Comments on: John 8:44 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/2008/02/21/john-844/ My last chance to trust the Man with the Star Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:23:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Chris http://thelastchancetexaco.com/2008/02/21/john-844/comment-page-1/#comment-414 Chris Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:39:01 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/john-844/02/21/2008/#comment-414 You are exactly, precisely right, Daniel. That is exactly what addiction is. Part of my moment of clarity that brought me to recovery -at least this time and the first time that the experience has had any authenticity to me- was not only the realization of the truth about my disease, but also a glimmer of realization of the truth about me; that truth being that I am the child of an all powerful, all loving Creator of all possibilities and that there is a plan, a purpose and a destiny for me to grow toward Him. Thank you for visiting. You are most welcome here. You are exactly, precisely right, Daniel. That is exactly what addiction is. Part of my moment of clarity that brought me to recovery -at least this time and the first time that the experience has had any authenticity to me- was not only the realization of the truth about my disease, but also a glimmer of realization of the truth about me; that truth being that I am the child of an all powerful, all loving Creator of all possibilities and that there is a plan, a purpose and a destiny for me to grow toward Him.

Thank you for visiting. You are most welcome here.

]]> By: Daniel J. http://thelastchancetexaco.com/2008/02/21/john-844/comment-page-1/#comment-413 Daniel J. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:25:13 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/john-844/02/21/2008/#comment-413 This is the metaphysical description of addiction. Read the quote again and think of it alone in this way. It makes bone-chilling sense. "You [addiction] are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father [again, addiction]. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." This is the metaphysical description of addiction. Read the quote again and think of it alone in this way. It makes bone-chilling sense.

“You [addiction] are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father [again, addiction]. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

]]> By: Java http://thelastchancetexaco.com/2008/02/21/john-844/comment-page-1/#comment-403 Java Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:00:56 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/john-844/02/21/2008/#comment-403 Beautifully written. I continue to be inspired by the evidence of The Steps in the lives of people I've met around these parts. (There are 5 prepositional phrases in that last sentence. My old English teachers would cringe.) Beautifully written. I continue to be inspired by the evidence of The Steps in the lives of people I’ve met around these parts.

(There are 5 prepositional phrases in that last sentence. My old English teachers would cringe.)

]]> By: BoyGrowsUp http://thelastchancetexaco.com/2008/02/21/john-844/comment-page-1/#comment-402 BoyGrowsUp Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:32:34 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/john-844/02/21/2008/#comment-402 You are to be commended for your measured response, and your forbearance. This Mick is a delusional character. I feel sympathy toward him, because there must be something horrible and vexing in his life that he is struggling mightily with. I left this comment at his blog post: Micky: As someone who spent 37 years studying the Bible, I can say without doubt that the Good Book condemns anyone who claims to be "the Holy One of God" unless that person has the name of Jesus Christ. The Reverend Jim Jones thought otherwise, and look how that turned out. You are to be commended for your measured response, and your forbearance.

This Mick is a delusional character. I feel sympathy toward him, because there must be something horrible and vexing in his life that he is struggling mightily with.

I left this comment at his blog post:

Micky: As someone who spent 37 years studying the Bible, I can say without doubt that the Good Book condemns anyone who claims to be “the Holy One of God” unless that person has the name of Jesus Christ. The Reverend Jim Jones thought otherwise, and look how that turned out.

]]> By: Marc http://thelastchancetexaco.com/2008/02/21/john-844/comment-page-1/#comment-401 Marc Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:25:21 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/john-844/02/21/2008/#comment-401 I can't imagine why you would think somehow what this quite evidently mentally ill man's choice of scripture has anything remotely to do with your blog or any of the blogs he has listed below that particular quote. I imagine he was severely abused as a child by an alcoholic father who tried to get sober in AA and failed, abusing Mr Clontarf even more. He therefore as chosen AA as the focus of all the wrongs done to him. He is to be pitied, and perhaps feared if he ever gets a gun into his hands, but his words should be given no more weight than if they were written by Kim Il Sung. I can’t imagine why you would think somehow what this quite evidently mentally ill man’s choice of scripture has anything remotely to do with your blog or any of the blogs he has listed below that particular quote.
I imagine he was severely abused as a child by an alcoholic father who tried to get sober in AA and failed, abusing Mr Clontarf even more. He therefore as chosen AA as the focus of all the wrongs done to him. He is to be pitied, and perhaps feared if he ever gets a gun into his hands, but his words should be given no more weight than if they were written by Kim Il Sung.

