Posted by MD on 5/8/2002, 7:52 pm

Living in the past? [Part 2] Posted by Marvin on 12/25/2001, 12:35 am , in reply to "Living in the past?" It reminds me of something that is told about in Exodus. (Chapter 16, verses 32 to 34 [NIV]): “Moses said, ‘This is what the Lord has commanded: “Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt”.’ So Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.’ As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna in front of the Testimony, that it might be kept.” Why were they commanded to keep the sampling of manna in the golden jar? So that in later generations, they could open it up, take the manna out and show it to the newer generations, so they could also be edified in seeing what God did for those before them. And not only that, but those who were there themselves in the long trek up from Egypt who received the manna from God and lived on it during that time, they could also be reminded of that epoch in their lives, all the things God did for them then, and could have their praises to him renewed as a result of seeing it again. And obviously that’s what God would like for us to do with our New Testament manna as well. It’s kept in a golden jar (Hebrews 9:4). That means God is the one who keeps it, not us. That means from time to time we can go to him to ask him to show us the manna again, and when he does, we can share it with our brothers—and I mean we can even do that here on this board—so that our praises to him can be renewed again and again, remembering all the good things he did for us in days past. And that does not by any means mean not to have a life in the present as well. “But what about what God is doing today?” you ask. As far as what he may be doing today, that’s fine and wonderful. But to forget the great things he did for us in times past is to deprive ourselves of part of the blessings he gave us the ability to have and to enjoy—and this ability he gave us, he intended for us to take full advantage of. As for myself, I don’t think I ever want to hear that criticism voiced by anybody again: “Those people are living in the past.” No brother, by forgetting about it all, you’re the one who’s missing out on some of the blessings that God wants you to have and remember—and continually have your life with him renewed by. And if you’re content with your present life so much that you don’t want to remember anything God did for you in the past, then fine, that’s your business. But if that’s the case, then what are you doing on this board in the first place? At least don’t try to rob us of it, all right? I don’t know specifically who I’m talking to, but I have heard that this has been said. A little ways down, some were telling Dave how they thought God’s hand was on him to begin this board. I want to reiterate that I think so too. When I first started reading it, I still had something of the Barnett mentality in me, that there should be one “right” viewpoint that prevails, and all opposing viewpoints should be dictatorially squelched. At first it used to bother me to see some of the opposing viewpoints being posted here. If I had been the one who had started this board, you can bet I would have deleted a lot of messages that Dave let stand. I think a lot of other people would have too. In just the last two years reading it and posting on it, I’ve learned a little something positive about “agreeing to disagree” and holding peace with your brothers when you disagree with them about things. I think Dave’s done an excellent job of being the arbiter here, a better job than I would have done. Well, I say let us use this medium on the Internet that God has graciously provided for us, and though we live thousands of miles apart from one another (in my case overseas even), get together and enjoy with our Maker and with one another all these good things when it is within our ability to do so. Marvin ---------- Great posting, Marvin. Merry Christmas to you and yours! (n/t) Posted by Steve B. on 12/25/2001, 7:50 am , in reply to "Living in the past? [Part 2]" ---------- Thanks, Steve Posted by Marvin on 12/27/2001, 8:27 pm I looked at the picture you posted below, but I didn’t recognize you, even though we were at Chapel at the same time for a number of years. I don’t think I’ve ever met you in person; I think we’ve only met on this board, like in that little debate we had a little while back about the Lutheran Church and passions.... A while ago I saw a TV commercial that made me remember it. It was advertising a brand of chocolate bars imported from Switzerland. In the commercial, there was a young Swiss couple out on a date, seated in a restaurant, and their conversation was going something like: “Oh yes, I’ve ridden that one. But I’ve found that the westbound that leaves Geneva at 8:45 is more efficient, because it arrives sooner.” “Really? I wasn’t aware of it. I certainly must try it.” Apparantly it was parodying Swiss culture and their idea of what would be a romantic subject for a young couple to talk about on their date: train schedules and getting places on time. Then he offers her the chocolate, and she calmly displays some stoic interest in it. Then it breaks to a close-up of the chocolate bar, with the narrator praising its good taste and saying, “If it has such an effect on the Swiss, imagine what it will do in our Latin countries.” Then back to the young couple in the restaurant. The young man croons, “Oh, I am overcome with passion.” “Oh,” she replies, “I am too.” She daintily holds out her hand to him. He takes it in his and gently shakes it. End of commercial. I remember one time Don Barnett was saying from the pulpit, “Kristian Erickson says the trains in Switzerland...” looking at his watch and moving his index finger rhythmically “...are all right, because they’re always... right on time. But,” adding with an irritated look and tone of voice, “in Italy, he says, they’re ALWAYS late!” And everybody laughed. That was Chapel’s prevailing viewpoint and humor on that subject: Switzerland, swiss watches, punctual trains, and, implicitly, God’s favor on Switzerland and its culture—and his divine displeasure—correlated, as we would learn to perceive, with Don’s displeasure—with those other, passionate, cultures in the world and their time-inefficiency.... ...So here’s just a little friendly humor for a change from the opposing viewpoint (which probably wouldn’t have been allowed from the pulpit at Chapel). (Though the agency that thought it up was probably a local advertising agency, the company it was advertising for was Swiss. Apparantly they had a sense of humor, because they approved its release in the countries it was aimed at.) Take care. Marvin ---------- Thanks Marvins, for helping me to "remember to remember" N/T Posted by Patrick on 1/6/2002, 11:12 am , in reply to "Living in the past? [Part 2]"