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Is there someone for each of us.... I think so if we are tuned into him and give him the leeway to make things happen. In 1969 I got the real need for a hot fudge sunday…. so as anyone would do I stopped and walked into one of our Dairy Queen stores and walked up to order..... out of the corner of my eye there was a young lady standing there looking like a goddess with a smile that simply melted my heart..... Then the oddest thing..... God physically tapped me on the shoulder and whispered into my ear, "There she is..." well since I had always had a pretty good imagination I kind of assumed it was my own self falling over some lovely young lady, but as it turned out I am totally convinced it was the Lord for he moved heaven and earth to bring us together.... that would have been a bit less than 50 years ago... in July we will have been married 49 years....

Then ask questions of the minister, remind them of what Jesus said about worshipping in 'spirit and in truth'. Did Jesus promise fine homes and good clothes to those who followed him, or did he say that foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of God has nowhere to lay his head. Are they grater ten their master?

I found this; Gal. 6:7, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Mocked, Gr. Mukterizomai, to turn up the nose at. Cp. Luke 16:14.

To mock God is to disrespect, dishonor or ignore Him. It is a serious offense.

note: just rereading this thread on Feb 19, 2019 - the list is 13 items now - and is kept updated elsewhere

Whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbour, and casts no slur on others. - Psalm 15:3 The psalmist David speaks of the type of person who can dwell near the Lord. When we speak against someone's reputation this is never a light thing. One who God dwells near should have absolutely no slander in his lips or in the heart. We all judge others or form opinions in our minds of others, we must be quick to cast down thoughts that are not based on our personal experience of the individual. When we hear stories or third-party stories of another brother and sister in the Lord and then cast a judgment we err. It is even worse when we take part in slandering someone when we have never known or spoken with the actual individual being blamed. Even if a brother or sister has erred in a significant way this is not our job or right to slander them, rather we should seek to pray for them and show the love of God. If we are praying for our sister or brother we will not be able to sin against them, but when we are sinning against them we can never truly pray for them. Polycarp bishop of Smyrna says, "Not quickly crediting an evil report against any one, not severe in judgment, as knowing that we are all under a debt of sin. If then we entreat the Lord to forgive us, we ought also ourselves to forgive; for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God." Though we know the theology that God is ever-present seeing all things, we usually act as if God cannot see. When we talk about others, ruin someone's name, write words that accuse we do not realize all of these words are in the sight of God. Our Lord even said that every single small word we utter or write will be held for account in the last day (Matthew 12:36). In the passage we are looking at the last statement is of significance. In Hebrew the words for "casts no slur" essentially gives us a word picture of someone picking up an object to throw at someone. Here we have words being spoken to others in reproach and scorn. The word "slur" in hebrew gives the sense of something that is despised. One who is a child of God cannot carry such hate in their heart no matter even if evil was done to them. When we speak about others in such ways we end up hurting ourselves spiritually and the Lord does not dwell near us. When we judge others like this we end up judging our Lord who became sin for that individual. We end up speaking against him as a despised thing. All humans are made in the image of God and when we sin against them we in a sense sin against God. David in his confession of sin against other humans realized that the sin was against God (Psalm 51:4). Let us do not wrong to our neighbour even to those who have hurt us.

Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, "I Am That I Am" John 18:6 As soon then as He had said unto them, "I am He", they went backward, and FELL to the ground. Jesus is the "I am that I am"

Wow it is going to be in the 80's all week long with night time lows in the 70's Fahrenheit at home. Fortunately I am headed for the wooded highlands for a week where highs will be in the low 50s and lows near or even below freezing. God is good.

