^ you're reading too much into my post, dave. i know there are people out there. i'm talking about this somewhat common notion that 1 event is somehow going to magically change everything and then it's smoooooth sailing.
you know the attitude, "if ONLY we could get in to open up for tiesto: it'd change the world!"
guess what? andy hunter did just that for an entire tour. he affected
individual lives by his countenance AND the Spirit working through him.
I've seen God show up huge at events. I've seen him melt hearts. I've seen Him change drug addicts & hardened church kids alike. I've seen people so convicted they have to leave... What I've never seen Him do is force Himself on an entire crowd at (for instance) Love Parade who don't want to accept it. (or that irresistable grace hasn't come to yet for you calvanists ;-)
There's an issue of freewill here that can't be discussed in depth without violating the terms of the board.
i think people expect God to "smite all the sinners" at a 10,000 person rave if someone like andy hunter shows up, and that's not how God works. if He does, remind me not to go to that rave, because like Paul, Im the chief among sinners.
i have an honest question for you: where is this in the bible? "cast down but not defeated".
i know that line is in a worhip song. i tried looking it up in the bible,but can't find it. (yes, i'm honestly curious, and not being a wise guy.)
FYI, Davo, the song is "Trading My Sorrows":
I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
Chorus:
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning
It's based on 2 Corinthians 4:8-9:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
ya, i know the song...we sing it.
thanks. biblegateway.com stinks for looking up stuff if you don't have the EXACT words.
have you read this in context? It's Paul speaking here. He was threatened with death,was beaten,jailed,shipwrecked,etc etc all for the Gospel.
Currently, any Christian under sharia law can (and have been) put to death for converting.
I honestly don't know anyone's situation,but Americans who like to quote this verse because they can't get a close parking spot at the mall need to rethink their theology. I'm in this boat too, so i'm not just pointing fingers.
there's being persecuted for the gospel's sake, and then there's being a whiney baby... us americans do wayy too much of the latter and experience little of the former.
