Come Monday...May We Learn And Remember

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

While watching a broadcast of the trip that several [College of the Ozarks] students made with some American veterans to [Normandy] to commemorate the 65th anniversary of [D-Day], I found myself being filled with a very potent mixture of rage and anguish. For a great deal of the suffering that the survivors have had to endure has been unnecessary.

No, this is not to suggest that their participation in [World War II] was nothing to be upset about. For there should be no doubts about the horrors they witnessed, but even after all of these years, there was no indication given that anyone who went on that trip understood what is going on.

Yeah, if you have been paying any attention to what I have said about my past here and there, I cannot naturally blame you a bit for thinking that I have some nerve. For I failed to even just complete basic training—let along distinguish myself on the battlefield, but what I have been given to say here has nothing to do with that. For everything that we experience in this world is meant to show us something that our Heavenly Father wants us to see, and all who have seen combat should have no doubts about the fact that there is more going on in this world than what naturally comes to meet our physical sight, with the end of that road leading to a very close and personal relationship with Him.

No, the show did not seek to address anything of the sort, but it should have been clear to all who are not Spiritually blind and deaf. For all of the veterans were rather reluctant to talk about their experiences during the war, and the main reason given was because of all of the death they had witnessed.

Hence, a clear indication of the fact that they do not look upon our lives in this world as being meant to be temporary. More importantly, a clear indication of the fact that they do not recognize the absolute truth of the matter being that no one can physically die unless our Heavenly Father wants them to, and that their death marks the end of their pain and suffering in this world—regardless of where they are destined to be spend all of eternity, which is something that we are not to judge.

There is, of course, another side to that story. For when we physically die, we leave loved ones behind, who suffer loss on account of our passing, but is it not true that those who live on are generally considered to be more blessed—even in the eyes of the Christian community?

Alas, I realize that I have a twisted way of looking at life in this world. For I have lived a fairly miserable life to date, and I naturally consider it to be of no great value. Subsequently, I really do long for it end much sooner than later.

Woe is me. For by thinking in such a way as that, I contradict what our Heavenly Father actually says is absolutely true. For if it is indeed true that everything I have experienced has been for the purpose of showing me something that He wants me to see, how can I righteously consider my life in this world to be of no great value?

No, this has not been an easy piece to write. For I know that most will recoil in horror over daring to say anything negative about those who fought for our freedom during World War II. After all, are they not called our greatest generation, but is this indeed true?

In all fairness, it may not be their fault that they still cannot Spiritually see, nor hear. For it all depends upon what our Heavenly Father wants to accomplish in and through someone that determines when (and to what extent) He will allow and enable them to see and hear what He wants them to, and it may very well be that the ones on that show have not been allowed and enabled to see and hear yet. In fact, many will never be required to see and hear all that much in this world.

Be assured that I hope that I have not been deceived about that. For my own dad refused to talk about landing on Omaha Beach with the [US Army 1st Infantry Division] in the second wave to come ashore on June 6, 1944, and he never gave any indication that he understood as he could have.

In far too many cases, however, the absolute truth of the matter truly is that it is really just a rhetorical question when someone cries out, “What is going on?” For they have no expectation of ever understanding, and when our Heavenly Father answers them, they dismiss it as being just a stupid thought that came out of nowhere.

MP3 Audio Player From: [BlogDumps Video]

Remember This

WhiteHeart

Hey hey yeah yeah

We gotta remember this

Hey hey yeah yeah

Gotta remember this

Remember

Gotta remember

So this is really love

So this is what it means

It’s better than I dreamed

Have we ever been this close

Just feel the Father here

He’s holding us together

Together

Whoa whoa oh

We gotta remember this

Oh we gotta remember this

We gotta remember this

Forever

Remember

We gotta remember

No matter where we go

A different time and space

We can come back to this place

‘Cause what we’re feeling here

Was never meant to end

It’s love He keeps on sending

Unending

Whoa whoa oh

We gotta remember this

Remember

Remember

We gotta remember this

Forever

Remember

We gotta remember

This is all He’s ever wanted

The way it’s meant to be

Oh you and I can stay together

In the arms of His mystery

Oooh oooh ah

Forever

We gotta remember this

All our life

We gotta remember this

‘Cause we need

‘Cause we need

His kind of love

We gotta remember this

Only His kind of love

Oh we gotta remember this

Oh

Oh we gotta remember this

Oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and I after Sunday morning church services for a leisurely drive around where we lived. Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again. The link below the image is to the site itself, and the image is linked to the post it was first included in here.

