hberry
Senior Member
Posts: 743
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Post by hberry on Sept 6, 2015 10:00:58 GMT -5
I've noticed that when f&w's describe their Sunday fellowship meetings and Wed. night Bible study gatherings, they often use the adjective "little", This thread is titled "A little home church". It seems to be important that the size of the 'church' is classified as little. Yes the Sunday and Wednesday groups are on the small side, but they ALSO gather in a large group for Gospel meetings and conventions. Amongst the people I meet with for fellowship and Bible study, I've never heard our groups described as little. And yet, often there are only 8 or so of us that gather regularly in homes in each group. Why is it important for those in the fellowship to use that term? I thinks it's because it conveys humility. The F&W are very concerned about appearing humble. and the "few there be that find it" verse.
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Post by snow on Sept 6, 2015 13:58:06 GMT -5
I've noticed that when f&w's describe their Sunday fellowship meetings and Wed. night Bible study gatherings, they often use the adjective "little", This thread is titled "A little home church". It seems to be important that the size of the 'church' is classified as little. Yes the Sunday and Wednesday groups are on the small side, but they ALSO gather in a large group for Gospel meetings and conventions. Amongst the people I meet with for fellowship and Bible study, I've never heard our groups described as little. And yet, often there are only 8 or so of us that gather regularly in homes in each group. Why is it important for those in the fellowship to use that term? I thinks it's because it conveys humility. The F&W are very concerned about appearing humble. Trouble is it seems those who are striving to be seen as humble become holier than thou in the process.
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Post by bitterbetty on Sept 8, 2015 15:42:25 GMT -5
I thinks it's because it conveys humility. The F&W are very concerned about appearing humble. Trouble is it seems those who are striving to be seen as humble become holier than thou in the process. Maybe the 'hang-up' in becoming truly humble is in the 'striving'. Maybe people need to stop striving so much and just let things be as they are. (Now I am sounding like a Buddhist)Yes, humility is seen as a spiritual virtue. Why is it so evasive for some? I really don't know. Seems rather tricky really. We are easily deceived. What is it about the truly humble that makes them humble? Is that they hide from the camera and shun the spotlight? No, not always. I know some very renowned folks who get a lot of attention, whether they want it or not, yet they still seem humble. Maybe it is just something in their spirit. Why is it something to be striven for in the first place? Because it is the opposite of pride? Yet some of the most God-fearing people I have ever met struggle with pride! I learn my greatest lessons about humility by encountering others who I perceive as being remarkably humble despite all the areas and qualities in their life that would propel them to living in pride. So, what makes a proud person proud? What is it that makes a person truly humble? Much of it is rooted in ego-our concept of who we are. It's part of our make-up, our ego. Can we ever truly shed it? Don't know that's really possible as long as we are living. But, maybe we find a way to stop fixating on ourselves, a natural tendency.
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Post by bitterbetty on Sept 8, 2015 15:49:46 GMT -5
I've noticed that when f&w's describe their Sunday fellowship meetings and Wed. night Bible study gatherings, they often use the adjective "little", This thread is titled "A little home church". It seems to be important that the size of the 'church' is classified as little. Yes the Sunday and Wednesday groups are on the small side, but they ALSO gather in a large group for Gospel meetings and conventions. Amongst the people I meet with for fellowship and Bible study, I've never heard our groups described as little. And yet, often there are only 8 or so of us that gather regularly in homes in each group. Why is it important for those in the fellowship to use that term? bluejay, I have often wondered that too, I remember a worker calling me in regard to the CSA issue in Victoria a few years ago, using the words "we will send you a little letter" It could just be they use the word 'little' to describe their meeting because it is indeed LITTLE! No other reason. (shrug). Is it IMPORTANT for them to use that term? I don't think so. They might use it, yes, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it is important. I can see redeeming qualities in both little and big gatherings. Little or small things can have the megawatt value of big things. And, at times it's amazing how big things can still retain the special-ness of little things. I try to be open-minded about it. In other words-just because something is big, doesn't make it grand. And just because something is little does not make it grand either...The 'grand-ness' comes with the spirit-whether little or big.
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Post by bitterbetty on Sept 8, 2015 17:23:14 GMT -5
Sometimes it seems like being truly humble evades us. In all our attempts at being humble, we still miss it. So, what is the secret? Maybe it's just not what we thought it was or what we had always envisioned and we 'find' it when and where we least expect it. Is true humility something we must work for? Or...does it finally come when we finally let go? Is it the 'space' between the lines? Is it in the pause? The refrain? Is silence really the greatest passion?
Space Between The Lines.
