Jonathan Parfrey's

Lust for Peace

Today is

Hi Jonathan!

It was nice to get some email from you, even if about the Test Ban Treaty. I would be more inclined to take a stand on the issue if Clinton weren't helping China get nukes. The Right says "Peace through Strength," and I don't like what "strength" implies. If the Left were to fill in the slogan for themselves, what would it be?  "Peace through ___________."  "Most Favored Nation status for dictatorships like China?" Think I'll send you an email.

This is a continuation of our survey of the Rebuilder's Guide. It would be great if you were so interested in it that you sat down and read the whole thing all the way through. But if you haven't the time, you'll get through it eventually if you just take 5 minutes a day, which is the purpose of this whole web site.

The Sixth Goal of a Rebuilder is to "Rebuild Past Failures Into a New Life Message." A "Life Message" is a message others can learn from your life. The Sixth Goal is to be able to help others learn those lessons by clarifying your Life Message.

Page 193 (in my copy anyway) says,

       We always like to hear a story that has a happy ending. The biographies that God has given to us in Scripture, however, do not always fit  that unrealistic form. The power of God's messages comes from the continuing limitations which result from failures.
       These physical limitations provide powerful motivation for your listeners: If they will learn the lessons that God has taught you, they will not have to suffer the same physical limitations in their lives.
       This is God's way to forgive sin. he puts it out of His sight, but in order to build Christ's character in us and to give clear warnings to others, He allows continuing physical limitations. If we respond to them wisely and obediently, they will actually increase our inward beauty, and the gory of Christ will shine more brightly as we become living witnesses of His truth.

"Happy endings" are not our purpose for existence; God-glorifying endings are. As the old Calvinist Catechism put it, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

Tomorrow will get an overview of the seventh and final goal, and then we'll start digging through the book.

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