Bee's Guest House

[Up-the-Creek]

Bee I am sorry and I didn't mean to come off "snarky". This is your front porch and you should be able to speak your feelings without my judgment. Again,..I am sorry.

 

[Occamstazer]

UTC, it was also none of my business to judge what you said. I was feeling positively pissy yesterday, and I'm sorry I was rude.
Friends?

 

[Farmfresh]

That's better folks ... now who wants some pie!

 

[Up-the-Creek]

UTC, it was also none of my business to judge what you said. I was feeling positively pissy yesterday, and I'm sorry I was rude.
Friends?

of course!
I am sorry to all of you,...I guess I was having a day too.

Now FF,..where is that pie????

Bee,..I tryed to PM you and your box is full,..try again later.

 

[Beekissed]

UTC, not only do they seem content to be this way, it almost seems as if this is a status symbol for them. Spending money, having a lot of debt and complaining about poor health is pretty much standard op around here.

One lady in my office has a very large farm that was inherited down through several generations. It's beautiful and has the original log cabin home and buildings on it, in great shape. It also has a large old farm house that is more modern...maybe built in the 40s or 50s but updated to modern usage. Barns and fence all established.

They moved in a double wide!!! They have some cattle on the place but they complain that they are losing money with their "farming" and they never put in a garden. Both husband and wife work as much as possible off the farm to pay their bills but I get the impression that this working is barely covering the debt. They heat with electric.

This is repeated all over this county.... most of these farms are inherited and very large. This means no mortgage payment and only taxes to keep up....many people do not live in the original farm houses but do build a modern ranch style house next to it or move in a double wide. They heat with fuel oil or electric here...some have an outdoor wood furnace but not as many as you would expect.

I can't even imagine having this kind of head start on life and going ahead and getting neck deep in debt. But they do and they are all in a mad scramble to pay for their new homes and vehicles, cell phones and satellite TV, fuel and food bills.

Some even claim that they can't afford to eat their own beef! Go figure!

They are not a bit interested in growing their food supply or learning to live economically....I think they feel this would make folks think they are poor, which seems to be something they are becoming so they won't look like they are. It boggles the mind!

Making a comment of this nature and saying that it boggles my mind doesn't exactly fall into the category of judging others, IMO. Yes, I'm nonplussed and dismayed that folks can't see what they have. This is not exactly what I would call judging....now, if I had said they were stupid and selfish and I didn't think they deserved what they had been given....well...that would have been downright mean and very unchrist-like. But I didn't say that. I just said they didn't seem to be interested in saving money or growing their own food, even though they have the land on which to do so and they didn't start out with a high mortgage as a handicap.

Now....folks...when last I checked, pointing out the fact that these folks that I personally know were not interested in learning ways to lower their debt and simplify their lives~info that comes from conversations with them and them stating this fact to me. This, when last I checked, was merely fact and not my opinion.

That I am saddened and dismayed by this is surely my right and not a bit of passing judgement on others. I am also saddened and dismayed when folks don't see how lucky they are to have a good husband, as I didn't manage to find one of those. I am also saddened and dismayed when folks don't appreciate getting to stay at home with their children, when I didn't get a chance or choice to do so. The fact that I am saddened and dismayed is in no way a judgement on these people. It is more a yearning to have had the chance they don't take advantage of. Call it coveting, call it what you will.

UTC, you have no need to apologize to me...you have a right to your opinion. But let me let you in on a little secret....I speak of ministry in one breath and admit my imperfections in another because I am just that....imperfect. BEing a Christian doesn't mean one thinks they are perfect and better or more righteous than other folks. Being a Christian doesn't mean you can no longer have opinions or feelings, nor show your imperfect nature to the world. Heck...if I were immediately made perfect and whole by becoming a Christian in the manner you seem to expect, my work here would be done and God could just call me on home! I am not perfect, nor do I feel I have a better grasp on life than those around me. I do, however, have feelings and wants and dreams still.

I speak of ministry because I know that I need to develop my heart to be more obedient to God. That my efforts are better put to use serving others than yearning for what I never got to have in life. This doesn't negate that I still have those feelings....I am, after all, very human. The fact that I am is the very reason I need to seek after spirituality and a closer relationship with God.

