The Power of Influence

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by CC1

LOL!!! You should have seen that one coming from a mile away.

True My Friend!!! ROFL>....

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by CC1

LOL!!! You should have seen that one coming from a mile away.

I cringed as I typed it, but "queer" originally meant odd or aberrant.

The word fit.

And no, I said no, closets!

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I cringed as I typed it, but "queer" originally meant odd or aberrant.

The word fit.

And no, I said no, closets!

I know what you mean. Our modern slang has robbed some good words of their usage.

Every Christmas when we sing "don we now our gay apparel" I find myself having a mental image of every over the top picture of a homosexual I have seen over my lifetime. Elton John in full performance costume, news stories of the gay pride parade in San Francisco, etc, etc. Arghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tina]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

We are all impressionable.

I have only recently, at the pinnacle of middle-aged clarity, begun to realize just how many of the decisions I've made sprang from the influence of others.

Influence can be a powerful thing.

We are all changed by those who enter and exit the stage of our lives. Sometimes the change is imperceptible, other times the sphere of influence is so strong that the change is immediately evident.

A queer realization has begun to settle on me of late. A realization that I am the sum total of my daily interaction. A realization that I can be influenced in both positive and negative ways by my wife, my kids, my parents, my co-workers and - most importantly - those whom I choose to call my friends.

At first glance, this realization seems simple, and petty. A deeper look reveals stark truths that are sometimes unbearably painful.

I am the product of every screaming match my parents had in front of me. I am the product of every dirty joke my brothers told me. I am the product of every unsavory movie I have ever watched with friends or family. I am the product of every sermon I have heard, every song I have listened to, every newscast I have watched, every news clip I have read. These influences, for better or worse, shaped me.

I am impressionable.

So, once again, I find myself at the feet of Jesus asking Him, no begging Him, to be my greatest influence. To deliver me from myself. To reshape me in His image, an image that rises above any worldly influence I've let in my life.

Paul, who seemed to have some of the same struggles I do, said it best.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Philippians 4:7-8

Great post!!

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I cringed as I typed it, but "queer" originally meant odd or aberrant.

The word fit.

And no, I said no, closets!

When I came to "that" word, I wondered if

"A strange realization has begun to settle on me of late"

would not have been less distracting.

Otherwise, great post, Pastor Poster!

Not trying to be critical or offensive!

Blessings,

Falla39

[MawMaw]

Awesome post! Thank you Bro Pastor Poster!

[Sweet Pea]

GREAT post!

BTW - I didn't even notice "that" word until CCI brought it up....

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

We are all impressionable.

I have only recently, at the pinnacle of middle-aged clarity, begun to realize just how many of the decisions I've made sprang from the influence of others.
Influence can be a powerful thing.

We are all changed by those who enter and exit the stage of our lives. Sometimes the change is imperceptible, other times the sphere of influence is so strong that the change is immediately evident.A queer realization has begun to settle on me of late. A realization that I am the sum total of my daily interaction. A realization that I can be influenced in both positive and negative ways by my wife, my kids, my parents, my co-workers and - most importantly - those whom I choose to call my friends.

At first glance, this realization seems simple, and petty. A deeper look reveals stark truths that are sometimes unbearably painful.

I am the product of every screaming match my parents had in front of me. I am the product of every dirty joke my brothers told me. I am the product of every unsavory movie I have ever watched with friends or family. I am the product of every sermon I have heard, every song I have listened to, every newscast I have watched, every news clip I have read. These influences, for better or worse, shaped me.

I am impressionable.

So, once again, I find myself at the feet of Jesus asking Him, no begging Him, to be my greatest influence. To deliver me from myself. To reshape me in His image, an image that rises above any worldly influence I've let in my life.

Paul, who seemed to have some of the same struggles I do, said it best.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Philippians 4:7-8

Bro. Pastor Poster,

When I read your post it immediately brought to memory something
my late father said in a message he preached.

He was saying that often we hear those, who because they happened
to preach or be in attendance at a service where some received the
Holy Ghost say, "Oh, we got 3 or we got 12 saved last night. Dad said,
"I don't think any of us can claim that we got someone saved, all by
ourselves. God may have allowed us to be a part of someone's coming
to the Lord, but when you look at the influences through the years, and
the tears, and the teaching that the parents, grandparents, and the influ-
ence other family members, have put into that person".
When you consider the S.S.teachers, the ministers. All of the influences
through the years, I don't think we can claim to have saved anyone in one
night's service. The influences of many years have been involved in that
person/persons life.

It has been said:

The saving of a soul is the miracle of a moment, but
The making of a saint is the work of a lifetime!

I think of a garden/family, etc., that has been planted. The caring, nur-
turing, the watering, etc. One day "fruit" appears and someone goes out
and sees the results of all the labors in that fruit suddenly appearing, who
can be credited for the results. Paul said that one plants, another waters,
but God gives the increase!

Have read where places of worship had been there a long time. Though
perhaps small, it was a healthy place, (if you not judging just by size only),
but the old had passed away and the new comes in and the body begins to
bear "fruit" again. Then the word is that before "I" came, they only ran 40-50
but since "I" came, the church has grown to 200, etc.

Jesus said that every plant that his Father had not planted would be
rooted up! Don't fret, If God has not ordained it, it won't last anyway!

That place/person/persons that was able to bear fruit again wasn't necess-
arily due to that person that came. The body was there all the time, but it
needed someone to sow the seed (Word of God" so that more produce so
that more souls could come forth. No sowing, no reaping!

Just some thoughts from a senior sister! As always, not to be offensive!

Blessings,

Falla39

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

GREAT post!

BTW - I didn't even notice "that" word until CCI brought it up....

Yes. I am what my teachers in elementary school called "an instigator"!!!!

[Pressing-On]

Excellent thoughts, PP! I have something I read by Philip Keller that would be very appropriate to reinforce what you shared. If I can locate that, I will post it.