tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292273.post329044963312848255..comments2022-12-07T04:18:19.495-06:00Comments on a little and a lot: "i want the things you just can't give me"Jesse Farishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02415283192220270619noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292273.post-63287628212536278392006-09-25T13:35:00.000-05:002006-09-25T13:35:00.000-05:00This issue along with the issue of pacifism has be...This issue along with the issue of pacifism has been weighing on my soul lately. I think your post here is very well stated.<br /><br />I find it difficult where to draw the line on American Consumerism today. Sure God doesn't mind if I have a comfortable home...but let's not get caught up in a 'Your Best Life Now' mentality. God, and Jesus (same guy), was and is concerned with our treatment of the poor. <br /><br />I love that line in the song "We moved out of Jesus' neighborhood, where he's sick and not feeling so good..." I think the American Christian idea has been to get comfortable first, and then give money to the few who stayed behind to do the work. I am not totally innocent in this.<br /><br />I am the biggest hypocrite of all. I believe that I should not own most of what I do, and yet on a daily basis I enjoy my comforable house, my cars (though both are very used), my Apple laptop (and I can rationalize that one very well). I have no answers, merely musings.Kyle Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12597278772001253749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292273.post-70840806998450378502006-09-22T22:13:00.000-05:002006-09-22T22:13:00.000-05:00oh and ps. in response to Kelly's comment, I dont ...oh and ps. in response to Kelly's comment, I dont think there is anything wrong with having. Or wanting. Really. Its your attitude about it. Just like the Rich young Ruler's. I think obsessing is another thing. to put it simply, It's what Jesus was getting at. Don't put it before him. And give wholeheartedly back. wholeheartedly. I think we all should look into our own lives and examine this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292273.post-25129515666765631582006-09-22T22:06:00.000-05:002006-09-22T22:06:00.000-05:00I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to see this...I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to see this. I want to seek God in all the things I do but this is always a struggle for me. I think it is a struggle for all of us. I needed this reminder especially, because we are currently househunting and I was just pouting over affording one, etc. How trivial it all is! Yet how important it can seem, also, when we get our heads and hearts in the wrong places. I am at a constant battle with myself and my own desires vs. God's desires. Wow. thanks.<br /><br />suppabloggaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292273.post-66060865214145183872006-09-21T08:02:00.000-05:002006-09-21T08:02:00.000-05:00Jess, this is also something I wrestle with. All ...Jess, this is also something I wrestle with. All the furniture posts were a product of this fight in my head along with other aspects of discontent with our financial situation. But you are so right we are all so rich! I felt like all the pro new furniture comments were all folks justifying their own wants. (Please don't take offense folks who were pro furniture, I understand the battle and can totally relate to the justifying) I don't think that this is the exact direction that you were going on but this is how your post speaks to me. I am a selfish and so vain. I am not sure if denying your self luxuries (my new couch)is the way to value Jesus or is it? Any thoughts on how we, as a blogging community, can challenge and encourage this type of living and thinking? Do we have to physically give up these things to live a life of total dependece and faithfulness to the cross. Oh Jesse these are hard questions and my head is now aching. Let me think more and I will check back to see where all of this goes with everybody else.<br /><br />Kelly "not a beta blogger" HovaterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292273.post-70829017248860662222006-09-20T21:09:00.000-05:002006-09-20T21:09:00.000-05:00I'm struggling with a lot of the same questions an...I'm struggling with a lot of the same questions and it makes my head hurt, too. in some ways i feel stuck in this culture of materialism and expectations of how things should be and on the other hand i know i love it and want all it has to offer... definitely a struggle. don't you just hate it when someone like derek webb... or jesus:)... just kicks you in the butt with something and you know you can't ignore it anymore?Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483250400915257572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292273.post-49035466494261273012006-09-20T16:09:00.000-05:002006-09-20T16:09:00.000-05:00Thanks for posting this! I'm so with you...I ofte...Thanks for posting this! I'm so with you...I often find myself wishing for a big, professionally deocrated house, the trendiest clothes, and unlimited funds for my fav hobby--landscaping...at the same time I'm ungrateful for all the blessings we have. Greg is much better than me and challenges me in our giving...and we're always blessed way more than we give. Thanks for the reminder and challenge!Tesneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12854099582426075371noreply@blogger.com