Dallas Willard - Living the Divine Conspiracy

[@conversatiodiv]

If you want more on Dallas's book The Divine Conspiracy check out the videos Michael Stewart Robb is doing at Sanctus: kzbin.info/door/sjJbg4XmoWYjTle9u3kn6g

[@michaelbrickley2443]

Thanks for the link...I could listen to this man, and do, all night. I tell people about him all the time. Recommend his teaching while they sleeping. Your spirit will absorb the truth.

[@nathanrooster82]

It blessed my heart to hear someone give Dr. Willard such a warm introduction. I have only recently discovered his teaching, but he has since then become my favorite teacher!

[@michaelbrickley2443]

One of the great teachers of the late 20th century.....his words have been a blessing in my life

[@Professionalpoorperson]

Amen brotha!

[@renewedheartmind2898]

Thank you 🙏

[@charisvarnadore9862]

It took me half of my life and reading St. Augustine before I understood "Blessed are the poor n spirit," and learning that this had to do with Pride and Ego, but in reading Willard's work on The Beatitudes, I cannot discern whether or not he agrees with this. Would someone PLEASE inform me as to this. In all my decades in various churches, I NEVER heard a sermon or teaching on the Beatitudes. One of the many reason that I love Eugene Peterson's "The Message" is that he does not cut corners, but tells it like it is. Which is why he is seldom used in Church or any commentaries that I have read. "You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope, with less of you there is more room for God" is an example of why I use him daily., it sounds like words that St. Augustine might use if he were still with us.. I certainly would appreciate any comment.

[@conversatiodiv]

Good question. Willard is definitely in the minority in how he frames the Beatitudes. He does not locate the blessing in the list of qualities within the Beatitudes, but in the availability of the Kingdom to people such as these. He doesn't see the qualities as having merit in and of themselves. For example, in Luke 6 where the Beatitudes are echoed, Jesus says "Blessed are the poor." Willard makes the point that being poor does not qualify one for blessing, rather the poor are blessed when the Kingdom comes upon them.

[@FudgeTheFurry]

I struggle with anger. Especially to those closest to me. I want to get rid of it from my life. How does one do this?

[@michaelbrickley2443]

Allen Galbraith, prayer, for one. Turn it over thru the agency of the Spirit. These things take time. Ask to be shown hidden sources of anger. Forgive anyone who has hurt you. The spirit of unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting it to kill the person who made you angry/hurt. Pray you seek and let go, little by little. Do a little Google search on anger therapies. Counting to 10, taking deep breath’s before expressing anger. Learning to say you’re sorry every time you get angry at someone, right or wrong, usually there’s only a little bit of righteous anger and a whole lot of unrighteous anger

[@fellowshipofthecrown3341]

It is making sure that you have the disciplines of the Christian life in order. Prayer quiet time Bible study journal what God is saying and then I have some friends around you to hold your arms up in the battle

[@conversatiodiv]

Allen, we've thought about your question. Could I recommend two things. 1. Ask this in every Christian circle you enter and listen to the responses (obviously not all will be wise) because this is the sort of thing we should be wrestling with. 2. Check out the "Friends in Formation" Podcast from Renovare which takes questions like this and write to them. You may have to wait a while until they answer it on the show, but three wise people are in charge of that series. Ideally you could find a wise individual in your area that you could correspond with.

[@donovankelly7723]

Me too

[@truincanada]

Simply I heard that one answered poetically and that was anger is eliminated ( not just suppressed) by living morally.

[@doriesse824]

A long time ago I heard it said anger is fear in disguise, and also from another source that all fear is fear of death. I would say that fear of death comes from a wrong understanding of our Heavenly Father.

[@winniethuo9736]

28:20 Sheep with no shephered is real trouble but when a sheep is under a shephered does it bring out a better sheep? How is a sheep meant to be to who? Man can not use faith, reason, Philosophy, the blues, alcohol etcetera in the quest for meaning to life?