Link: [AskCherlock.com]

Link: [Extraordinary Intelligence]

Link: [Good Old Rock]

Link: [House Panthers]

Link: [Jottings From Jersey]

Link: [Keeping The Kingdom First]

Link: [Life of an Inverstor]

Link: [Live From Waterloo]

Link: [Notes Upon The Wildwind]

Link: [Seeing God Do Immeasurably More]

Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

Real M'n'C - VIII

The second book in line on FishHawk Droppings is [The Minister & The Crackerhead], and it is a fictitious account of an encounter between a more devoutly religious person (The Minister) and myself (The Crackerhead), based upon real events.  This series will be just like it—only these encounters will be real.  Granted, some of the text will have been changed in an effort to protect both the innocent and the guilty, but none of that will change anything about what was being conveyed.  No, none of this is meant to cast aspersions towards anyone, nor to make myself good.  In fact, be assured that I have been made all too painfully aware of the fact that most will not get the point of any of this.  For only those who have been allowed and enabled to understand can, but just how many who can will want to?  Therefore, if you have a question or an observation, please speak up—even if you sincerely believe that I may very well be one of Satan’s worst.

The Minister: Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes. [1 Corinthians 8:2-3 NLT]

What is clear is that there are many opinions, even among devote Christians, about how the Bible should be interpreted.  It is also clear that human beings can never fully understand the things of God, but that we can look to the Holy Spirit for guidance.  In the Bible, as Jesus was nearing the end of His ministry on earth, He explained this to His disciples: "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth." [John 16:13 NKJV] It is comforting to realize that certain things will always be a mystery.

The Crackerhead: I don't understand why it would be comforting to you to think that certain things will always be a mystery.  Could you explain?

The Minister: If I could understand all the mysteries of God and the universe, it would mean that I am as wise as the God of the universe.  The fact that I cannot understand the mysteries of God relieves me of the pressure of trying to understand things that are beyond understanding.  How can anyone understand the mystery of the Trinity or that God knows the end from the beginning?
"I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done." [Isaiah 46:9-10]
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." [John 1:1]
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory." [1 Corinthians 2:7]

The Crackerhead: Does not that last verse from 1st Corinthians, along with the complete passage of [1 Corinthians 2:6-16], make it clear that we can understand the mysteries of our Heavenly Father in accordance to His will?  That is, unless you are willing to conclude that the Apostle Paul surely did not know what he was talking about, of course.

In all fairness, I can sympathize with your position.  For my wife and I had a pretty good "discussion" about ignorance being bliss not so long after we got married.  For I thought that harboring such a position was really pathetic, but since what has been personally revealed to me has felt more like a curse than a blessing [Ecclesiastes 1:18], I have softened my attitude somewhat.

Woe is me.  For the thing that causes me the most pain is knowing that most just plain do not want to know--let alone understand.

Now, would you be truly satisfied in your marriage if you knew that your husband could not care less about knowing and understanding everything that he could about you?  Be assured that our Heavenly Father does care, but since it all depends upon what He wants to accomplish in and through you that determines when and to what extent, He will allow and enable you to enter into His absolute Truth, it may not be your fault.

The Minister: I think the key word here is, "in accordance with His will." There are many mysteries of God and of the universe that are unknowable until we meet Jesus "face to face," as it says in 1 Corinthians: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [1 Corinthians 13:12]  "Then" refers to our life in eternity, after our body is gone (along with our conscious mind, which is limited by our body, our experience and what God's Spirit reveals to us).

