Comments for The Deliberate Ruminator

Comment on My Journal by tree63fan

tree63fan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:42:47 +0000

I feel good. I’m not perfect but I feel good. This week has had it’s ups and downs, but one positive I thank God for is my desire and tenacity toward losing weight. I’ve lost over 7 lbs the last 18 days! On my mind is my wife and her dealing with work stress. I’m not sure what more I can do to help be supportive. When I’ve spent time in the Bible its been deep and meaningful. Prayer has been short and less meaningful. Time with Camden has been a blessing. I made some conscience decisions this past week or so that were much better ways of handling recurring life with a 6 year old. :)

Comment on My Journal by tree63fan

tree63fan — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:07:06 +0000

Well, I’ve been challenged in several ways recently. Whether it’s 3 or more things going wrong all at the same time, or not handling my son pushing my buttons at times, I’ve been able to see how I SHOULD have responded in the end. I been able to talk to my son and explain how I was wrong and what I should have done.
In the end, blessed be the name of the Lord in GOOD times and in BAD.
On another note…we will always have the poor, at what level does God expect me to help? I could spend all I have, or feed someone a meal, what would you have me do Lord?

Comment on Why wait till day 8 to Circumcise? by tree63fan

tree63fan — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:38:16 +0000

Culturally, psychologically and medically, there are many arguments for and against circumcision. In the end, it’s a parental decision, much like getting vaccinations or minor surgeries like tubes in the ears. I disagree there is any “attacking” or even overt violence associated with the procedure now. I have a 6 year old and have made the decision for him long ago.
I would say that if a law of some type was passed banning this practice, then most adults would choose to NOT have the procedure due to pain and the memory of that pain. I had my tonsils out at 35 and wish I had had them out at a young age. It was tough.

Comment on Why wait till day 8 to Circumcise? by gregvalcourt

gregvalcourt — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:39:57 +0000

How about waiting until the boy is oldest to decide for himself before attacking his genitals with a blade?

Comment on Prayer Place by tree63fan

tree63fan — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:03:52 +0000

Latest Update from email:

I apologies for not reporting to you earlier.

Gabriel is in what is called, as the “recovery mode”.

We got the results of his last blood test last week and his blood cell counts are satisfactory and improving. His alpha feto protein count is down to 3.5, remember that 0 – 10 is healthy. We are so great full for Jesus’ blessing.

He will have more tests in Nov. in Orillia and in Dec he goes to Sick Kids for more detailed tests to see if he is still clear of cancer.

If the results are satisfactory in Dec. he will be scheduled to have his port removed.

His hair is starting to return. It is like peach fuzz now. Since it is blonde it is hard to see.

Thank you for your prayers and loving concern for us during our journey this year with Gabriel. Simon is enjoying grade 1 and Maylah is 4 MOS old and jabbering away and giving us lots of smiles and cuddles.

We so appreciate you and thank our Lord Jesus for you.

Comment on My Journal by tree63fan

tree63fan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:43:09 +0000

Hey, I’m healthy again! I had a very interesting experience on Monday helping out some people living out of a hotel. We drove them around to help them take care of some Social Security needs and visit some other government offices. We feed them lunch since they hadn’t eaten anything of substance for several days. It was a reminder that most people in this world can’t just eat when they want to nor simply DO what they want to. I’m spoiled, anyone reading this is most likely spoiled (since you have access to a computer). I’m trying to discern what God would have me to specifically do regarding the hotel situation so many people find themselves stuck in currently. Many have no transportation, so going to food pantries or distribution centers is not an option…I learned that is doesn’t take much to go from a stable situation to almost on the street.

Comment on What’s in a Commandment? #8 by tree63fan

tree63fan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:35:53 +0000

So what you are saying is that you believe that someone is only guilty while they are in the act of breaking the law or maybe until they have “paid their debt to society”, etc?

The contention is that if you have broken the law, you are a lawbreaker until you have paid the fine. From your perspective, you are absolutely justified in making these remarks. From the Christian’s perspective, the Bible speaks of our spiritual souls which will be judged one day (and being judged in a human court is not spiritual).

I think that clarifies our differences. Thanks for the comment, as always!

Comment on What’s in a Commandment? #8 by morsec0de

morsec0de — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:41:25 +0000

“Once a thief, always a thief”

Incorrect.

I mean, I understand why Christianity says this. If they acknowledged the fact that humans could reform or learn from mistakes, who would need the Christian ’solution’?

But that sort of absolutist thinking is ridiculous. And straight out of Ray Comfort’s ‘good person’ test. Which isn’t, interestingly enough, a good person test. It’s a “perfect-follower-of-these-particular-rules” person test.

You can see how that absolutism fails by looking at the opposite: Once a truth-teller, always a truth-teller.

Or perhaps not.

Comment on My Journal by tree63fan

tree63fan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:53:47 +0000

I started teaching a new Building a Foundation class as well as taken on some additional duties in our Foundation Coaching ministry. I’m excited about all this. I can feel God strongly on Sunday’s and as the week goes by, I long for Sunday to come again. Why can’t I seem to keep God close by all week long?
The week has been good…but I’ve been sick, so going out in the chilly weather to do yard-work hasn’t been a priority. I must say though that being sick has made me desire to cook soup and chili, so that has been yummy.
Bible time has existed, and I’ve been hit with several things to write about in this blog. I got on of them out today, the “Open Letter to the Christian”. It stems from the sermon I heard on Sunday.

Comment on Open Letter to the Christian by tree63fan

tree63fan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:14:28 +0000

Thanks Tom,
Hey, it’s not my line to steal, so have at it! I think the answer to your last question on how to get non-believers to understand is to point them to Penn’s Youtube video. It’s often best and easiest to hear it from a fellow non-believer. Blessings!

Comment on Open Letter to the Christian by Tom

Tom — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:42:31 +0000

Thanks for this reminder. I’ll be the first to admit that throughout my Christian life, I haven’t shared the Gospel as much as I should have. That is something that I have constantly been striving to change. I think that this statement here, is something that everything Christian should stick on their front door, so that they can read it whenever they live the house:

If you truly believe that someone is going to hell, how can you not tell them about it?

I may have to steal that from you. I know it hit me between the eyes, especially since I do believe that I am going to heaven and have the only true words of life. Thanks again.

Now, the next step is to get non-Christians to understand that this is how Christians view the world when we evangelize; it’s a life or death situation! We’re not trying to “push/force our faith” onto others as I seen said so often.

Comment on What’s in a Commandment? #6 by tree63fan

tree63fan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:02:23 +0000

Yes, I thought you may clarify that after rereading what I wrote last night. Seems like I know you pretty well now! Please accept my apology for misrepresenting your thoughts and not clearly explaining myself.

Comment on What’s in a Commandment? #7 by tree63fan

tree63fan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:59:12 +0000

According to the Bible, God wrote the commandments on stone tablets. There were two sets created, the second after Moses threw and broke the original set as he looked in shock and anger at what the Israelites were doing upon his return from the mountain top.

Exodus 31:18 When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

Exodus 32:15-16 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

Exodus 32:19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.

Exodus 34:1 The LORD said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.

Perez, I hope that helps!

Comment on What’s in a Commandment? #7 by tree63fan

tree63fan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:50:03 +0000

We can attempt to read into it further, but in the end all we have is “if you have looked”…

Comment on What’s in a Commandment? #7 by ketch22

ketch22 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:58:21 +0000

I wonder if Jesus was referring to another married woman and/or if you are married… I look at my wife with lust… of course it is surrounded by love… or is that lust? I don’t know… I just know I didn’t love her at first and I had some lustful thoughts of her before love fully bloomed.