| Aug 23 @ 8:53 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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Jankia
Posts: 11,906
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Faith isnt understood by many that dont think it a necessary tool of life or undertsand why it is for so many of us. Maybe if they looked at it as a means of living on purpose it would help.
Living on purpose means living by intention with a plan.It is living by design and not by default or accident.
Firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character, and one of the best instruments of success. Without it genius wastes its efforts in a maze of inconsistencies.
Chesterfield, Lord
Heres how the lady in this story lived according to her plan of living on purpose.
While grocery shopping with her young daughter in the cart they passed the cookie aisle.The daughter asked for some frosted cookies and mom said "It wont be long Ellen,we are halfway through the store and will be out of here soon.'
The daughter whimpered a bit until they came to the candy aisle when she asked for some tasty lollipops.
Mom said "We only have one more aisle to go Ellen and we'll be out of here shortly."
The daughter was quite upset and complained rather loudly.
When they got to the checkout she begged her mom for a pack of gum.
Mom replied... "Ellen...just as soon as our groceries are packaged and paid for we will be on our way home."
Thats when the fitfull crying tantrum began from her daughter.
Out in the parking lot while loading her car with the groceries a gentleman who had been following them throughout the store said this to her...
"While shopping behind you and your daughter I have to compliment you on your patience and understanding regarding your daughter Ellen."
A bit shocked at his statement she said..."My daughters name is Holly."
"My name is Ellen" 
Here is some interesting reading on the subject by Don M. Aycock a Christian writer.
After reading it,maybe you could share your own plan for living on purpose?
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| Sep 2 @ 9:40 AM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,267
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Firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character, and one of the best instruments of success. Without it genius wastes its efforts in a maze of inconsistencies. Such as believing in man made conceptions....Good and evil have no self nature;
Holy and unholy are empty names;
In front of the door is the land of stillness and quiet;
Spring comes, grass grows by itself.
Master Seung Sahn
However deep your
Knowledge of the scriptures,
It is no more than a strand of hair
In the vastness of space;
However important appears
Your worldly experience,
It is but a drop of water in a deep ravine.
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| Sep 2 @ 4:09 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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Bj864
Posts: 3,964
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I do think we need something to believe in that is much bigger than ourselves. It does give meaning to life and grounds us in morality and growth.
Without faith in God, it is hard to see how one can make sense out of the short life that we have here.
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| Sep 2 @ 4:42 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,613
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For me, there've been many plans along the way - I'm not a single-minded type, nor have I ever wanted to be, so the example in the video really isn't something I'd ever want to emulate.
My plans have simply been survival mode for most of my life - and trying to help those that I could along the way. I've developed my own philosophy that's served me well - it's helped me find a way to find Desiderata...
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
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| Sep 2 @ 4:54 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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sail_dancer
Posts: 9,866
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Heaven,
Peace
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| Sep 2 @ 7:56 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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Bj864
Posts: 3,964
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| Sep 2 @ 11:38 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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Jankia
Posts: 11,906
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Thanks Heaven for relating to the question with such clarity 
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| Sep 3 @ 8:07 AM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,267
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The OP Faith and Living On Purpose Begs me to wonder does anyone Live not on purpose, it seems you cannot have one without the other.
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| Sep 4 @ 6:44 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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Jankia
Posts: 11,906
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It could be you do yashaenka.
, it seems you cannot have one without the other. Your constant opinions based on someone elses...redundant copy and pasting with nothing added other then a  certainly isnt living by design and by default or accident.
Is living on purpose living the life of deceit? Thats hardly living at all if you ask me.
Acting like someone your not isnt really living,its pretending to live...by default.
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| Sep 5 @ 10:29 AM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,267
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So thats your opinion even though you know nothing about me, not really so who cares about your opinion of me or any others on here as when I see your ridiculous post the thought, Consider the source comes to mind a Chicken thief from Hicksville provides me a jolly good laugh when ever you post. 
BTW you asked others to share their plan for living, what is yours?
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| Sep 5 @ 3:13 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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Jankia
Posts: 11,906
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Thanks yashaenka...you just proved my point.
I asked you this..
Is living on purpose living the life of deceit? Your answer...
So thats your opinion even though you know nothing about me, not really so who cares about your opinion of me or any others on here as when I see your ridiculous post the thought, Consider the source comes to mind a Chicken thief from Hicksville provides me a jolly good laugh when ever you post
I know its difficult for you to understand for some odd reason but we all know more than nothing about you.Of course thats unless everything you say about yourself is a lie like your profile has been proven to be.
So...thankyou,lets just forget about your lie that I'm a chicken thief from Hicksville and stick to the truth because you proved your life of deceit once again.