Here are a couple of each. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Laws of logic Numbers 23:19 Colossians 2:3 John 14:6 2 Timothy 2:13 Uniformity in nature Genesis 8:22 Malachi 3:6 Absolute morality Matthew 5:48 Luke 18:19 Of course I do. This isn't my first rodeo, Vince. I hope you can hang with me on this one. Unlike your desire to continue asserting that unbelievers have a foundation for assuming past experience can predict the future. For the last time, it's called the inductive principle as posited by Hume. No one has been able to sufficiently explain WHY you can or even should appeal to past experiences to assume the future, except Christians. If you somehow think you've accomplished this, you will literally be famous. No kidding. I've broken the internal critique of Solipsism into 2 sections. Part 1. Solipsism - Exposing the unfounded knowledge claim First we need to understand that the issue of whether knowledge is possible is intimately linked to the issue of how knowledge is possible. In the Christian worldview, knowledge is revealed by God through various means. To the "how", knowledge is possible by revelation from an omniscient God. Now, the solipsist assumes that only he exists for certain. But why does he even believe that? Maybe it is because he has a sensation of "thinking." He would assume this thinking is his own. Unfortunately, this begs the question, because in supposing that he is the one doing the thinking the Solipsist has already pressuposed his existence, which is the very thing he is supposed to be proving. He can't really know using his own system that he even exists. This is where we hit part 2. Exposing the skeptic. Logically, if the Solipsist can't know he exists, it reduces to skepticism that we can't know anything at all. If he can't know he exists, what could he know? It becomes very easy at this point. Once the skeptic asserts that we can't know anything, I'm going to ask a very simple question. Do you know that? Of course, he must answer no since a yes answer would be self-refuting. But when he says, no he has conceded defeat – he admits that his position cannot be rationally defended. He doesn’t really know anything by his worldview. In so doing he has abdicated his seat at the epistemological debate. There is no point in listening to someone who, by his own admission, knows nothing. Again, apart from Christianity, we could know nothing at all. Proverbs 1:7.

Before Nero’s marriage to Sporus, he married a man named Pythagoras in a public ceremony where Nero was the bride. Both homosexual relationships and marriages were widely accepted and practiced. During the days of the early church, many young boys like Sporus were castrated and forced to serve the sexual appetites of Roman elites, some in the most grotesque manner, and often when they had served their purpose, they were killed. The homosexual lifestyle of the Romans during the days of the early church was often predatorial, preying on the innocence of small children. Emperor Tiberius, who ruled over Rome when Jesus was crucified, made small children serve him and all of his royal guests. When he tired of violating them, he would send his men out to find new children and kill the abused ones by throwing their bodies over cliffs. I was completely caught off guard to learn this aspect of Roman and European culture prior to the days of revival. I was totally unaware that homosexuality was in fact more accepted during the days of Paul than it is today, not the other way around. When Paul went to Rome, he was facing sexual practices that were not only instituted at the highest levels of power but were deified. He addressed it in his letters to the early church. When I learned this information, it made his words in Scripture take on completely new meaning. This dark hole of history went even deeper. This newly found information blew my modern ideas about homosexuality out of the water and challenged me to my core. I share in more detail about what I found on Day 34 of our new 61 Day devotional Chasing Revival. The entire Bible study also has a 9 part video series and a work book. To learn more about the persecution of the first century church, the spread of Christianity, and the history of revival – click here: https://backtojerusalem.com/the-secret-history-of-homosexuality-and-persecution-of-christians/

Exactly . is the servant greater than HIS master . NOPE . it is good if he be AS , AS HIS MASTER . DID JESUS LIVE BETTER than the rest of his flock . DID HE have better clothes , did he have better food , did he. NOPE . SO THEN why do leaders today , STORE UP and claim it as GODS BLESSING and they are blessed to do so . I think folks need to take them golden crowns off their heads , SEE, those crowns , HAVE NOT YET BEEN GIVEN . THEY GIVEN ON HIS DAY . SO hey, Kingdom kids , or lil I ams , try and remember , HOW THE I AM walked onthis earth and what crown did he wear , A CROWN OF THORNS . Hey rick warren , pope and others FALSE ONES , who sell a false love , false unity , we don't serve the same God . We aint one big human fraternity . NOPE that is SATANS WORK . Try and remember IF THE WORLD HATED JESUS , IT WILL HATE US TOO . Try and remember the servant is not above HIS master , IF they have persecuted ME they will persecute you . SO when secular magazines speak well of you and many do , TRY and remember , OOOPS I must be a false one , for so did they unto the false prophets . YEA, I got issues with this stuff I see today . IF we think it was harsh for JESUS to whip at men and over turn tables for turning The House of GOD into a den of thieves and robbers . THEN how worse is it , to sell JESUS out as the only way for unity and fellowship . FOR only a theif and a robber tries to find SOME OTHER WAY IN . IF we think whips were harsh , WHAT DO YE SUPPOSE shall occur ON HIS DAY , when HE has risen up , closed the door and no longer comes to make intercession BUT COMES AS WRATH . I tell you , that human fraternity one world empire , WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND or stand in that day .

Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers who were ripping off the people. We know He isn't pleased with those who use the Gospel as a means of gain. But where there is little choice, we have to remember that no church is perfect and all will have some false doctrine. We must choose the one that is not explicitly encouraging sin.

