Consider this

[Amanah]

Disobedience/mental illness/spiritual destruction

God's people wanted to be like the nations around them, so God gave them a King. Samuel poured the anointing oil over Saul's head and kissed him. So Saul would lead the armies of Israel into battle to destroy their enemies. After a few victories, Saul's heart became lifted up and he forgot his place, he took it upon himself to offer the burnt offering to God, which only a Levite could offer. He thought he could worship God any way he chose, but God is the one who tells us that we must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Saul was supposed to kill the Amalekites in battle because of their brutality (Deut 25:17-19). It was the will of God that the Amalekites would be utterly destroyed, men, women, children and livestock. But Saul took it upon himself to spare the King and the best of the livestock.

Because Saul did not obey the Lord, God rejected him from being king. (1 Sam 15:22-23)

Here is were the story becomes intriguing. Samuel turns from Saul and anoints David to be King of Israel. The anointing leaves Saul and the bible says that an evil spirit begins to trouble Saul. Saul becomes mentally tormented. The only time Saul finds relief from his mental illness is when he is in the presence of David who now has the anointing, and is singing praises to God.

David sings his Psalms in the King's presence and the evil spirit from the Lord leaves Saul for a time.

But Saul spends the rest of his life with a tormenting spirit, murderous thoughts, insane jealousy, and is eventually destroyed. Saul's disobedience led to mental illness that caused a downward spiral that costs Saul his Kingdom, and the lives of Jonathan and himself.

This passage made me ponder how disobedience and rebellion results eventually in the destruction of our very souls.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Amanah

The world from my front door, thank you Jesus for the beauty surrounding me

Nice......

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Amanah

The world from my front door, thank you Jesus for the beauty surrounding me

Very nice! Say, is that Buddha floating in front of that tree?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Frank Viola talks about:

*Why I’m No Longer Involved in “Organic Church” (For Now) & Why You Can’t Find One*

http://frankviola.org/2016/04/21/organicchurch/

Reason 1: While the idea of Christ-centered community is appealing to many, the cost for securing such community is obscenely high. So much so that the masses of 20s, 30s, and 40s prefer to be found in four other places that are far more convenient:

* Neo-Reformed churches.

* Mega churches.

* Liturgical “high church” assemblies.

* No church of any kind. These represent the “Dones” who have washed their hands of any regular gatherings or community-life. It’s lonelier, but far safer.

Reason 2: The word “organic church” has been hijacked to mean 1,001 different things, all of which are radically different. For that reason, I stopped using the term altogether. It’s devolved into a clay word that’s been molded like silly putty into sheer meaninglessness. The fact that the term no longer has a monolithic meaning has added to the disinterest.

The majority of those who are interested in the organic expression of the church right now (whatever they think the term means) are people in their 50s, 60s, and 70s.

And most of them are having a horrible time finding others who are interested in meeting outside institutional lines who live in the same state, let alone the same city.

In addition, when they do contact a group that purports to be “organic,” it’s almost always a small-is-beautiful version of the institutional church. And some of them are highly-legalistic, highly-toxic groups.

Among those interested in organic church who are 50 years old and up, bickering over doctrines and practices — with a good mix of serious personality conflicts sprinkled in — is common. So much so that many who are new to the idea of “organic church” have turned off to the idea by the doctrinal beat downs, personal vilification, mud-slinging, and theological smackdowns among its advocates.

Most of the American "organic church" scene is, indeed, just a bunch of boomers and former hippies looking for cozy therapy over coffee latte. Actually, they don't really even know what they are looking for. A symptom of the growing cultural dementia in our society, sadly.

What people need is Biblical church. Whether they want it or not is another matter. The future belongs to the younger crowd. Hopefully they don't blow it.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Very nice! Say, is that Buddha floating in front of that tree?

my husband has poor taste in lawn ornaments.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Amanah

my husband has poor taste in lawn ornaments.

rofl I wouldn't sweat it. The idol is nothing, Paul said, and technically Buddha isn't a god anyway. Might as well have a statue of Sam Houston.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Esaias

rofl I wouldn't sweat it. The idol is nothing, Paul said, and technically Buddha isn't a god anyway. Might as well have a statue of Sam Houston.

I just threw away a broken key that was fashioned like Buddha.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by berkeley

I just threw away a broken key that was fashioned like Buddha.

Broke like Buddha. Buddha - the key that unlocks nothing.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Broke like Buddha. Buddha - the key that unlocks nothing.

I was told that it attracts spirits. I quoted Paul, an idol is nothing. But, I wasn’t going to destroy my (weak) brother. He has been a blessing to me.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by berkeley

I was told that it attracts spirits. I quoted Paul, an idol is nothing. But, I wasn’t going to destroy my (weak) brother. He has been a blessing to me.

Good call.