tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post5823859289466387583..comments2024-03-11T18:20:02.120-05:00Comments on crumbs from His table: The Parable of the Bell Sheeptinuvielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-49934661383120463122023-12-24T19:12:45.000-06:002023-12-24T19:12:45.000-06:00Thank you for reading and responding. God be with ...Thank you for reading and responding. God be with you in whatever you’re facing today. Jesus loves bell sheep. Tinuvielhttp://www.crumbsfromhistable.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-76654953711113647232023-12-08T20:38:06.465-06:002023-12-08T20:38:06.465-06:00Thank you for sharing the story the Parable of the...Thank you for sharing the story the Parable of the bell sheep it reminds me of so much of my self on how I kept Is wandering off to try and help those who went Astray from the Shepherd and went looking for those who needed help when all they while he was having to go look for me as well because I thought that I was doing would be helping him in that way when when that wasn't the case what he wanted was for me to be with him and to stay so like the bell sheep in this story I had to pretty much have my Leg broke as well but through the pain and Suffering that I went through he was right there with me through it all and it did Accomplish what it was intended to bring about in me and that is a very strong Desire to never leave his side again. Thank you for the story it is so very beautiful. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-82739923598969303502011-07-11T13:43:46.304-05:002011-07-11T13:43:46.304-05:00@Brandee Shafer Thank you for the follow-up commen...@<a href="#c8235376713650381767" rel="nofollow">Brandee Shafer</a> Thank you for the follow-up comment. Definitely, do study it out in Scripture, and I will go back to the source, too!<br /><br />Job does speak to the question. Other passages/people which have shaped my thinking are Joseph's story in Genesis, Moses at the beginning of Exodus, Peter throughout the Gospels, and the chapters Isaiah 53 and Hebrews 12. <br /><br />I'm also okay with the possibility we will continue to disagree. The question of God's role in human suffering is complex and mysterious. Fundamentally, any answer we come up with that eliminates the mystery is probably wrong. Lots of wiser hearts than mine are represented on both sides of the discussion.<br /><br />Maybe this is too fine a distinction, but in my thoughts there is also a difference between hurt and harm. I would never intentionally harm my family or my dogs, but there have been many times I had to hurt one of the dogs to protect them from harm (grooming, administering injections, vet visits, the Cone of Shame, yanking the leash to pull them out of danger when they refused to respond to verbal commands). Mothering probably demands the same choices sometimes.tinuvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-27420384922646362952011-07-11T12:27:41.849-05:002011-07-11T12:27:41.849-05:00*David :)*David :)Brandee Shaferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08960175760263515363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-82353767136503817672011-07-11T12:26:46.997-05:002011-07-11T12:26:46.997-05:00It's ok if we depart on the issue of God hurti...It's ok if we depart on the issue of God hurting / God allowing hurt. I've been struggling for weeks to write the post (to link w/ antbed Anne) that will explain my sensitivity on the issue, and at least, now (thanks to this exchange), I feel motivated to study it out in the Word. I'm thinking of Job, where God just kind of stepped back and let Satan torment. But I need to look elsewhere in scripture. The Psalm above doesn't satisfy me in the least because I don't know that I trust David's perspective on the issue. Davis was at least as human as I.Brandee Shaferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08960175760263515363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-91190800256586057542011-07-11T11:50:37.407-05:002011-07-11T11:50:37.407-05:00@Amy You probably missed this post because you hav...@<a href="#c8556082873384078096" rel="nofollow">Amy</a> You probably missed this post because you have better things to do than read this little blog. That's a good thing! (I'd missed your voice here, too, although with gratitude for your full summer.)<br /><br />Thank you for missing my writing. Your words always encourage me. I'm glad you appreciated this piece, and I pray that it does encourage your friend in the Lord if He gives an opportunity to share it. I agree that His goodness helps keep us near.<br /><br />God bless you, friend!tinuvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-85560828733840780962011-07-11T10:51:21.778-05:002011-07-11T10:51:21.778-05:00How did I miss this? Summer, perhaps. The funny th...How did I miss this? Summer, perhaps. The funny thing is I'd missed your writing. . . could have looked and found it.<br />Appreciated this story so much. Actually want a friend to read it. . . I think it would encourage her. Remembering our shepherd is Good, all the time, helps keep us near Him.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04886843349775095643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-50934267389824201442011-07-11T10:35:14.690-05:002011-07-11T10:35:14.690-05:00@Brandee Shafer Friend, thank you for your compass...@<a href="#c429489310976634620" rel="nofollow">Brandee Shafer</a> Friend, thank you for your compassionate heart and affection for me. You are a blessing. I'm prayerfully considering how to respond to the substance of your comment, but I at least wanted to acknowledge you immediately and let you know I'm working on it.<br /><br />Another blog's recent post of a hymn by the author of "Amazing Grace" may perhaps bear on this issue:http://www.challies.com/quotes/i-asked-the-lord<br /><br />Love,<br />christinatinuvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-47582078770864047362011-07-11T10:35:14.211-05:002011-07-11T10:35:14.211-05:00@Brandee Shafer Friend, thank you for your compass...