Comments on: If you say to this mulberry tree… http://lukehoughton.com/2008/05/13/if-you-say-to-this-mulberry-tree/ Thoughts about personal development Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:51:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: AlanAJ01 http://lukehoughton.com/2008/05/13/if-you-say-to-this-mulberry-tree/comment-page-1/#comment-732 AlanAJ01 Tue, 13 May 2008 12:47:46 +0000 http://lukehoughton.com/?p=273#comment-732 Perhaps you could believe for better things? I'd like to believe that each time anyone awakes there is more hope in their heart than the last time; and that the gap between where they are and where they want to be is smaller. I don't believe that. But I don't believe that I could never believe that. And surely some "fool" could believe it right now! Perhaps you could believe for better things?

I’d like to believe that each time anyone awakes there is more hope in their heart than the last time; and that the gap between where they are and where they want to be is smaller.

I don’t believe that. But I don’t believe that I could never believe that. And surely some “fool” could believe it right now!

]]> By: Luke Houghton http://lukehoughton.com/2008/05/13/if-you-say-to-this-mulberry-tree/comment-page-1/#comment-727 Luke Houghton Tue, 13 May 2008 03:38:03 +0000 http://lukehoughton.com/?p=273#comment-727 Interesting how in that scripture Jesus seems to point out the impossible as being easy. Talking is easy to do... believing? That's a whole other story. I used to read Mark 11 as pretending but I think it's much more concrete than we realise... If I could just see things the same way as that perhaps I could believe for better things? I am not sure. It certainly does create interesting reading doesn't it. Thanks Alan. Interesting how in that scripture Jesus seems to point out the impossible as being easy. Talking is easy to do… believing? That’s a whole other story.

I used to read Mark 11 as pretending but I think it’s much more concrete than we realise… If I could just see things the same way as that perhaps I could believe for better things? I am not sure. It certainly does create interesting reading doesn’t it.

Thanks Alan.

]]> By: AlanAJ01 http://lukehoughton.com/2008/05/13/if-you-say-to-this-mulberry-tree/comment-page-1/#comment-726 AlanAJ01 Mon, 12 May 2008 21:44:07 +0000 http://lukehoughton.com/?p=273#comment-726 I venture to suggest that Scripture is against you on this point. Compare Mark 11:23-24 "For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." How unequivocal is that? Okay, so Matthew 17:21, after a similar statement, adds "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." But, if accurately reported, Jesus is talking about (very little) faith literally moving mountains. And it's such an extraordinary assertion that you'd think it more likely to be toned down than exagerated, wouldn't you? Theology aside, however, I agree that a superior (or physiologically more stable) belief or concept naturally supersedes its inferior predecessor. I venture to suggest that Scripture is against you on this point. Compare Mark 11:23-24
“For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

How unequivocal is that?

Okay, so Matthew 17:21, after a similar statement, adds “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” But, if accurately reported, Jesus is talking about (very little) faith literally moving mountains. And it’s such an extraordinary assertion that you’d think it more likely to be toned down than exagerated, wouldn’t you?

Theology aside, however, I agree that a superior (or physiologically more stable) belief or concept naturally supersedes its inferior predecessor.

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