dumb sheep dave

Promoting Jesus Dependency

  • What’s so great about suffering?

    It’s the primary way I see Jesus growing believers to be more dependent on Himself. Suffering is not just physical, but can also be emotional/spiritual, like fresh conviction of sin, which at first seems unhelpful, not what I wanted, but afterward, I’m so grateful to be sane again, experiencing once again, the abundant LIFE Jesus…

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  • When I’m most dangerous

    to myself and others, is when I’m in an area of my expertise, with lots of knowledge and experience.   ShepherdDave, wise in my own eyes, leaning on my  own understanding, not asking or thanking Jesus, operating by puny-human power, no threat to the enemy and his kingdom, with a Jesus in me that is not…

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  • One benefit of becoming more self-aware,

    is becoming more aware of idols/addictions in my life, getting new, large glimpses of their pervasiveness that I’ve seen only dimly, compared to what I see now.  For example, my idol of efficiency runs everywhere throughout my day, I can now see.  Efficiency has seemed a noble thing to me — good stewardship.  But efficiency-addiction…

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  • Mini-dreads are the most dangerous,

    because with big-dreads I’m more likely to ask Jesus for help.  Somehow I get snookered into believing I’m supposed to handle mini-dreads on my own, and I live in denial of how much I dislike mini-dreads and live in denial of how they rob me of joy and peace, laboring alone, feeling as though it’s…

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  • Only the unconditionally loved are able

    to unconditionally love others.  If I’m not experiencing unconditional love from Jesus and myself, I’m not going to be unconditionally loving others, including my enemies.  I can tell if I’m feeling unconditionally loved by Jesus and myself, by noticing how I unconditionally love others: grace-giver or grace-robber.  Grace-giver: enjoying others, Jesus, and His plan for…

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  • To be happy, I need to experience

    unconditional love from two persons.  Jesus and myself.  Otherwise, I hate myself, hate others, hate Jesus and His plan for my life, in my less-sane moments when I’m secretly competitive, critical, agendafied.  Oh that’s nonsense, Dave.  You don’t hate yourself, don’t hate others, certainly don’t hate Jesus and don’t hate His plan for your life. …

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  • If the Good News doesn’t include the impossibility

    of obeying/believing, it’s not Good News for sanctification.  If it’s up to me to follow Jesus, make the right choices, believe rightly, strive to obey, be Gospel-centered in my ministry and in life, I’m still experiencing The Curse, still confident I know what’s best for me and those I love, which means my joy and…

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  • Best thing about failure,

    is the opportunity it provides me to treat myself like Jesus treats me: with unconditional love.  Historically, I’m much harsher with myself than my earthly dad ever was with me.  That’s typical of adult children who were not loved perfectly.  Unconditionally. So what faith/repentance looks like for ShepherdDave, is being convicted by the Spirit of…

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  • Imagine how it would feel,

    to lose everything.  I mean e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.  Health.  Savings.  Job.  Home.  Reputation.  Spouse.  Kids, adult kids, grandkids.  Various means could do it, but imagine the worst.  Living under a bridge, homeless, alone.  Or in prison for life.  Or a padded cell in an institution.  Immediate family and extended family all dead, or say, hopelessly estranged, somehow,…

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  • ShepherdDave is clear-sighted,

    about the sins of others, but mostly blind to his own sin, dumbing down law/sin to the place where he imagines himself following Jesus, being one of the good guys, so he feels superior to others, feels more righteous than others – especially outside-the-cup sinners, and imagines himself having a better understanding of the Gospel/Scriptures…

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