Sunday, September 30, 2012

UW STUDENT DOES FASHION STORY

                                                                    FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

These three men humbly chose to be called the above name . They described their practice of economical stewardship, which views spending money on new clothes as frivolous and a waste. Clothes should be “modest, and cover as much of the body as possible–neither skin nor shape should be visible.” Choice of clothing should never illicit lust from a fellow human. Dressing can be an act of adultery, the men claimed, if it is done to attract attention from members of the opposite sex. Those who become aroused by observing the way another is dressed is also considered a sin. Fashion, in effect, is the enemy.

  I think she might of mis understood us in some things but for the most part I liked this story a student at UW wrote about us. For the full blog post go to   http://ajkeehn.wordpress.com/


Friday, September 28, 2012

Witnessing in Washington

Well yesterday was a real blessing. Its been years since ive been to UW to witness. I dont remember so many students ! This school is Huge ! We had a host of good,bad,and ugly conversations about christianity. Alot of people really try to find fault with you when out preaching, but what can you expect. I do consider what people have to say when out and am constantly thinking of ways to improve on the witness. However Satan will never be happy with the way we preach against his kingdom and so much of their disapproval is to be expected. They spit on our signs at the Puget Sound community college, cursed us , gave us the bird, stole our signs at UW, protested against us, transvestites mocked us , and on and on. What a blessing to endure such grief without getting angry and upset at them. Some really humbled themselfs to stand with us in the midst of it all to listen and ask sincere questions.It reminds me of the scripture... "where iniquity did abound grace did much more abound "! It appears as though to the proud that we are out to get them, when in truth our desire is to see them repent and become our true brothers and sisters. At UW they were recruiting for fraternities and sororities. we set up right next to this inviting souls into the Kingdom of God. However, who do you think was the most offensive to the college kids, those who ask you to do all manner of abominations to join, or those who ask you to repent from all manner of abominations to join ?









Sunday, September 23, 2012

Early christian look at seperation from this world

Let us not give loose reins to our soul, that it should have power to run with sinners and the wicked, lest we become like them. Barnabas (A.D. 70-130) ch.4

Let us be imitators also of them which went about in goatskins and sheepskins, preaching the coming of Christ. Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) ch.17

Let us rather give offence to foolish and senseless men who exalt themselves and boast in the arrogance of their words, than to God. Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) ch. 21

Wherefore, brethren, let us forsake our sojourn in this world and do the will of Him that called us, and let us not be afraid to depart out of this world. Second Clement (A.D. 100) ch.5

And you know, brethren, that the sojourn of this flesh in this world is mean and for a short time, but the promise of Christ is great and marvelous, even the rest of the kingdom that shall be and of life eternal. What then can we do to obtain them, but walk in holiness and righteousness, and consider these worldly things as alien to us, and not desire them? For when we desire to obtain these things we fall away from the righteous path. Second Clement (A.D. 100) ch.5

But the Lord said, No servant can serve two masters. If we desire to serve both God and mammon, it is unprofitable for us: For what advantage is it, if a man gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? Now this age and the future are two enemies. The one speaks of adultery and defilement and avarice and deceit, but the other bids farewell to these. We cannot therefore be friends of the two, but must bid farewell to the one and hold companionship with the other. Second Clement (A.D. 100) ch.6

And I too, taking part in the festivity, am permitted by letter to bear you company and to rejoice with you, that you set not your love on anything after the common life of men, but only on God. Ignatius: to the Ephesians (A.D. 35-105) ch.9

The work is not of persuasiveness, but Christianity is at it’s greatest, whenever it is hated by the world. Ignatius: to the Romans (A.D. 35-105) ch.3

Bear with me, brethren. Do not hinder me from living; do not desire my death. Bestow not on the world one who desires to be God's, neither allure him with material things. Suffer me to receive the pure light. When I am come thither, then shall I be a man. Ignatius: to the Romans (A.D. 35-105) ch.6

Rather stand you on my side, that is on God's side. Speak not of Jesus Christ and withal desire the world. Ignatius: to the Romans (A.D. 35-105) ch.7

Since I see, that you are exceedingly anxious to understand the religion of the Christians, as to what God they trust and how they worship Him, that they all disregard the world and despise death. Letter to Diognetus (A.D. 125-200) ch. 1

Those who have never investigated concerning the truth, nor enquired concerning the deity, but have merely believed, and have been mixed up in business affairs and riches and heathen friendships, and many other affairs of this world - as many, I say, as devote themselves to these things, comprehend not the parables of the deity; for they are darkened by these actions, and are corrupted and become barren. Hermas (A.D. 150) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg. 26