The Crackerhead: If there is really nothing to find—why seek {[Matthew 7:7-12]; [Hebrews 11:6]}?

You included [1 Corinthians 8:2-3] in this post, and this is a passage that has troubled me for quite some time.  For it appears to make it quite clear that if anyone thinks that they know anything that they surely do not know what they should.  Granted, the New Living Translation version that you included changes the “anything” to “everything” (in so many words) which does help, but the passage still seems to discourage us from seeking for more after we know enough to love God.

No, there certainly does not appear to be anything wrong with that at first glance, but upon closer examination, something very sinister comes clearer into focus.  After all, do not Muslims talk about the love of their god, as well as do Hindus with their gods, and even pagans with theirs?

Therefore, is there not a great danger with taking too much for granted?  For there is most definitely a big difference between even Allah and our Heavenly Father—is there not?

Thankfully, our Heavenly Father has finally gotten me to understand that what [1 Corinthians 8:2-3] is meant to really confirm is that anyone who thinks that they have figured anything out for themselves do not know what they should.  For all knowledge and understand comes from our Heavenly Father’s Holy Spirit {[John 16:8-11]; [Colossians 2:2-4]}—not from our own efforts [Philippians 2:12-13], and that His Holy Scriptures are meant to serve as written confirmation of what He Himself wants personally reveal [1 Corinthians 2:12-14].

Yes, I understand that this is something that you do not want to believe, but what have you got without it?  For if the Bible truly is wide open to our own interpretations, surely those who have used it to justify such things as slavery and spousal abuse (not to mention sex with very young children) could not be wrong.

Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

Sites To See

The SOLE purpose of this weekly series is to call attention to sites that I think many would find most interesting—in one way or another. Just to be clear, inclusion in this series is not necessarily meant as a recommendation, and I have included sites that are rather disturbing to me. The link below each image is to the site itself, and each image is linked to the particular post from which it was taken when applicable. Please, go see for yourself.

Link: [4Walls and a View]

Link: [A Nut In A Nutshell]

Link: [Abolish - Liberate - Emancipate NOW]

Link: [Anonymous]

Link: [Arise 2 Write]

Link: [Back In The Day]

Link: [Cowboys, Kids, & Sunsets]

Link: [Diary of a Crazy Rabbit Lady, Too!]

Link: [Do You Jibber Jabber?]

Link: [Each Step I Take With God]

Link: [Eco Mama]

Link: [Enchanted Vintage]

Link: [Girly-Girl.net]

Link: [Going Guerilla]

Link: [Spay and Stay]

Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

Green Day vs. Weird Al Yankovic

Link: [Green Day]

Link: [On YouTube]

American Idiot

Green Day

Don’t wanna be an American idiot

Don’t want a nation that doesn’t do media

And can you hear the sound of hysteria

The subliminal mind-f#$% America

Welcome to a new kind of tension

All across the alien nation

Where everything isn’t meant to be okay

Television dreams of tomorrow

We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow

Well that’s enough to argue

Well maybe I’m the faggot America

I’m not a part of a redneck agenda

Now everybody do the propaganda

And sing along in the age of paranoia

Welcome to a new kind of tension

All across the alien nation

Everything isn’t meant to be okay

Television dreams of tomorrow

We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow

Well that’s enough to argue

Don’t wanna be an American idiot

One nation controlled by the media

Information nation of hysteria

It’s going out to idiot America

Welcome to a new kind of tension

All across the alien nation

Everything isn’t meant to be okay

Television dreams of tomorrow

We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow

Well that’s enough to argue

Link: [Weird Al Yankovic]

Link: [On YouTube]

