Comments for Discerning Mind http://discerningmind.org Interacting Biblically With Our Culture Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:40:51 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on The Gospel and Sickness by Tim http://discerningmind.org/?p=491&cpage=1#comment-5962 Tim Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:40:51 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=491#comment-5962 Hi Mike, thanks for your thoughts on this subject I found them really helpful. My wife is pregnant with our first child at the moment, but she's been suffering for the past 10 weeks with severe pregnancy sickness. It has been perhaps the most challenging thing we've had to deal with in our married life. I've found that our understanding of the Lord's sovereignty has been greatly heightened as time has gone on. We've learnt to not only pray for relief, but also or the grace to be able bear up under the strain of this trial whilst He intends it to last. We have learnt that, in line with Romans 8, He really does want to shape his people and sometimes trial is the best way to bring about significant reform. We have learnt that to be shaped for the glory of God and for usefulness in His Kingdom is of great importance to Him. And we have learnt to take things less for granted and, as you pointed out, to fix our eyes on heaven. This world is a veil of tears, but sometimes in our easy living it's just so easy to get comfortable with this world. Sickness has taught us to persevere and see this world for what it is. Our church is working it's way through the book of Revelation and we have just covered the 4 horsemen of chapter 6. It has struck us how the pale horse aught to remind believers that death and pestilance rides forth to strike at the heart of people's peace. We should make the most of the opportunity. As purveyors of the gospel we have a unique opportunity to make the most of sickness, both in the lives of others and ourselves. Finally, we have been the beneficiaries of much love from our bretheren. Many have commented how it has impacted their lives that one of the members of the church has been absent for so long. I'm sure the Lord has plans and purposes for the church as well as the individual in all this. Spiritual growth seems to be the net gain and putting theoretical knowledge to the test of real practical christianity! Thanks again for your thoughts, they were really encouraging to me. To the glory of God our Saviour. Hi Mike, thanks for your thoughts on this subject I found them really helpful. My wife is pregnant with our first child at the moment, but she’s been suffering for the past 10 weeks with severe pregnancy sickness. It has been perhaps the most challenging thing we’ve had to deal with in our married life.

I’ve found that our understanding of the Lord’s sovereignty has been greatly heightened as time has gone on. We’ve learnt to not only pray for relief, but also or the grace to be able bear up under the strain of this trial whilst He intends it to last. We have learnt that, in line with Romans 8, He really does want to shape his people and sometimes trial is the best way to bring about significant reform.
We have learnt that to be shaped for the glory of God and for usefulness in His Kingdom is of great importance to Him.
And we have learnt to take things less for granted and, as you pointed out, to fix our eyes on heaven. This world is a veil of tears, but sometimes in our easy living it’s just so easy to get comfortable with this world. Sickness has taught us to persevere and see this world for what it is.
Our church is working it’s way through the book of Revelation and we have just covered the 4 horsemen of chapter 6. It has struck us how the pale horse aught to remind believers that death and pestilance rides forth to strike at the heart of people’s peace. We should make the most of the opportunity. As purveyors of the gospel we have a unique opportunity to make the most of sickness, both in the lives of others and ourselves.

Finally, we have been the beneficiaries of much love from our bretheren. Many have commented how it has impacted their lives that one of the members of the church has been absent for so long. I’m sure the Lord has plans and purposes for the church as well as the individual in all this.

Spiritual growth seems to be the net gain and putting theoretical knowledge to the test of real practical christianity!

Thanks again for your thoughts, they were really encouraging to me.

To the glory of God our Saviour.

]]> Comment on The Finale of LOST by Karen Honeycutt http://discerningmind.org/?p=515&cpage=1#comment-5950 Karen Honeycutt Tue, 25 May 2010 02:46:17 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=515#comment-5950 Mike, I agree with your comments. I think I was hoping that more of the storyline would be tied together - not for spiritual reasons, but simply for the sake of good storytelling - I feel like the writers sort of took a cop out approach. I would not look to LOST or any TV show for answers - we have them, praise God, from his Word. LOST was pure entertainment, and from that aspect, it delivered for 6 seasons. Mike, I agree with your comments. I think I was hoping that more of the storyline would be tied together – not for spiritual reasons, but simply for the sake of good storytelling – I feel like the writers sort of took a cop out approach. I would not look to LOST or any TV show for answers – we have them, praise God, from his Word. LOST was pure entertainment, and from that aspect, it delivered for 6 seasons.