These are men who have been believers, but grew rich and became renowned among the Gentiles. They clothed themselves with great pride and became high-minded, and abandoned the truth and did not cleave to the righteous, but lived together after the manner of the Gentiles… Others at the last living with the Gentiles, and being corrupted by the vain opinions of the Gentiles, departed from God, and worked the works of the Gentiles. These therefore were numbered with the Gentiles. Hermas (A.D. 150) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.42

The Lord said: "Judge not, that you be not judged: for with what judgment you shall judge, you shall be judged." [The meaning is] not certainly that we should not find fault with sinners, nor that we should consent to those who act wickedly; but that we should not pronounce an unfair judgment on the dispensations of God, inasmuch as He has Himself made provision that all things shall turn out for good, in a way consistent with justice. Irenaeus (A.D. 180) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.504

I do not wish to be a king; I am not anxious to be rich; I decline military command; I detest fornication; I am not impelled by an insatiable love of gain to go to sea; I do not contend for chaplets; I am free from a mad thirst for fame; I despise death… Die to the world, repudiating the madness that is in it. Live to God, and by apprehending Him lay aside your old nature. We were not created to die, but we die by our own fault. Our free-will has destroyed us; we who were free have become slaves; we have been sold through sin. Nothing evil has been created by God; we ourselves have manifested wickedness; but we, who have manifested it, are able again to reject it. Tatian (A.D.160) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.69

Among us nothing is ever said, or seen, or heard, which has anything in common with the madness of the circus, the immodesty of the theatre, the atrocities of the arena, the useless exercises of the wrestling-ground. Why do you take offence at us because we differ from you in regard to your pleasures? If we will not partake of your enjoyments, the loss is ours, if there be loss in the case, not yours. We reject what pleases you. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg. 46

We cannot sit down in fellowship with them, as neither can they with us. Things in this matter go by their turns. Now they have gladness and we are troubled. "The world," says Jesus, "shall rejoice; you shall be sorrowful." Let us mourn, then, while the heathen are merry, that in the day of their sorrow we may rejoice; lest, sharing now in their gladness, we share then also in their grief. You are too dainty, Christian, if you wouldst have pleasure in this life as well as in the next; nay, a fool you are, if you think this life's pleasures to be really pleasures. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg. 90


Saturday, September 15, 2012

Port townsand Washington

We stood on the corner today and handed out the sermon on the mount. My days always seem to go better when I set aside sometime to do some witnessing. It doesnt really matter where just that I try to reach out and share the gospel. Its really been a blessing to do so much traveling these past few weeks. I wish I would take more pictures to share with you all. Maybe some of you dont get to travel much and thats one good reason for me doing this. I hope you are encouraged aswell, remember it doesnt matter where, the super market , flea market, car wash whatever just go up to somebody if its peaceful and share the gospel its a blessing and God will water you for doing so.


