tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post5154549168250401494..comments2023-12-26T10:22:04.630-05:00Comments on Things of My Soul: Becoming More Chaste in Thought and DeedPapa Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-72874917962413765242008-09-08T12:07:00.000-04:002008-09-08T12:07:00.000-04:00I must add my testimony to Adam's on the "sing you...I must add my testimony to Adam's on the "sing your favorite hymn" method. It is horrible to have hymns attached to unwanted thoughts. I found rotating hymns helped a bit; I wasn't as likely to form an association. Ultimately, I went for the get up and do something useful method of thought cleansing. Works well.Jamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049138813340800745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-25430899441987650272008-09-08T11:28:00.000-04:002008-09-08T11:28:00.000-04:00Thanks Ray. I especially liked this line: "conspir...Thanks Ray. I especially liked this line: "conspiring to see that person more often than what would occur normally".adamfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06177880599252455507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-13990983282682676282008-09-07T18:10:00.000-04:002008-09-07T18:10:00.000-04:00I'm so glad you included in your comment the sente...I'm so glad you included in your comment the sentence: "It's not a sin for an improper thought to cross the stage of your mind. It's only a sin if you let it stay and create a play around it." IMO, this is an extremely important distinction. <BR/><BR/>If teenagers going through wildly fluctuating hormonal changes think that they must be "evil" if any improper thoughts, or automatic physical Rosalie Erekson Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985594370560172873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-21384242718123967682008-09-07T16:37:00.000-04:002008-09-07T16:37:00.000-04:00I don't remember who said it, but my favorite comm...I don't remember who said it, but my favorite comment on improper thoughts is, "It's not a sin for an improper thought to cross the stage of your mind. It's only a sin if you let it stay and create a play around it." <BR/><BR/>Also, I think it is important to place all of this back into the context of the actual passage. The verse says, "looketh upon a woman to **lust after her**" - NOT "Papa Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-20899329773401242622008-09-07T16:28:00.000-04:002008-09-07T16:28:00.000-04:00adam, you said: "For me, the challenge has been re...adam, you said: "For me, the challenge has been recognizing the line between being attracted to someone else, and sin." <BR/><BR/>To me, this is another remnant of the apostasy - the vilification of the body. I believe there is NO sin whatsoever in "being attracted to someone else" - or in recognizing beauty around us, including what we perceive as physical beauty. The "sin" consists of takingPapa Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-51679486001646075092008-09-07T00:22:00.000-04:002008-09-07T00:22:00.000-04:00Agreed, agreed.In some ways being married is a lot...Agreed, agreed.<BR/><BR/>In some ways being married is a lot easier, having a spouse to direct one's thoughts (or just be completely occupied by, lol!) but it can also be difficult as the weight of a "stray" lustful thought is much greater. That was more what I was getting at. For me, the challenge has been recognizing the line between being attracted to someone else, and sin. Iow we all feel adamfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06177880599252455507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-19087673297489212402008-09-06T16:07:00.000-04:002008-09-06T16:07:00.000-04:00adam, I know you are married. The question was me...adam, I know you are married. The question was meant to be rhetorical.Papa Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-8159452277823141292008-09-06T16:06:00.000-04:002008-09-06T16:06:00.000-04:00adam, serious question: Are you married? I think ...adam, serious question: <BR/><BR/>Are you married? I think one of the mis-applications of this concept is the idea that "lustful thoughts" are "evil" - or that they are forbidden in this passage. They aren't; they only are "wrong" if they are focused on someone other than our spouse. <BR/><BR/>That has implications that run contrary to much of the overly-repressive, Victorian society that Papa Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-7491698319017351012008-09-06T04:16:00.000-04:002008-09-06T04:16:00.000-04:00Let me know how #3 goes, especially the latter par...Let me know how #3 goes, especially the latter part. I have developed a testimony that "singing your favorite hymn" does NOT work, as it tends to associate hymns (or whatever is used) with lustful thoughts. Not good, lol. Often I have found that "substituting" with something else requires physical action, if it is practical.adamfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06177880599252455507noreply@blogger.com