tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406336.post112595990616457211..comments2023-11-02T02:22:12.574-07:00Comments on Thought Renewal: Your Best Life NowLynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998346902027037420noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406336.post-1129916587641007262005-10-21T10:43:00.000-07:002005-10-21T10:43:00.000-07:00Hi Lyn, Thanks for commenting on the Osteen quest...Hi Lyn, Thanks for commenting on the Osteen questions I raised in my blog. I agree that what Osteen says can be helpful, for someone who takes him as one of many ingredients. But someone who feeds solely on a steady diet of J.O. is going to miss out on major portions of the gospel- and for a minister of the gospel to intentionally omit major portions of the Word from His preaching is spiritual malpractice. If he was just a travelling motivational speaker his message would be fine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406336.post-1126213029996199222005-09-08T13:57:00.000-07:002005-09-08T13:57:00.000-07:00...living a successful life and living for the Lor...<I>...living a successful life and living for the Lord are not incompatible.</I><BR/><BR/>True. However, who defines success? What is considered success? How is success measured?<BR/><BR/>By God's standards the homeless man on the street who loves Him and serves Him in obedience is successful. By the world's standards, that man is an utter failure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406336.post-1126199484701040192005-09-08T10:11:00.000-07:002005-09-08T10:11:00.000-07:00Good discussion by the way. I enjoyed reading you...Good discussion by the way. I enjoyed reading your "rebuttals."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406336.post-1126199305328176072005-09-08T10:08:00.000-07:002005-09-08T10:08:00.000-07:00"living a successful life and living for the Lord ..."living a successful life and living for the Lord are not incompatible" as long as we remember to place the Lord first. We've all seen too many examples of the reverse, which makes people wary, as they should be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406336.post-1126185234330147432005-09-08T06:13:00.000-07:002005-09-08T06:13:00.000-07:00Jenny,Thanks for your comment. I agree that a lif...Jenny,<BR/>Thanks for your comment. I agree that a life of repentance may not be a <I>cultural given</I> - although, I do believe we are wired up to serve others, and that does express itself without too much prompting (a la 9/11, Tsunami, Katrina, et al). <BR/><BR/>I guess what I'm getting at is that Christians stop at the hard words of Jesus about discipline, forsaking all, dying to one's self, (which are clear scriptural injunctions albeit not readily obeyed even in the church) and forget that this should <I>lead</I> to a life of overflow.<BR/><BR/>Why do we always think that striving for success, wealth, health, great relationships, positive community impact, etc, are signs that we are not seeking the Lord? Look closely at James 4.13-15 and tell me what the (human) goal is in each case. Is it not to "carry on business and make money?" And the only difference is whether we include the Lord in those plans or not.<BR/><BR/>In other words, living a successful life and living for the Lord are not incompatible. Thoughts? lgpLynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11998346902027037420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406336.post-1126153724766020342005-09-07T21:28:00.000-07:002005-09-07T21:28:00.000-07:00Personally, I don't think that "A life of repentan...Personally, I don't think that "A life of repentance and service is a scriptural given" is true by looking at most of what passes for christianity these days. It may be <I>in</I> the scriptures but it sure isn't "a given" in our culture.<BR/>What about Jesus saying that we should "forsake all" to be a disciple? The rich young ruler went away sorrowful for he had great riches -- if what Osteen says is true, why was that incompatible with following Jesus?<BR/>I don't know if the abundance Jesus referred to is necessarily material surfeit as we know it in this culture.<BR/>These are only my own opinions and I hope it doesn't sound picky, I like to share ideas and I like your blog! Thanks,<BR/>JennyJhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16453120895132794993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406336.post-1126110620692721112005-09-07T09:30:00.000-07:002005-09-07T09:30:00.000-07:00In a previous time we would have called this a dis...In a previous time we would have called this a discussion of "Spiritual Disciplines." I guess that term has gone way out of fashion. We don't like any discipline in our lives.<BR/><BR/>Good review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406336.post-1126007823489142482005-09-06T04:57:00.000-07:002005-09-06T04:57:00.000-07:00Kevin, I should have expanded what I meant by livi...Kevin, I should have expanded what I meant by living "within the Christian context." We are called to live holy and righteous lives, of course. A life of repentance and service is a scriptural given. But we forget that, yes indeed, God has promised that we'll live better now. See John 10:10 as one among many verses affirming that life with Christ is better than without Christ. Is this not the case? lgpLynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11998346902027037420noreply@blogger.com