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January 15, (2599 years ago)
GaryK:
Hi Joe.
When I first began working with horses an old-timer told me about training a horse, he said:
‘get both eyes’
I thought, well, that's a dumb saying. I didn’t understand at first. It didn’t take long to grasp his finer point. A beast 6 times the weight of a man with independent rear suspension and omni-directional kicking ability, with not the slightest sense of guilty conscience, is not to be disregarded. It’s all about attention. He has yours, you have his.
And Ray says:
“Having a working knowledge of these relative and contrasting terms and concepts is absolutely essential in living our lives. We must all come to know and to experience both good and evil. And so man’s life consists of a combination of both good and evil thoughts, words, and deeds. The most saintly of men have had their flaws and the most evil of men have possessed at least a few qualities of good.”
http://bible-truths.com/lake6.html
You quoted Ray:
“The very last sentence of Truth #8 is...
If you cannot identify yourself, personally, with all the stories and accounts in the Old Testament, then you have not even begun to overcome all the carnality that you are.”
I can identify with this:
Exo 7:23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
And this:
"Beast? What beast? I don’t see any beast within myself. I am not perfect by any means, but I am certainly not a beast.
We shall see.”
http://bible-truths.com/lake14.html
Joe, I can relate.
I think God operates under the same plan, ‘get both eyes’.
And I’m beginning to believe there’s a reason he has me working with horses.
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: George Kuhns on January 18, 2011, 09:46:21 AM ---I can relate Joe. I'm married 53 years today. Oh! Hi honey. I'm just kidding. :-\
--- End quote ---
:D
Hi George,
Congratulations on 53 years!
You know you might be treading in dangerous waters there... I have found the "Oh honey, I am just kidding" is not always a sufficient defense once the original words are processed by our better halves.... ;)
Peace,
Joe
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: GaryK on January 18, 2011, 12:33:27 PM ---Hi Joe.
When I first began working with horses an old-timer told me about training a horse, he said:
‘get both eyes’
I thought, well, that's a dumb saying. I didn’t understand at first. It didn’t take long to grasp his finer point. A beast 6 times the weight of a man with independent rear suspension and omni-directional kicking ability, with not the slightest sense of guilty conscience, is not to be disregarded. It’s all about attention. He has yours, you have his.
And Ray says:
“Having a working knowledge of these relative and contrasting terms and concepts is absolutely essential in living our lives. We must all come to know and to experience both good and evil. And so man’s life consists of a combination of both good and evil thoughts, words, and deeds. The most saintly of men have had their flaws and the most evil of men have possessed at least a few qualities of good.”
http://bible-truths.com/lake6.html
You quoted Ray:
“The very last sentence of Truth #8 is...
If you cannot identify yourself, personally, with all the stories and accounts in the Old Testament, then you have not even begun to overcome all the carnality that you are.”
I can identify with this:
Exo 7:23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
And this:
"Beast? What beast? I don’t see any beast within myself. I am not perfect by any means, but I am certainly not a beast.
We shall see.”
http://bible-truths.com/lake14.html
Joe, I can relate.
I think God operates under the same plan, ‘get both eyes’.
And I’m beginning to believe there’s a reason he has me working with horses.
--- End quote ---
Hello George,
That is a great analogy, it is my belief (and it is hard to refute with "both eyes" wide open) that we can get some very relevant spiritual insights by observing His earthly creation.
I am acutely aware of my current deficiencies at this snapshot of time, I am either looking (some might say naval gazing) at the past in regard to the people I hurt or treated callously or I am looking at the (short and long term) future of this country (or any country for that matter) in regard to what we are leaving our young ones. Yes, I know intellectually that Jesus admonished us to not give "thought for the morrow" (Matt 6:34) but I really need a doubling (at least) of His Spirit to get past this temporary phase.
People that are able to just live in the moment are for the most part the happiest, unless of course their present reality is nothing but pain, anxiety and suffering from a lack of basic human needs. This is where the animal kingdom (and perhaps by extension the natural beast/man) has a temporal advantage, they live in the moment... What happened in the past is past and "let us drink, eat for we all shall die tomorrow." (1Co 15:32)
Now on the other hand we have a hope they (unbelievers) do not have, they actually scoff at it, many of (not all) the church folk also feel insulated because they will be either whisked away by the rapture or are already "saved" and all is well...
The animal kingdom actually follow the Words of Christ better than me when it comes to worrying about the past or future, they don't contemplate their own mortality (we shouldn't because we are alive in Him), they have no guilt about past deeds (we are forgiven) nor do they agonize over the future of their prodigy (all are saved).
Come to think of it our cats are closer to the goal than I am right now! Even though I believe, I believe His promises my core being is still (or has returned to) struggling with this reality.
Paul spoke of it being an advantage to not be married (obviously not having children) 1Cor 7:32-33 because we are all too prone to put them and their temporal earthly needs at the forefront of our minds, pleasing them rather than pleasing the Lord first. I know it sounds cold but I can see this clearly, what happens to me or if I find myself in dire straits (and I have in the past) there is nowhere near the intense anxiety that I would feel putting my family in an undesirable situation.
Often I find myself wondering "what if" ....
I could write more but I will give it a rest for now.
Peace,
Joe
judith collier:
Joe, you are right! This process of tearing down and rebuilding better is NOT a one time thing, it's seemingly endless!!!!
I have been torn down and rebuilt so many times that yrs. ago I started to write a poem about my deaths and ressurections. It's still happening and i've been at this for 37 yrs. I grant you I was very very troubled yrs. ago but was observing a while back how many old habits and ways of thinking have fallen by the wayside and I tell God, "I think I'm just about strong enough now IF you don't mind" Then I usually add "sorry" because I see and hear of people in the world that suffer so much more and I am grateful.
Just don't forget your humanity, God knows we are nothing and yet we are precious to Him. Never get too lonely, talk to other believers. Their prayers have benefitted me more than they will ever know. Sorrow and confusion is easier when shared with people who love you. Life takes courage and believe me old age takes even more but you know now it isn't a matter of courage but trusting and believing from all the overcoming that has taken place. And get up every day as though it was your first day on earth, forget yesterday and then take a deep breath and plunge in to the ever different now! Today is always different in some way. There really is nothing to worry about if you believe God loves you. Love, judy
Deborah-Leigh:
I find that sweet words, only come out, under great duress, of immense suffering.
Arc
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