All is Vanity

[traveller]

Do you suppose that Paul was describing these very feelings in these verses?:

Philippians 1:21-24

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.

For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

Yes!! Absolutely!! But I don't see this as a mournful speech. I see it as I feel it within me, as joyful. I see Paul as saying

For to me, to live is Christ! , and to die is gain.

But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.

For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. (or possibly) :down:

See, I am not forlornly looking to leave this world, but rather I am so very much longing for and joyously looking forward to being with Jesus!! It's an excitement! It's a duty to remain here when I know my home is elsewhere. Like when you go on a wonderful vacation - you have a great time and love being there, but you just can't wait to get back home.

[traveller]

Suzanne, I'm not ignoring your post sis! I'm contemplating. You brought up a very interesting question.

[tsth]

Dear Trav,

You are always so generous and considerate in your posts. That's ok, I was just wondering, because this man got so angry this last week, he was yelling and got red in the face. The debate of all things was over the movie Jack***, and why he thought it was ok for his 15 year old son to go to it, because "he" (dad) took him. This is one of those "buddy" dads, who takes them to do many things, that shouldn't be done, but the son is great and a good Christian because he works at a youth camp every summer and BY GOLLY HE PROBABLY COULD TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW! What really made him the maddest, was the following question my husband posed to him and the young twenty-something artist who was sitting in on this discussion:

"Well, if it's ok for your son (who is a Christian to go to this movie, then I guess it would be acceptable for his church youth group to take a bus-load of kids from your church to see it?"

That particular question, sent this partner over the top, in terms of anger. He had been stumped, he knew the answer would have been wrong............?

It has gotten to be a joke between the partner and the young artist that my husband is a dufus because he's so prude. It is very sad, their ideas about how refined and worldly they are, and how out of touch my husband is. Like he's got blacked out teeth, wiggly toes and a banjo to boot, that he plays in his little back woods world. We're so out of touch you know.

Anyway, it's weird.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[traveller]

Suzanne, that is such a shame that that man does not "see." I thank the Lord that your husband sticks to what is right and true. And yes, this is exactly what we're talking about. We know the difference and our hearts go out to those that are partying right along, eating and drinking and marrying and carrying on like our Saviour is not coming back and already has His foot in the stirrups. Mingling with worldly things and calling it good and right. And yes, I come against this myself. Especially at work. :down:

[Guest dove2]

I am so glad this thread is on the board. I have felt much the same way as the rest of you. I once made the statement to a person that I wish that Jesus would come back. I meant that I wanted to see Him and be with Him. She called me an escapist. She said that I just didn

[Matthitjah]

Greetings in Christ Jesus,

Answer to question about Spiritual battle heating up. I have been under particularly bad attack.

My dog got torn up by a group of particularly dangerous dogs in the neighborhood. Stitches and all. My wife stopped the attack by calling on G-d.

I just today found out I have walking pneumonia. I shouldn't be here. But this is what I'm glad to do. I'm glad to live a life of Love that pleases you Lord! Yes Jesus serving you is better.

Numerous other things have come about as well. i won't speak of here.

What did I do to get here? Not a rhetorical question. I'll tell you. The enemy is trying to make me who he says I am. I'm not , I'm my Fathers son! Amen!

I started saying things like when offered extra money to work Sundays. "It is so much better to serve the Lord!" "No thanks!"

When asked to take a job for more money and less time with my wife and children. Also much less time with Jesus. I said, "No thanks it is much better to serve the Lord!"

I started to literally hit the streets with the Gospel. I went somewhere the Lord told me to go. (I was hesitant) Even though it might cost me my very job. A miracle happened! Amen!

I set the Lord first every morning.

I dared to knock on the east gate. Open Lord, I said! I'm dying out here! I might die in there as well! But Lord wherever you are I'm going.

I stepped out of the salt marshs and into the river of life. I'm only ankle deep right now. but it is so much better!

I'm not saying this to brag.

I'm asking did any of you? Dare to use the key of David?

That is this; I will not offer burnt offerings to my Lord that has cost me nothing!

With my every day ordinary life Lord I will worship you!

When you do this ? Look out the enemy is wroth!

Peace,

Dave

[Guest Teri]

Yes Suzanne I go through it almost everyday. Some that I work with snicker behind my back, some confront me face to face and some just roll their eyes at me like I'm crazy or something. The weirdest part of all this for me is the compassion I feel for them. I know that is truly not from me because the me I know would like to blast them. But I have this overwhelming feeling of wanting to help them get out of their darkness. Even though they are being sarcastic and rude I can still see the darkness. The gap between us and them seems to be getting wider and wider. Things they say sound down right insane, like when someone is justifying partial birth abortion or believing that Israel is the greatest threat to peace. They sound quite nuts to me, like they have lost all capability to even reason on any intelligent level.

And Dr. Luke what you said made perfect sense. I get kind of excited at the idea of this worldly death. Not in a suicidal way but in a way of where I'm going is GLORIOUS and I can't wait to get there. I've been called a fatalist among other things and sometimes by christians. I've come to discover that there are those of us who have faith in and know beyond a shadow of a doubt where our destiny lies and then there are those that are still unsure so they cling to this life. They can't see beyond the veil so to speak.

In Yeshua's love

Teri

[JohnS]

It is very sad, their ideas about how refined and worldly they are, and how out of touch my husband is. Like he's got blacked out teeth, wiggly toes and a banjo to boot, that he plays in his little back woods world. We're so out of touch you know.

Anyway, it's weird.

In His Love,

Suzanne

And what is wrong with blacked out teeth, wiggly toes, banjos, and back woods?

[ColleenLovesMischief]

Seems like everyone in here has been under spiritual attack.

[OneAccord]

Here's the verse I got this morning on this topic:

John 16:20-22

Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

Therefore you ow have sorrow, but I will se you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

We are in labor, folks, these are the birthing pains. One day we will no longer remember the pain this world causes us, but will rejoice, and no one will take that joy away from us!!!!