tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338877077069607303.post7875307500920707151..comments2023-10-28T17:51:55.929+03:00Comments on Hughes Family to Moldova: A Praying Life- Chapters 9-10Jacob and Viola Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02121192290535193865noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338877077069607303.post-16597662868351462442016-03-03T22:38:26.882+02:002016-03-03T22:38:26.882+02:00Sorry for the lack commenting. I finally am throu...Sorry for the lack commenting. I finally am through chapter 11. Here are some highlights that I saw.<br /><br />He quotes a Yoani Sanchez who states: "[Cynicism is] a double-edged sword. It protects you from crushing disappointment, but it paralyzes you from doing anything." I thought this was a good statement.<br /><br />Like Jacob, I appreciated the reminder that prayer "engages evil," as the author states. It is not a grocery list of our observations but coming to our Father and asking Him to work on our behalf.<br /><br />The Father-child analogy has been a big help to me recently. I even talked about with two different Moldovans today. While we are supposed to put childish things away and be men, there are several aspects we are to hold dear and emulate as children. The author has pointed out these positive aspects. In particular, believing whatever Dad says, not being flustered over problems that arise... because Dad is working on the problems, and being grateful for the simple things (likes kids love cardboard boxes). The author in chapter 10 says, "Both the child and the cynic walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The cynic focuses on the darkness; the child focuses on the Shepherd." <br /><br />The author applied the double-minded in a way I had not thought of before. He says, "All sin involves a splitting of the personality - what James calls being "double-minded" (4:8)." I totally see his application of this and believe it is helpful in self-searching to see if we need to confess something. He goes on to say, "repentance brings the split personality together and thus restores integrity to the life. The real self is made public. When the proud person is humbled, the elevated self is united with the true self." I think that those of us in ministry need to be careful of not living two lives. Being real is of utmost importance.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10691092293025211173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338877077069607303.post-59048181942427715832016-02-24T22:31:06.552+02:002016-02-24T22:31:06.552+02:00“Our can-do attitude is turning into relentless se...“Our can-do attitude is turning into relentless self-centeredness” (pg.82) – I just liked this quote. The American dream of being anything you want to be has certainly kept the focus on self, not God. It makes sense then that when things don't go according to someone's plan, he becomes cynical. Thought it was a good point that we must have our faith & confidence in God alone, not just in faith itself. Again, the focus must be on God, not my praying or my faith.<br /><br />He mentions on pg.89, “Either I thanked God or I gave into bitterness. . . .there was no middle ground”. It made me see that if I'm not presently thanking God, then I'm presently doubting Him or being bitter or complaining. There's no middle ground in this matter – if I don't have the right Godly attitude then I have the wrong sinful one!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05040000933318386007noreply@blogger.com