There’s a little sparrow singin’ in a ring around around the sun And I’m right here on the shoulder just stickin’ out my thumb No one tells a bird to fly, they just jump and spread their wings They fly south in the winter and then they come back in the spring
And I’m right back where I started in the space between the lines I come expecting nothing but what I find I don’t follow others’ footsteps, I’m the wind between the pines I only wish that I could stay here in the space between the lines
There’s an angel in the dessert and an island in the sand And I’m right here on the shoulder so I’ll get there when I can No one tells a bird to fly they just jump and spread their wings It was time for me to travel until I found my song to sing
And I’m right back where I started in the space between the lines I come expecting nothing but what I find I don’t follow other’s footsteps, I’m the wind between the pines I only wish that I could stay here in the space between the lines
-Tim O'Brien
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Post by emy on Sept 8, 2015 19:39:15 GMT -5
Maybe the 'hang-up' in becoming truly humble is in the 'striving'. Maybe people need to stop striving so much and just let things be as they are. (Now I am sounding like a Buddhist)Yes, humility is seen as a spiritual virtue. Why is it so evasive for some? I really don't know. Seems rather tricky really. We are easily deceived. What is it about the truly humble that makes them humble? Is that they hide from the camera and shun the spotlight? No, not always. I know some very renowned folks who get a lot of attention, whether they want it or not, yet they still seem humble. Maybe it is just something in their spirit. Why is it something to be striven for in the first place? Because it is the opposite of pride? Yet some of the most God-fearing people I have ever met struggle with pride! I learn my greatest lessons about humility by encountering others who I perceive as being remarkably humble despite all the areas and qualities in their life that would propel them to living in pride. So, what makes a proud person proud? What is it that makes a person truly humble? Much of it is rooted in ego-our concept of who we are. It's part of our make-up, our ego. Can we ever truly shed it? Don't know that's really possible as long as we are living. But, maybe we find a way to stop fixating on ourselves, a natural tendency. A few years back, I read a quote about humility. I'm not sure I can quote it correctly and have no idea what the source is, but it went something like this: Humility is not trying to make yourself small, but standing (?) as tall as you can and realizing how short you still are.
Made a lot of sense to me!
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Post by bitterbetty on Sept 8, 2015 19:42:59 GMT -5
Maybe the 'hang-up' in becoming truly humble is in the 'striving'. Maybe people need to stop striving so much and just let things be as they are. (Now I am sounding like a Buddhist)Yes, humility is seen as a spiritual virtue. Why is it so evasive for some? I really don't know. Seems rather tricky really. We are easily deceived. What is it about the truly humble that makes them humble? Is that they hide from the camera and shun the spotlight? No, not always. I know some very renowned folks who get a lot of attention, whether they want it or not, yet they still seem humble. Maybe it is just something in their spirit. Why is it something to be striven for in the first place? Because it is the opposite of pride? Yet some of the most God-fearing people I have ever met struggle with pride! I learn my greatest lessons about humility by encountering others who I perceive as being remarkably humble despite all the areas and qualities in their life that would propel them to living in pride. So, what makes a proud person proud? What is it that makes a person truly humble? Much of it is rooted in ego-our concept of who we are. It's part of our make-up, our ego. Can we ever truly shed it? Don't know that's really possible as long as we are living. But, maybe we find a way to stop fixating on ourselves, a natural tendency. A few years back, I read a quote about humility. I'm not sure I can quote it correctly and have no idea what the source is, but it went something like this: Humility is not trying to make yourself small, but standing (?) as tall as you can and realizing how short you still are.
Made a lot of sense to me! wow. Right on! And so there are two things going on simultaneously: Standing tall, but knowing you are short. Talk about a balance...
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Post by emy on Sept 8, 2015 19:56:42 GMT -5
Found this one while looking for the source of the other:
"True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us." — Tryon Edwards
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Post by howitis on Sept 8, 2015 20:15:02 GMT -5
Found this one while looking for the source of the other: "True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us."
— Tryon Edwards Thanks emyI love our fellowship and appreciate so much the efforts of others, those that allow their homes to be used, those that take a break from their busy lives to gather, the children, those with young families........I realise these things may not mean much to some, but I am so very grateful!
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Post by kurtzphil69 on Sept 8, 2015 22:21:34 GMT -5
Found this one while looking for the source of the other: "True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us."
— Tryon Edwards Thanks emyI love our fellowship and appreciate so much the efforts of others, those that allow their homes to be used, those that take a break from their busy lives to gather, the children, those with young families........I realise these things may not mean much to some, but I am so very grateful! I always thought it would be hard to get a young family including babies out to meetings and get through the meetings with them too. I am sure it is not easy. As a teenager I also felt kind of sorry for the frail elderly who seemed to barely make it to meetings and depended on others to get them there. Some of them could hardly walk, let alone drive. My grandma was one to give the elderly rides and I thought it was a pain, but my heart wasn't in it and I suppose if it was I would have felt differently.
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Post by kurtzphil69 on Sept 8, 2015 22:24:01 GMT -5
Found this one while looking for the source of the other: "True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us."
— Tryon Edwards Nice quotes-I agree. How does one "rightly estimate" how God sees them? I've got blinders.
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