Hi Plavius, let me tell you a different story. A church is so important to socialize with other Christians. Look, I have money problems in a sense that I, thanks to God, have enough to cover basic needs... but I can't afford anything beyond that. But a church is a perfect place to meet friends without having to pay anything. At least here in Germany. They sometimes go eat out somewhere or take money for church dinner, this is what I can't afford. But most of it is for free and I praise God that I have enough fellow Christians to meet. I have plenty of opportunities to collaborate there, too. Where in the world could you go meet people and not pay anything? The Bible is clear: the first church was strong and they had a strong sense of community (Acts 2:42). The Bible is also very clear that you even can get ill, if you don't realize what the great gift of fellowshipping with others is like. This is at least my interpretation of 1 Cor 11:29 and 30. [...] not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (The Lord's body is a figure of speech meaning the entirety of Christians, as explained in Colossians 1:24, as you may know.) Another example: Some Christians, including myself, have the "Christmas Problem": due to the fact that they don't have any contact with their (biological) family members, they don't know where to go on Christmas. But in church, there are always some people having the same problem. You meet with them and and praise the Lord. But I'm with you when you tell that selling prophecies is wrong: Amen Cat, very good point. But I'm sure you mean Acts 8:13-24. Regards, Thomas

Yes. It is GOOD (and BEST) when the LIGHT (JESUS) comes, to admit (confess) and change (repent) their doctrine (and other stuff), no matter how rare it is to do so. It is required. Remember the Reformation ? Restored salvation by faith in Jesus to the people who had been in darkness for around 1200 years, imprisoned by false teachers, false doctrines, false practices, and a false Jesus and a false gospel. (the worldly church, the counterfeit)

The Christian Life is not always easy....we need to keep looking to the Lord to get us through hard times. A good church should explain there are both sides to being a Christian. Also, a pastor should not sell spiritual things....these things should be given freely to all from the goodness of a pastor's heart. I have heard some churches in Africa are as you have described. It's not good....God can sometimes prosper us but sometimes we do go through trials. But He helps us through the trials.

https://www.register-herald.com/news/united-methodists-face-vote-on-lgbtq-issues-will-it-rip/article_f681bef8-29c6-5fa7-ab61-594262be9efe.html - "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." Chapter 18 verse 22. "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them." Obviously I am not supporting the killing of anyone, that quote is to show God's feelings on the matter because some seem to think that the Bible is not clear on homesexuality. The article mentions that they are voting to make it possible for gay marriages to be church sanctioned or for gay pastors to preach.

Are you for or against commercializing water,oil, handkerchief, prophetic ministries etc. The only church I found here is just what am talking about. I tried to look for a bible believing church here but could only find such a church. The church the emphasize more on prophesy, healing, miracle money, miracle job, easy life etc. I have a different doctrine. MUH PLAVIOUS

I'm in an odd situation, one that led me to this forum to begin with. Recently, I've been trying to use a prayer journal and pray for specific individuals. In that time, I've felt a very strong desire to pray for an individual that I used to be infatuated with, whom I have not been in contact with in some years. The problem: back then, I idolized and lusted after this person. I genuinely placed them before God in pretty much every area of my life. Ex: he was on the worship band, so I stared at him during worship. He was funny, so I always thought of his jokes during church services. I would be so upset on days that he wouldn't talk to me, but I rarely ever prayed. (I know, I'm ashamed just thinking about it.) God told me in no uncertain terms that this person was not the one for me, even when I was still trying to hold on. Back to the present: I am actively trying to stop thinking about this person, and though it's taken some time, I've been mostly successful. I've been more focused on growing in my relationship with God than ever before, and I'm almost always in prayer. I have felt a call to pray for that person, their walk with Christ, their resistance to temptation, finding a community of believers, and so on. However, I do not trust my intentions. I don't know if this is truly God moving on my heart to pray for this person, or if this is me trying to stay attached to this person through prayer. If this is God's will, I don't want my fears to stop me--especially if this person really is wrestling with their faith. However, if this is just my flesh, I don't want to let myself fall back into old patterns of sin (lust and idolatry). So I guess my question is, is this God or my flesh talking? What advice would you give me on handling this situation? I have asked God for confirmation on whether or not this is Him. I have also asked a family member, a couple people who are more spiritually mature than me, and a couple friends. Now I'm asking for your input. Please help! Thanks!

