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Yes I know I am taking time off from posting. But I thought you all would like to know that today my husband and I have been married 20 years! ?

Hi Gandalfthewise, Sounds like my journey too bro. I was the one playing the piano and later keyboard. We`d play the songs flowing one to the other and slowing down, or just playing the music and people had time to meditate on the Lord and pray and praise Him. Plenty of time and not man controlled or trying to be excellent, just people singing from their hearts. Nowadays from what I can see in some places, the band does it all and it doesn`t matter if people sing or not. Marilyn. BTW we listened to the same people, and what good words they used and not complex, which helps you lift your heart to the Lord. I love Hymns too and each have a place, I believe.

Bitterness is like toxic parasite that transfers from one person to another: “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;” (Hebrews 12:15 ESV) ”Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” (Hebrews 12:15 NLT). Bitterness spreads, and is sown from person to person. We should sow love so that world knows we are Jesus’ disicples (John 13:34-35). But the devil is having hay day sowing bitterness in the Church these days, some of it is down by wolves in sheep’s clothing, the rest is from jealousy and envy which are earthly and demonic, “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.“ (James 3:14-16) and because of past hurts and abuses.

If anyone tries to be saved by the law they arn’t Christian: “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace.” (Galatians 5:4), I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:21), and, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. A mature Christian will adopt this view.” (Phillippians 3:8-9, 15). A Christian believes the Lord Jesus Christ (God and Son of God) alone can save (John 6:40, John 3:16-18, John 14:6) and faith in Him is what makes us right before God (Romans 10:9-10, John 6:40). The Blood of Jesus is what ballets is ans allowa is into the holiest place (Hebrews 10:19) and May stand before God without blemish (Colossians 1:22).

Yes, he had a great idea...once there are indigenous Christians in countries, since they already know the language and the culture, let's support them to do the ministry in their own countries. Of course, each native ministry is thoroughly checked out to make sure it's reliable with sound doctrine and handling of finances. I like that Christian Aid concentrates on countries that are poor and/or closed to missionaries.

"Christian Aid Mission" ( which you mentioned ) was started by Bob Finley - a pioneer in "indigenous missions." He was much criticized by traditional missions. I had an opportunity to meet him. -many years ago.. --- Some of "traditional missions" are using his concept / ideas nowadays. Paradigm shift has been going on in world missions.

@turtletwo I missed out on all the concerts of that era except for a "Concert for the Arts" (I forget exactly what it was called) that included the Talbot Brothers. It included much music from The Painter album. We just got done moving after 20 years in one place. I'll have to take a look in the box we put the albums in at some point when I find it. I'm sure when I run across it at some point I'll remember this thread. I used to enjoy getting the old Last Days Newsletter from Keith Green and crew. I played guitar, bass, keyboards, and did some singing (baritone voice). I was a worship leader for many years. I mostly did lead guitar in the bands along with a bit of keyboard and vocals. I was way too self-concious in front of people to comfortably sing. (Worship leading was way different for me because I was not the center of attention.) I developed a Stanley Jordan tapping style of lead so I ended up with a unique sound somewhat reminiscent of Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits). I'd also fill in a lot wherever I was needed. I was also a good sound man. For a time I got a good local reputation in main line churches as a musician because I'd improvise hymns and Christmas carols on piano rather than playing them note for note like they were used to. As a practical matter, my technical musical skills were perhaps a bit above average for the typical church group. My creativity, emotion, and ability to flow with a song were my strong points. It's interesting. I've been out of music for close to a decade now but have been getting back into it. My old Roland keyboard, fender twin, and guitars are now set up by my desk for the past month or so and I've started playing again. I went through a stretch of major spiritual transformation and emotional healing a few years back and the self-consciousness is gone. Lately, I've been feeling free when I play because I don't care what people think anymore. We do therapy dog visits to senior centers (which have old pianos sitting around) and I started just improvising on a few chords for some background music and found I truly enjoyed it. It was the first time I'd touched a piano in many years. There was a sense of freedom I'd never had in the decades before. I'm not quite sure what direction God has with this and I have yet to start playing with anyone else after our move, but it's fun to have music back in my life again.

