Did something carnal tonight

Sister Alvear · #1 05-12-2007, 12:06 AM

An amusement park came to our town and I took my Sunday School class...Most of you know we work in a country that mainly has two classes of people the very rich and the very poor...My class, teenagers, had NEVER been one time to ride a ride of any kind. We took 30 of them. Bought their tickets gave some of them snack money and they had the biggest time...
Remember I work with people who have never had the money to even go to McDonalds...the park cost what a man would make working 2 and a half days per person! (Brazilian money)
Needless to say they were amazed beyound words....and we rode some of the rides with them and that seemed to make it so special to them...

Rejoice my friends...you have untold and uncounted blessings that most of the world will never enjoy...If you could have seen their smiles...

Sister Alvear · #2 05-12-2007, 12:08 AM

Yes, some will think that is wrong...think on...some people are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good...

Kansas Preacher · #3 05-12-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

Yes, some will think that is wrong...think on...some people are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good...

Sister Alvear,

I mean no offense to you, so please don't take this comment as being directed at you or what you did. It's just that I am in the process of re-reading "Why Revival Tarries" by the late Dr. Leonard Ravenhill. In his book, he made a statement about the cliche you used. Here's a direct quote from the book:

"Someone now warns us lest we become so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly use. Brother, this generation of believers is not, by and large, suffering from such a complex! The brutal, soul-shaking truth is that we are so earthly minded we are of no heavenly use."

Again, I'm certainly not talking about you. However, I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Ravenhill on this point. Sadly, far too many "Pentecostals" today are overwhelmingly more EARTHLY minded -- to the point that they are accomplishing no HEAVENLY good.

chaotic_resolve · #4 05-12-2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kansas Preacher

"Someone now warns us lest we become so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly use. Brother, this generation of believers is not, by and large, suffering from such a complex! The brutal, soul-shaking truth is that we are so earthly minded we are of no heavenly use."

Sadly, far too many "Pentecostals" today are overwhelmingly more EARTHLY minded -- to the point that they are accomplishing no HEAVENLY good.

I've heard both quotes and agree with both. There are many people who are so carnal and earthy minded that they do nothing for the Kingdom of God; then there are a scant few that are so spiritually minded that they ignore the needs here.

I remember one man that was released from prison and lived with my family when I was a teenager. The man prayed all the time. I'm not kidding. He prayed at least 10 or more hours a day. I'd leave for school and he'd be praying. I'd get home from school, he'd still be praying. He'd be praying all afternoon and into the late evening. He led our church prayer meetings and talked about prayer all the time.

However, after a few months when he hadn't tried getting back on his own (get a job, apartment, etc) he wouldn't do it. He didn't need to work, he needed to pray. He went to some other church in another city that wanted to make him an assistant. Last I had heard he didn't last long there either. I don't know what happened with him after he left.

Kansas Preacher · #5 05-12-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaotic_resolve

I've heard both quotes and agree with both. There are many people who are so carnal and earthy minded that they do nothing for the Kingdom of God; then there are a scant few that are so spiritually minded that they ignore the needs here.

I remember one man that was released from prison and lived with my family when I was a teenager. The man prayed all the time. I'm not kidding. He prayed at least 10 or more hours a day. I'd leave for school and he'd be praying. I'd get home from school, he'd still be praying. He'd be praying all afternoon and into the late evening. He led our church prayer meetings and talked about prayer all the time.

However, after a few months when he hadn't tried getting back on his own (get a job, apartment, etc) he wouldn't do it. He didn't need to work, he needed to pray. He went to some other church in another city that wanted to make him an assistant. Last I had heard he didn't last long there either. I don't know what happened with him after he left.

You know, CR, when I first read your post, I thought I agreed with you. However, the more I've thought about it, I must say that I do NOT concur that I "agree with both." The man to whom you refer was not TRULY "heavenly minded." Rather, he was self-centered.

I understand that the phrase "so heavenly minded they are no earthly good" is in reference to folks like that, but the fact is, THE MORE HEAVENLY MINDED WE BECOME, THE MORE EARTHLY GOOD WE ACCOMPLISH.

I knew a man much like the one you referenced. He took over a Home Missions work. The district got together and brought men in from across the state to help him remodel his home. He couldn't help that morning because he was "led to pray." After he finished praying, he was "led to do outreach." He stayed gone the entire day while the rest of us worked like crazy TO HELP HIM. The fact was, he was neither praying, NOR reaching for the lost. He was lazy. Plain and simple. These are the kind of people to whom the cliche refers.

Nevertheless, there really is NO TRUTH in the statement AT ALL. It is simply impossible to be TRULY "heavenly minded" and not accomplish MUCH GOOD on earth at the same time. Sadly, I'm afraid it's just a cop out for our carnality.

I agree that folks can PRETEND to be "heavenly minded" and become of no use to anyone. However, I do NOT agree that they can actually BE "so heavenly minded they are no earthly good."

On the other hand, I am absolutely CERTAIN that MANY people are "so earthly minded they are no Heavenly good."

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:6-8).

Nowhere do I read the Apostle Paul admonishing us not to become "TOO Spiritually minded." Nowhere do I read a warning from Christ or ANY of His followers that we might get so wrapped up in Heavenly things we become of no service to His Kingdom OR this world. It's just not there.

No, the sad truth is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to TRULY become "so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good." It just CAN'T happen.

I am certain that EVERY ONE OF US (myself included) could stand to become MORE "Heavenly minded" than we are right now. ALL OF US are FAR more concerned with earthly things than we should be.

