...And then there are the days He is silent.

[Drich]

First, let me echo the sentiments of your other well-wishers. I'm reminded of the inscription inside King Solomon's ring - "This too shall pass." The good times never last and bad times fade away. i was particularly touched by your reconciliation with your father.

Thanks, and reconciling was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Just kept the story of the unmerciful servant in my mind while having to deal with all the ins and outs. Just kept think How much more in sin I owe God.

Divine hiddenness is very difficult. It is the primary problem that lead me towards atheism in the past. Even after coming to faith, I cannot say that God in any direct way speaks to me or even provides much guidance. The clear guidance God gave to you in the past is a gift that I cannot say I have much enjoyed. The "soft, still voice" always seems too soft and too still. I have other reasons for my assurance in the workings of Providence. There are many ways to 'hear' God, not the least of which is the sometimes painful recognition of how much we rely upon His Grace.

It's a gift and tremendous responsibility. Just gotta keep in mind there is a duality to how we must approach. One is based on salvation and the how the gospel is taught/what it means to be saved. Then there is relationship/reward. I first learned of this duality when I was listening to the radio and this old school fire and brimstone guy was reading the bible and he read "and there will be those who enter heaven with little more than their scorced clothing..."

For me and my church experience at the time it was all about the gospel. we never really studied or moved past that. So I turned the page and began to read for myself past the salvation part. and found the dual nature of our salvation. Yes salvation is a faith based/sincerity excersice. However once we are 'saved' our purpose for salvation is to open a line with God. Some do this through groups/church, while others seek out n their own. Most have or try a combination of the two. Either way we always start with our works. God starts by giveing us tools to accomplish small tasks (Like reconciling with my dad) and as I knock out more and more of these things the tools become greater and greater, till the point You become the Tool being used by the Holy Spirit.

And you know it is not you... One of the time I was having it out with my dad, I started citing a series of events that changed the way he thought about God but told no one. I had no idea what I was tlking about but I just let the words flow. He broke down into mush, and I had words to build him back up. Not in a million years could I have ever been able to do that. Nor could I again.

That said, I think it a mistake to tangle up your commercial business with your inner spiritual life. You run the risk of falling into the trap of a prosperity gospel. Scripture tells us that the sun shines on the righteous and the wicked alike.

I would not have one without the other. But I can promise you I am not a prosperity name it claim it douche bag. Like now I can claim whatever I want and God just laughs and laughs... Rather the buiness is to be a reflection of how Christian merchants repersent God in the market place. Not only that how we treat our employees (they drive nicer cars or have bought nicer houses than we have) It's about knowing our place as stewards. I have one simple mission statement, honor (do not burry) anything God gives us. as such we have doubbled almost every year we've been in business. I truly wish I could share everything God has done for us, but again though it all we go to God with an open hand, meaning if he wants everything back then it is all His to take. This last few weeks (and just before I posted) I told my wife this maybe the end of a chapter meaning the end of ur business. She was fine with it. She has seen so much of God working through us and with us even though I have no idea what he may do (send us to africa) we are ready to go (especially now that we are getting use to living in a 5th wheel camper.)

Otherwise without God in the business how far do you think a mobile truck mechanic (what I started out with) would last Not only that It was an act of God we even started our own business.

This old jewish man from queens had an ice factory here in orlando, I never met the guy only saw him twice in passing ever never said a word. but I did work on his equipment, and out of the blue he comes up to me says "Something is telling me to support you in your own business" How much would it take for you to get started? I was just blown out of the water.. One minute I was putting on a water pump the next I'm being asked to come up with a dollar amount I think i said 50K, He said can you do it for 25K. I told Him I'd die trying. He laid down a 2 year payment schedual we paid him back in a year, and never look back. I have lived a life of these litter daily miricles. yes they can be explained away, that is not what makes them special. It is the daily weekly experience of the near impossible for the last 20 some years that makes all we see the hand of God.

I also found your step of examining your life for unrecognized sin very disturbing.

...Or it could be apart of Two Corinthians:13 This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”[a] 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

This is the flip-side of the prosperity gospel heresy.

It is also (According to Paul in the above passage) a way to determine the origins and outcome of a test/trial.

