We are called to faith, we are called to hope, and so we are called to fellowship. We are called to support one another, help one another, encourage one another. We are called to keep one another on the good path and not get lost in the weeds to either side.
"Popularity does not make my witness true. If I am genuinely inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit, my witness is true, and my words are true, even if nobody likes them." Best line of the whole article, Peter.
One must remember, how popular was Jesus in his time? Sure he had followers that he preached to, but nothing like it eventually grew into today. Perseverance to his beliefs was his and should be our foundation. Perseverance would make a good Peter's Proverbs article actually, or maybe they are all about that.
A challenge for people of your high analytical ability and intelligence is to walk in faith. You want to understand all things in terms of cause and effect, rational consequences, logic and reason. But God truly does work in mysterious ways. His ways are beyond mortal comprehension. If you continue on, trusting that God is working His Plan through you, then it will be so. The key is just to believe. You will accomplish His Devine Will, just because you believe it. (HIS plan, not yours.) It may seem as though years go by without anything to show for your efforts, but progress is happening behind the scenes.
Your writings have brought me back to Christianity, and you have my eternal (and I mean eternal!) gratitude for that. God worked through you, because you persevered in faith, writing without much visible reward. Suppose my faith in God’s plan prevents me from suicide in some depressing future time; suppose I then am in the right time and place to rescue a child from a tragic death; suppose that child - believing himself to have been given a great gift of additional life - grows up determined to make a huge difference in the world - and does so. It all leads back to your continuing your efforts through faith. And there are near-infinite other good possibilities that could be the result of your faithful efforts!
You have very little wonderful gifts in your intelligence, Peter. God WILL use that- because you trust He will! He has been humbling you for years, and I believe there is a grand plan in that. When I started reading your posts, you had clawed your ways out of a dark abyss. I have admired how you have persevered through discipline and faith in God. You will ultimately become so strong, wise, caring and yes, magnificent that God will be able to accomplish great things through you.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” - II Corinthians 5:7
God is blessing you in ways that will become apparent in time, Peter. You are loved!
I have come to realize that when people claim a desire to "understand", they in reality are expressing a desire to "control."
Science has dealt with unknown forces and indeterminate causes throughout the history of human civilization.
As a reflexive and even obsessive analyst I always want to understand, but if I am honest the frustration arises not from the lack of understanding but from the reality that, with or without understanding, the world is almost wholly beyond my control.
That is never a comfortable admission to make, and yet it is the unavoidable reality for us all.
God's Will is always the only will that ever gets to be done in this world, whether we like it or not.
God will repay you a thousand times over - just, maybe not in the ways you expect. He rewards those who steadfastly serve Him and trust His plan. I am confident that on your deathbed - whenever that occurs - you will have a smile on your face as you see how spectacularly He has worked everything out for the good.
I still have the sense that you are not an ordinary man, or destined to have an ordinary life. Wait on the Lord, dear Peter.
"Popularity does not make my witness true. If I am genuinely inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit, my witness is true, and my words are true, even if nobody likes them." Best line of the whole article, Peter.
One must remember, how popular was Jesus in his time? Sure he had followers that he preached to, but nothing like it eventually grew into today. Perseverance to his beliefs was his and should be our foundation. Perseverance would make a good Peter's Proverbs article actually, or maybe they are all about that.
Thanks!
I have noticed that, without conscious design, there are recurring themes which appear in these missives.
Perseverance I do believe has been one of them.
But that's not to say it won't be a theme that gets a turn in the spotlight! It all depends on what random verse comes before me next.
A challenge for people of your high analytical ability and intelligence is to walk in faith. You want to understand all things in terms of cause and effect, rational consequences, logic and reason. But God truly does work in mysterious ways. His ways are beyond mortal comprehension. If you continue on, trusting that God is working His Plan through you, then it will be so. The key is just to believe. You will accomplish His Devine Will, just because you believe it. (HIS plan, not yours.) It may seem as though years go by without anything to show for your efforts, but progress is happening behind the scenes.
Your writings have brought me back to Christianity, and you have my eternal (and I mean eternal!) gratitude for that. God worked through you, because you persevered in faith, writing without much visible reward. Suppose my faith in God’s plan prevents me from suicide in some depressing future time; suppose I then am in the right time and place to rescue a child from a tragic death; suppose that child - believing himself to have been given a great gift of additional life - grows up determined to make a huge difference in the world - and does so. It all leads back to your continuing your efforts through faith. And there are near-infinite other good possibilities that could be the result of your faithful efforts!
You have very little wonderful gifts in your intelligence, Peter. God WILL use that- because you trust He will! He has been humbling you for years, and I believe there is a grand plan in that. When I started reading your posts, you had clawed your ways out of a dark abyss. I have admired how you have persevered through discipline and faith in God. You will ultimately become so strong, wise, caring and yes, magnificent that God will be able to accomplish great things through you.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” - II Corinthians 5:7
God is blessing you in ways that will become apparent in time, Peter. You are loved!
I have come to realize that when people claim a desire to "understand", they in reality are expressing a desire to "control."
Science has dealt with unknown forces and indeterminate causes throughout the history of human civilization.
As a reflexive and even obsessive analyst I always want to understand, but if I am honest the frustration arises not from the lack of understanding but from the reality that, with or without understanding, the world is almost wholly beyond my control.
That is never a comfortable admission to make, and yet it is the unavoidable reality for us all.
God's Will is always the only will that ever gets to be done in this world, whether we like it or not.
"Your writings have brought me back to Christianity"
Thank you for saying this. It alone makes the entire effort worthwhile.
God will repay you a thousand times over - just, maybe not in the ways you expect. He rewards those who steadfastly serve Him and trust His plan. I am confident that on your deathbed - whenever that occurs - you will have a smile on your face as you see how spectacularly He has worked everything out for the good.
I still have the sense that you are not an ordinary man, or destined to have an ordinary life. Wait on the Lord, dear Peter.
Moses didn’t realize his life’s calling until he was 80 years old.
I’m vain enough and impatient enough to hope I won’t have to wait that long!