Thursday, September 13, 2012

Selfishness verses Selflessness


                                                                           
"For all seek their own, not the things which are Yeshua ha Mashiyach's." 
Philippians 2:21                                                  (Jesus Christ's)
(Some thoughts a Brother in Christ shared:)
 Most folks are accustomed to the idea that if you're not being obnoxiously selfish then you are ok. A person who habitually puts his or her interests first, without any regard for the inconvenience (or calamity) they may bring upon others, is generally classified as selfish.
However, such a definition of selfishness is far from satisfactory from a Scriptural point of view. The Word of God calls us, not to passive indifference, but to active selfless service.  According to the message of the New Testament, it is not enough to merely avoid overfly living for ourselves at the expense of others. Instead it can be stated that those who are not laying down their lives in devotion to God, & in service to others, are guilty of “seeking their own.” This type of selfishness mostly goes unnoticed though because we have been raised up in such a “me generation” society. So, rather than spending time on the obvious examples of self-centeredness, let us call attention to subtle ways in which people are being selfish, living unto themselves.
   Not uncommonly we hear people who profess Christianity justify something they do, or desire to do, with the statement, “I don’t see anything wrong with that.” Often this is due to failure to take the Scriptures  seriously; they enjoy their sin & will not be deterred by a few Biblical passages. Sometimes, however it is true that the particular action they are referring to, in & of itself, is not necessarily wrong. The problem is that their lives, even in the best examples, consist almost exclusively of things that “aren’t necessarily wrong,” in & of themselves. There is nothing blatantly contrary to Scripture about living in a house, working with your hands, taking a trip to another state, learning about a particular subject, enjoying music, passing the time with certain types of hobbies, or keeping company with like minded people. The goal, the very target of Evangelical Church folk is to have a life made up of such things. Nevertheless if your life consists of little more than this, it isn’t much of a Christian testimony. When the best that a believer can say about his life is merely that the vast majority of his time is taken up in activities that “aren’t necessarily wrong,” he is exhibiting a prime example of what the Scriptures call being “lukewarm” toward Y’shua (Jesus).  (See Revelations 3:15-16)
Nowhere in the New Testament are we taught that Christian life consists of doing whatever we want as long as it is not violently contrary to the Scriptures. The primary focus of a true follower of Y’shua is not about answering the question, “Is what I wish to do necessarily wrong?” Rather it is about answering the question, “Is what I wish to do something that God delights in?” The Holy Scripture makes clear the sorts of things in which our heavenly Father delights (e.g.: purity, kindness, study of the Scriptures, prayer, sharing our faith, service, etc.). The actual goal & target of a Christian is to have ones life consist largely of these types of things.
    In Matthew 11, some disciples of John the Baptist came with a message from John, essentially asking if Y’shua was the Messiah. Instead of just saying, “ Yes, that’s me,” which anyone could have done, Y’shua pointed out that he was doing things that to those who knew the Scriptures would identify him clearly to be Mashiyach (the Messiah, referring to Isaiah 35:3-6 & Isaiah 61:11 ). He then added, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me” Matthew11:6
   It would be an understatement to say that many people were offended at Y’shua, but we tend to forget this fact. After nearly 2,000 years, being trained by society to picture a Christ who is something like Mr. Rogers, it is easy to miss that Y’shua was “despised & rejected”, & eventually killed for what he taught. (See Isaiah 53) Multitudes came to be healed by him & to hear him; but in the bitter end, before the resurrection, only a small number counted themselves as his disciples. Apparently then, most people were offended at Y’shua, for some reason or another.
   Few would have been offended at the Messiah if he had come preaching only that we need change some of our beliefs, spend a few hours of the week differently from what we are accustomed to, & abstain from obvious vices, such as intoxication, brawling, or cheating on one’s spouse. Religions of the world, whether Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or otherwise are content to require little more than these types of things. A quiet, normal life of religious complacency would have suited people just fine, as  it has since time immemorial. But Y’shua’s words came smashing into people’s worlds with something new & radical, & this was offensive. He called upon people to go way beyond the complacent norms of society, & live out selfless devotion. Y’shua spoke hard sayings: about denying ourselves & taking up the cross to follow him, about dying to ourselves, about selling out & leaving all behind, about suffering wrong without fighting back, obeying his commandments even if it means losing our own families. The Messiah claimed authority as Master & Lord (Luke6:46 & John13:13) .  He taught that we should, indeed must, be willing to confess him before men, to bear affliction & persecution for him, & even to die for his sake (Mark 13:9-13).
   In short, Y’shuas message & call upon us is to give up our lives in service to our Creator (Matthew 16:24-25). As the Apostle Paul put it, we are to offer up our bodies to God as a living sacrifice (Romans12:1).  To become a Christian means to no longer live unto one’s self, but unto Mashiyach (the Messiah). (2Corinthians5:15)  He is telling us not to merely make a few alterations in our schedule & beliefs, but to totally & radically change virtually everything about our life; & become “new creatures” (2Corinthians 5:17) 
   In this light suddenly “not necessarily wrong” lifestyle is exposed as, in fact, all wrong. It is a life inherently & thoroughly selfish. The parable Y’shua spoke in Luke 12:16-27 illustrates this point clearly. Here we have a man who worked long & hard & received abundantly for his labor. Y’shua did not say that man was dishonest. He made no mention of him keeping wages back from any workers. From society’s view, it would be very difficult to point out anything he had done that was “necessarily wrong”. Yet, God was greatly displeased with him, & the reason is that all his work was for himself. The modern version of this parable is known as the “American Ideal”, a life centered around career & possessions. It is the very epitome of living unto one’s self: planning & working & saving & investing, with the goal of obtaining things for self. Though considered so normal, even admirable, through the lens of Y’shua’s message it is seen as selfishness, pure & simple. The New Testament message is about giving; the American Ideal is about getting. Y’shua taught self-denial, self-sacrifice, for the good of others. The American Ideal stresses self-preservation. The New Testament calls us to live by faith in an invisible Provider/the American Ideal exhorts rather to depend on visible securities such as material assets & armed defenses. The Christian life is about seeking first the kingdom of God, being willing to suffer affliction, & be content even when experiencing necessities (See 2Corinthians 6:4 ; 12:10). The American Ideal as prompted by it’s Evangelical Church world, advocates spending large amounts of time pursuing comforts & pleasures for self, And while the early Christians strove to perfect holiness in the fear of God, (2Corinthians 7:1) modern believers often justify their lives by saying that the things they do, even in their most optimistic opinions are merely “not necessarily wrong”.