Shalom, I want to detail the importance of forgiveness and its practical application in real life circumstances. Mat 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Mat 18:22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Mat 18:23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. Mat 18:24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. The first question we need to address is how much is 10,000 talents? In layman's terms it's about $3 billion dollars. Mat 18:25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. Mat 18:26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' Mat 18:27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. Mat 18:28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' The second question that arises is how much is a 100-denarii? It's about $3 dollars! Mat 18:29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' Mat 18:30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. Mat 18:31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Mat 18:32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Mat 18:33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' Mat 18:34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. Let me pull it up in different translations. "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him." Mat 18:35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." So how often shall we forgive? Basically as often as we need to! Why? Because each and every one of our sins has been forgiven by our God if we ask! So often we forget what this means? What do you suppose it means to be delivered to the tormentors? What are the tormentors of unforgiveness? Bitterness, resentment, anger, animosity, irritability, hatred, spite, hostility, to name a few! These are the results of unforgiveness! And people wonder why they are bound up? It's based on this principle of unforgiveness! The enemy of our souls would love for you to "JUSTIFY" your unforgiveness -- so that he can BIND you up so that you are INEFFECTIVE for the KINGDOM of God! Once you comprehend this principle, then let's understand how to apply it in practical means. We ALREADY KNOW that we're going to be SINNED AGAINST! It's not a hypothesis -- it's a fact. But if you already know that you will be sinned against -- then you can already work out in your mind to forgive those who sin against you -- and it makes it easier to pray for those who sin against you! Do you want to walk in freedom? Then walk your life in the Spirit of forgiveness -- never allowing the enemy to get even a foothold in your life! Your brother in the Lord with much agape love, George

I don't have that problem....but. I recently bought a new lap top with windows 10 on it. I HATE THE KEYBOARD!!! I have always typed without looking at the keys. They keys don't seem to be in the same place. And the flat design of the keyboard

Anger, bitterness and resentment gives birth to unforgiveness. Unforgiveness prevents us from fulfilling the command to love one another just as the Lord loves us. None of us deserves God's mercy, but we need to remember that the Lord has forgiven us because of who we are, not because of what we have done. Do good to those who hurt you or insult you that they may become ashamed of themselves. Praying instead for God to bless others as he did us allows God to soften our hearts towards those who either hurt or hate us so that we will have a Godly compassion on others and remove the anger and bitterness from our hearts. Forgiving those who hurt or use you, is for your benefit more than it is for the person who wronged you. First it releases you from anger and resentment. You will find it easier to forgive once you let go of being angry or bitter towards someone. As long as you want to remain angry about an event or the wrong doer...that anger will grow because you are feeding it. And the more it grows the harder it will be to forgive. Holding out, because the other person is unrepentant will eat away at you, robbing you of peace and joy. Forgiveness, means you will no longer remain angry or hold a grudge. It does not mean that the person who is abusive is escaping responsibility. It is that you are doing what God told you to do and that is that you let the wrong doer off of your hook...doesn't mean the wrong doer is off of God's hook.

May I ask how you would define “ being a Christian”. Thank you.

Not at all, we are told to fellowship and comfort one another, especially as we see the end coming quickly. I do not believe we were meant to settle (or plant roots) in one spot and wait for people to come to us. Whenever a group starts to grow, it tends to get away from the foundational purpose of the group. Start up groups are fantastic when they are still small, but once they grow out of say 'basement' size they tend to start losing something. The Nicolaitans grew and developed an hierarchy. Something God hates (letters to the churches in Rev.). The larger a church gets, the more it tends to lean away from its true purpose. The larger they get, the more arrogant the leadership gets. Of course, these are just my opinions based on what I have seen and what history reflects. Are you saying the church or church participation is what saves us? Again, I am NOT against churches at all, I just think they should be small and when they are too big for one house/basement, they should split up instead of building larger and larger buildings. Too much emphasis on the church and not enough on the individuals.

