Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    Some of it has, some of it has not. Marriage and parenthood have
    been all that I hoped for. Work has not. Serving the Lord and the
    community has been rewarding. On balance I guess it's been pretty
    good.

    		Alfred

    :-)

 This is something I've been dwelling on quite a bit lately.  As I head
 toward my mid 40's I find myself thinking back on my life and trying to
 figure out how it could have been different.  May I state, however, that
 I just recently reached the (obvious, perhaps, but sometimes difficult to
 accept) point where I realize that the past is indeed gone and its what I
 do with today forward that counts.

 Having spent much of my life without Christ, then about 5 or 6 years with
 him, and then without Him and the last 10 months with Him, I will say that
 those years I was with Christ were the best of my life.  Taking my eyes off
 of Him, I stumbled into all sorts of things that have since made a shambles
 of my life and what I had hoped it would be.  My marriage is gone, and 
 apparantly never to return, I became rather attached to several drugs (legal
 and illegal) and blew one heck of a lot of money.  Praise God, he's forgiven
 me for all of that, but I am still dealing with the consequences..

 So, for a while, life was what I hoped it would be, then it went down the
 tubes.  Having place my life back in His hands, I've found that with a little
 prodding from Him (sometimes rather heavy prodding) I am slowly getting a 
 handle on those things that are significant in life (financial, health, etc)
 and the really important things in life (God, my kids, my church) and I
 think life is looking considerably better.  I am confidant that one day I'll
 be with Him, and while I am here, through His grace, I am taking care of 
 the things that I need til that day comes. 

 My big hope and prayer for the time I have remaining here is that my kids
 return to a relationship with Jesus Christ (and their mother too for that
 matter).





 Jim

 

Yup!

Actually, although it is not what I planned, I like it. 

Like everyone else I have my ups and downs, and wouldn't mind trying out the 
lifestyles of the filthy rich :^) but I truly am happy, and have been for many
years. I also believe that, in terms of happiness, you are what you decide to 
be. (I also feel rather content, which is different from happy). Eventually
something will happen, and I'll work through whatever crises comes down the pike,
but after that valley will come another peak, and another valley, and hopefully
I'll learn from each of them until my time is up.

Steve

    No...so far my life has not been what I wanted. My work life is far
    from being satisfactory.
    
    My marriage is quite different from what I thought it would be....in
    some ways better....in some ways worse.
    
    I agree with a previous reply, that the best times have been when I
    am "with the Lord".
    
    Quite an interesting question though! Especially for someone, like
    myself, who is of middle age (44).
    
    Marc H.

    
    >Quite an interesting question though! Especially for someone, like
    >myself, who is of middle age (44).
    
    Naw, middle age is how old your parents are. :-) Though somehow, for
    the last year or so (I just turned 40 myself a couple of months ago)
    I have found myself evaluating my life. Mostly asking the question
    "what do I do now?" Work is a serious drag and not fun anymore. I
    was asking the same questions in my early 20s. The answer then does
    not seem to be the answer now.
    
    			Alfred
    

    I've been thinking about my life alot this week.  God has richly
    blessed me and it amazes me.  I listen to stories of other people's
    lives and realize that knowing Him from an early age was very
    beneficial in my life. I have not had much pain related to consequences
    made by poor choices of my parents or myself.  My parents are still
    married and happy and I never got messed up in drugs or alcohol or gave
    up my purity for a temporal relationship.  I truly don't deserve the
    life God has blessed me with, but I am profusely thankful that He's
    given it to me.   What's more my faith has been tested and has grown. 
    What's more is the joy I have received, which is so much more than mere
    happiness.
    
    I wish I had been in the past more open to be used of God, but I have
    the days ahead of me that He chooses to give me to listen to His still,
    small voice.   I think it's interesting that the meaning of "hoped for"
    in Scripture is used to express something that you're waiting for that
    is certain to happen because it's a promise of God and God doesn't lie. 
    Most often what people mean nowadays when they say hoped for is really
    "wished for".  There is no certainty in wishing.  I hope for increased
    faith and wisdom.  I hope that God will finish the work He has started
    in me.
    
    Lord, may I always be open and obedient to Your will."
    
    Jill

Well, I'm not where I hoped to be at this time in my life.  And as Paul
Anka wrote, "Regrets, I have a few..."  It hasn't been an ideal life.
But nobody guaranteed that it would be.

I would have preferred to have a more ordinary body from which to operate.
But if I had a choice between this and nothing, I'll take this.

I've always had a burning desire to make a profound difference with the
time I've been alloted.  I'm a bit disappointed in the degree I've
actually accomplished thus far.

I'm pleased with my son and disappointed with my stepdaughter.

I've had the high honor of befriending some great heroes.

Peace,
Richard

It doesn't always look that great but...my life has turned out to be so
much better than I ever thought it would be.  

I have a beautiful daughter and have learned to give and receive love.

Ruth

P.S.  I just don't get enough chocolate <hint, hint Steve>