@<a href="#c429489310976634620" rel="nofollow">Brandee Shafer</a> Friend, thank you for your compassionate heart and affection for me. You are a blessing. I'm prayerfully considering how to respond to the substance of your comment, but I at least wanted to acknowledge you immediately and let you know I'm working on it.<br /><br />Another blog's recent post of a hymn by the author of "Amazing Grace" may perhaps bear on this issue:http://www.challies.com/quotes/i-asked-the-lord<br /><br />Love,<br />christinatinuvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-4294893109766346202011-07-10T21:43:09.298-05:002011-07-10T21:43:09.298-05:00I guess what bothers me about this parable is that...I guess what bothers me about this parable is that I don't believe God hurts us after we belong to Him. I do believe that God will throw us into the very pit of hell if we don't choose His son in this lifetime. But, after we have invited Christ into our hearts, I don't believe God hurts us. Because God sees the big picture, has a plan, and never wastes a hurt (in the Romans 8:28 sense) He may allow Satan to hurt us. He will definitely allow us to hurt ourselves. But I don't believe God hurts us, and I don't believe, Christina, that God has made you sick, so I don't like it that--in the parable-- the shepherd broke the sheep's leg. He should've allowed a wolf to break it. Otherwise, it's a fine parable, and I understand why you appreciate it.Brandee Shaferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08960175760263515363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-11939900341884898592011-07-10T21:42:01.728-05:002011-07-10T21:42:01.728-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Brandee Shaferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08960175760263515363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-11333245040423302772011-07-09T13:27:55.804-05:002011-07-09T13:27:55.804-05:00@chris Your wife's perspective on "It'...@<a href="#c1210230559837353870" rel="nofollow">chris</a> Your wife's perspective on "It's a Wonderful Life" is certainly understandable. There is much darkness in that film on the way to the redemptive ending.<br /><br />My understanding of the bell sheep story diverges from yours in some respects, partly based on my own experiences of brokenness. Fundamentally, this sheep's motives were not so much gratitude and love tainted by ignorance as they were pride (or self, ego, the flesh) and a desire to earn acceptance and accolades through works of service.<br /><br />In any case, I agree with you that this is grim and tragic, perhaps even more so than your understanding, because the ignorance is culpable and not innocent. Isn't hubris the classical tragic flaw?<br /><br />I hope that's enough to tide you over until the second bell sheep post next Wednesday, but I'm afraid it's only muddied the waters.<br /><br />Like all parables, it could well be a sort of Rorschach test. When I first heard the story, I was in the midst of such a deep brokenness that the bell sheep brought unadulterated comfort and hope. It placed the pain in a context and clothed it with purpose and Presence. For one on the outside of the brokenness, however, it would no doubt take on a different tone.<br /><br />I'm sorry you see the wayward sheep in yourself. May the Lord grant you the light you need to assess your commitments before Him. His mercies are new every morning, every need.<br /><br />All thanks go to Him that you find good here, even when the good is uncomfortable.tinuvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-12102305598373538702011-07-08T05:38:03.603-05:002011-07-08T05:38:03.603-05:00unlike me, my wife doesn't like to re-watch &q...unlike me, my wife doesn't like to re-watch "It's A Wonderful Life" every year around Christmastime. it's not that she has a different view from mine of the film's aesthetic merits; it's just that, as she sees it, even tho' there's a very happy ending, there's a lot of grim stuff on the way there.<br /><br />that's kind of what i found myself thinking when i read your post. that the best of motives--<br />gratitude towards and love for the Shepherd--can (given ignorance of the Shepherd's will for us) actually cause us to stray from Him and grieve Him--is tragic. that our ignorance of our Shepherd's will for us is so close to invincible that the Shepherd must break one of our legs to overcome it, is again tragic. <br /><br />i guess the right way of thinking about it, tho', is that the grimness on the way is a indication of the wonderfulness of the destination. if we're broken at such a deep level, that even after we have resolved to give the Shepherd our hearts and our lives, we are still so far from being able to love and serve Him well, then it's all the more wonderful that the Shepherd will heal so deep a brokenness.<br /><br />it's interesting that of the other commenters, only Lisa drew attention to the painfulness of the parable. maybe it's a rorschach test, and i found the painful aspects salient because (sadly) i see in myself the wayward sheep, more than i see the sheep after she was belled. i have recently been trying to do lots of volunteer work. it's not that i think this is a bad thing, but i did just start doing it, rather than praying for guidance about whether it was the best thing for me to do, and my failure to pray beforehand puts me in mind of the wayward sheep.<br /><br />your posts always do me such good, whether i find them comforting, or uncomfortable--thank you!chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16673834639722877016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-90610967834866410092011-07-07T18:28:55.903-05:002011-07-07T18:28:55.903-05:00@Craig Glad you liked it.