Just how much deceit can you post and not be a deceitfull person?
1-you know nothing about me, I know you claimed to be a Theologist and also claimed that you never did.
2-who cares about your opinion of me You do or you wouldnt resort to posting blatant untruths about who I am because the truth I show hurts doesnt it.Ive never claimed you were anything you didnt prove you were yourself on here in your writing.
3-From your own thread...Never been hardly anywhere, limited direct experience about anything except maybe chicken plucking, no degree of any kind most likely a high school drop out. Do you really want be to give you my travel history,my work expierience and the licensed credits I have for my education and my profession to prove your deceit?
No...you'll just ignore the truth in it all and still laugh at the truth in other people because you truly believe the deceit thats in yourself.
Sorry this was so long,I guess your posting lies and laughter in a public forum is much easier.
Your question..BTW you asked others to share their plan for living, what is yours? My plan for living is living in honesty and faith.
Have a good day hiding from yourself Yashaenka.
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| Sep 5 @ 3:33 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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Banned_Knots
Posts: 1,125
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Jankia, do you realise how angry you sound?
Does it matter what people say on one day and on the next day? Every moment is gone and is history. Who we are yesterday is not who we are today.
Yes, you proved a good point and you said "...because the truth I show hurts doesnt it." So, Jankia who are you really hurting here? Yash, not at all. I know this to be so. Yourself is who you are really hurting.
You think and say harmful ways and it is you who will suffer the consequences and not the other person.
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| Sep 5 @ 4:19 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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Jankia
Posts: 11,906
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knots- Jankia, do you realise how angry you sound? My OP that you didnt come into this thread to discuss shows what anger? When you see an angry Christian wouldnt it be thoughfull to also show where the anger is?
You claim I'm angry but I actually gave an opinionated truthfull answer to something that puzzled yashaenka that referred to him in particular.He repled with his usual off-topic BS slander.Is that how theologists are trained to behave? 
Does it matter what people say on one day and on the next day? It mattered enough for you to come on this thread and not discuss the topic but rather my supposed anger.Why?
Yes, you proved a good point and you said "...because the truth I show hurts doesnt it." So, Jankia who are you really hurting here? Yash, not at all. I know this to be so. Yourself is who you are really hurting. I'm not trying to hurt anyone by bringing out someone that lives for the purpose of deceit.If you think I feel hurt for myself you obviously have no idea what a pleasure it is living by the truth.
With us both being on here for quite some time I will welcome you to show me of one instance that I claimed to be what I am not and resorted to slander because I couldnt debate with actual honest facts.
You think and say harmful ways and it is you who will suffer the consequences and not the other person.  Yes,your honor.I'm more then willing to suffer the consequences of being an honest Christian.
Remember..thats my plan for living.
What was yours?
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| Sep 5 @ 5:16 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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uncrazy
Posts: 2,382
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I have been reflecting on the idea that whatever I see in another is what I have within me. When I find something unlovable in you, I can make you guilty, and have a justification for not loving you, and for you not deserving the love of God.
I can then try to say then I am lovable to God and saved, but it will be false because I have only hidden what is within me in you.
I live on purpose by forgiveness and then love of all that appears in front of me...even if they are found in other religions and philosophies, it would make sense that any wise teacher would proffer such.
Jesus did not teach what is in the creed to his disciples...he taught love and forgiveness. In Pauls writings, it is apparent that he knew how to make money with it... and Paul offers no information how on forgives or loves others as themselves.
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| Sep 5 @ 5:34 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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southernlass
Posts: 2,228
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I think you bring up a valid point, Uncrazy, as Knotty did on another thread.
It doesn't really matter what religion we are, we're all going to do better if we're positive in our lives and in our interactions with others. Ideally, we would all probably be better off were we to respond like Jesus or Buddha suggested when we're being insulted, demeaned, etc. Loving the other person who attempts harm is the more Christian and Buddhist way of being. Unfortunately, this is tough to put into practice and it takes a lot of practice to do it. What better place to practice than here on MD? There are countless opportunities here for us to put our money where our mouth is, so to speak.
I've noted serious change in BandTMom of late and I hope she doesn't mind my bringing her up again as an example, but I've been impressed with the changes. That kind of change in attitude and in the way one acts with others is "practicing what one preaches," or living one's beliefs in daily reality and it is this that is the true meaning behind Jankia's topic, imo.
Living on purpose, imo, means living without deceit, without falsity, without hypocrisy. It involves being true to myself first and foremost, and not deceiving myself. It means being true to the faith that I claim to embrace. It's hard to get to this and to see my own flaws so that I can actually do it. My fellows are only too glad to point out my weaknesses and flaws however, but it is up to me if I'm willing to take in the constructive criticism or insults and really listen with a desire to find the truth and change for the better.