   To those content to live a typical complacent life of self-preservation, Y’shua’s message has always been greatly offensive. It threatens their entire world-it’s too scary, too precarious, too radical & requires too much of them. This is precisely what happened to the young rich ruler. (See Mark 10:17-21 ; Luke 18:18-23).  Rather than letting his life fall on the Rock of Y’shua & be broken (Matthew 21:44) his self preservation prevailed upon his heart to become offended. He concluded that the cost of discipleship was too high. Many others have come to this conclusion; & this trend continues even today. Although many are willing to make some changes in their life for the sake of their faith, most are not in any way planning to lay down their lives, goals, plans, & careers in order to commit themselves to selfless, Christ-like service & devotion to God. Instead they are busy charting out their course of society’s normal, typical, predictable, secure, lukewarm, selfish lifestyle. To them a selfless Gospel like the one Y’shua preached is simply offensive.
   Consider two outstanding examples in the New Testament, the Apostles Peter & Paul.(Other non-Apostolic examples could be sited such as Timothy, or Titus, but these two Apostles will serve the purpose. ) Neither was content with a quiet complacent life, one considered normal by society’s standards. Instead they gave their lives to carry the Gospel to the world-they were both determined to live for others. Indeed this was what first century Christianity was all about. “by love serve one another” (Galations5:13)  “ I will gladly spend & be spent for you”(2Corinthians 12:15)  “neither count I my life dear unto myself, that I might finish my course with joy, & the ministry which I have received of the Lord Y’shua to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24) And it’s a good thing of course that they were willing to live for others rather than live a quiet life for themselves, or else we may never had heard about the Gospel today.
    It is by understanding this message of selflessness that we can grasp the meaning of the New Testament exhortations: to prefer one another, (Romans 12:10) to esteem others better than ourselves, (Philippians 2:3) & to take the lower seat (Luke 14:10-11) Y’shua himself did not come to be served, but to serve & to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew10:28) Paul echoes this by saying he had made himself servant to all. (1Corinthians 9:19) His reason for this, he stated, was to win others to Y’shua. Paul’s focus, & the focus of the first century Christians in general was not on merely avoiding actions that are “necessarily wrong” but on dedicating one’s life for the salvation of others, & to be able to help as many souls as possible. When believers fail to see themselves as servants both to God, & to all people, they tend to hold themselves more highly in importance; & this produces little besides selfish attitudes & actions. Something often associated with placing importance on ones self is putting great emphasis on being treated fairly. This manifests itself as: being quick to anger, a consistent demand for respect, & continual efforts to defend our own reputation, & to seek retribution when wronged.  If such statements surprise you, they should not. The concern of God’s people in the New Testament is not about “what is fair for me,” but rather, what is charitable & holy, & what makes for a truly Christian testimony. In the last 11 verses of Matthew 5 Y’shua makes this point clear. Now it is certainly true that Christians are not suppose to do wrong to others; but how should a Christian respond when he is wronged? Are we to demand fair retribution?
In 1Corinthians 6, Paul answers this question. Apparently some in the church had wronged their brethren; & those defrauded had reacted by taking them to court. This was “utterly a fault,” something horribly wrong that these brothers did not just bear & forgive. “Why do ye rather not take wrong?” Paul asks, “Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” Y’shua gave us an example of taking wrong patiently & charitably (Luke 23:34; 1Peter2:19-23). Stephan followed faithfully in his Master’s steps (Acts7:59-60). Many would do well to remember more often the Scripture that tells us to not take heed unto all words spoken (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22) It is easier to be of this longsuffering attitude when we are not holding ourselves in great importance. There is to be sure a time & place to “warn the unruly”  1Thesalonians 5:14) , & instruct with meekness those who are erring. James 5:19-20). However, our reason for acting must spring from charity, out of a desire to restore someone in need (Galatians 6:1), it should not be out of merely wanting to defend ourselves.
   When self is on the throne, trifling matters best left ignored become grounds for offense, & even anger & bitterness. “My opinion” becomes more important, “my way” is assured the best way, “my questions” are regarded as the ones needed to be answered first, & “my problems” are the most pressing. Meanwhile, it becomes difficult to see anything as “my fault”. When several people harbor attitudes, arguing & resentment are virtually inevitable. Further in this selfish frame of mind, it is easier to be offended at instruction & reproof than to receive them. It is with meekness that one receives the saving word (James 1:21) ; & meekness is not a characteristic of self-centeredness.
   Selfishness is as well present in all desire for vain glory, which can quickly lead to envy & strife (See Galatians 5:26). It brings one to thinking much about self, talking about self, & being concerned about the needs of self rather than “…looking on the needs of others” (Philippians 2:4). Each of us of course has needs & our Father wants us to ask Him for good things (Matthew 7:11).  However, when prayer time becomes little more than presenting a wish list of items for self, it can hardly be denied that selfishness is involved.
   The holy, upright love of God in a Christians heart is something that leads away from seeking ones own  (1Corinthians 13:6). Charity is never selfish; it is too concerned about others to place much importance on self. Selfishness is not upright, in fact it is at the base of virtually all manner of sin. Paul was aware of this connection; in 2Timothy 3, he refers to those who are “lovers of their own selves,” & lists numerous awful things that are associated with that. Few have pointed out the connection between womanizing & selfishness; but once considered, the association is inescapable. Pursuing ones desires without any thought whatsoever for its affect on others. Similar statements can be made about theft & other forms of dishonesty, as well as covetousness, murder, & many other sins.
   Everyone who chooses the world over service to God is being selfish, particularly those who leave God & His people, to return to the world as Demas did in 2 Timothy4:10. The result is universally the same: serving sin, being a hindrance & stumbling block to those who are trying to follow Y’shua & troubling others in various ways when they should be seeking to help. It is always for nothing else than seeking temporal pleasures for self.
   So we can see that merely abstaining from certain things that are obviously contrary to the Scriptures is not enough. Rather, a complete definition of selflessness manifests that if we are not actively being selfless—giving our life in service to Y’shua & for the good of others—then we are being selfish. If the best justification that can be offered for nearly all of the activities in one’s life is, “I don’t see anything wrong with it,” such a life can be classified as thinly veiled selfishness. It is an attitude that seeks first its own will, not the attitude of asking what will please God the most.
   Are you willing to lay down your whole life for the sake of others?