Canadian Idiot

Weird Al Yankovic

Don’t wanna be a Canadian idiot

Don’t wanna be some beer-swillin’ hockey nut

And do I look like some frostbitten hosehead

I never learned my alphabet from A to Zed

They all live on donuts and moose meat

And they leave the house without packing heat

Never even bring their guns to the mall

And you know what else is too funny

Their stupid Monopoly money

Can’t take ‘em seriously at all

Well maple syrup and snow’s what they export

They treat curling just like it’s a real sport

They think their silly accent is so cute

Can’t understand a thing they’re talkin’ aboot

Sure they’ve got their national healthcare

Cheaper meds

Low crime rates and clean air

Then again all they’ve got is Celine Dion

Eat their weight in Kraft macaroni

And dream of drivin’ a Zamboni

All over Saskatchewan

Don’t wanna be a Canadian idiot

Won’t figure out the temperature in Celsius

See the map

They’re hovering right over us

Tell you the truth

It makes me kinda nervous

Always hear the same kind of story

Break their nose

And they’ll just say sorry

Tell me what kinda freaks are that polite

It’s gotta mean they’re all up to something

So quick before they see it coming

Time for a pre-emptive strike

Lyrics From: [Sing365.com]

Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

WhiteHeart Wednesday

Link: [Redemption]

MP3 Audio Player From: [BlogDumps Video]

Looking Glass

WhiteHeart

Who am I

I’m not sure what I’m doing here

It’s been too long

I’ve been staring in the mirror

Of the past

Now I am ready to dream

I am ready to hope at last

‘Cause I have come to believe

That You don’t see me

In the past

In Your looking glass

Help me Lord

Help me bring this to an end

Bring this to an end

I want to heal

I want to feel my heart again

Feel my heart again

But not the way it’s been

‘Cause I am tired of the pain

I am tired of the emptiness

I am ready to dream

‘Cause You don’t see me

In the past

In Your looking glass

Now I am ready to dream

I am ready to hope at last

‘Cause I have come to believe

That You don’t see me

In the past

In Your looking glass

In the past

Of Your looking glass

Link: [WhiteHeart]

Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

TWO FOR TUESDAY

Link: [Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]

Not every song that will be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian” in the eyes of this world. For some will be anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviously ferverent rants of rebellion. Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (in one way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear the message.

Link: [On YouTube]

Teach Your Children

Crosby, Stills & Nash

You

Who are on the road

Must have a code

That you can live by

And so

Become yourself

Because the past

Is just a goodbye

Teach

Your children well

Their father’s Hell

Did slowly go by

And feed

Them on your dreams

The one they picked

The one you’ll know by

Don’t you ever ask them why

If they told you you would cry

So just look at them and sigh

And know they love you

And you

Can you hear and

Of tender years

Do you care and

Can’t know the fears

Can you see we

That your elders grew by

Must be free to

And so please help

Teach your children

Them with your truth

You believe and

They seek the truth

Make a world that

Before they can die

We can live in

Teach

Your parents well

Their children’s Hell

Will slowly go by

And feed

Them on your dreams

The one they picked

The one you’ll know by

Don’t you ever ask them why

If they told you you would cry

So just look at them and sigh

And know they love you

Link: [On YouTube]

Ohio

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Tin soldiers and Nixon’s comin’

We’re finally on our own

This summer I hear the drummin’

Four dead in Ohio

Gotta get down to it

Soldiers are gunnin’ us down

Should have been done long ago

What if you knew her and

Found her dead on the ground

How can you run when you know

Na na na na na na na na

Na na na na na na na na

Na na na na na na na na

Na na na na na na na na

Gotta get down to it

Soldiers are gunnin’ us down

Should have been done long ago

What if you knew her and

Found her dead on the ground

How can you run when you know

Tin soldiers and Nixon’s comin’

We’re finally on our own

This summer I hear the drummin’

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Lyrics From: [Sing365.com]

Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

Come Monday...Lost?

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

I was planning on a review of [Farscape] for this post, but then the finale of [LOST] presented another opportunity. So, that review will just have to wait until next week.

Alas, I was a big fan of Lost in the beginning, but then I got lost in all of the flashbacks. Therefore, I stopped watching the show sometime during the second season.

