Christs message is simple

[smellycat]

to love him,and to love others.meaning don,t hurt people.don,t bomb people or have an angle to exploit people.the message is love not lust.

[inquisitive]

I agree with this statement somewhat. Our motives should always be rooted in love. Anything we do for others, should be out of a servantile heart, not out of a self serving one. What can I gain, no no, it is what ground does GOD gain. It is all about Jesus, not all about me or anyone else individually. We have all got skills of one description or another, those skills should be used to help point people in Gods direction, not used for puffing oneself up any.

Everything should be done for God, through God's strength. How far do I get on my own, not very! How far do I get with God.....right to the very end of the race through that goalpoint.

[Galaen]

Well said inquisitive. We are all part of the family of God and we all have a part to play. Those parts may be the same, similar or very different but all are just as important as each other. It is like being part of a team, when one member is not there the rest of the team suffer, likewise if the goalkeeper kept coming out of his net to try to score the goals the game of football would be in a terrible mess. We all have a God given job to do, we should get on with that job and encourage others in their job instead of picking each other to bits and telling them they are not doing 'it' right. Love and encourage one another for that is what makes the strong bonds - try taking a new baby from it's mothers arms and see what you get. That is what we should be like with each other, love, love and more love. It is what Jesus does for us and it is what we should do also.

[Lily]

We all have a God given job to do, we should get on with that job and encourage others in their job instead of picking each other to bits and telling them they are not doing 'it' right

There but for the Grace of God go I.

You know, I have never had drink or drug problems. Never touched a drug in my life, unless you count nicotine. I'm not proud of those things, I am thankful for them, and I thank God everyday, that even though I am still addicted to nicotine, things could be an awful lot worse ! I could have horrendous problems such as being a crack addicted alcoholic hooked on nicotine !
Nothing irritates me more that listening to puffed up people going on about me, me, me, look what I did, look at me, me, me.

[Galaen]

Often Lily the reason people go on about how they have quit this and quit that is becaue they are struggling with it thenselves. They often have not got as much control in that part of their life as they would like us to think they have. How many times do you hear ex smokers go on and on about other people smoking? Part of that is because they could kill for a fag. How often do you hear a reformed alcoholic knocking those who have not managed to kick the habit? Again many of them are screaming inside for a drink but do not want to admit it. No point going through all the addictions but you get the idea. It is usually fairly easy to spot those who are genuinely giving the glory straight back to God for their freedom and the ones who want you to look at them and say 'didn't you do well'. The bible tells us that they have already had their reward in full!!

[canny]

I stumble now and again, but He loves me anyway

[Galaen]

That's is what God's love for us is all about Canny. He does love us even when we get it wrong. It is so simple, only we who make it difficult.

[Caitlin]

to love him,and to love others.meaning don,t hurt people.don,t bomb people or have an angle to exploit people.the message is love not lust.

Except the reality of pastoral work esp in outreach is never so 'nice' because it involves working with real people living real and often messy lives. To protect a child I may have to accept hurting a vulnerable adult, to turn back sheep intent on heading over a cliff I sometimes have to shout at them then have them moan for weeks afterwards- people only remember the bad bits, to gain funding in a poor area I may have to wrestle with ethical dilemmas most do not have to visit.
If the world truly was full of love then Christ would not need to have come.

[Lily]

to love him,and to love others.meaning don,t hurt people.don,t bomb people or have an angle to exploit people.the message is love not lust.

Except the reality of pastoral work esp in outreach is never so 'nice' because it involves working with real people living real and often messy lives. To protect a child I may have to accept hurting a vulnerable adult, to turn back sheep intent on heading over a cliff I sometimes have to shout at them then have them moan for weeks afterwards- people only remember the bad bits, to gain funding in a poor area I may have to wrestle with ethical dilemmas most do not have to visit.
If the world truly was full of love then Christ would not need to have come.

Amen. Unfortunately, so many would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

[Origen]

Wrong thread.