There is no Christian ideal: it is a come as you are party: No puzzle piece is greater than another in God's plan. We are all unique. Unique means without equal, singular. There is no...

rumitoid

No puzzle piece is greater than another in God's plan. We are all unique. Unique means without equal, singular. There is no very or lesser unique. Just get in the race.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

rumitoid wrote:

No puzzle piece is greater than another in God's plan. We are all unique. Unique means without equal, singular. There is no very or lesser unique. Just get in the race.

Yes, it is indeed a come as you are invitation but it is not stay as you were when you came and it is not a party.

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

padremike wrote:

Yes, it is indeed a come as you are invitation but it is not stay as you were when you came and it is not a party.

Amen

rumitoid

padremike wrote:

Yes, it is indeed a come as you are invitation but it is not stay as you were when you came and it is not a party.

Jesus calls us to a feast, to rejoice in his bounty and love. I call that a party, but feel free to be a party-pooper. And whether we stay as we are or God has other plans for us is not up to us, as I see it.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

rumitoid wrote:

Jesus calls us to a feast, to rejoice in his bounty and love. I call that a party, but feel free to be a party-pooper. And whether we stay as we are or God has other plans for us is not up to us, as I see it.

The early Christians turned the Eucharist into a party with The wealthy feasting sumptuous and the poor...not so much. This practice was quickly discourage because in the church their is no Jew, no Greek, etc, and all must be treated equally with love. It was a learning process for them too. In church we gather as one to worship the Holy Trinity with all the dignity and respect we are capable of offering our God. There is a proper time and place for a party.

If I have no control whatsoever to turn towards my Savior and change my life, what the blazes should I be do I with His gift of free will? Use it unwisely or wait around for God special plan for me? I already know His "plan" for all of us; it's to become more like Him! It's an every day struggle for all Christians.

rumitoid

padremike wrote:

The early Christians turned the Eucharist into a ... (show quote)

Your free will, inspired by spirit and grace, without which you would remain an enemy of Christ, has two options: surrender to him or not. That's it. By faith we entrust all that we think, say, and do to his guidance.

We are to sing and dance in his glory. Or be a wallflower, if it suits you. Without joy, we diminish that glory.

Rose42

padremike wrote:

Yes, it is indeed a come as you are invitation but it is not stay as you were when you came and it is not a party.

Well put.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

rumitoid wrote:

Your free will, inspired by spirit and grace, without which you would remain an enemy of Christ, has two options: surrender to him or not. That's it. By faith we entrust all that we think, say, and do to his guidance.

We are to sing and dance in his glory. Or be a wallflower, if it suits you. Without joy, we diminish that glory.

If my free will is inspired only by Spirit (I hope you mean the Holy Spirit) and grace then why do I sin? He is not responsible for any thoughts, words and deeds contrary to His will. It's my fault, my own most grievous fault. My free will and grace leads me every day to confess my sins. Now I understand where all that time goes! 😮

Indeed, Our heavenly Father is not indifferent to our happiness. Joy is not a garnish on the dutiful entrée of the Christian life. Joy is not the icing on our cake, but rather an essential ingredient in a complex batter. Joy can be expressed both internal and external and many early Christians went to their executions, their martyrdom, joyfully.

I'm confident you did not intend to say that without joy we diminish God's glory.

rumitoid

padremike wrote:

If my free will is inspired only by Spirit (I hope... (show quote)

I understand your steady disagreement with everything I post in this thread. But you appear to make no attempt to understand what I was trying to say, and only look to find fault. That's your prerogative.

However, I never said ONLY inspired by spirit and grace, and of course I meant the Holy Spirit: can we have 'and grace' without it? How you got I was somehow suggesting joy was just a garnish or icing on a cake is a mystery; that is a strawman argument. I was expressing the exact opposite. And yes, without joy, as his children, or representatives of a life in Christ, we diminish his glory to the world.

Again, perhaps my writing style is not the best, there is room for misunderstanding me. Yet all I was attempting to do, no matter how poorly, was to praise God.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

rumitoid wrote:

I understand your steady disagreement with everyth... (show quote)

You protest too much. I was very much in agreement with you about joy; when one is only looking for a negative then only a negative is what you'll see. I do take exception when you state your opinion as fact or just carelessness or flatly incorrect. For example, I'm not certain where you got the idea that we mortal creatures can diminish God's glory. Wherever it was, send it back. In the future you might wish to properly capitalize both God and Spirit to make clear Who your talking about.

rumitoid

padremike wrote:

You protest too much. I was very much in agreement with you about joy; when one is only looking for a negative then only a negative is what you'll see. I do take exception when you state your opinion as fact or just carelessness or flatly incorrect. For example, I'm not certain where you got the idea that we mortal creatures can diminish God's glory. Wherever it was, send it back. In the future you might wish to properly capitalize both God and Spirit to make clear Who your talking about.

This is getting to be boring drudgery with your far-reach objections. How many angels can dance on the head of a pin stuff. I concede the floor. Have it as you see it. I was just making an expression of faith. (And you never responded to "there is no Christian ideal," the main subject.) I am done. God bless.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

rumitoid wrote:

This is getting to be boring drudgery with your far-reach objections. How many angels can dance on the head of a pin stuff. I concede the floor. Have it as you see it. I was just making an expression of faith. (And you never responded to "there is no Christian ideal," the main subject.) I am done. God bless.

It's just as boring to me too. You have, call it an advantage over me, in that you can express opinion as truth, albeit your own personal truth, and I cannot. I have boundaries. I'm not the only one who seriously questions your personal theology. You get rebuttal practically every time you open that door. Conscientious and knowledgeable Christians have an obligation to correct you. That's all it is; it's nothing sinister or a plot against you.

rumitoid

padremike wrote:

It's just as boring to me too. You have, call it an advantage over me, in that you can express opinion as truth, albeit your own personal truth, and I cannot. I have boundaries. I'm not the only one who seriously questions your personal theology. You get rebuttal practically every time you open that door. Conscientious and knowledgeable Christians have an obligation to correct you. That's all it is; it's nothing sinister or a plot against you.

Tired, padre, no love here or attempt to find understanding or common ground. The floor is yours, continue the diatribe against me. Not a word more from me.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

rumitoid wrote:

Tired, padre, no love here or attempt to find understanding or common ground. The floor is yours, continue the diatribe against me. Not a word more from me.

That's the final word? No love or understanding or common ground because of me? A diatribe? The next time you drag your religious stole out, preach and are in error, no matter your intentions, others, as well as myself, will correct you before you can lead others astray. That is Christian love of neighbor and fidelity to our creator.

rumitoid

padremike wrote:

You protest too much. I was very much in agreement with you about joy; when one is only looking for a negative then only a negative is what you'll see. I do take exception when you state your opinion as fact or just carelessness or flatly incorrect. For example, I'm not certain where you got the idea that we mortal creatures can diminish God's glory. Wherever it was, send it back. In the future you might wish to properly capitalize both God and Spirit to make clear Who your talking about.

Too bad.