From: FACN34B@SAUPM00.BITNET (zane of dhahran)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Subject: various things
Date: 7 Nov 92 13:43:50 GMT
Organization: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, S.A.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Acknowledge-To: <FACN34B@SAUPM00.BITNET>


    It is nice to see so much being written about fasting.  I am curious,
how many of us do it on a regular basis?  No need to answer.

    Michael Million, hi.  I have been reading the interesting discussion, even
though I am not sure what it is about.  I know you all have been trying to
talk about free will verses the bondage of the will or something like that, but
it is certainly over my head.  Christians have been arguing over this one for
a long time too.  Maybe we need to stop arguing and just start loving each
other (hey, we're even supposed to love our enemies right?  Not necessarily
agree with them) in thought (get into sync with our Mental Monitor Helper?)
and in deed (our free will outworking of the Sustainer Life Spirit, the
Righteous Be-er Do-er who lives in our spirit, the internal heavenly place).

    Brothers and sisters, it sure seems like we do a lot of theory on this
net....  I wish there was a little more prayer (some of you are very good at
this, what a blessing) mutual encouragement and practical advice.  We are
going to go before the Son, and the last thing I am going to ask him is about
free will, predestination, total depravity, etc...  I am going to ask him
for a hug (after I recover from the initial quick trip belly down to his feet).
    God is bigger (crude word, just an analogy) than we think.  He is doing
more than we can see.  His plan is universal, though he has given us in His
church some very specific guidelines (duty instructions).  Solomon had many
wives.  It is our job to love Him with all our hearts, and make other wives
jealous.  Come to our bed Lord, we have anointed ourselves with the perfume of
your sacrifice, we have perfumed our dwelling with the myrrh of sufferings for
your sake, the sake of love.  Come Beloved and let me lose ourselves in the
ocean of your embrace....

    All of the inspired Scripture in the universe won't cut it if you aren't
the living embodiment of the Word.  Martin Luther said sin boldly.  He just
got tongue tied, he meant love boldly and if people think you are sinning,
be boldly sinning for their sake.  If you love deeply, you know it is really
just for the sake of One that you are loving, and then His love will extend
to everyone.  Origen said even       can be won....  Nice theology aside,
wouldn't you like to see       satan   him won over?  Wouldn't you like to
see the child molester or the self righteous religious person, or the prosti-
tute, or the capitalist pig transformed into the oblivion of Christ's love?
Let's love the hell out of this big old stinking world!!!    When they drag
us to the Cross (hey, doesn't it say somewhere Peter that God led the Man to
the Cross?) let us make sure we reach out in love and drag them into the
door of heaven with us...maybe a camel can't get through the eye of a needle,
but surely two men can when they are made one.
    Well, I've probably got myself in enough trouble here for one day,
but trouble just makes me pray better. :)

    I love Jesus, and I love you all.  I am sure much of my theology is
wrong, but I know Jesus has me by a tender spot and I'm not going to let
Him go...O Lord, melt me like butter and let's make toast together to
feed the Father while we're slowly roasted over the eternal fire....
    I know the Eternal Fire is Love!!!

                                      Peace, in Jesus (Lord have mercy upon me)

                                      zane of dhahran