dumb sheep dave

Promoting Jesus Dependency

  • Do we need Jesus for the possible?

    The Pharisees so dumbed down the law and sin, that living for God was possible.  Like a six-foot high jump you train to conquer.  But Jesus raised the bar to sixteen feet, and you can’t use a pole.  Impossible.  The Pharisees were pseudo-obedient, pseudo-followers of God.  Humanly possible. Have we in the Church, also dumbed…

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  • I’m thankful to be such a mess,

    so dysfunctional, such a failure at following Jesus.  Whyzat?  If I were obedient, His salvation and His imputed worthiness would mean little to me, because, “He who has been forgiven little, loves little.”  When I only feel forgiven a little, I conditionally love/enjoy Jesus (when He blesses my agenda), conditionally love/enjoy Jesus’ plan for my…

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  • What do I want from others?

    Dunno.  Well.  I guess I want them to appreciate/enjoy me just as I am.  The Golden Rule tells me that I need to be the kind of person who extends that same grace to them, to enjoy them just as they are.  That’s impossible.  I am so competitive that I am always judging others, looking…

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  • A dumb sheep never feels alone,

    never feels the weight of the world on its shoulders.  But a dumb sheep trying to be a shepherd, feels very alone facing a to-do list.  Up to me.  Pressure to succeed.  Agenda.  Striver.  Suppressed fear of failure, humiliation, being pitied, maybe ridiculed.  A dumb sheep content to be a dumb sheep, never experiences fear,…

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  • A dumb sheep always lives in the present.

    A dumb sheep never wonders where he will eat tomorrow, next week, next year. That’s his shepherd’s problem/job.  A dumb sheep just eats the grass in front of him.  Ahhh. But when a dumb sheep tries to be something he’s not – a shepherd/independent, concerned about the future, the dumb sheep experiences The Curse: stress,…

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  • What sin does God hate most?

    Abortion?  Prostitution?  Drugs?  Sins of rank heathen?  No.  Listen. “The Sovereign Lord has sworn by himself – the Lord God Almighty declares, ‘I abhor the pride [independence] of Jacob [believers] and detest his fortresses [self-reliance].’”  Amos 6:8 The Pharisees of Jesus’ day didn’t get it, and neither do we believers today.  WE are the problem. …

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  • Year-end finances of GospelFriendships.

    Best I can tell, we could have an operating deficit this year of about $5-10k by Dec 31.  I just never know.  Historically, some non-supporters have sent gifts for the deficit in December, and some regular supporters have given extra.  Usually a combination of the two.  Usually not the same folks.  I’m always amazed how…

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  • Thank You, Jesus, that You didn’t

    come for the healthy, together, but for us sicko’s who claim to follow You, but are actually willful, agendafied, wanting You to bless our agendas, competitive, prideful, relishing feeling superior to others, judging the cars they drive, clothes they wear, how they behave, write, talk, obey.  Thank You that grace is for sinners, that we…

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  • Thank You for the tastes of Heaven

    I experience whenever Your Spirit freshly convicts me of being ShepherdDave — unthankful for the harrrd in my life, and returns me to being DumbSheepDave — childlike, clueless about what’s thankable, happy, peaceful, without problems to solve, without agenda, without willfulness, looking to my ShepherdJesus to direct my next steps.  Saweeet. –DumbSheepDave, experiencing tastes of…

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  • How I can tell when idolatry

    is a bigger deal than I think.  One way is to wait until something goes south, then notice my reaction.  To the extent that I’m bummed, is the extent to which idolatry was a bigger deal than I realized, and the Spirit a smaller deal.  Another way is to notice my feelings under pressure.  If…

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