tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post111090856126261696..comments2023-07-15T02:18:38.947-07:00Comments on Contrarian Views: Boot CampDavid M. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15720778073616293157noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1111092577583964082005-03-17T12:49:00.000-08:002005-03-17T12:49:00.000-08:00OK ... I understand a bit better what you mean.I t...OK ... I understand a bit better what you mean.<BR/><BR/>I think that the sole purpose of this life is to mold us into the likeness of Jesus. There was a time when we (mankind) had that likeness, and we lost it. Now, for those who believe, that seed has been replanted in our hearts, by that lazy farmer, I guess (-;. And, that seed is growing. In some hearts the seed grows better than in others. Eventually, if/when the flower blooms, it will be the likeness of Christ in our lives. Whether you wish to call it "boot-camp" or "busting up the clumps of soil" or whatever, God's purpose and desire is to restore that which we have lost. It is a lot easier to grow a field of foxtail and thistle than it is a garden of prize-winning roses. And if the soil is poor, sometimes you have to dump a whole load of ... um ... fertilizer ... on the roses to get them to grow. Despite that old saying, "fertilizer" doesn't just happen. It is carefully placed around the plants (Luke 13:8) so that they will grow and bear fruit. Sometimes when things get tough, when I feel like I am having a load of "fertilizer" dumped on me, I wonder if I am being strengthened because God has wonderful plans for me and I must be up to the task, or if I am a poor, unproductive tree, and God is trying to help me grow or getting ready to rip me out by the roots!<BR/><BR/>I didn't think they were supposed to use "live" ammo in boot camp!<BR/><BR/>BuzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1111079449022616562005-03-17T09:10:00.000-08:002005-03-17T09:10:00.000-08:00Hi Buz,When I write “Kingdom of Heaven”, I mean be...Hi Buz,<BR/><BR/>When I write “Kingdom of Heaven”, I mean belonging to God and becoming what he created me to be. I’m not differentiating between this side of life and the other side of life. I believe there is an element of what happens on this side that prepares us for the other side, but I just don’t know for sure. I don’t know that I would describe the other side as the victory either, since the outcome is predetermined. When I refer to marriage as a boot camp, I am referring to marriage as a small environment of spouse and children that prepares us for the other relationships in the world, similar to how boot camp prepares recruits for the skills they need as soldiers.<BR/><BR/>I don’t consider my marriage to be particularly challenging. I consider it to be pretty normal. Since half of all marriages, even Christian marriages, end in divorce, most married couples have their challenges. It has been my experience from observing and talking to older couples that they all had a time when they wanted to leave, but they kept their commitment and managed to make it work. Some even ended up with all of the Bliss they desired. Do you believe your marriage is the norm? <BR/><BR/>I would describe what you are going through now [I will keep this private unless Buz wants to share] as a Kingdom of Heaven boot camp as well. I know you are better prepared to empathize and help others as a result of your challenge. <BR/><BR/>Even though I have four sisters, I can see where I needed to learn and understand more about females than I did before I was married. I can also see where my wife needed to understand more about males. I can only conclude God intended my family to prepare me for what he wants me to be and what he wants me to do. I see the same in other families as well. Your preparation may be different.David M. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15720778073616293157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1111026837498081202005-03-16T18:33:00.000-08:002005-03-16T18:33:00.000-08:00David,I am not sure what to make of all this ... I...David,<BR/><BR/>I am not sure what to make of all this ... <BR/><BR/>I think we need a boot camp for the Christian life, but not for Heaven. Boot camp, as I understand it is to prepare us for the rigors of war. Heaven is not the war, it is the victory.<BR/><BR/>If you think that your marriage is a boot camp, you must have a really challenging marriage. I have never been in boot camp, but I have been married for over 30 years. And for most all of that time, my marriage has been my safe haven ... the place of comfort when the world has been overwhelming. Yes we have had struggles, but, thankfully, most of them have been us against our circumstances, not us against each other. Our circumstances have not been easy, but they have served to bring us closer to each other ... at times it feels like we are standing back-to-back, fighting the rest of the world. There is no one else I would rather have protecting my back than my wife, and no one else who would do it so tenaciously or faithfully.<BR/><BR/>BuzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1111014722704130532005-03-16T15:12:00.000-08:002005-03-16T15:12:00.000-08:00Your humility and thoughtfulness are to be commend...Your humility and thoughtfulness are to be commended and will only enable you to be a better husband, father, and the man God wants you to be!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1110994855800349372005-03-16T09:40:00.000-08:002005-03-16T09:40:00.000-08:00That is my prayer as a mother, as well.That is my prayer as a mother, as well.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08900874017388094590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1110943177039202892005-03-15T19:19:00.000-08:002005-03-15T19:19:00.000-08:00Well said, David. My children have done the same ...Well said, David. My children have done the same for me. Peace!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02784232889655793234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1110941860746910002005-03-15T18:57:00.000-08:002005-03-15T18:57:00.000-08:00David,Another excellent post. My experience with m...David,<BR/>Another excellent post. My experience with marriage wasn't at all what I hoped for, it ended in divorce. I can't asign blame to her either, as the saying goes, it takes two. Speaking of sayings,"It's easier to die for a cause, than to live for it". I don't know if that is true, but it is an interesting concept.<BR/>Petepete porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13723844160780051220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1110916880539242472005-03-15T12:01:00.000-08:002005-03-15T12:01:00.000-08:00Excellent metaphors, David...and very well said.Excellent metaphors, David...and very well said.Hammertimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15497914450803388853noreply@blogger.com