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If it is me, I hope those people do well in their recovery and recognize their right to occupy that property just as I have a right to occupy mine.

I hope when my dad gets out of jail people aint mean to him and give him a chance to do right

Everyone develops their own way to study the Bible. But I look at it as God's Word written to me to reveal His character and personality to me. So praying first does help, and asking the meaning of a passage helps as well. But usually I don't get hung up if I don't understand everything. It is better to find the passages that are meaningful and underline or highlight them. So try to act on what you do understand, or ask God to help you to apply it to your life. He will help you to understand more when you need to, and after you have acted on what you do know. But most of us would be glad to explain any passages that you are having difficulty with. Often it will mean different things to different people and we learn from each other, especially in how the Word applies to us. It may help to read the passage from another translation which may seem clearer. It may help to ask who, what, where, why when and how type of questions. Who is it written to or about. What are they discussing. Where and when did it take place. Why was it being written. How does it apply to me.

Yes, as a Christian you should understand the Bible. But it is best to first of all understand the Lord Jesus Christ. Start with the Gospel of John and work your way back to Matthew. When you have a solid understanding of Christ, who He is and what He accomplished while on earth, you can move on to the epistles. It would be a good idea to postpone the study of Bible prophecy until you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals. Avoid controversial subjects and stick with the basics initially. As one who is professedly returning from a backslidden condition, focus on your devotional time, and have a separate time to study the Word. But be disciplined and have a set time for whatever you do. Acquire some basic study tools such as Strong's Concordance, wich will help you to understand the difficult words.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to understand what you are reading and He will help you understand... I remember when I became a Christian I didn't even know how to pray---just keep reading and ask God to help you understand Proverbs 2:2 Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

2 Tim. 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Understanding the Word of God is a lifelong quest. If it was easy, there would be no need for pastors and teachers, and concordances, and this very forum. This is only one of the tests of our faithfulness to God, but it is a foundational one, because all creation derives and continues from the Word, in all its many forms. Like a marriage, one needs to stick with it even when one does not seem to be getting anything out of it. Our faithfulness to continue is the test, which God will reward in his own time.

Again, Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God. Jeremiah 3:22 (KJV) Welcome Beloved~! So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (KJV) Pray For Understanding In Jesus Name Each Time You Read Your Bible In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5 (ESV) And A Good Start Is The Book Of John And By Using Sites Like The Bible Hub You Will Pick Up Bible Helps And Cross References http://biblehub.com/john/1-1.htm ~ Enjoy Your Quest As You Discover Jesus Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, Psalms 40:7 (KJV) From Genesis 1:1 Through Revelation 22:20 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalms 119:160 In The Big Book Of My God Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalms 119:11 And My LORD Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. John 20:27-28 (KJV) ~ Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27 (KJV) Love, Your Brother Joe

I like the way they put it..... if a gay couple come in to eat we will serve them, but if they want us to cater a wedding they don't feel that they can do that..... Serve them? Yes they will. but be part of their lifestyle..... aaahhhhh no.

I think their religious rights should be respected.

still, shiloh, where would you suggest they go? what area could they possibly put a halfway house where it would not be in a neighborhood? people coming out of prison have to go somewhere. and they have to have access to transportation so they can meet the requirements of their parole. where would you suggest they go?

where might that be? a lone house in the middle of the country miles from nowhere? while that might be nice, it's not going to help the person (a) find work (b) learn to re-integrate into society © do their community service, and (d) get to parole and probation appointments. those are the purposes of halfway houses. we had several halfway houses in the nearby vicinity when i lived in vegas. one was overseen by my church there. another was halfway between my house and the church (which was only a mile distant) and another was less than a mile the other direction. in all my years of living there, none of those residents ever caused any problems in the community to my knowledge. they didn't all stay clean, many of them circulated back into jail or prison, but they weren't molesting children or stalking neighbors or robbing the convenience stores. but many of them really did learn to clean up their act. because we ran a food pantry from our church, a lot of these guys did their community service with us... and then would stay on as volunteers long after they'd done their required hours because they'd found a place where they were able to contribute and feel good about themselves while being ministered to, spiritually. some of them would begin attending sunday services. others began attending bible studies hosted by church members. this subject always kinda amuses me... nobody wants a halfway house around. but everybody has criminals in their neighborhood, and most of them aren't living structured lives overseen by people who are there to make sure they stay out of trouble. it reminds me of a "what you don't see can't hurt you" mentality. but the biggest threat comes not from what is visible, but from what isn't.

I've spent some time in a halfway house putting my life back together and its not easy whether someone has been to prison or not. I haven't been to jail or prison, but I could have easily enough. Halfway houses have to go somewhere, and in my area most are not a problem to the neighborhoods they are in. The majority are well kept and don't cause problems for those nearby. In one case what started as a halfway house (for homeless veterans) grew to the point that now they own the whole block, and have improved what was once a pretty scuzzy run down neighborhood.

The forums were a bit slow. So I opted to post topics that addressed aspects of Christian life, to get things going on the forums. Altho the ones on worship were important to me personally, as its something that has been big in my life recently.

Me too, Drew.

Hi Serving Yes, he's of Babylon of course, but when you read the next verse no. 12, a clue is given, very subtle indeed. Please consider these scriptures; Nahum 1:11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor. Nahum 1:12 Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. Now compare it to this verse; Ezekiel 21:25 And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Ezekiel 21:26 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. Ezekiel 21:27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. now put them together; Nahum 1:11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor. Ezekiel 21:25 And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, please consider,.....

Can just see the wild children on the asiles now. That seems to be very discriminating. Lots of folks over 30 can bounce with the best of them.

The problem I have with Catholic confession (I don't know about the Orthodox) is that supposedly the priest has the authority to forgive the sin or sins you are confessing.... He may require you to do something for penitence over it but it is he that forgives the sin. I know they quote scripture for that, but it has never set well with me.

Too often this verse has been twisted to mean that we must tell everyone our sins. To me, it means that when I sin against a brother, I confess to that brother my sin and we both pray for His will to be done. It also means that when God leads me to talk to another about something on my heart I do so, than we can pray together. I do not see this as an instruction to tell people who do not know me of my sins or any error/hardship I may be going through. We are told to approach God through Christ, not man.