Sunday, February 6, 2011

Kattie's pleasure and the pleasure of the Lord

None but the Virtue understood, in its soaring comprehension, the safety in which the sheep still lived, or from what yet deeper distance of spirit was to arise the Innocence which everlastingly formed and maintained them. The Place of the Lion by Charles Williams

It is he who has made us and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3b)

I don’t often respond when other people talk about me on the comment section of other blogs, (and it does happen), but this time it led to something I wanted to write. So I will respond to Kattie Coon’s remarks. It seems she has set up a page with predictions about how amendment 10-A voting will turn out. She thinks it will win 91 to 82. And she wrote on John Shucks blog telling him he was wrong about it now being a tie.
But my interest is this comment:



Kattie W. Coon said...
John, the best part is that the model predicts that Sacramento (Viola's home base) will flip. She really has her work cut out for her.


I know, I know, I need to repent of that guilty pleasure.”

But Kattie apparently doesn’t know about the sheep.

They are hid in Christ and protected by his care. They wear the yoke of the Lord, not the burdens that others attempt to place on them. His yoke is easy he tells us and his burdens light. And, thinking deeper, it is his work and not ours. Furthermore, in following Jesus, one follows and works with many. In fact, one labors amid the church triumphant who stand as witnesses to battles already fought and finished. (Heb. 11)

And here is the most important part, the battle, which is his, has already been won, this is just a skirmish. So if it loses, if Sacramento flips, as Kattie puts it, if 10-A wins in the denomination, if the demons of hell spend a few nights (and they will be nights) cavorting about, remember Christ has already risen and stands at the right hand of the Father guiding his church even in its broken state. He feeds and nourishes his people giving them the true and pure pleasure of fellowship with himself. (John 14:23)

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the :Lord with gladness;
Come before him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord himself is God:
It is he who made us and not we ourselves;
We are his people the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100)

Please take time to watch the sheep in this video of Psalm 100 and think about your joy and pleasure in the Lord

12 comments:

St. Blogwen said...

Better still, Jesus sits at the right hand of God on high, signifying that His saving work is done and never can be undone; His victory is complete and no force of demonic darkness or sinful human foolishness can overcome it.

Kathy H.
Beaver, PA

Viola Larson said...

I know, I made a choice on that and used Stephen in Acts. I like to thinke Of Jesus standing as one of his followers takes the hard way home. But you are right that better captures what I was writing about.

Kattie said...

Viola, you have a bad habit of misreading and getting things wrong.

You say that I predict the outcome to be 91-82. I've never said any such thing. I've been very careful about how I state it. I have a computational model that currently predicts the outcome to be 91-82. This is all subject to change as the data comes in. I've even pointed out that some of the assumptions in use by the model are indefensible. I don't have a crystal ball and I don't make predictions. I've kept my personal feelings about the eventual outcome to myself. I did however point out that I think you have your work cut out for you, and I believe you probably do given the voting trends in your Presbytery and your personal sway. I also believe the Spirit of God is working in our Presbyteries and our best efforts will eventually succumb to His.

You seem to think I don't understand about the Sheep. That's just one more thing you don't know about me.

I knew you were lurking, I was wondering if you would ever say anything. Thanks for stopping by and for the publicity. Who knows, maybe it'll spur some people into action.

Dave Moody said...

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

grace & peace,
dm

John Shuck said...

Amen, Dave, Amen.

John Shuck
Elizabethton, TN

will spotts said...

I've never really understood schadenfreude. I admit, I'm a little fascinated by it - in the sense that a naturalist observing a particular behavior might be.

Viola - you are in a difficult situation. I usually refrain from making specific predictions, and I usualluy refrain from using models to make predictions. But in general terms - unless something unlooked for changes, the PC(USA) is going in a particular direction. This particular issue is one of a great many - not necessarily related to one another - but they have in common the fact that they conflict with your beliefs.

How you handle working within an organization that is increasingly hostile to your convictions is an open question.

That you are a safe subject (in certain circles) for schadenfreude lends credibility to your positions. That the reverse is not true - there is a vast difference morally between disagreement, criticism, even harsh criticism, and taking delight in the difficulties of others - compounds the effect. Not to the participating crowd - they can't see it, but in a larger sense.

Viola Larson said...

Will, I have just learned a new word today, thanks.

I actually wrote this posting hoping that it would help others who are in presbyteries that have "flipped" or have always voted that way. And that it might also speak to the faithful about what the real victory is.

will spotts said...

Viola - three things.

1. The variety of music videos you post make you one of the very few people I know whose musical taste truly qualifies as eclectic. (I mean, c'mon - you've featured a Leonard Cohen song, George Beverly Shea, Indelible Grace, The Blind Boys of Alabama ... among many others).

2. I agree with you and I take the point of your post.

3. Victory depends on one's objective. In the sense of affecting or perhaps reversing the trends in the organization, then we haven't done very well. Yet ultimately, victory is faithfulness. Paul says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." I think that sums up the only victory that matters.

Viola Larson said...

John,
You and Dave, you think you agree?
He stands under the blood of Christ, the Father looks at him and sees the righteousness and holiness of Jesus.

The Father looks at you and sees someone who has denied his Son, his love and his sacrifice. He sees someone who torments his people.

I know what Dave was saying and there is nothing you can say, no agreement that will change that.

But the love of Jesus is still waiting there for you.

John Shuck said...

Viola,

That is so cool! The Father has given you super powers so you can see into hearts like He can! Awesome! And I'm Jesus' secretary, so I know when He's coming again!

We're a good team, Amen?

We could start our own miniseries!

JS
E-ton

Dr. MVM said...

You people, with the exception of Rev. Shuck, are insane.

Viola Larson said...

I repeat, the love of Christ is still waiting for you John, and you too Dr. MVM.