Exactly.
Brad
At 01/06/2004 on Tuesday, you wrote:
>If I understand what you said, Brad, I think you're talking about
>motivation, right?
>
>If so, that's something to consider when praying in public and quote
>blessing unquote others whether they want it or not. Smile. It's kind of
>like the horror stories we all know of blind folks being grabbed in the
>parking lot by folks determined to heal them. The need to make a point
>(even if it's a valid one) might do nothing but turn off those we're trying
>to be a blessing to and have no result but having them avoid us from then on
>and closing off to whatever else we say. Even if we had the power to bless
>or heal, the gifts are under the power of the person who is given the gift
>and there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to dispense them.
>
>Paul
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "BD" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 11:00 AM
>Subject: Re: Blessing
>
>
> > OK. Now this is in part, the ritualistic traditions I was talking about.
> > Did Helen, a woman with a heart towards god and loving others, violate God
> > by bidding a blessing upon fellow believers as a believer with these
> > words? Are these words then seen as a holy copyright , that the words
> > themselves can only be uttered by a priest these days? Or are they honored
> > by God and glorify God in bidding a peaceful blessing upon fellow
> > believers? Would I then, in the same respect be violating the same
> > principle if when witnessing a sneeze and say "Oh bless you"? I am a firm
> > believer that examples and etc. of the Old Testament are for our learning
> > and to utilize what God would have us in glorifying him and living as a
> > godly person, but we aren't slaughtering animals anymore we ain't ringing
> > heads off birds because we did such and such, we aren't laying our sins
> > upon a goat and setting him free to be the appropriation for those
> > sins. What of the Old Testament rituals are actually pertinent today.
> > Many times we perform them, to honor God, to remember what he did for us,
> > and that is why they did some of the festivals we talked of yesterday. But
> > their wasn't any sparks coming from the preachers hands at the last
> > Lutheran service I attended a few weeks back when he administered that
> > blessing upon us. How many of us find ourselves working laboriously on the
> > Sabbath? I'm not suggesting because we fail to honor a certain ritual that
> > we toss them all out, I'm saying that what good is a ritual if the heart
>is
> > not behind it, or if it is done out of strictly ritual yet perhaps not
> > required anymore. Hebrews says that in days past God spoke to us through
> > his prophets and now through his son Jesus Christ, is it not
> > then dishonoring and disrespecting him by continuing to try to
>communicate
> > through prophets, or anyone else for that matter and not through Jesus ,
> > through the Word? In fact to God directly. Does he not do same even now to
> > us in return? Similar is this issue of blessing? Or are we in fact in
> > terrible trouble out of ignorance of the power and usage of such a
>blessing
> > upon others by our unpriestly selfs? I understand what and why they did
> > back then, but what are we to do now then? Are we in fact to carry these
> > traditions and rituals out? Are we to let them for those wearing kingly
> > robes? Are we to not do them anymore by anyone? When I listened to the
> > pastor at the Lutheran church over Christmas service, and he gave that
> > blessing, it was not a meaningless blessing. I felt his sincerity, and I
> > truly felt blessed in his sincerity and care for his flock he has been
> > charged as overseer, and myself as guest. I'd feel the same if anyone else
> > was just as sincere and said that to us walking out their door. I stood
> > once in a parking lot after dining with a couple who were attending a
>Bible
> > college. The lady proceeded to sing a blessing upon us. Well first it was
> > announced she would do this, and her companion at the time seemed a bit
> > embarrassed as he said... "She always does this for people". She did her
> > thing and we left. I felt a bit bad for the girl as I felt she embarrassed
> > her friend and herself, well she wasn't aware we felt embarrassed for her
> > actually. We didn't feel that way because of the words or even the
>gesture,
> > but it was clearly a vehicle for a self appointed signature in departing
> > from a night of fellowship or something. It appeared as though she was
> > trying to make herself known about the land that singing a blessing was
>her
> > exit from the presence of others. And I have to, Kathy, type it out
>because
> > I'm thinking it lol. There was a MASH episode in which an disliked Colonel
> > Flag, who always desired to be a mysterious CIA agent, but yet he was
> > extremely transparent and obnoxious, decided that his signature was to
>have
> > everyone close their eyes and he'd exit unseen. That was his mark to leave
> > a job and not be seen. They closed their eyes and he jumped out a window,
> > fell out, and broke his leg. This is what I felt this person did singing
>in
> > the parking lot. It was a false reason for doing what she did. I tried to
> > not think this way for I was condemning myself for judging but it was a
> > discernment of a truthful heart which came from my heart and not my head.
>I
> > am not anti-ritualistic or tradition, I think they are great if meaning
> > full, and if God desires them we ought then readjust our hearts to return
> > them to our way of life. But if not, then not.
> >
> > Brad
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