As it turned out, flash-forwards were introduced to the storylines afterward, and that made me even more glad that I had stopped watching when I did. For visionary vertigo is not a very pleasant experience to endure.

Eventually, there are millions upon millions around the world who have a much stouter constitution than I do. For they stuck with the show—even when alternative realities in the same timeline were introduced!

Yeah, that would have sent me right over the edge, which is where I suppose the creators of the show wanted everyone to go. For in the end, were we being asked to accept that no one from Oceanic Flight 815 actually survived the initial crash, and that the entire show was about the passengers finding their way in life after death?

Yes, I have a great capacity to suspend reality in order to enjoy a show. On the other hand, maybe not so much. For all of the science fiction shows that I enjoy so much have to have something about them that could possibly be true. After all, who from amongst us can say for sure that the transporters used on Star Trek are an impossibility, or that interaction with both humanoid and non-humanoid species from other parts of the galaxy will never happen?

I just don’t get the premise to LOST, however. For it is asking us to ignore any notions about a beginning to what exists, and just go with the flow of the show. If you get it, will you explain it to me?

By the way, if you are unfamiliar with the show, you can watch full episodes of Lost online both on its [ABC website], and on [Hulu]. I would highly recommend taking some [dimenhydrinate] beforehand—just in case you are a lot like me.

Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and I after Sunday morning church services for a leisurely drive around where we lived. Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again. The link below the image is to the site itself, and the image is linked to the post it was first included in here.

Link: [All Graphics Design Tutuorials]

Link: [Animeals' Weblog]

Link: [ExChristian.net]

Link: [My Trips]

Link: [Sendai Photo Blog]

Link: [TenForty]

Link: [Unsolved Mysteries Of The World]

Link: [Vistaphotography]

Link: [We Live To Tell God's "Amazing Grace"]

Link: [Worldman]

Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

Real M'n'C - VII

The second book in line on FishHawk Droppings is [The Minister & The Crackerhead], and it is a fictitious account of an encounter between a more devoutly religious person (The Minister) and myself (The Crackerhead), based upon real events.  This series will be just like it—only these encounters will be real.  Granted, some of the text will have been changed in an effort to protect both the innocent and the guilty, but none of that will change anything about what was being conveyed.  No, none of this is meant to cast aspersions towards anyone, nor to make myself good.  In fact, be assured that I have been made all too painfully aware of the fact that most will not get the point of any of this.  For only those who have been allowed and enabled to understand can, but just how many who can will want to?  Therefore, if you have a question or an observation, please speak up—even if you sincerely believe that I may very well be one of Satan’s worst.

The Minister: There are steps to be fruitful...effective....productive...stages of maturing in His love...

Being fruitful has a great deal to do with knowledge.  Not head-knowledge but revelatory knowledge...
[2 Peter 1:5-8] shows us this clearly....For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.Again, there is just FRUIT of the Spirit, no fruits.

The Crackerhead: The key lies in what we are given written confirmation of in the first part of the passage that you mentioned.  For it truly is as it is written: Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. [2 Peter 1:1-4 NIV]

In other words, Spiritual gifts are GIFTS of our Heavenly Father's Holy Spirit that serve as obvious proof of the absolute truth of the matter truly being that someone truly is in Christ both for their own benefit and as a witness to others, and it is in regards to us wanting to naturally take credit for what we have been Spiritually given that we diminish the power of that witness.

The Minister: Are you calling the fruit of the Spirit spiritual gifts?

The Crackerhead: Yes!!!  For in the same way as the actual presence of His Holy Spirit is a gift of our Heavenly Father, so are the signs of His work in and through us.
No, this is not to deny that we have any part to play in the process.  For our Heavenly Father wants to have a very close and personal relationship with us, which involves working with us to a certain extent, but where do we want the line drawn between where He ends and we begin?