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Divisions



Do not long for division, but rather bring those who contend to peace. Judge righteously, and do not respect persons in reproving for transgressions. You shall not be undecided whether or not it shall be. Didache (A.D. 80-140) ch. 4 Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight. You mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors: their deficiencies you deemed your own. Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) ch. 2
Every kind of honor and happiness was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, “My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked.” Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honored, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years. Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) ch. 3
Wherefore are there strifes and wraths and factions and divisions and war among you? Have we not one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace that was shed upon us? And is there not one calling in Christ? Wherefore do we tear and rend asunder the members of Christ, and stir up factions against our own body, and reach such a pitch of folly, as to forget that we are members one of another? Remember the words of Jesus our Lord: for He said, Woe unto that man. It were good for him if he had not been born, rather than that he should offend one of Mine elect. It were better for him that a mill-stone were about him, and he cast into the sea, than that he should pervert one of Mine elect. Your division has perverted many; it has brought many to despair, many to doubting, and all of us to sorrow. And your sedition still continues. Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) ch. 46
Who therefore is noble among you? Who is compassionate? Who is fulfilled with love? Let him say; If by reason of me there be faction and strife and divisions, I retire, I depart, whither you will, and I do that which is ordered by the people: only let the flock of Christ be at peace with its duly appointed presbyters. Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) ch.54
As children therefore [of the light] of the truth, shun division and wrong doctrines; and where the shepherd is, there follow you as sheep. For many specious wolves with baneful delights lead captive the runners in God's race; but, where you are at one, they will find no place. Ignatius: to the Philadelphians (A.D. 35-105) ch.2
Abstain from noxious herbs, which are not the husbandry of Jesus Christ, because they are not the planting of the Father. Not that I have found division among you, but filtering. Ignatius: to the Philadelphians (A.D. 35-105) ch.3
He shall also judge those who give rise to schisms, who are destitute of the love of God, and who look to their own special advantage rather than to the unity of the Church; and who for trifling reasons, or any kind of reason which occurs to them, cut in pieces and divide the great and glorious body of Christ, and so far as in them lies, [positively] destroy it,-men who prate of peace while they give rise to war, and do in truth strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel. Irenaeus (A.D. 180) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg. 508

Cross country/updated

 This first picture is in Oregon at the sat. market. its a real good place to encourage souls. The brothers had a sign made up and so ive been using that one. i put it in the window when driving.
this is the old sign i used from Colorado to Oregon.