There are no photos bec...@<a href="#c1995949511696703439" rel="nofollow">Craig</a> Glad you liked it.<br /><br />There are no photos because I was thinking I didn't have any. The only farm in our town has alpaca, horses, and cow, but no sheep. Now that you mention it, though, I may have some old prints from our travels. In other words, I'll see what I can do.<br /><br />God bless you, too, Craig.tinuvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-19959495116967034392011-07-07T15:35:33.389-05:002011-07-07T15:35:33.389-05:00we need lamb pictures!
We need lamb pictures! :)
...we need lamb pictures!<br /><br />We need lamb pictures! :)<br /><br />I did an Easter poem this year – complete with lamb pictures – I found that lamb pictures are like when people put baby pictures in their posts – everybody goes awwwwwwwwwwwwwww - and everybody likes the post.<br /><br />I remember that book – I actually remember getting it on cassette – it was remarkable. And your parable – I heart your parable! To do the job of the master – while never leaving the master's side. That's brilliant, and poignant, and I so need to be that lamb. Such a good reminder – really, a beautiful parable. God bless you Christina, and thank you for this! It was lambtastic :)Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08376005422623882947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-90529917108823181072011-07-07T08:12:49.421-05:002011-07-07T08:12:49.421-05:00@pathoftreasure I'm thankful you found blessin...@<a href="#c1620192597668015438" rel="nofollow">pathoftreasure</a> I'm thankful you found blessing here. You're welcome, and thank YOU, friend.tinuvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-92124825527562356882011-07-07T08:11:46.771-05:002011-07-07T08:11:46.771-05:00@Jen Me, too. Thank you.@<a href="#c8738081688205721266" rel="nofollow">Jen</a> Me, too. Thank you.tinuvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-16201925976680154382011-07-07T01:48:52.210-05:002011-07-07T01:48:52.210-05:00The joys of belonging-- and not of doing; of knowi...The joys of belonging-- and not of doing; of knowing and being known. This is a precious story, and it blessed me. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-87380816882057212662011-07-06T21:02:26.216-05:002011-07-06T21:02:26.216-05:00Never wanting to repeat the brokenness, but at the...Never wanting to repeat the brokenness, but at the same time giving thanks for the restoration. Beautiful!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14701362919026534336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-65760749327884595482011-07-06T11:13:35.809-05:002011-07-06T11:13:35.809-05:00@Lisa notes... Yes, brokenness is painful and lays...@<a href="#c1725605766122266751" rel="nofollow">Lisa notes...</a> Yes, brokenness is painful and lays the groundwork for beauty. The story called me by name the first time I heard it, and I have returned to it so many times since...<br /><br />Thank you for coming by. I'm thankful God encouraged you here. That appreciation is mutual. God bless you, Lisa!tinuvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06462001159262770932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86563362162856229.post-17256057661222667512011-07-06T09:57:47.604-05:002011-07-06T09:57:47.604-05:00Ooh, what a beautiful story! Although somewhat pai...Ooh, what a beautiful story! Although somewhat painful to hear. I recognize myself in it, often trying to work, work, work. But staying close to the Shepherd and hearing his heartbeat...I know that feeling too. Thanks for sharing this. I'm always encouraged when I visit you.Lisa notes...https://www.blogger.com/profile/07103364395238899215noreply@blogger.com