In one breath you say I'm not a very good Christian and then fault me for trying so hard to obey Christ. Give a gal a break, will ya? I can't always get it right all the time....I'm still learning, just as is everyone else. At least I'm trying and I'm not afraid to admit that I am working on it. Yearning after another's blessings is merely coveting and it's a sin...I agree. I'm working on that too.

I feel safe letting you all in on the fact that I am human and I still sin.....alot!!! I guess I was a little too quick on the draw on trusting you folks with that fact.

You can insult me on this thread all you wish if it in any way makes you feel better about who you are....I can take it. Actually, I'm quite used to this kind of reaction to me....see siggy line below.

This is, after all, merely a guest house that I visit. Not mine at all.

ETA: There seems to be a general consensus among nonbelievers and even Christians that, when one talks about a ministry they wish to start or how they are trying to put Christianity into action, that this is somehow bragging about how "good" a Christian one is. That may be the case for folks that you know....I just do not know.

For me? Talking about those things with my friends is the same as trusting them with the fact that I need to work on my spiritual maturity. Telling them that I am trying to do what Christ wanted Christians to do is not bragging to me....it's merely telling about the new skills I wish to learn and then share with others. Spiritual skills. It is admitting that I have spent many years expecting God to make me happy and to give me what I felt like I needed in this life. That I've prayed and begged God to just help me!!! Help me pay the bills. Help me find a friend. Help me provide for my family. Help me not to lose my house or get the utilities turned off.

Lately I've realized that God wants a relationship with us and this can't happen when it's all one-sided. God can't be continually giving me everything I feel I need in this life, even though he has the power to do so. He already gave His Son to cover my sins...what more could I need?

Soooooooo....I've decided to give away the things I always wanted and try to find out what God wants of me. What work has He shaped me for? What can I do to help Him during my time here on Earth. In other words, what have I done for Him lately?

If talking of this seems to be bragging about what a good little Christian I am, then either my communication skills are rusty or some of you only see what you wish to see. I'm sorry for that.

 

[Up-the-Creek]

Okay Bee,..I get it. Its been nice.

 

[Blackbird]

 

[Occamstazer]

I also think there is a difference in judging and condemning.
Any observation or opinion a person has is a judgement. You're not saying anyone is a bad person.
I think kind, non-pushy guidance like what you're describing is the key to making positive change.
There are many things I've learned to do that would simply have never occurred to me before someone suggested them.
I don't think talking about your ministry is bragging in any way. Should we all wear hairshirts and ramble about what terrible, broken down sinners we are? No, of course not. I know, deep down, that we all are meant to be happy, and that finding out our paths is the key to this. I also think that we each have gifts that we can share with others, or even that we are almost obligated to share them.
If some aspect of what you're doing brings you joy, by all means spread that stuff around! It's not a finite resource

 

[dragonlaurel]

Thank you! You don't know how much I wish some of you gals lived closer to me. After I read the part about fellowship and how important it is, I kept wishing for like-minded folks with which to worship and fellowship.

But then, the book also says that God provides us these little hurdles so that we can learn. I just kind of shy away from fellowship with the women in my church because we have absolutely nothing in common....except God. That should be enough, don't you think? I'm just scared of rejection, I guess. :/

Gotta surrender and obey God's wishes, huh? But I still wish you were my neighbor ladies!!!

So....I don't sound nutty about the ministry? I think I caught the Bat rolling her eyes when I told her...not sure.....

It didn't sound nutty to me. I'm not the same religion but I still believe that things happen for a reason. All your experiences taught you these skills and those skills can help you and others.

You also have a great ability to entertain while telling true stories, that can teach people how to do things they may need to. Knowledge is supposed to be passed along to others. Some people CANT learn from dry technical writing. They need to have the info sneak in wrapped up in a funny or touching story so boredom doesn't make them tune out. Your books will be be great for them.

 

[kcsunshine]

I'm so happy y'all kissed and made up. I got upset last night and had to go to bed.