Nice insight, everyone..
To live on purpose we need to learn the difference between being a tourist in life ? going only where it’s convenient and comfortable, and a traveler ? one who determines his or her own way in life and will get there even if it means blazing a new trail. One reason why so many people try to climb Mt. Everest is that they want to push themselves and do something that makes them feel alive. But we can push ourselves in moral, spiritual, and relational areas also.
That’s it ? dare to be different. Determine where you want to go and start. The path will have dangers and you will have to take appropriate risks. But the alternative is to stay where you are now. Is that where you want to be?
You never know what might cross your path when you are truly alive and awake. Our son Ryan volunteers at a crisis center in his college town. He started there as part of an academic requirement but has stayed on because helping people has given him a great sense of purpose. His eyes sparkle when he speaks of talking someone out of suicide. When we know what we are after in life, we find that opportunities open all around us. Someone said of John D. Rockefeller, “When it was raining money, John knew how to turn his cup up the right way.”
Reread the article, Jankia, and I think I'll save this one. It's really good.
Change is dreadfully difficult as one gets older, imo. Sometimes it's exactly what we need though and getting out of our comfort zone moves us to the next place in life that we need to be. I'm in that zone at this phase in my life, and sense that new horizons are around the corner that are unknown and challenging. It's scary but exciting on some level, and I sense that what is ahead of me is going to be demanding but will pay off in ways I've not even imagined!
Living on purpose is like tubing down a rough river with rapids that might take your breath away, and little lulls along the way where you can lay back and just float, but don't get too comfortable because there are rough patches ahead. The ride is exhiliterating and it's this re-living the ride that we remember at the end of our days. Hopefully the ride was memorable. 
[Edited on 9/5/2009 5:59 PM]
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| Sep 5 @ 7:27 PM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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Bj864
Posts: 3,964
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I have been reflecting on the idea that whatever I see in another is what I have within me. When I find something unlovable in you, I can make you guilty, and have a justification for not loving you, and for you not deserving the love of God.
I can then try to say then I am lovable to God and saved, but it will be false because I have only hidden what is within me in you.
I live on purpose by forgiveness and then love of all that appears in front of me...even if they are found in other religions and philosophies, it would make sense that any wise teacher would proffer such.
Does this mean you allow people to treat you any way they want to without even saying anything?
I am sorry, but I do not think people are supposed to be human doormats.
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| Sep 6 @ 7:25 AM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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Banned_Knots
Posts: 1,125
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Sl nice post thank you.
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| Sep 6 @ 8:56 AM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,267
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You claim I'm angry but I actually gave an opinionated truthfull answer to something that puzzled yashaenka that referred to him in particular What puzzled me I think you must have a memory problem.
We have yet to see any actual facts from you but then logic to you is your delusions.
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| Sep 6 @ 9:58 AM |
Faith and Living On Purpose
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BandTMom
Posts: 38,059
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Thank you, Lass. That was a nice post.
I think, perhaps, that you've seen a "change" in me because there has been a change in you. Please don't misconstrue my words for I mean them with all kindness and with joy in my heart. My posts on this site have been rare as of late, but maybe you see them as "changed" because you are looking at them with new eyes. I, too, have seen a change in you, Your posts have been much more kinder and gentler too. Six months ago (not sure on the time frame) you would have never used "Jesus" and "the Buddha" in the same sentence, nor would you have agreed that people of different "faiths" can post together in peace and harmony. But I do see that now. You may have always been this way, but now it is shining through. 
Maybe you have come to see that many of us won't "lash out" against a person's chosen path unless that person has first declared that their way is the only way and all others are wrong.
Even amid the fussing and fighting that occurs on our small board here, I have seen an acceptance, a spiritual growth, and an awakening (with a small "a") among some of the members here. I see a peacefulness that was here before. We should all rejoice in the fact that people on different walks in life can come together and post towards one another with love and respect.
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| Sep 6 @ 10:24 AM |
Faith and Living On Purpose |
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,267
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It doesn't really matter what religion we are, we're all going to do better if we're positive in our lives and in our interactions with others. Ideally, we would all probably be better off were we to respond like Jesus or Buddha suggested when we're being insulted, demeaned, etc. [B]Nicely stated SL 
Maybe you are starting to understand that some of us others see as atheist are not and that we are eager for you to provide the facts you yourself use for your own chosen religious beliefs. You have every right to that on that we do not disagree.
What is maddening for me is people who use such things as It is written or these are the words of God although some man wrote them trying to emulate what God may have said, understand the why of our frustrations?
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