Hi Neighbor, I do so love your early morning ponderings. Hubby and I had such a laugh. It must be about the language we are used to - on holidays, vacation, etc. Probably an English term, I`ll have to ask mabel. So to answer your important ponderings - Do you have to work to have a holiday? Mmmm well people do work and then holiday and there are droves of them where we are up and down the West Coast of western Australia. Then like us we are retired and that group is called the `grey nomads,` older folks who are `spending the kids inheritance` as people say. And they are the bulk of the caravans, while the motor homes are the foreigners, and the camper trailers are usually the young folk and many with children. My hubby although `semi-retired` still puts in a full days work on his brother`s farm to help them with harvesting, hay carting, and all the preparation done on a farm. we also `farm sit` for friends so they can have a `holiday!` `Farm sitting` involves looking after the animals and feeding out hay to the stock. So what to see here in Aussie. Well you can go to the section just for those with 500 and over and see our Great Aussie Adventure there in full technicolour pics. (Worthy Gold) We here in Aussie are also called `the little island off the coast of new Zealand.` So go figure that one! Hope you can have a `holiday ` one day a break from your normal routine and off to explore God`s wonders. all the best, Marilyn.

Hebrews 9:16–17 (AV) 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. The New Testament / New Covenant did not start until Jesus was on the cross. Maybe that will help clear up some of the confusion forced upon us by the traditions of man (Mark 7:13).

The problem is not that we don't hear you. The problem is that we don't agree with you. God has a provided way. And by the Word of God we are proving that denominations are not it. Christ the Living Word Who shed His Blood is the provided way. God said,"when I see the Blood, I'll pass". God wants to see us filled with the Holy Ghost. Denominations work directly against that by putting man's laws, ideas, teachings, traditions ets. above what Scripture teaches us. Literary making the Word of God of none affect to the people and causing people to put their trust into a denomination rather than the Word of God. Denomination becomes a substitute. I see it time and time again. Salvation comes by God above man. God's rightfull place. Man obeying God directly, like Israel as a nation following the Pillar of Fire out of Egypt and into the promised land. Denominations are like political parties, man over man with their handbooks and traditions refusing the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what God gave man, denominations is what man gave man.

Paul gave advice for new Christians who came to Jesus while being married to unbelieving husbands/wives I Corinthians 7: KJV 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

@turtletwo @SisterActs2 This is a great thread. I was born in the early 60s and saved in the early 70s. I lived out in the middle of rural WI for much of my early life and never really saw a Christian concert for a long time. My exposure to Christian music was from the Larry Black Show and vinyl albums and cassettes. Jesus Solid Rock sounds vaguely familiar but I cannot recall hearing it. I think there was also a Scott Ross (?) show but never heard that either. I love the Barry McGuire dolphin story as well. I think we used to have the album it was on, and maybe still do. As we were recently moving, we've still got a number of those old albums, and somewhere picked up a cheap USB turntable we were going to use to digitize them. I'd been in a couple local Christian bands, sadly a bit before recording technology was as common. The demo cassette from my first band got lost somewhere and the only cassette of our second band was so awful I cannot bear to listen to it. We went to Lifest (see Lifest.com for more info) for about 5 or 6 years. The last time was maybe about 7 or 8 years ago. We almost went to Cornerstone festival in Illinois back in the late 80s. I was doing some quick Bing searches to remember the name of Cornerstone. I ran across a couple articles. I had forgotten that a number of the first Christian musicians to adopt rock instruments and genre had gotten run out of churches...literally. Some Christians were convinced they were on drugs and demon possessed. Cornerstone festival was among the first to openly embrace these musicians. I recall DeGarmo and Key telling about one of their first performances in a church. A church elder unplugged the sound system mid guitar solo, as he stood there wondering why his guitar cut out, the same elder walked out and tell them to leave. Instead of celebrating when some of these artists were invited into secular venues where Christian musicians had never been before, it became an excuse to shun them. With regard to praise music, as I was growing up, there was a local Methodist minister who served 3 little churches. He implemented a sunday night (as I recall) service (maybe monthly or weekly) that was more or less a good old pentecostal worship service that we went to a few times. There were some local Christians that had a praise band (in hindsight probably for a small independent church) and often were invited for special music and concerts in the area. Other than that, it was piano/organ/choir classical hymns with a bit of gospel thrown in at times. When I got to college, I joined a small pentecostal church which was when I discovered that some churches sang something other than 3 traditional hymns in a service as well as talked about being born-again openly. It was a combination of hymns, old gospel numbers, and choruses.