The idea being (as paul says) if we are in Christ and we come into hardship, it is either because we are being tested or it is because we are dealing with a consequence of sin. So why not repent of said sin and past the test even if it means the loss of one's 'prosperity?'

The bible gives us no assurance that our lives will be easy and problem free.

No, but it does allow us access to God. It is one thing to go through a trial and know you have God on your side, and it is quite another to go though the wind and rain and God be silent.

I rarly if ever go through a trial in silence. I can only imagine this is the reason so many of our 'brothers' aren't our brothers anymore.

This key to my thread is the reason for me sharing this particular trail having to do with my business and my home. All that I have built with God over the years is a big deal even to most people. but what you fail to understand is it is not the money that I am worried about. It is the silence. Look at how the thread is titled, look at how much time I spend talking about the interaction I have with God and how I depend on it. Then look at ALL that will be lost, not just the spiritual but everything.

That is what is on the table not just 'prosperity'.

If anything believers should expect greater difficulties.

But not in silence. No where are we required do endure in silence. Silence is the product of just a few things. Lack of relationship, consequence of sin, trial.

Your problems are not a punishment for sin.

Punishment and consequence of sin are two very different things brother.
One can be forgiven of all sin and still not avoid consequence of sin.
for example the prodigal son upon his return was forgiven of all sin. Yet the consequences of his sin would remain. Meaning the fact that he took his 1/2 of his inheritance and spent it. Does not mean the father would be obligated to split the remaining son's inheartance down to 1/4 just because the wayward brother returned. Read the forgotten verse 31 in this story:31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Yes the son is 'saved'/apart of the family, but in the end has nothing because all that the father had for the lost son was spent. Which is a consequence of sin not punishment for it. As a result everything the father has left belongs to the son that stayed.

This is an example of the duality i was trying to explain earlier. Forgiveness and salvation costs nothing. But once we are saved we are (according to Jesus in the parables of the wise and foolish builder and Paul who say our houses/faith will be tested by fire 1 cor 13:13-15)

We can be save according to 1 cor 13, but what we build/our faith our understanding of God will be tested by fire, and we will enter heaven "Smoldering as if we just escaped flames." If our structures survive we will be rewarded greatly and if they do not then we will enter heaven with nothing.

If we can tap a direct relationship with God in this life (meaning have an accurate picture of Him one He can respond in kind with) then how much more will the reward be in Heaven? It's not enough for me to Go any more. I want to be able to have Jesus come over for many 'suppers' I want to be invited to the big house party there. I am looking for the great reward, not prosperity here. I only have because I faithfully honor what it is Ive been given. Thus I am given more.

That's just bad 700 Club theology. AIDS was not God's judgement on homosexuals nor was Hurricane Katrina vengeance on an unrighteous city. Until the New Jerusalem arrives we will live in a world corrupted by sin. When Paul says to rejoice in all things and that included the times of stress and great trouble, not just when things are going good.

Nevertheless, I will keep you in my prayers in the hope that the Holy Spirit will make His presence known to you in a powerful way.

Again I think you are confusing sin and salvation and sin and consequence. MASSIVE difference between the two. Remember the lost son was forgiven, however the consenquences of what he did bears out in what the Father tld the remaining son. "All that I have is yours." Sin was forgiven, but consenquences remained.

AIDS may not have been a sin judgment. as only death can pay for sin. But no one can dispute that the world wide impact AIDS had was the direct result of having sex outside God's prescribe methods. Sin and Salvation is a given for the saved. Sin and consenqunce is also a given. So while you may contract AIDS if you are having wild sex everynight and if you repent can be forgiven of said sin.. It does not mean the AIDS Will always just go away.

The reason I check myself for unresolved sin, is because one of the first things to God is our connection with the Holy Spirit. Now while we may still be saved, there is nothing written that says you will still be the recipient of God full measure of blessing. His primary blessing again his direct contact with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will not dwell in a sin filled heart.

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Good story, Drich.
I like that you reconciled with your dad.
It's a hard thing to do (making the first move) and I wish I'd done it before my dad died.
I'm glad that your trucks are selling.

Dad's are assholes.

The problem with Ass hole dad's is they have ass holier kids.

At some point most of us relive that broken relationship all over again, just this time from the other perspective.

Even if you let it go the first time, don't let it get by the second time.