This is at the taste of Colorado festival in Denver.
 This is at a art show in parker Colorado.
 This is Utah ! AMAZING !!!!!!! Merea is at home in the woods.


 Truth is expensive and freedom aint free.
 This is our portable home.
 This road was so narrow ! if you had to big of a vehicle it could have been deadly ! it was a good lesson for me.

 This is a camp of brothers on the west coast .
 I wounder if Malie smells the food .

 the brother is building a yurt and this is the deck.The girls loved running around on it.


Urban homesteading

Work trade is great ! With the housing market the way it is today people are willing to let you caretake there delapatating properties. This is a house in PA. That I lived in that was really a blessing, eventhough someone robbed the copper pipes and it had no heat, with Gods help we were able to get it up and running for the pilgrims to rest their weary feet. Its hard work but well worth it. Here are a few pictures to tell the story.








Chruch community

Recently my wife has been riseing up early to make sister ashley breakfast. Sister ashley is 9 months pregnant and very thankful for the sisterly help. This post is in relation to one of the comments a few weeks back. Its a blessing to live in such a compressed environment with other believers.


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Saturday market

Yesterday was a longer day of street preaching. We went to the saturday market with brothers scott and joel and also to the osu football game. Our wives came along with us for part of the day . It was a pretty good day asfar as talking with souls and its possiable we will see some of them again. We are off to Washington in the morning and look forward to doing some street preaching there aswell.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Early christian thought

Happiness of man

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.Matt. 16:24

He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. John 12:25

For this cause is a man unable to attain happiness, seeing that they call in the fears of men, preferring rather the enjoyment which is here than the promise which is to come. For they know not how great torment the enjoyment which is here brings, and what delight the promise which is to come brings. And if verily they were doing these things by themselves alone, it had been tolerable: but now they continue teaching evil to innocent souls, not knowing that they shall have their condemnation doubled, both themselves and their hearers. Second Clement (A.D. 100) ch.10

For happiness consists not in lordship over one's neighbors, nor in desiring to have more than weaker men, nor in possessing wealth and using force to inferiors; neither can any one imitate God in these matters; nay, these lie outside His greatness. Letter to Diognetus (A.D. 125-200) ch.10

And the second, that is girded about and looks like a man, is called Self-Control; she is the daughter of Faith. Whosoever then shall follow her, becomes happy in his life, for he shall refrain from all evil deeds, believing that, if he refrain from every evil desire, he shall inherit eternal life. Hermas (A.D. 150) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.16

"What kinds of self-indulgence, Sir," say I, "are harmful?" "Every action," said he, "is self-indulgence to a man, which he does with pleasure; for the ill tempered man, when he gives the reins to his passion..." Hermas (A.D. 150) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.38

We cannot sit down in fellowship with them, as neither can they with us. Things in this matter go by their turns. Now they have gladness and we are troubled. "The world," says Jesus, "shall rejoice; you shall be sorrowful." Let us mourn, then, while the heathen are merry, that in the day of their sorrow we may rejoice; lest, sharing now in their gladness, we share then also in their grief. You are too dainty, Christian, if you wouldst have pleasure in this life as well as in the next; nay, a fool you are, if you think this life's pleasures to be really pleasures. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg. 90

If you seek to live, being a believing man, as do the Gentiles, the joys of the world remove you from the grace of Christ. With an undisciplined mind you seek what you presume to be easily lawful, both your dear actors and their musical strains; nor do you care that the offspring of such an one should babble follies. While you think that you are enjoying life, you are improvidently erring. The Highest commands, and you shun His righteous precepts. Commodianus (A.D. 200) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.4 pg. 214

When the Lord says that man should eat bread with groaning, here what are you now doing, who desire to live with joy? You seek to rescind the judgment uttered by the highest God when He first formed man; you wish to abandon the curb of the law. If the Almighty God has bidden you live with sweat, you who are living in pleasure will already be a stranger to Him. The Scripture said that the Lord was angry with the Jews. Their sons, refreshed with food, rose up to play…Hope comes with labor, and the palm is given to victory. If you wish to be refreshed, give help and encouragement to the martyr. Wait for the repose to come in the passage of death. Commodianus (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.4 pg. 214