Absolutely agree, turtletwo. How I enjoyed those early days in my walk with the Lord, learning and growing, soaking up everything truly Christian and becoming totally in love with Jesus.

Paul wrote 2 Corinthians at a vulnerable time in his life. He had learned that the church at Corinth was struggling, and he sought to take action to preserve the unity of that local body of believers. The letter is riddled with personal comments as Paul revealed details about the persecution he had suffered for the sake of Christ as well as about a mysterious thorn in the flesh that kept him reliant on God. 1 He discusses marriage; 4 showing it to be a remedy against sinful desires, 10 and that the bond thereof ought not lightly to be dissolved. 20 Every man must be content with his vocation. 25 Virginity wherefore to be embraced; 35 and for what respects we may either marry, or abstain from marrying. 1 Cor. 7:12-14 12, But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13, And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Hello friends We have quite a few of these little "Scripture in Song" booklets published in New Zealand and Australia, and distributed to a lot of other countries. Book One, of Songs of Praise, revised edition, was published in 1981/ 1983. They are a compilation of songs taken from Psalms and other scripture and put to music. David and Dale Garratt were instrumental in putting the booklets together, and people such as myself sang lots of "choruses" as we started our Christian lives. I love these choruses; most people know these songs from church to church. Sorry if I have repeated some information already given. I just randomly chose this one: How lovely are they dwelling places My soul longs for the courts of the Lord My heart and my flesh Sing for joy to the living God You are my King and my God. AMEN!

It would be interesting to see a few photos of the places in which you minister. And you could tell us a bit about your ministry and the people you are seeking to reach. Looking forward to some responses. Thanks!

Thanks. I guess I have "holidayed" some. Been around the States USA a bit anyway, just don't have an interest in travel outside the USA. Parochial of me I guess.

Oh! Singing scripture, okay. Well I guess then as a Fernando Ortega groupie, I have been exposed to a little of it and do love it. See Psalms 139 Fernando Ortega on You Tube. ( I'm really looking forward to the privilege of taking my sweet Texas peach to The Cove, N. C. USA come Christmas season to be at his concert there)

@GandalfTheWiseI'm glad you like it. I appreciate your posts. They add a lot. Me too. We have a lot in common. All of the above are true of me except that I began attending my Pentecostal church as a child. Cool idea. Wish I had a way of doing that with my collection. So which albums do you own? Interested to know. Did you play an instrument in your bands or only sing? In the 70's me and 3 other girls started a group. One played piano, another guitar ( while me and my best friend only sang.) We auditioned for a record producer with the Larry Norman classic "I wish we'd all been ready." We were told that individually we all had nice voices but that we were essentially singing the same voice part. "Come back, girls when you can harmonize," he said. Somehow, we never did get that down. lol. Oh well... We went on to serve the Lord in other capacities. I just read that the 2012 Festival was their last. They chose to be God-pleasers rather than man-pleasers. They disregarded their rejection from much of the church and cared about the new way God was flowing (rather than the status quo.) Thanks for sharing this experience DeGarmo and Key had. Yes, the churches were very resistant to this change in musical direction at first. (Sadly, some still are.) I think it is ironic that singers like Keith Green who were not approved of by the conservative churches/radio stations when he was alive... nowadays welcome his "There is a Redeemer" and 'Oh Lord You're Beautiful" as modern day hymns... That is, if sung by someone else. They didn't want to be associated with his 'look' (unusual hair/casual clothes), drums (added to his studio recordings. His concerts were just Keith on piano), etc. Keith did some excellent scripture songs including Romans 7, Psalm 23, Psalm 8, etc. Gandalf, did you ever go to a Keith Green concert? Or any other early Christian music concerts?

Sorry about the little green lizard. Oh no, a snail as big as a softball?!! Eating concrete, too! And those Love Bugs are something, too. Leave it to the scientists! lol It's like when I was a child I read about the Africanized Bees in South America. Some scientist had crossbred the aggressive African bees with the regular bees.....then the Africanized Bees escaped! The National Geographic article had said the bees would slowly make their way Northward....at the time of the article, it sounded like an unbelievable horror movie. Now we have Africanized Bees in Los Angeles!

