A
When I first came on this site, I was stoked. A site where believers don't have to constantly defend the gospel against nonbelievers. They could actually enjoy fellowship in peace. If you've never searched the web for such a place like that, you don't know how rare that is. I never got to talk to Christians because I was constantly responding to haters.
Now, I'm not so starry-eyed to think that meant we'd all be in pure agreement. I'm a non-millienialist, non-Revelation-tells-the-future, rootin'-tootin' Calvinist, so you can see where what I believe isn't going to jive with what most beieve. BUT we're all supposed to be believers. ONE clique! One goal! God.
I'm also absolutely terrible at playing sports. I have never hit a baseball and made it go forward. (I've hit them on a rare occasion, but they always landed behind me. lol) I have never caught a football (of any kind) during a sand lot game. I didn't make it into JV girls basketball (and I was 5'11" and could throw a ball into the basket anywhere in half court 95% of the time... just as long as someone wasn't trying to take the ball away from me or trying to stop me.) And, my record for bowling -- both good and bad -- happened on the same day.
I'm thrilled for that day in bowling. I was bowling against someone else, but don't have any idea how well she did that day, even on that day. (I do assume she beat me. lol) I'm competing against me! I'm not competitive when it comes to sports or God. Especially God. Anyone who wants him can have him. The more the merrier. To me, it's the same desire behind the effort. I want to get better at this. I do. I won't ever be apostle good. I probably won't be as good as half the people on this board. For all I know, I may not be as good as anyone else on this board, but I thought this was about encouraging each other.
I thought it was about seeing ourselves for who we really are, and trying to get better than that. I thought it was about God helping us to do that.
What's entirely discouraging is I look up from what I'm doing occasionally only to see cliques arguing with anyone who might not be one of them. I mean it's to the point it only needs a "might not" before the pouncing. Reminds me of basketball. I like basketball, but if the ball (opinion) is more important than the goal (to persevere to the end aiming right for the goal), then what is the point? (Also why I stunk at basketball. If you want the ball that badly, I'll give it to you. Apparently, that's not a good trait in basketball. lol)
And what's annoying is how many people keep thinking I'm on their side or against them simply because I agree or disagree with one of their points.
Not even. I'm trying to get better myself. I'm not good enough. I never will be. I get that. I've played sports poorly, and enjoyed it anyway. I thought we were here for God. To get better more than force others into believing exactly like us, but to let them know if their thought isn't in accord with God's word. I thought this was a marathon and we're all trying to cross the finish line together not race against each other and scream at those of us who can't run if our lives depended on it. (Oops. Forgot to mention. My best score for the 50 yard sprint was 13.9 seconds. That was back when I was FAST. lol) I thought if a bro wasn't getting something, we show them, or stay with them so we go through it together.
What's wrong with bowling, but not ever hitting 150, once more 300? What's wrong with enjoying God together without ever agreeing on how the world continues? And what is wrong that most of this seems intent on "I'm better than you?"
Can we just stop accusing and get back to God is better than any of us? He is, you know. How about him being the goal and we try and get there together again?
BTW, the day I hit my best record in bowling? My first game I got a 141. The second game I got a 41. I learned I had to try better, so I'm not saying I'm always getting better. Just asking that we try together.
Now, I'm not so starry-eyed to think that meant we'd all be in pure agreement. I'm a non-millienialist, non-Revelation-tells-the-future, rootin'-tootin' Calvinist, so you can see where what I believe isn't going to jive with what most beieve. BUT we're all supposed to be believers. ONE clique! One goal! God.
I'm also absolutely terrible at playing sports. I have never hit a baseball and made it go forward. (I've hit them on a rare occasion, but they always landed behind me. lol) I have never caught a football (of any kind) during a sand lot game. I didn't make it into JV girls basketball (and I was 5'11" and could throw a ball into the basket anywhere in half court 95% of the time... just as long as someone wasn't trying to take the ball away from me or trying to stop me.) And, my record for bowling -- both good and bad -- happened on the same day.
I'm thrilled for that day in bowling. I was bowling against someone else, but don't have any idea how well she did that day, even on that day. (I do assume she beat me. lol) I'm competing against me! I'm not competitive when it comes to sports or God. Especially God. Anyone who wants him can have him. The more the merrier. To me, it's the same desire behind the effort. I want to get better at this. I do. I won't ever be apostle good. I probably won't be as good as half the people on this board. For all I know, I may not be as good as anyone else on this board, but I thought this was about encouraging each other.
I thought it was about seeing ourselves for who we really are, and trying to get better than that. I thought it was about God helping us to do that.
What's entirely discouraging is I look up from what I'm doing occasionally only to see cliques arguing with anyone who might not be one of them. I mean it's to the point it only needs a "might not" before the pouncing. Reminds me of basketball. I like basketball, but if the ball (opinion) is more important than the goal (to persevere to the end aiming right for the goal), then what is the point? (Also why I stunk at basketball. If you want the ball that badly, I'll give it to you. Apparently, that's not a good trait in basketball. lol)
And what's annoying is how many people keep thinking I'm on their side or against them simply because I agree or disagree with one of their points.
Not even. I'm trying to get better myself. I'm not good enough. I never will be. I get that. I've played sports poorly, and enjoyed it anyway. I thought we were here for God. To get better more than force others into believing exactly like us, but to let them know if their thought isn't in accord with God's word. I thought this was a marathon and we're all trying to cross the finish line together not race against each other and scream at those of us who can't run if our lives depended on it. (Oops. Forgot to mention. My best score for the 50 yard sprint was 13.9 seconds. That was back when I was FAST. lol) I thought if a bro wasn't getting something, we show them, or stay with them so we go through it together.
What's wrong with bowling, but not ever hitting 150, once more 300? What's wrong with enjoying God together without ever agreeing on how the world continues? And what is wrong that most of this seems intent on "I'm better than you?"
Can we just stop accusing and get back to God is better than any of us? He is, you know. How about him being the goal and we try and get there together again?
BTW, the day I hit my best record in bowling? My first game I got a 141. The second game I got a 41. I learned I had to try better, so I'm not saying I'm always getting better. Just asking that we try together.
