Just Being

[Robert]

I have been wondering about the daily lives of the apostles. What were they like??? They had the unique opportunity to live and be with Jesus up close almost 24/7 for a long period of time. Did they find it easy to be nornal people??? Paige made a comment in one thread that God did not make us robots, which thankfully is so true!!!!! It seems though alot of times christian subculture pulls us to be a certain way that is not just natural to us. Of course, we are to put off our old nature and put on the new nature of the Spirit, but does God want us to be thinking evangelistically everytime we meet someone??? Does He intend us to make mention that we live for Jesus and seek to show Him in all we do in a verbal way anytime we can???

I think of so many of the street preachers who hold signs and preach to anyone who walks by- *repent or else* *turn or burn* They don't seek interaction and conversation, they just spew forth their message believing they are sharing Gods message in doing so. I think they have it quite distorted but it makes me wonder about Gods desire for us to be fully human and fully alive in Him.He gave us a brain, a heart and a will. He wants us to think,feel and act. How are we to carry out life if we are always preoccupied with making sure we are being messengers at all times. I know i am talking in an extreme case here mostly, but it just got me to wondering. Any of this stir thoughts from you all???

Robert

[Jotham]

for so many years i would 'preach' from a soap box at those passing by in my life. . . mainly (realisticaly looking back) out of religious fear and attempting to earn a heavenly reward, NOT out of Love.

NOW, i'm nearly silent on the whole thing (sincerely believing we don't need saving from anything other than our ignorance). So now i keep silent (for the most part) out of Love. I know it's a twisted way of looking at things. Maybe my lenses are tinted waaaaay to Rose Colored.

;-)

Thom

[Me Again]

I've been thinking a lot lately about a scripture that I used to "live by," and in fact used the reference as a pseudonym at one time - micah 6:8:

to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our god

I've been realizing that God calls us to

DO justly, not judge justly. This scripture calls US to DO, not tell others to do.

When others fail to do, we are called to LOVE mercy.

Our doing and loving, and thus our keeping silent about such things is walking HUMBLY with our god.

So many believe that it is their job to tell others how to live, but they focus on the wrong thing. If someone asked me, I'd tell them..."do the right thing; love, forgive and show mercy, don't judge; and give god all the credit for making such a wonderful creation." I think that's a good way to live.