]]> Comment on The Finale of LOST by Nancy Christiansen http://discerningmind.org/?p=515&cpage=1#comment-5949 Nancy Christiansen Mon, 24 May 2010 21:14:37 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=515#comment-5949 Thank you for your comments on this. Very well put. Especially for those of us who feel we may have "waisted the time watching this over the last four years". I did see a comment to that effect. That thought convicted me as to how much time am I waisting hoping to see TRUTH proclaimed through entertainment? AM I as a Disciple of Christ doing what I am called to do? Matthew 28:18 Go Therefore . . . . . Blessings to you Michael, Nancy Thank you for your comments on this. Very well put. Especially for those of us who feel we may have “waisted the time watching this over the last four years”. I did see a comment to that effect. That thought convicted me as to how much time am I waisting hoping to see TRUTH proclaimed through entertainment? AM I as a Disciple of Christ doing what I am called to do? Matthew 28:18 Go Therefore . . . . . Blessings to you Michael, Nancy

]]> Comment on Kids’ Bedtime and the Gospel by Candi Manning http://discerningmind.org/?p=483&cpage=1#comment-5895 Candi Manning Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:34:20 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=483#comment-5895 Wow, I really relate to this post, especially #2 where you talk about them getting in the way of my plan/agenda. I'm learning this about myself more and more as the babies get older. Thanks for the post and reminder of the gospel in this everyday stress. Wow, I really relate to this post, especially #2 where you talk about them getting in the way of my plan/agenda. I’m learning this about myself more and more as the babies get older. Thanks for the post and reminder of the gospel in this everyday stress.

]]> Comment on Kids’ Bedtime and the Gospel by Radez http://discerningmind.org/?p=483&cpage=1#comment-5892 Radez Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:20:21 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=483#comment-5892 We read Ch 4 of "Shepherding a Child's Heart" last night, which seems quite related. Tripp tool a stance of disciplining your children out of love and not out of anger. Then using the gospel to justify your discipline instead of letting you children think you're disciplining them because you are mean. His perspective was encouraging. We read Ch 4 of “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” last night, which seems quite related. Tripp tool a stance of disciplining your children out of love and not out of anger. Then using the gospel to justify your discipline instead of letting you children think you’re disciplining them because you are mean. His perspective was encouraging.

]]> Comment on A Freeing Bondage by Michael Feather http://discerningmind.org/?p=472&cpage=1#comment-5882 Michael Feather Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:04:26 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=472#comment-5882 Sarah, So sorry I missed your comment until now. Nothing is needed this week. We are taking two weeks to read the sections. Next week send me a post on something from part 2 (chapters 5-9). It can be anything from that section. I will also be writing something from that section. It is unlikely that we will choose the same thing. Thanks for doing this. Sarah,
So sorry I missed your comment until now. Nothing is needed this week. We are taking two weeks to read the sections. Next week send me a post on something from part 2 (chapters 5-9). It can be anything from that section. I will also be writing something from that section. It is unlikely that we will choose the same thing.
Thanks for doing this.

]]> Comment on A Freeing Bondage by Sarah Robbins http://discerningmind.org/?p=472&cpage=1#comment-5878 Sarah Robbins Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:06:34 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=472#comment-5878 I am in. Can you remind me what I am supposed to read for next week? I am in. Can you remind me what I am supposed to read for next week?

]]> Comment on The Book of Eli: Is the Bible THAT Precious? by Michael Feather http://discerningmind.org/?p=459&cpage=1#comment-5868 Michael Feather Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:47:11 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=459#comment-5868 Violent--yes! This movie is not for everyone. But it is powerful and helpful if you don't struggle with the violence. I will check out the story you are talking about. Right now looking at my shelf full of Bibles, it is hard to relate. So sad that some of us have so many and value it so little, while others have to go without. Violent–yes! This movie is not for everyone. But it is powerful and helpful if you don’t struggle with the violence.
I will check out the story you are talking about. Right now looking at my shelf full of Bibles, it is hard to relate. So sad that some of us have so many and value it so little, while others have to go without.

]]> Comment on Compelled By Love: The Next Book by Michael Feather http://discerningmind.org/?p=468&cpage=1#comment-5867 Michael Feather Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:43:57 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=468#comment-5867 Sarah, Glad you are in. It should be a good discussion. I will let you know about the posts. I am thinking about doing it a bit differently with larger chunks and two weeks between, so we will see. But I do look forward to the discussion. Can't wait to have you out here! Sarah,
Glad you are in. It should be a good discussion.
I will let you know about the posts. I am thinking about doing it a bit differently with larger chunks and two weeks between, so we will see. But I do look forward to the discussion.
Can’t wait to have you out here!

]]> Comment on “Culture of Honor”: Outliers Chapter 6 by Sarah Robbins http://discerningmind.org/?p=388&cpage=1#comment-5865 Sarah Robbins Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:06:16 +0000 http://discerningmind.org/?p=388#comment-5865 I am so glad there is hope for my kids having a Southern accent! I am so glad there is hope for my kids having a Southern accent!

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