found that to be excellent communication and a deeper bonding. I think the beam just flew out of your eye.
CH
I've wondered whether coming to the place it seems we're all in our own ways slowly getting to is sort of what Jesus meant when he said of Nathaniel in John 1:47, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile" ... maybe Nat learned that earlier on in life than I. I read somewhere I don't remember offhand that true wisdom comes from overcoming suffering and sin and therefore true wisdom is touched with an element of sadness. A quote I wrote down from whatever it was I was reading at the time: "It is only by a foundational trust in the midst of suffering, some ability to bear darkness and uncertainty, and learning to be comfortable with paradox and mystery, that you move from the first half of life to the second."
... and on a lighter note ... Mike, that video was very funny! That was great!