Comments on: The desert. http://www.loneprairie.net/2009/06/the-desert/ Life in Full Color Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:50:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fred http://www.loneprairie.net/2009/06/the-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-27178 Fred Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:57:51 +0000 http://www.loneprairie.net/?p=2307#comment-27178 Yes, but where ... Yes, but where …

]]> By: Julie R. Neidlinger http://www.loneprairie.net/2009/06/the-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-27155 Julie R. Neidlinger Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:18:09 +0000 http://www.loneprairie.net/?p=2307#comment-27155 Ms. Midler can carry a tune. (Ruth) Ms. Midler can carry a tune.

(Ruth)

]]> By: Fred http://www.loneprairie.net/2009/06/the-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-27154 Fred Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:07:14 +0000 http://www.loneprairie.net/?p=2307#comment-27154 Bette Midler ... seriously?!? Anyway, the only way any of this ultimately makes sense is to take it all on faith I expect. Attempting to intellectually process then explain how the Holy Spirit and God works is vainglorious (wow, I remembered that word!) and empty. We do the "best" we can, attempt to make good choices when we can and hope and pray we've gotten it right. Everything else is Bette Midler. By the way, what does the R. stand for? Bette Midler … seriously?!?

Anyway, the only way any of this ultimately makes sense is to take it all on faith I expect. Attempting to intellectually process then explain how the Holy Spirit and God works is vainglorious (wow, I remembered that word!) and empty. We do the “best” we can, attempt to make good choices when we can and hope and pray we’ve gotten it right.

Everything else is Bette Midler.

By the way, what does the R. stand for?

]]> By: Bennie http://www.loneprairie.net/2009/06/the-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-27151 Bennie Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:54:20 +0000 http://www.loneprairie.net/?p=2307#comment-27151 You're a very wise person, Julie. It's great hearing about your realization and especially how you articulated your journey in words. --And as a runner, I'm really glad you appreciate the little things like water before, during, and after your run. Glad to see Lone Prairie return! You’re a very wise person, Julie. It’s great hearing about your realization and especially how you articulated your journey in words. –And as a runner, I’m really glad you appreciate the little things like water before, during, and after your run.

Glad to see Lone Prairie return!

]]> By: Julie R. Neidlinger http://www.loneprairie.net/2009/06/the-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-27150 Julie R. Neidlinger Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:17:01 +0000 http://www.loneprairie.net/?p=2307#comment-27150 The difference between they way I view God and the way you view God (and the inherent understanding of what I wrote) is that you seem to see him as a "watchmaker": he made things, then wound it up and lets them sort of play out without being too involved. It's the sort of God Bette Midler sang about in her song "From a Distance" in which there is a god, but he only watches, and from a distance. (Yes, I realize I conjured up a Bette Midler reference.) I don't hold to this. It's too easy and let's us explain away tough times, personal hurts, and lets us off the hook in the way we live through excuses and non-action. I believe he is actively involved. This isn't to say I fret over God's will and plan when I lose my car keys, but I don't think he's up there saying "Julie, generally speaking, head that way. I'll meet you at the end. It's all up to you now. See ya." Certainly, he allows us to choose (which gets into the huge sticky mess of free-will vs. predestination which I don't want to delve into because I don't know for sure) and our choices affect how our lives go, but the Bible says that not only is he Jehovah Jireh (the provider of what we need) but that the Holy Spirit is a "helper" and a helper doesn't just dump a box of drawing materials in our lap and say "There you go. Do something with this. It's all up to you." Instead, he helps. If we let him. Most of us don't want the particular kind of help (i.e. we want a different "cup" of water) and go our own way and say "it was all up to me anyway and this is the best I can do." That's a cop-out. The difference between they way I view God and the way you view God (and the inherent understanding of what I wrote) is that you seem to see him as a “watchmaker”: he made things, then wound it up and lets them sort of play out without being too involved. It’s the sort of God Bette Midler sang about in her song “From a Distance” in which there is a god, but he only watches, and from a distance. (Yes, I realize I conjured up a Bette Midler reference.)

I don’t hold to this. It’s too easy and let’s us explain away tough times, personal hurts, and lets us off the hook in the way we live through excuses and non-action.

I believe he is actively involved. This isn’t to say I fret over God’s will and plan when I lose my car keys, but I don’t think he’s up there saying “Julie, generally speaking, head that way. I’ll meet you at the end. It’s all up to you now. See ya.”

Certainly, he allows us to choose (which gets into the huge sticky mess of free-will vs. predestination which I don’t want to delve into because I don’t know for sure) and our choices affect how our lives go, but the Bible says that not only is he Jehovah Jireh (the provider of what we need) but that the Holy Spirit is a “helper” and a helper doesn’t just dump a box of drawing materials in our lap and say “There you go. Do something with this. It’s all up to you.”

Instead, he helps. If we let him. Most of us don’t want the particular kind of help (i.e. we want a different “cup” of water) and go our own way and say “it was all up to me anyway and this is the best I can do.”

That’s a cop-out.

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