The Muslim Fulani are the largest nomadic tribe in the world, numbering in the tens of millions. They wander with their cattle across the savannahs of West Africa. One herdsman let his cattle decimate the crops of a farmer (they believe they have the right to roam anywhere). Instead of anger, the farmer approached the herdsman with gentleness. The farmer was a missionary and he ended up leading the herdsman and his family to Christ. Tribal elders insisted that the man recant his faith in Christ. When he wouldn't, they falsely accused him of a crime and imprisoned him for three years. The elders also tortured him and threatened his family. The elders eventually poisoned all three of the man's children. The man remained faithful to the Lord and upon being released, he started evangelizing among his fellow Fulani. He has a fruitful ministry and there are an increasing number of Fulani believing on the Lord. The man opened a special center where the new believers can have shelter as they are discipled in God's word. Info from indigenous mission. Note: These indigenous missions are all supported through Christian Aid Mission.

Do you have any dental medical school (at a university) near you? I've heard they take patients at a reduced cost. The dental doctor students do the work but under supervision of a professor (dentist). I heard my dental office referring someone to a university dental school since they couldn't pay regular prices.

Works faith nullifies salvation (or actually was never salvation to begin with). John 3:16-18 Ephesians 2:8-10 John 6:29 Galatians 3:24-25 Any who teach otherwise is trying to enslave the free with the Old Covenant Law.

The teaching of the Bible is that we can do nothing (no works) to be saved. None. And that even our faith is "not of ourselves." God's work on the other hand is what saves us (Echoed in Ephesians 2:10) we are HIS workmanship... see?

Nice! Come back soon. We do love you sister.

Thanks for the reply. Should've checked here sooner. Pain's been ongoing, so it may be shifting teeth. No jaw pain thankfully. The dentist naturally wants me to buy the expensive dentist-made one. Which I agree with, except for the cost. I grind my teeth due to chronic nerve pain in the palate that's been going on six years. Two years of head pain before that. If God allows me the funds to get acupuncture, insurance, or something I guess the pain/stress could end if it's possible. Thanks for the response.

Then Jesus is NOT their high priest.

Well that’s your view, I disagree. If you disagree then contend with what I say, with your arguments and source, but please refrain from telling me I advocating an ecumenism (Rome’s) I have tireless said is not the ecumenism I am for. To quote @listener24 there is “bad ecumenism tha conrpomises Truth, ans there is good ecumenism.” I am for the good, for building bridges and loving our brothers and sisters in Christ in their different circles, church’s, denominations, and etc (John 13:34-35).

Actually unity has been in works a long time since 1055 A.D. and 16th Century. It only is now that denominations are starting to speak to each other and build friendships. The Roman ans Eastern Orthodox have been trying to unite. There has been hope that Protestants and Catholics can unite. However, the unity I advocate is not these particular ecumenisms⬆️, but these kinds of ecumenism (build relationships), and ecumenism (end times Jesus Returns).

I had a thought on Ecumenism. The trust ecumenism will be when Jesus returns (Revelation 19:11-16, 20:4-9, 21:1-4). We are suppose to pray Jesus comes quickly, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” (Revelation 22:17), and “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20). Thus when we pray come quickly Lord Jesus we are asking for the greatest form of ecumenism! While we pray and wait, we can build relationships and bridges across denominations and do ecumenism that way until the fullness of ecumenism happens. @listener24 Linking to the Unprecendetsd Event:

Hi Debp! Yes, lot's of non native stuff here in Florida from other parts of the world. In Miami they have a problem with snails from Africa. They are as big as soft balls, and eat concrete, or actually the calcium in concrete. We used to have a little lizard called the Green Anole. Really cute and a native species. They are all but gone, having been out competed for food by the Brown Anole from the Caribbean Islands, introduced here back in the 70's. The Brown's will eat the young of the Greens as well. One could write a book about all the invasive species in this State. Probably someone already has! Then there's the Love Bug. A genetically created insect by a Florida University that were supposed to pray on mosquitoes. They never ate a single mosquito, and now they come in big swarms in spring and fall, and their body acid content takes paint off cars when you run into their swarms on the roads. There are so many that at times you have to stop driving to clear your windshield as they will cover it so you can't see out! It's happened to me. They can clog up a radiator so bad it stops working and your engine will overheat. Welcome to Paradise! Cheers Debp!!!

