In regards to your resent post Dopp:
I do appreciate your candid opinion and like us all, I am not without struggles in this life, that's for sure.
I'm curious though as to what criteria you use to make this assessment ?
I do appreciate your honesty, I know reading some threads on this forum paints some nasty pictures in one's mind of that person.
They come across strong, arrogant, angry ,rude etc, yet they never intended that and it's not who they are.
It's easy to assess attitudes,behavior, anger on a forumlike this, but sometimes it's displaced and inaccurate.
I find that this computer age will be the downfall of mankind, not in the area of advancement and science etc, but the well being of people, mind .body and soul.
....back to the topic
Do I have all that I would like to in this life,no!, am I where I'd like to be in life,not completely!,
am I always happy, no!,but, I do have joy, big difference, one being being based on my happenings, the other on my actual position and that position is seated with Christ in heavenly places, it's a deep assurance Dopp ,such that is beyond description.
I am proud of what I have achieved in myself and touching the lives of others, absolutely.
All that really matters to me is serving God and being counted as a faithful servant,which, by the way, is not without it's frustrations, disappointments and failures.
DO I feel like giving up absolutely, throwing in the towel, for sure, without a doubt, but something just rises up inside ,saying, fight the good fight of faith and endure to the end.
Sorrry ,i don't want to make this too spiritual sounding, but it is the core of who I am,I mean Christ living in you is way out there in rationally understanding, but closer and more real than my breath in expereince.
Does he always answer,no ,sometimes I think God is not listening, or slow in responding, but I find the lesson in that, either the easy way or hard way. I often take the hard way!!!!!
My hope is sure and steadfast, not in this life, not in having my needs met, not in my family, that will work out ,but that hope, that joy Dopp, is knowing that my home is heaven.
It's all I cling to in this life, I love my wife and friends and I don't neglect them in any way, but that hope is that someday we will spend eternity with Jesus.
Sometimes my freinds and wife think I think about those things too much, but, it's not some form of escapism or means to get out of my immediate circumstances ,sometimes so, but generally not.
This is not said to appear as some spiritual cliche` but is the foundation and anchor of my life ,that is, that my name is written in heaven ,Dopp, that I am a child of God, the assurance in this to me, despite my earthly circumstances, is beyond description.
For me Dopp, my natural life is not the easiest,as are many of our lives, maybe your different.
I am healthy and involved with sports, although I have some back aches etc, but more important Personally speaking,I'm spirutally sound and feel all other aspects of my being will line up with that.
I am sorry if I have painted this portrait of myself over the past 2 yrs ,i do strive to change and be a better person, so let me know what you think, I am always looking to improve areas of my life, if I can.
Thanks Dopp
