Posted on 12/27/2015 8:56:51 AM PST by Greetings_Puny_Humans
Not quite like wearing a hair shirt and castigating yourself with a whip, but did you suffer and do you feel any better for it, you know, spiritually?
It was somewhat humorous. Maybe some here are too wrapped up in their religion to grasp that.
I still firmly believe we are not here to suffer, we honor God by enjoying His gifts.
It’s similar to people who tell me not to enjoy the food I like. Cajun, buttery, artery clogging, salted, sugary foods.
Don’t care. I am not going to eat what “health food” people advocate. I intend to die with a happy tummy even if it’s an early, painful death.
You believe otherwise, so be it.
Steelers fans always suffer with Tomlin and affirmative action Rooney. The old man was cool though. Met him many times.
You have no idea what suffering is.....Try being a Lions fan.
On HOW TRUE!
I feel the pain!
On HOW TRUE!
I feel the pain!
Why change the subject?
Who’s advocating religion?
Could be worse.
You could be a Bills fan.
Nothing wrong with enjoying life, but if you believe that you are being given these blessings because 1) You deserve them or 2) Your faith is strong enough to receive them, and only those without faith or who are wicked in some way are impoverished or sick: then you are clearly in the wrong.
Who’s advocating religion?
Not me but because I enjoy some programs that others here don’t it seems I needed a lecture.
Didn’t mean to change the subject.
Browns fans suffer too but then with me being from Pittsburgh, don’t care, LOL!
I never said any of those things. I said I enjoy Dr Eugene Scott and sometimes Joel Olsteen.
For what it’s worth I like Olsteen’s close.
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins.
Come into my life.
I make you my Lord and Savior.
Personally I don’t have a problem with that.
That is the doctrine you defend by sticking up for the prosperity teachers. You're avoiding the issues.
I wasn’t sticking up for them, advocating them, I just mentioned that I enjoyed Dr Eugene Scott and sometimes Joel Olsteen.
I’m not avoiding anything. You and others are telling me I shouldn’t enjoy them.
Why? Because it’s wrong?
Then what is right? What YOU think I should like?
Sometimes I enjoy a good cigar.
Obviously your interpretation of God and Faith are different from mine . So be it. Live long and prosper, or not. Whatever you wish.
So you're just making a pointless, irrelevant comment, and therefore you do not mean to defend their doctrines?
But then you say:
Obviously your interpretation of God and Faith are different from mine .
So then you do defend their doctrine but are just being evasive so you won't have to deal with its rightness or wrongness. Okay, fine.
Pointless, irrelevant, OK then why do you get your shorts so knotted up? Hit a nerve?
I will reiterate that I like Olsteen’s close.
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins.
Come into my heart.
I make you my Lord And Saviour.
Do you have a problem with that?
So OK.
If it makes you feel better.
As Bobby Bare once said.
But boy I’m gonna sit right here and sip this beer all night
And if there’s somethin’ that you gotta gain to prove by winnin’ some silly fight
Well okay, I quit, I lose, you’re the winner.
Osteen's material works great for helping me with my inner thoughts and judgments about my current situation, people, etc., my long term wants and goals, my general thoughts about and understanding of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and helping me keep Him in my thoughts, praise and gratitude constantly.
His material has been very good for countering my inner darkness and the personal limitations that flow from it and reinforce it.
It's been the solid, practical advice and counsel I use for re-framing my perceptions of the moment and for keeping God first place and gratitude for Him and for all He has blessed me with (as opposed to complaining and begging) at the forefront of my thoughts, instead of sometimes in hind sight.
Osteen isn't the first place I go for Scripture, but he is my favorite for practical, daily application. This education is a process the same as any other education. You maybe far advanced or far behind so ymmv, but it works for me where I am right now.
He is my favorite because when I do as he suggests, I get the results he speaks of with his personal and Biblical examples.
I've been through a lot of big losses these last few years and Osteen's explanations, examples and things to do have helped me find a better perspective by developing a much closer relationship with, and understanding of, Jesus, His Father and Holy Spirit and how They work past, present and future.
I don't agree with every word he says, nor do I laugh at his opening joke every sermon, but I have gotten a lot of value, and the practical help when I needed it the most, from listening to his sermons and applying what he teaches.
You, too, might find something of value if you ever listen to one of his sermons.
Fwiw, the way you react to him is telling you a great deal about yourself, if you should ever be open to what it is saying, as well as to what Osteen is actually saying.
My next door neighbors, the Panthers, lost today which is not nearly as historic as winning would have been. Oh well...
Paul agrees with you!
They are forms of material outpicturing of prosperity.
Boy
I
Love
Loosing
Super Bowls
..;-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.