Thanks SisterActs2, so glad you are enjoying the good reports about the Muslim world being reached for Christ. I hope others will feel free to join in, too, with any stories they hear on this subject.

YOU RIGHT YOWM . BUT BE ON GAURD . see they already desire to have their own church changed , But from bad to worse . only it will have the appearance of being way more reformed . Just wait and watch . THEIR IS way more to this than meets the eye . Soon a religion PLANEED BY ROME will emerge , which seems all open and inclusive and all religions will have a seat at its table . ITS ALL DECEPTOIN . JUST WAIT . and they will simply think ROME became a part OF when really its the other religions that became a PART OF HER all under an all inclusive mindset . THIS WILL OCCUR . OH its time to clean house BUT LOOK OUT , for the cleaners will not be cleaners but deceivers . Just watch . A restructure will occur within ROME . BUT NOT FOR THE GOOD , THOUGH IT WILL LOOK like that too many .

@SisterActs2Hi there. I've been enjoying your input. I owned a couple Barry Mcguire records back in 1973 and 1974. As to "dolphins"- I was intrigued by the story behind it you spoke of. So I went over to YouTube just now and found it. It is from the recording "To the Bride" It is a cool story. Barry is so funny! Thanks for telling us about it. It can be found on YouTube by typing in Dolphins-Barry McGuire if you want to hear it there. I'm guessing you don't have the cassette anymore? But you never know. I have Christian music cassettes from that far back, though some are in better shape than others.. P.S. Here is some info I just read that I wanted to share with you. To the Bride, released in 1975, is a two-LP live album featuring Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of Acts, and a band called David. The album was culled from four concerts performed in the summer of 1975 and is the first of two live albums that 2nd Chapter of Acts recorded for Myrrh Records, although the majority of the concert is performed by McGuire. The album was re-released on two CDs in 2007 with one song excluded.

Muslims are turning to Christ all over the world.... I watched a video of one of their Imams in the Middle East saying it was a shame and they had to find some way to stop it. Even in Iran people are getting disappointed with Islam and turning to Christ even though it can easily cost them everything, even their lives.... and we should do everything we can to help. Help Muslims, not Islam.

The Lord's supper was for believers . There is neither Jew nor gentle but you are all one in christ Jesus.

Hi Thanks! Neighbor came from my appreciation of Robert Frost. His poem Mending Wall is my favorite of all. It has so much to tell aout the nature of individuals and of neighbors. I see in that work much that is taught as good Christian practice in our Bible. Using neighbor often forces me to consider softening the tone of my posts, before I hit submit.

On the chance that you are not actually married, break that relationship off immediately and repent of it. Assuming that you are married though; all you can do is continue to pray for him and live a Godly life. Do not respond in anger or frustration when he goads you. Just do your best to live a Godly life and pray that God will move in his heart.

Respectfully, kindly, anyone who says or thinks works "do" salvation is denying the clear, free gift discussed in the Bible--and is saying Jesus DIED FOR NO REASON.

Integrity Music has a number of Scripture Memory albums grouped by theme — faith-building, overcoming anxiety, God’s Love, praise, etc. These incorporate a wide range of musical styles.

I've got volumes 1 and 2 sitting on a shelf a few feet away.

https://youtu.be/H5ZRHQ1OQbk https://youtu.be/ruAll_8tXi8 Hello @turtletwo, These little songs introduce the Word of God to children. Singing the Word itself is better than singing a hymn that is not reflective of the truth, though there are many that are wonderful. * I heard that many hymns were written for the spinners and weavers, many working from home, who would sing along to the rhythm of the wheel and shuttle, to keep their minds on things above. * There was a song I heard in my early adult life, where daily tasks were done to the glory of God, such as, 'Washing the dishes Lord, washing the dishes Living for your glory washing the dishes * Thereby every action was done in the name of the Lord and for His glory. ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.’ (Col 3:16-17) * However, when singing the Word itself, it must be Truth that is relative, which, with respect Psalm 51:10, quoted earlier, is not. David could sing, '... take not Thy Holy Spirit from me', for the Holy Spirit had been given to him for a specific purpose and could be taken away, as it had from Saul before him. That is not so for you and I who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Holy Spirit will never be taken from us, in Christ Jesus: so to sing it would be a denial of that wonderful truth. Praise God! In Christ Jesus Chris

I am currently listening to this. Yeah, i had listened to few country songs as a child (thanks to my dad). I have also been listening to more country songs recently and i love how Alan Jackson sings these Gospel songs. I feel like a country woman in the lion city. Haha. Pretty sure most of you know Alan Jackson. May all of you be blessed by this sharing.