God, teach us -- teach ME -- to pray more. Help me to become MORE "spiritually minded" than I am right now. I do NOT fear that I will reach a place where I will be "so heavenly minded that I am no earthly good." I do, however, fear that I may one day become "so earthly minded I am no Heavenly good."

"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Honest confession is good for the soul.

chaotic_resolve · #6 05-12-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kansas Preacher

You know, CR, when I first read your post, I thought I agreed with you. However, the more I've thought about it, I must say that I do NOT concur that I "agree with both." The man to whom you refer was not TRULY "heavenly minded." Rather, he was self-centered.

I understand that the phrase "so heavenly minded they are no earthly good" is in reference to folks like that, but the fact is, THE MORE HEAVENLY MINDED WE BECOME, THE MORE EARTHLY GOOD WE ACCOMPLISH.

I knew a man much like the one you referenced. He took over a Home Missions work. The district got together and brought men in from across the state to help him remodel his home. He couldn't help that morning because he was "led to pray." After he finished praying, he was "led to do outreach." He stayed gone the entire day while the rest of us worked like crazy TO HELP HIM. The fact was, he was neither praying, NOR reaching for the lost. He was lazy. Plain and simple. These are the kind of people to whom the cliche refers.

Nevertheless, there really is NO TRUTH in the statement AT ALL. It is simply impossible to be TRULY "heavenly minded" and not accomplish MUCH GOOD on earth at the same time. Sadly, I'm afraid it's just a cop out for our carnality.

I agree that folks can PRETEND to be "heavenly minded" and become of no use to anyone. However, I do NOT agree that they can actually BE "so heavenly minded they are no earthly good."

On the other hand, I am absolutely CERTAIN that MANY people are "so earthly minded they are no Heavenly good."

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:6-8).

Nowhere do I read the Apostle Paul admonishing us not to become "TOO Spiritually minded." Nowhere do I read a warning from Christ or ANY of His followers that we might get so wrapped up in Heavenly things we become of no service to His Kingdom OR this world. It's just not there.

No, the sad truth is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to TRULY become "so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good." It just CAN'T happen.

I am certain that EVERY ONE OF US (myself included) could stand to become MORE "Heavenly minded" than we are right now. ALL OF US are FAR more concerned with earthly things than we should be.

God, teach us -- teach ME -- to pray more. Help me to become MORE "spiritually minded" than I am right now. I do NOT fear that I will reach a place where I will be "so heavenly minded that I am no earthly good." I do, however, fear that I may one day become "so earthly minded I am no Heavenly good."

"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Honest confession is good for the soul.

Good post, KS Preacher!

I didn't look at it as being self-centered. Just used the other saying and thought it applied there. But what you wrote makes sense.

Sam · #7 05-12-2007, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kansas Preacher

...

God, teach us -- teach ME -- to pray more. Help me to become MORE "spiritually minded" than I am right now. I do NOT fear that I will reach a place where I will be "so heavenly minded that I am no earthly good." I do, however, fear that I may one day become "so earthly minded I am no Heavenly good."

"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Honest confession is good for the soul.

Amen.
I pray that same prayer.

By the way, I heard a preacher comment on that Scripture (1 Cor 9:27) one time. He mentioned the two English words that are both spelled "buffet." He said that we need to "buffet" (BUF-it) our bodies but too often we "buffet" (BOO-fay) them.

tamor · #8 05-12-2007, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

An amusement park came to our town and I took my Sunday School class...Most of you know we work in a country that mainly has two classes of people the very rich and the very poor...My class, teenagers, had NEVER been one time to ride a ride of any kind. We took 30 of them. Bought their tickets gave some of them snack money and they had the biggest time...
Remember I work with people who have never had the money to even go to McDonalds...the park cost what a man would make working 2 and a half days per person! (Brazilian money)
Needless to say they were amazed beyound words....and we rode some of the rides with them and that seemed to make it so special to them...

Rejoice my friends...you have untold and uncounted blessings that most of the world will never enjoy...If you could have seen their smiles...

That is SO sweet. It makes me laugh and cry at the same time. I thank God for my untold and uncounted blessings. And I am so glad that you make them smile!

LadyCoonskinner · #9 05-12-2007, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

An amusement park came to our town and I took my Sunday School class...Most of you know we work in a country that mainly has two classes of people the very rich and the very poor...My class, teenagers, had NEVER been one time to ride a ride of any kind. We took 30 of them. Bought their tickets gave some of them snack money and they had the biggest time...
Remember I work with people who have never had the money to even go to McDonalds...the park cost what a man would make working 2 and a half days per person! (Brazilian money)
Needless to say they were amazed beyound words....and we rode some of the rides with them and that seemed to make it so special to them...

Rejoice my friends...you have untold and uncounted blessings that most of the world will never enjoy...If you could have seen their smiles...

Sis. Alvear, God is going to bless you above and beyond all measure. I think of you often and pray for you and the work you are doing. I also pray for protection and I plead the Blood of Jesus daily.

Keep on working for the King.......

Sister Alvear · #10 05-12-2007, 12:21 AM

Thanks for such kind words...I have one main desire and that is to be REAL..in my service to my Friend Jesus and serving His little ones I am serving Him...
I just love my AFF family. Love you folks.

Tamor, I see you are from Adamsville. Did you ever know a Sister Scott? I don't even know if she belonged to any certain group. She was a good friend of my folks many moons ago.