]]> By: bobbie http://thelastchancetexaco.com/2008/02/21/john-844/comment-page-1/#comment-400 bobbie Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:16:21 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/john-844/02/21/2008/#comment-400 "I stayed loaded essentially for the effect. Today I stay sober for the same reason." - this has been one of the biggest ah-ha's for me lately - riding the emotion that used to drive me into my addiction into the place of serenity. It's almost like a wave in my head - I can let it push me ashore to where my addiction is, or I can learn to ride it and surf to that place of serenity. The picture of my 42 year old butt on a surfboard would make anyone shudder, but in my mind I can hang 10 with the best of them! The biggest gift recovery has given me was of a God that was full of grace. That bean counter you spoke of had a huge thumb placed squarely between my shoulder blades and he was a shame-meister. Finding out that I had the ability to find God "as I understand him" changed everything. It's why I come back too. I got my first sponsoree yesterday, and that changes everything for me too. I am so overwhelmed that someone might want what I have. Hearing you blogging on sponsoring has been so helpful for me. I don't ever want this to be codependent - and the line you wrote a couple of weeks ago about not caring more about someone else's recovery than they do will be foremost in my thoughts as I interact with this lovely woman. Thank you! “I stayed loaded essentially for the effect. Today I stay sober for the same reason.” - this has been one of the biggest ah-ha’s for me lately - riding the emotion that used to drive me into my addiction into the place of serenity. It’s almost like a wave in my head - I can let it push me ashore to where my addiction is, or I can learn to ride it and surf to that place of serenity. The picture of my 42 year old butt on a surfboard would make anyone shudder, but in my mind I can hang 10 with the best of them!

The biggest gift recovery has given me was of a God that was full of grace. That bean counter you spoke of had a huge thumb placed squarely between my shoulder blades and he was a shame-meister. Finding out that I had the ability to find God “as I understand him” changed everything.

It’s why I come back too.

I got my first sponsoree yesterday, and that changes everything for me too. I am so overwhelmed that someone might want what I have. Hearing you blogging on sponsoring has been so helpful for me. I don’t ever want this to be codependent - and the line you wrote a couple of weeks ago about not caring more about someone else’s recovery than they do will be foremost in my thoughts as I interact with this lovely woman. Thank you!

]]> By: Sam http://thelastchancetexaco.com/2008/02/21/john-844/comment-page-1/#comment-399 Sam Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:00:37 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/john-844/02/21/2008/#comment-399 Hey there! I'm Sam, one of the many who Micky graced in his list. Please pardon my putting the same comment on your site that I've put on so many others. I've copied his list (with some omission of content!) and posted in on my site, www.raanch.com. You might want to take a look, for there are 82 blogs listed there. You're bound to find a new friend to follow. Also, I'm offering to everyone the code to put the same list in a post on their site. Lastly, there's a non-link to Micky's site, where folks can post a thank you to him for his service. After all, he really helped us out by compiling this list! Take good care! Sam Hey there! I’m Sam, one of the many who Micky graced in his list. Please pardon my putting the same comment on your site that I’ve put on so many others.

I’ve copied his list (with some omission of content!) and posted in on my site, http://www.raanch.com. You might want to take a look, for there are 82 blogs listed there. You’re bound to find a new friend to follow. Also, I’m offering to everyone the code to put the same list in a post on their site. Lastly, there’s a non-link to Micky’s site, where folks can post a thank you to him for his service. After all, he really helped us out by compiling this list!

Take good care!
Sam

]]> By: Chris http://thelastchancetexaco.com/2008/02/21/john-844/comment-page-1/#comment-398 Chris Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:33:17 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/john-844/02/21/2008/#comment-398 Thank you, Bobbie. I just came from a noon meeting, a book study, and today we were finishing up Bill's Story beginning right at the part where Bill concedes that Christ is "a great man, not too closely followed by those who claim Him." My own experience is the same as Bill's. I held the same view. But the idea of God I walked through the door with was a bearded, bean counting, lightning bolt throwing bastard in the sky. Not a power by which I could live. I made my beginning by laying aside that idea and expressing the simple willingness to seek. From that beginning I have grown to an absolute certainty of the presence in my life of an all-loving, all-powerful Creator who loves me more than I can understand, wants better for me than I know how to want for myself, and who has a plan, a design and a purpose for me to grow day by day, in whatever little or uncertain way that I can, in His own likeness and image. That's why I keep seeking. That's why I come back. I stayed loaded essentially for the effect. Today I stay sober for the same reason. Thank you, Bobbie.

I just came from a noon meeting, a book study, and today we were finishing up Bill’s Story beginning right at the part where Bill concedes that Christ is “a great man, not too closely followed by those who claim Him.” My own experience is the same as Bill’s. I held the same view. But the idea of God I walked through the door with was a bearded, bean counting, lightning bolt throwing bastard in the sky. Not a power by which I could live. I made my beginning by laying aside that idea and expressing the simple willingness to seek.

From that beginning I have grown to an absolute certainty of the presence in my life of an all-loving, all-powerful Creator who loves me more than I can understand, wants better for me than I know how to want for myself, and who has a plan, a design and a purpose for me to grow day by day, in whatever little or uncertain way that I can, in His own likeness and image. That’s why I keep seeking. That’s why I come back.

I stayed loaded essentially for the effect. Today I stay sober for the same reason.

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