Upgrade!! – upgrade!! – upgrade!!

[oppositeman]

Upgrade what?

Your electronics or your wardrobe or any number of ways we selfishly pamper ourselves?

Stop wasting your money on things that will, in a short time, lose their “new” appeal and end up in you “bottomless toy chest” (just remember all that “stuff” that seemed so necessary – in your closets, basement, attic, and garage and even rented storage space). Use the Holy Wisdom God has gifted you with and do something that will make Father, Jesus, and you smile. Put your money to work UPGRADING a sisters or brothers life.

ONE EXAMPLE:

A Christian mother with a 13 yr. old knows how to make clothing – but she doesn’t have the start-up money to begin a business. They existed by being street beggars. The mini-project began by having them confessing their sins regularly, attending church on Sunday, and praying every day. After several weeks God “Put them in business”. By giving them a few hundred dollars she will be able to set up her business and with the profits she can care for herself and her child, he will be able to return to school, which he loves; their self-esteem skyrockets and they can’t stop praising and thanking God for His help. God has fulfilled His promise – be faithful to Me and I will care for you as a loving mother cares for her newborn baby.

So, what will it be? Let’s all give Father and Jesus a big “YES!!!”

fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10731072_1539861546297618_6295167360649459423_n.jpg?oh=01bcd1ec437e7cec3b60a229fa77de03&oe=5564D6C2&gda=1432596987_58068922b226fd593a4a9f1a9bd83f80

 

[ClearWater]

oppositeman;12705845**:

Upgrade what?

Your electronics or your wardrobe or any number of ways we selfishly pamper ourselves?

Stop wasting your money on things that will, in a short time, lose their “new” appeal and end up in you “bottomless toy chest”

(just remember all that “stuff” that seemed so necessary – in your closets, basement, attic, and garage and even rented storage space). Use the Holy Wisdom God has gifted you with and do something that will make Father, Jesus, and you smile. Put your money to work UPGRADING a sisters or brothers life.

ONE EXAMPLE:

A Christian mother with a 13 yr. old knows how to make clothing – but she doesn’t have the start-up money to begin a business. They existed by being street beggars. The mini-project began by having them confessing their sins regularly, attending church on Sunday, and praying every day. After several weeks God “Put them in business”. By giving them a few hundred dollars she will be able to set up her business and with the profits she can care for herself and her child, he will be able to return to school, which he loves; their self-esteem skyrockets and they can’t stop praising and thanking God for His help. God has fulfilled His promise – be faithful to Me and I will care for you as a loving mother cares for her newborn baby.

So, what will it be? Let’s all give Father and Jesus a big “YES!!!”

fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10731072_1539861546297618_6295167360649459423_n.jpg?oh=01bcd1ec437e7cec3b60a229fa77de03&oe=5564D6C2&gda=1432596987_58068922b226fd593a4a9f1a9bd83f80

It depends on the circumstances.

We need to take care of ourselves, first, selfish as they may sound. Then, if we can, we can give to a charity.

Some good ones are ones that teach a person to fish, rather than giving the fish, (where possible).

 

[oppositeman]

It depends on the circumstances.

We need to take care of ourselves, first, selfish as they may sound. Then, if we can, we can give to a charity.

Some good ones are ones that teach a person to fish, rather than giving the fish, (where possible).

I think Jesus would say “if you want it but it’s not necessary to your basic needs, then give it up for the sake of the Kingdom” - it’s very difficult to let go of all selfishness however whatever progress we can make helps us become more Christlike and benefits others - which are roots of Christianity.

 

[ClearWater]

I think Jesus would say “if you want it but it’s not necessary to your basic needs, then give it up for the sake of the Kingdom” - it’s very difficult to let go of all selfishness however whatever progress we can make helps us become more Christlike and benefits others - which are roots of Christianity.

I tried that, before, for a time, was often miserable.

 

[oppositeman]

I tried that, before, for a time, was often miserable.

I know what you are saying - I think it’s because we are not willing to give up our selfishness totally - and so there is this battle going on between what God wants us to become, which is a copy of His Son Jesus, and what we want for ourselves - they are totally at odds with each other and so this battle makes us miserable. I try to focus on all the good God can do through me for others as I give up my selfishness - it’s a process that can take a long time - the Saints were able to do this - fuse themselves totally to God’s will in which there is obviously no self present.

 

[mikekle]

Some of this is the fault of the consumer, but I think some of the blame is on the big retailers and marketers too, they are the ones peddling their junk to as many people as they can get to buy it…I think God probably does hold these kind of people somewhat responsible for their actions when they die, as well as the consumer, who feels they MUST buy all this useless junk, mainly because its currently popular, everyone else has them, etc.

I think people in modern times have sort of lost the ability to spot junk…people that sold useless junk used to be called snake oil salesmen, people were tricked by them for awhile, but eventually most people caught on to their game, the problem today is their ‘game’ has gotten very good, even if the product is truly worthless, if it is marketed right, lots of people will still buy it…?? Plus, alot of products today are ‘snake oil’, in that they dont actually do what is claimed in the ads, this was rampant in the old days, but again, marketers and ad men have sharpened their skills, consumers havent caught on yet it seems LOL.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

We need to take care of ourselves, first, selfish as they may sound. Then, if we can, we can give to a charity.

