tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post3871254619628101409..comments2012-01-11T06:49:21.909-08:00Comments on Rugby Chapel: Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LordJoshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13894835046906618193noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post-46680477520626673062012-01-11T01:37:57.966-08:002012-01-11T01:37:57.966-08:00My favorite part, "posted by Joshua at 4:03 A...My favorite part, "posted by Joshua at 4:03 AM. Nice Josh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post-53007499128755441062011-12-12T13:12:22.773-08:002011-12-12T13:12:22.773-08:00Terry,
Thank you for your words.I think that in th...Terry,<br />Thank you for your words.I think that in the unknown a person can find peace if they have faith. That is my hope. I hope you and your wife are doing well. Thank you for your part in my journey.Joshuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894835046906618193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post-51705449872492106702011-12-12T09:20:01.947-08:002011-12-12T09:20:01.947-08:00Josh,
this is one of the most powerful testimonies...Josh,<br />this is one of the most powerful testimonies i have ever heard about how stepping into a bit of the unknown can be frightening but clearly necessary in order for the Lord to bless you with the insights and other blessings he has in store for you. i am so proud of your acknowledgement of Him<br /><br />Terry S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post-56699243856563893872011-12-07T08:28:37.026-08:002011-12-07T08:28:37.026-08:00Annette- So we are still going to make it to San F...Annette- So we are still going to make it to San Fran one of these days. Now that we have direct flights from IF there is really no excuse. I needed to hear what I wrote as well, if that makes sense. I find myself in those spots all the time. It would seem that at some point I would break free of that and finally get across the Red Sea. I am hoping that I can get there someday soon...Joshuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894835046906618193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post-68406020737465608232011-12-07T08:25:18.953-08:002011-12-07T08:25:18.953-08:00Ally-I miss you too! As for profound thoughts, don...Ally-I miss you too! As for profound thoughts, don't come here for that. This is just going to be my rambling thoughts that pass through my head as I commute to work. :) I hope all is well with you. Are you getting excited for your birthday??<br /><br />JoshJoshuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894835046906618193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post-51365366505583201912011-12-06T13:34:45.101-08:002011-12-06T13:34:45.101-08:00Josh, thank you for writing this and sharing it. ...Josh, thank you for writing this and sharing it. Bondage is a funny thing and most times only in my mind.<br /><br />I echo what Tim said in that I needed to hear this today, more than I can express. <br /><br />Love you so much!<br /><br />AAnnettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06073456776224805574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post-52018103890762502972011-12-06T10:33:08.054-08:002011-12-06T10:33:08.054-08:00Thanks for inviting me to your blog, Josh. (You kn...Thanks for inviting me to your blog, Josh. (You know you'll always be Josh to me.) ;-)<br /><br />I'm glad to have a means of glimpsing your life - although I'm sure to be a terrible disappointment in the area of discussing profound things.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading your thoughts here, though, as I always do enjoy your thoughts. And I look forward to more.<br /><br />Cheers and Hugs to you, my dearest friend! ;-) I miss you.Allyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08232709719845543983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post-48396809695121962812011-12-06T08:04:36.782-08:002011-12-06T08:04:36.782-08:00Tim-Thank you so much for your comments. And yes! ...Tim-Thank you so much for your comments. And yes! Exactly. That question your pastor asked is exactly the question we all need to ask ourselves. At least what I need to ask myself. Fearing not is the hard part for me. I just need to learn to trust more openly.Joshuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894835046906618193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555224872811408355.post-56952314889596742812011-12-06T06:04:27.819-08:002011-12-06T06:04:27.819-08:00Josh, this is wonderful! What you express is commo...Josh, this is wonderful! What you express is common to all believers, I think. We're all superstars when it comes to breaking free. But staying free--<i>living</i> free--that's a real battle. It's sort of a faith version of Battered Wife Syndrome. We hate continually getting beaten by our weaknesses and living in constant anxiety that we may not be as lucky next time. We're always on edge with a constant foreboding that the worst is yet to come. And when we summon the strength to break free, we go for it. <br /><br />The exhilaration between Egypt's gates and the Red Sea is out of this world. But there's that business about crossing the sea, which we're not at all familiar with and have no idea how to do it. In that moment, it just feels safer to return to what we know instead of taking the necessary risks to move further away from what we've escaped. And we do it over and over--and will keep doing it until we figure out we're putting ourselves in greater danger every time.<br /><br />My former pastor in LA preached what, for me, was a watershed sermon on this text, pointing out many of the same things you do here. What would have happened if Israel had resigned itself to life under Pharaoh, he wondered. Whatever life was like before they left, it wouldn't be the same now. It would be harsher. The chains would be shorter, the shackles tighter. And if the cycle repeated, life would be even worse when they returned the next time--less hopeful, more brutal, humiliating, and futile. I'll never forget his closing line: "So, do you <i>really</i> want to go back to Egypt?"<br /><br />Every time I'm tempted to return to slavery, I start a long talk with myself with that question. Do I really want to go back to Egypt?<br /><br />It takes a long time for Israel to conquer its urge to return to Egypt when times get rough. The minute something goes wrong, they start grumbling, "We should have stayed in Egypt. At least we had this and at least we had that." (How easily we forget that for all our bondage provided, it would never give us what we crave most: freedom!) And <i>every time</i> Israel sinks into griping and self-pity, they come within a hair of missing an incredible manifestation of God's power on their behalf. Bitter water turns sweet. Manna falls from the sky. God's own words come down from the mountain. Eventually they learn, but it's a struggle to let go their familiar fantasies when facing new fears.<br /><br />May God grant all of us the strength to stand still and see God's salvation. It's never easy. But, from my own experience, I can say it's always worth it. Thank you for this reminder. I needed to hear it and will carry it with me. <br /><br />Finally, congratulations on starting this journey! I pray you'll be led to find everything you need--and all you seek--while you travel. Online faith is a powerful thing and you're joining a mighty community of passionate believers who won't be confined by boundaries and labels. It's one big old family out here, and I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome you in!<br /><br />Blessings, dear friend and brother,<br />TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.com