pioneers and settlers

Dale Cresap's picture

Pioneers are the first ones into a new territory, and they typically become settlers, building settlements which are a foothold in previously unclaimed areas. This is how civilization advances, but once pioneers start building they cease to be pioneers and become settlers instead. Sojourners on the other hand, have no certain dwelling place and continue to wander. Do you see aspects of both among my people? I may call you to go where no one has gone before and build Kingdom works there, but at the same time you can continue to be a sojourner here, seeking a city with foundations in heaven. 

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Abundance?

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I said that I came that you may have life in abundance. Do you find that you are constantly busy, without a spare moment? Would you describe this as an abundant life? It is possible to fill up your schedule without filling up your life. Having no time to pause and reflect suggests that you are going in too many directions. The world you live in makes it easy to do this, and it takes focus and discipline to ignore the many distractions available to you, which draw you away from what is really important. No soldier entangles himself with the things of this world, that he may please his superiors. You may obtain a more abundant life by being involved in fewer things instead of more.

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finish line

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Do you think that every death is a tragedy? Every life ends with one and you struggle with a sense of tragedy when a child or young person or even an adult in the prime of life is taken suddenly. I am the author of life. I created it, and I built a world that sustains it. Yet I also gave it a finite span, and this too is a part of my plan and it is good. Every race has a finish line. Paul approached his knowing that he had run a good race and was ready to depart. The certainty that life in this world will come to an end is mirrored by the certainty of a better one to come that will not end where my servants, full of days or not, will enter into rest. 

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Love

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Do you expect that certain people will love you perfectly, deeply, and forever? Have you ever been disappointed in this? It is easy to base your image of yourself and your personal worth on the affection you get from others, but this is not a reasonable expectation. Other people, even those closest to you, have their own flaws and limitations, and may not have it within them to give the affection you so deeply crave. You will not be happy if you require from them something they are unable to give. You may find it more difficult to place your trust in me whom you cannot see, but if you do you never be disappointed. 

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Christmas

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Have you noticed how much effort goes into the celebration of Christmas, and yet how little of it relates directly to my arrival and the following redemption? Lights and trees and shopping and eating are far enough removed from my advent that even unbelievers are fully involved in the celebration without being engaged in the true meaning. Yet you do not have to be judgmental of them or the holiday because of this. What aspects of redemption do you see manifested at Christmas? This is a time when all Christians can join together to recognize the one thing they agree on most of all, and celebrate my arrival in peace, harmony, and unity.

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Better mistakes

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Do you exercise righteous judgment? This is the only type that I approve of, and I am the only one who can do it. People tend to err in one direction or another, but more often to the side of harsh judgment and exclusion. Have you seen my Spirit and presence in groups and individuals that you used to reject? That makes it hard to justify the rejection. If you move in the direction of acceptance and inclusiveness you may still make mistakes, but they are better mistakes. It is worthwhile to err on the side of love and mercy to improve the quality of your mistakes and move in the direction of righteous judgment. 

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questions

Dale Cresap's picture

When you were in school, did your teachers encourage you to ask questions? They knew that was the process by which you learned. This is still true, and you should cultivate curiosity and inquisitiveness as lifelong habits. How does this relate to your faith? Are you presented a set of doctrines as a settled matter and discouraged from pondering the same questions yourself? My word teaches you to follow me. This involves obedience to me but it also involves the pursuit of understanding. This only occurs as you are willing to consider unresolved questions. Be patient and don’t expect the answers to come as quickly as they did when you were a child in school. 

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the poor

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My word gives very clear teaching that you are to care for the poor. If they need money and you give money to organizations chartered to help them, does that allow you to fulfill this commandment without coming into direct contact with the poor? I do not pose this question to condemn you. Giving money is more than lip service. It is putting your money where your mouth is. Organizations can help you to be as wise as serpents to make your giving effective and avoid being taken advantage of. Just don’t allow this to be a substitute for direct personal contact with those in need. 

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favorite subjects

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Do you have certain favorite subjects that you like to talk about? Yet if you want to enter a conversation with a certain person or group of people you must be prepared to talk about subjects they like. You still prefer your favorites and consider it a special treat to find and converse with others who share the same interests. Do you know that I am the same way? You can talk to me about anything, and I will engage with you, but I still have my own favorite subjects. Ask me about them. Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another, and I heard it and wrote a book of remembrance for those who thought upon my name. 

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