Date: 06 Dec 1999
Time: 14:52:47
These words are directed at "insiders." Can you imagine an outsiders response to these imperatives?
Rejoice always? Are you kidding? Who can do that? Should anyone ever do that? Isn't that just plain denial, a refusal to deal with the present moment?
Pray without ceasing? Who can do this? That will give you camel knees? Besides, isn't there too much work to be done to just waste time mumbling in the dirt?
Give thanks in all circumstances? Whose side are you on anyway? O yea, slap me again, it felt so good.
Do not quench the spirit? Now there's one I can agree with. This is the time of season to be merry and to party. Let's break out the spirits!
The rejoicing, praying, giving thanks in the Spirit are things done by insiders; that is, by those who know something about the present circumstances that can only be known by faith.
If you have ever been to New Orleans and driven by the Superdome, it appears to be a rather large building from the outside. But go inside and look and you will be amazed at how they got all that space in that building. Things look different from the inside.
Things look different with faith.
This might be a helpful message to parents who are going broke trying to make their children happy with presents, children who will not be happy until they have more quality time with parents and learn how to pray with them.
Things not only look different with faith; they are different.
Fred in LA
Date: 07 Dec 1999
Time: 22:04:03
I would like to focus a little bit on verse 16. What did Paul mean by rejoice always? Not that I don't believe it. I do believe we are to rejoice always, but I am trying to put it into words what that means for us. How can we rejoice when we are mourning the death of a loved one? How do we rejoice when our children have gone astrayed? How do we rejoice when we are facing crushing debt or the love of our home?
I looked up "rejoice" and "joy" in the dictionary, but I'm still unsure how to define that joy. I want to describe it to my congregation, but I'm not sure how to describe it. I've looked in commentaries and church dictionaries, but they don't really describe what "rejoicing" and "joy" are like. They define it and tell when we are to rejoice or be joyful, but there is no describtion of what it is like.
I guess I'm trying to put my finger on what a joyful person would be like in difficult time. I am quite sure it is not like jumping for joy.
Brandon in CA
Date: 07 Dec 1999
Time: 22:05:29
Oops! In my last post, it should have been "loss of one's home."
Date: 08 Dec 1999
Time: 04:18:46
I'm thinking about the title "A Persistent Joy." It seems to me that true joy is always more than happiness, which is contingent upon what is happening in our lives. Joy is often "in spite of" our circumstances. It is helps us rise above and sees us through the trials of life. Joy is an Easter reality for us. Joy is internal, a spiritual strength. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It is not diluted by a thousand rivers of tears. Paul could rejoice even in his prison cell. We can rejoice even in times of deepest disappointment. How important it is to stop and rediscover our joy when life and ministry become exceedingly difficult. Joy to you, my sisters and brothers! --gms
Date: 08 Dec 1999
Time: 14:43:05
When we allow despair to set in when lifes storms come our way we are basicly letting God and others know that we are fair weather Christians. We need to do as told and give thanks To God in the midst of the storm. It is when all seems hopless that God works his greatest miracles.
When we set up a pity party for ourselves we do "Quench the Spirit". God says don't doubt what has been written by the prophets. There writings are examples to us that we can put to test.
Don't let these storms cause you to do evil,Hold on to what is good. Staying strong in the hard times of life will strengthen and mature you spiritualy. You will come to the point where you will surrender everything to the Lord and total Sanctification will dwell within you.
Jesus is faithful and capable to do all he has promised. Remember he said "I will not leave you alone, I will send a comforter". Believe his promises with all your heart and soul and you will be able to go threw any storm in life and still lift up thanks to his name.
Date: 08 Dec 1999
Time: 14:43:30
When we allow despair to set in when lifes storms come our way we are basicly letting God and others know that we are fair weather Christians. We need to do as told and give thanks To God in the midst of the storm. It is when all seems hopless that God works his greatest miracles.
When we set up a pity party for ourselves we do "Quench the Spirit". God says don't doubt what has been written by the prophets. There writings are examples to us that we can put to test.
Don't let these storms cause you to do evil,Hold on to what is good. Staying strong in the hard times of life will strengthen and mature you spiritualy. You will come to the point where you will surrender everything to the Lord and total Sanctification will dwell within you.
Jesus is faithful and capable to do all he has promised. Remember he said "I will not leave you alone, I will send a comforter". Believe his promises with all your heart and soul and you will be able to go threw any storm in life and still lift up thanks to his name.
Date: 08 Dec 1999
Time: 16:46:40
Friends, this is 'Joy' Sunday in the Advent wreath lighting. My folks are doing the usual moaning because we're not singing Xmas carols yet. A few weeks ago one of the DPS contributors threw out the idea of preaching a series based on titles of secular Xmas songs. I'm trying it ("Blue Xmas" and "I'll be Home for Xmas" so far). I was stumped until thinking about the 'murmuring' over our hymns and suddenly thought of "We Need a Little Xmas." I think this ties in with this theme of joy. We do everything we can to CREATE joy-singing Xmas carols a head of schedule, getting our decorations up as early as possible, and having more lights on our house than we did last year-a new and improved Xmas!!!
But in fact, all we can do to experience joy is be open to it. It is a gift from God, totally different from happiness or pleasure. I read that the origin of the word 'joy' is the same as 'jewel.' Like a jewel, joy is precious, of great value. But unlike a jewel, it cannot be purchased or possessed.
I also read that "Joy involves a felt sense of connectedness to what is. It involves the union of heaven and earth, of spirit and flesh." (These ideas are from "The Living Pulpit" of Oct-Dec 1996). I must stop now but will try to share more from this source later, time allowing.
Joy to all, Rebecca in Maryland
Date: 09 Dec 1999
Time: 18:19:51
Outsiders have never experienced the presence of the Holy One. They base their joy on their physical and relational circumstances. Relationships always change, they are like rollercoasters. (Which is why basing marriage on romantic love is so silly) Our joy is based on our experience of the Divine. We have the record of some ways that God has been evident in the world, and, sometimes God still comes to us through prophecy and other gifts.
Our joy is not our wealth, not our prestige, not how many people respect us. (If it were then what would we have to say to those who are not so respected?) It is that we stay connected to the Spirit's fire.
Most of our culture is based on selling each other joy, prepackaged, easy to use. But the toys always break, the sex appeal fades, they stop laughing at my jokes, and sooner or even sooner some really bad stuff happens. Only God remains. Only God is faithful.
Dan
Date: 09 Dec 1999
Time: 18:56:45
Our culture sells happiness, which is temporary. Happiness is based on external stimuli
Joy (chara) is a gift of God (charis) grace.
Joy is an internal spiritual state which allows us to face the world with a different outlook (faith).
We like Mary or Paul or person of faith can face trials and tribulations knowing God is there with us in the midst of struggles.
Bruce in WI
Date: 11 Dec 1999
Time: 22:03:21
Thanks Dan for your thoughtful comments. Anyone looking for supporting material check out Business Week's page/magazine. Big feature on 'extreme retailing." The plan is to keep us busy, playing and escaping while we spend.
mm