The Minister: There is a clear demarcation between fruit of the Spirit and spiritual gifts.
A fruit is naturally grown on a tree, it takes time...it takes a process.  Of course it comes from the Lord, but it takes us spending time with Him...
While spiritual gifts (Gk: charismata) as mentioned in [1 Corinthians 12:1-31] and [Romans 12:1-21], are like gifts hung on a Christmas tree.  They are instantaneous.  A person can have a supernatural manifestation of a gift and it still be marred in his character.
The Holy Spirit is given as a gift.  The choice of words is very specific.  The Greek word here is "doreon" and not "charismata" (one used for "spiritual gifts".  Just like faith is given to every man as a gift {Gk: dorea}), but there is also a "charismata of faith" that is totally supernatural and instant, which has nothing to do with the person's personal faith.
I hope that makes it clear.

The Crackerhead: The best example of what I now know to be true about bearing Spiritual fruit is what I have experienced for myself.  For I was raised in Southern Baptist church, and I was taught what is now considered to be a very "fundamentalist" doctrine that placed sole responsibility for the development of my character upon my parents at first and then upon myself.  In fact, I even pastored a small Southern Baptist in the same traditions for a time.
It was not, however, until our Heavenly Father became truly "REAL" to me that I came to know what true holiness was all about.  For what I thought were love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control [Galatians 5:22-23] were just what I had been taught that they were by people not so unlike myself, and in comparison to what our Heavenly Father considers them to be, none from amongst us can bear any fruit without Him [John 15:5-17].
Be assured that I have been given a taste of "His" fruit, and it was given quickly.  For I now look at things in a much different way than I did before, and my attitude in general has changed dramatically.

In other words, the old me has passed away and a new me has come [2 Corinthians 5:17], but I have only been given a taste of what is yet to come [1 Corinthians 13:12].  For it will not be until Judgment Day before my fruit is ready to harvest [1 John 3:2].
Nonetheless, I hunger for more now, and this is the part that I can play in my Heavenly Father's plan for my own life as a part of this world.  For I have been given a choice of being content with what I have been already given or earnestly being desirous of more and more of Him [2 Peter 1:5-11], and it the same for many, many others—depending upon what He wants to accomplish in and through them [Philippians 2:13].
Again I ask, where do we want the line drawn between where our Heavenly Father ends and we begin?  For if bearing fruit truly is mostly our responsibility—so be it, but if it is not—are not far too many being led astray?

Besides, is not the teaching that it is our responsibility to bear much fruit cheating our Heavenly Father out of the full measure of the glory that He can receive from us?  For the more we want to take credit, the less credit we can give Him [1 Corinthians 4:7].

The Minister: I have no idea what you're talking about.
But I assume that you mean that God will bear the fruit by Himself.
However, we can bear fruit only by co-operating with Abba and yielding to His Spirit.
Since man has a free-will, he can either yield or not yield, he can obey or disobey.
There is a criteria Scripture shows us in order to bear fruit..."Abiding in Him".  When we yield to His Spirit, He furnishes the fruit in our spirits.
It is not so about spiritual gifts.  Spiritual gifts isn't the same as spiritual fruit.

The Crackerhead: What I was trying to say before is that what I thought was love before is not even close to what our Heavenly Father considers it to be, and that after He became real to me (as opposed to just being who I had read about in the Bible), He allowed and enabled me to love much more like He loves, which is more passionate and longsuffering than what any of us can even start to naturally comprehend.  I am far from perfected in love, however, but He promises to complete the good work that He has begun in me.

In other words, it was when I began to truly abide in our Heavenly Father that I began to bear His fruit, and even though I understand that I do have a part to play in the process (mainly in regards to wanting to be more and more like Him), I do not consider that part to be of any great significance.  For many of the changes that I have experienced in my character have been done without me even asking for them in the first-place!

Yes, it is entirely possible for our Heavenly Father raise someone from the dead through even the most vile of sinners, but did He not do a similar work in me when He gave me a piece of His heart while I was as vile as anyone can be?  For the most dramatic of the changes that I have experienced so far in regards to the fruits of His Holy Spirit occurred at almost very instant that He brought me into His Light.

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