This is a good point. As they say on airline safety instructions, “be sure to adjust your own (oxygen) mask before helping others”

 

[oppositeman]

This is a good point. As they say on airline safety instructions, “be sure to adjust your own (oxygen) mask before helping others”

well - whatever it means to a person to “take care of themselves” is a statement that the human mind can rationalize - which of course satan will help you with - I think we just need to think of it in terms of spiritual growth - learning to do with less is something you can achieve, with grace, over time - this allows funds to be available to help others - we are our brothers keeper.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

well - whatever it means to a person to “take care of themselves” is a statement that the human mind can rationalize - which of course satan will help you with - I think we just need to think of it in terms of spiritual growth - learning to do with less is something you can achieve, with grace, over time - this allows funds to be available to help others - we are our brothers keeper.

I appreciate the concern, but for my part I was not talking about rationalizing at all. I’m talking about the fact that the blind cannot lead the blind. If I fail to take care of myself because “eye care is not required for me to live,” then I lose my ability to help others. I understand you are discussing “beyond basic needs” which is kind of what Jesus did in the desert. Denied Himself all needs even to the point of threatening survival needs.

That said, He did eat and drink when He was actually doing His ministry.

 

[oppositeman]

I appreciate the concern, but for my part I was not talking about rationalizing at all. I’m talking about the fact that the blind cannot lead the blind. If I fail to take care of myself because “eye care is not required for me to live,” then I lose my ability to help others. I understand you are discussing “beyond basic needs” which is kind of what Jesus did in the desert. Denied Himself all needs even to the point of threatening survival needs.

That said, He did eat and drink when He was actually doing His ministry.

for almost all of us we aren’t called to that extreme - but I think Jesus wants us to move in that direction - it’s just that what some people call a necessity is really not at all - is it really necessary to have thousands of dollars in the bank? If you trust Jesus and do what we are called to do then no - it’s excessive - it’s false worldly security - and anyway a few hundred dollars to help a brother/sister start a business is not going to break a person - the pharisees gave from their excess while the poor woman gave more because she gave what she had and trusted Jesus to care for her.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

for almost all of us we aren’t called to that extreme - but I think Jesus wants us to move in that direction - it’s just that what some people call a necessity is really not at all - is it really necessary to have thousands of dollars in the bank? If you trust Jesus and do what we are called to do then no - it’s excessive - it’s false worldly security - and anyway a few hundred dollars to help a brother/sister start a business is not going to break a person - the pharisees gave from their excess while the poor woman gave more because she gave what she had and trusted Jesus to care for her.

Yes, I can agree with you, given the way you explain it here.

It really can be very tricky I know, and personally I got to at least “taste” the fear of poverty myself due to disability while trying to raise kids – the “price of the field” of a couple million dollars lost wages was nothing compared to the treasure the Lord had in store during that “Dark Night” experience, also accentuated with lots of weirdness and psychosis. So end result, I got the upgrade of my life and my eyes were opened into the kingdom, but I never would have chosen it. I had a lucrative career and only the spookiest and scariest of events that put me into this “dark night” were driving me mad – turns out that was just the clash between the world and my faith. The Dark Night is over now.

Sure one year we didn’t have a furnace for a few months until our in-laws bought it – that was the summer after the house burned down btw so at least we had heat upstairs and everybody slept in one room, but we had water and electricity with almost no interruptions. I was going bonkers working for the parish and working on the diocesan Synod, and frankly if someone said, “just quit your career after 20 years and get yourself locked up in a nuthouse and I’ll meet you on the Other Side,” I would have walked away like the rich man walked sadly away from Jesus.

 

[oppositeman]

Yes, I can agree with you, given the way you explain it here.

It really can be very tricky I know, and personally I got to at least “taste” the fear of poverty myself due to disability while trying to raise kids – the “price of the field” of a couple million dollars lost wages was nothing compared to the treasure the Lord had in store during that “Dark Night” experience, also accentuated with lots of weirdness and psychosis. So end result, I got the upgrade of my life and my eyes were opened into the kingdom, but I never would have chosen it. I had a lucrative career and only the spookiest and scariest of events that put me into this “dark night” were driving me mad – turns out that was just the clash between the world and my faith. The Dark Night is over now.

Sure one year we didn’t have a furnace for a few months until our in-laws bought it – that was the summer after the house burned down btw so at least we had heat upstairs and everybody slept in one room, but we had water and electricity with almost no interruptions. I was going bonkers working for the parish and working on the diocesan Synod, and frankly if someone said, “just quit your career after 20 years and get yourself locked up in a nuthouse and I’ll meet you on the Other Side,” I would have walked away like the rich man walked sadly away from Jesus.

it’s great once you are on the other side of it - one becomes very thankful - but of course it’s a very series of experiences - I’m glad you are where you are now and I am sure you would never go back to your previous life. So let us both move forward in faith and trust and bring God many lost souls !!!