Tyler! Where did you go? You have received so many outstanding scriptural explanations to you confusion about faith and works, but you haven't indicated if this has resolved your confusion. It is certainly important to know the difference between faith and works, how the former saves and the latter is just an inherent "fruit" of being saved, and why faith without works is dead (because there is no faith in the first place!). Do you understand this now? Please let everyone here know. Thanks Tyler S. Cheers!!!

Absolutely! "Therefore, If JESUS gave them rest, THERE, THEN, and THEREFORE, for the People of God remains a Sabbath Rest Day to enjoy BECAUSE HE IS ENTERED INTO HIS OWN REST EVEN AS GOD from all his works rested .. THE WORD OF GOD BEING ALIVE and WORKING sharper than any two-edged sword to the judgement and thoughts and intentions of the heart (of men meant) to divide apart his soul and spirit and joints and marrow." "Christ having TRIUMPHED IN IT", HIS SUFFERING OF DEATH, "let no man judge or condemn you with regard to eating and drinking of Sabbaths' Feast of Christ the Substance .. and Nourishment ministered..." Hebrews 4:9-12 Colossians 2: 12-19.

- Wanting to be baptized, unknowingly of anything much 'christian' I went to my aunt's and uncle's and grandmother's Apostolic Pentecostal church. Which was in another town an hour and a half away where they lived. And they have a strict dress code and such. I was baptized on Resurrection sunday and was ask to come back for midweek service to 'tarry for The Holy Ghost' I didn't know what that meant but thought it couldn't be bad. So when we were worshiping God I started speaking in tongues! Which to make a long story short ended up making my family member indignant with me for one not submitting to their religious regulations and two because none of them had nor never have received The Holy Spirit's gift of tongues although they had been in that church many years tarring for it. I was a bad witness for them to their adult children whom they had witnessed to about their great church regulations of holiness. So I became family enemy number one to prove me unfit for anything with God or family. Years later my aunt & uncle actually tried ruining me in Court they lost twice and made things look even worse for themselves in the eyes of my cousins. I guess you could say they made me look like the white sheep of the family. That uncle died of cancer after my many attempts to reconcile our relationship but to no avail. But my experience with The Holy Spirit's gift of tongues has been good as I also pray to interpret as well. Tongues of God's Holy Spirit is for God communicating with us too.

The following quotation is commonly attributed to Albert Einstein: "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."

Could you introduce me to your friend? Bad joke aside, this is unfortunately a rather common occurence. People get so swept up into any and all initial magic that they just go for it on an impulse. Anyone should wait for that ititial magic to pass to actually see if there's anything salvagable, because the vast majority of the time, there isn't. Acting on impulse rarely, if ever, ends well. To me, it sounds like they're the sort who takes marriage lightly, merely as "something people do". You could maybe try convincing your friend to have both more restraint and more consideration, but if i'm right, i'd doubt they would lend an ear. In that kind of situation, the foolish will be foolish.

I'd go with the dentist, but not just any dentist. This might seem common sense, but one should always shop around for the best deal. When it comes to dental practice, there doesn't seem to be an average charging rate so much as mere practitioner's whim; in other words, prices vary widely from dentist to dentist. As an example, I needed an infected tooth removed once. I went to the clinic in town and they were wanting to charge $2000 to have it removed, and that was even without being put under. In a smaller dental practice about a 30 minute drive away, the one I went with, they would only charge me $300 without being put under. You could find a relatively cheap biteguard at the right clinic.

I think you should be careful as you don't want the nite guard to shift your jaws or teeth in a wrong way. Since it is causing you pain, something is wrong. Best to talk to your dentist. Also, is there a reason you grind your teeth? Could you be having a problem with stress? If you can alleviate the stress, perhaps no nite guard would be needed? Just some thoughts...if it was me, I'd seek to lessen any stress and go without the nite guard.