Re: Making money from Java


Thanks for posting that, Chuck.

I was surprised to find a great deal of congruence in our positions.

Some comments below...

"Chuck Stevens" <charles.stevens@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:do71lt$1jnq$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
<snip>
> And having lived with condemnation all my life, I am now at the point
> where I do the best I can from day to day to keep my thoughts and my
> actions focused toward my understanding of proper attitude and behavior,
> and am prepared to face my Maker and His judgment of my strengths, my
> weaknesses, my understanding, my misunderstandings, my accomplishments and
> my transgressions.

I was sorry to see the opening clause; you have obviously recovered well and
are dealing with it.

I was fortunate enough to have been raised in a close, loving, family where
I received encouragement and direction, rather than condemnation. (I realise
how lucky this was, and never take the love and wisdom of my parents (now
both departed) for granted.)

Like you, I also do the best I can. The only difference is our motivations,
and I don't think yours is "wrong". (It is wrong for me, but that's OK...)

Like you, I will be happy to give account at "God's great Judgement seat"
(Kipling) if required to. (However, I don't expect to have to, so it has no
bearing whatsoever on my behaviour in this life.)

> What the outcome will be is whatever the outcome will be at the time; I
> don't focus on either the reward or the punishment, only in doing the best
> I can to stay in alignment with what I believe God's will for me to be on
> a daily basis, not out of fear but out of love.

The only difference here is our motivation. The results are the same.You
behave well through love of God; I do so through love of Man. I want a
better world. (I'm sure you do too...)
..
> Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't, and when I don't, I regret it and
> work to avoid it, again, out of love, not out of fear.

Slight difference here... I won't entertain shame, blame or regret. I see
them as wasted emotions. When I screw up, I do everything I can to make it
right. Take responsibility for what I did, do whatever I can to fix it and
that's it. Move on, no grudges held, no recriminations, accusations,
criticisms. I see no point in regretting what cannot be changed; learn from
it. For the same reason I see no point in assigning blame (and I covered
that at length in the "Management wars" thread here.) And shame is OK as a
learning aid, but should not be revelled in... :-)) I work to fix things and
learn from mistakes because it makes me a better person and helps me grow.
Not because it is what God wants. But I do not dismiss ANY motivation that
leads to better behaviour from someone.


>Whether that's good enough for God the Father is up to Him, and I'm willing
>to accept what comes, be that eternal bliss, eternal torture, eternal
>oblivion, or anything else.

Wow! That is a lot closer to my position than I would expect from a
committed Christian...:-) My respect for you grows.


> And yes, I rely on Jesus in the process. I do not believe that reliance
> is in vain because of my position on "sola fide".
>

Neither do I. If there is any justice in the Christian position I believe
you will be fine... :-)

Pete.



.

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