Revelation 20:7-10 New International Version (NIV)The Judgment of Satan7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. ============================================== "i. The Millennium is important because it will demonstrate Jesus' victory and worthiness to rule the nations. ii. The Millennium is important because it will reveal the depths of man's rebellious nature in a perfect environment. Some people seem to believe that man is basically good, and deep down he really wants God's righteous rule. Many believe that man is really innocent, and corrupted only by a bad environment. The Millennium will answer these questions before the great judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). iii. The Millennium is important because it will display the eternal depravity of Satan, who continues his evil as soon as he is released from his incarceration. iv. The Millennium is important because it will show the invulnerability of the city of God and God's new order... " quotes from : https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/studyguide_rev/rev_20.cfm "... ... ... ii. In this we see more of the important reason God has for the Millennial Kingdom and allowing this final rebellion. For all of human history, man has wanted to blame his sinful condition on his environment. "Of course I turned out the way I did. Did you see the family I came from? Did you see the neighborhood I grew up in?" With the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus, God will give mankind a thousand years of a perfect environment - with no Satan, no crime, violence, evil, or other social pathology. But at the end of the 1,000 years, man will still rebel against God at his first opportunity. This will powerfully demonstrate that the problem is in us, not only in our environment. iii. "It will be proved once more that man, whatever his advantages and environment, apart from the grace of God and new birth, remains at heart only evil and at enmity with God." (Hoste) b. Gather them together to battle: Who will these rebels be? They will be those who survive the Great Tribulation, enter into the Millennial Kingdom, and their descendants. "Infants born during the millennium will live to its conclusion and will not be required to make a choice between the devil and Christ until the end." (Walvoord)... " "... ... ... C. The final battle after the thousand-year reign of Jesus. 1. (Rev 20:7-8) Satan is released and gathers an army. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. "

You claim to be male but have had several babies. The sounds like a hypothetical case in one of your stories, since you are teaching the truth of Christ. The post is just wrong from so many things you state. If it is genuine I would suggest you ask for one on one counseling, and you should not be teaching because you are an adulterer still living in sin.

I don't think it's desperation. There are truly many younger Christians who aren't going to bars to find love and good for them. Many of these also have no one at their church who is spouse material for them. If they are careful and prudent.....I don't see the harm in it.

I must apologize for my sloppiness.....I caught it later but did nothing to correct it as I should have.....I was referring to those who believe that repentance AFTER Salvation was a requirement to KEEP one saved.I have stated many times on these forums that I believe the Bible teaches that Repentance is necessary for Salvation. This repentance is a one-time realization that absolutely changes everything you ever thought about yourself and your standing before a Holy God.It destroys one’s delusional thinking that makes one think that they are “ good enough” to merit Salvation.It is being rescued by a “ change of mind” ( metanoia ) that delivers one from the Fool’s Paradise Of self - righteousness.When this realization that you ain’t as hot as you think you are- you are nothing but a lost Hell- deserving sinner—this is the pricking of the heart that is horrible to see, but it is actually a gift from The Holy Spirit and you ain’t going to Heaven without it. There will be no pride in Heaven.This change of heart, changing from a heart of stone to a heart that is ready to receive the Gospel ( 1cor.15:1-4 ) is what will get you saved—- simply believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead after three days.Turning from unbelief in the Gospel to belief and utter reliance on that gospel is the Repentance thAt saves. After changing one’s mind about your sinful condition and accepting God’s free gift of Salvation by believing the Gospel that Jesus promised will save you if believed, then one will find themselves very sensitive to the sin in their lives that previously was of no concern.This is another type of repentance that involves sorrow and regret that will help change us into the image of Christ —- the point of everything in the Christian Walk. This on- going, sometimes daily type of repentance is part of our Sanctification—- NOT our justification.We are justified by our faith in Christ and His Gospel only.Unrepented sins in the life of the Believer will make God get you to the point that you DO repent.That's what chastisement is for. After you have believed the Gospel, you are in the Body of Christ and your Salvation is forever secure.You can be a fool and not repent of your sins after you are saved and God will bust your rear- end all the way Home if you force His Hand—- But He WILL get you home. To summarize, Make no mistake—If you do not repent and change your mind about who you are and who Jesus is, and accept HIS way to Salvation, you are headed for Hell like a speeding bullet.Just make sure you understand which “ repentance” we are talking about.God bless.

It was Plavious or someone else in Africa....they said that a pastor was actually charging money before he would pray for the person! So sad....

Swidl , you are so loved dear sister . Hands up and let all praise the Lord .

You worshipped God right there in your prayer. Any time our hearts are in awe and appreciation of Who He IS, we worship Him. We may not say a word but we may be moved to tears at the attributes of our Creator. He is so faithful and loving to us who deserve only death and torture. Our hearts communicate with Him without words, or we can express our awe and worship to others. God inhabits the praise of His people. It is a joy to worship Him in a congregation of like minded people, whether in hymns of praise in words of adoration. When we tell others what a wondrous God we serve, we also worship Him. Holy is His Name!

Christians are to obey the law of love and love our neighbors as ourselves. This includes forgiving. This parable concerns people who have been forgiven but who are then unwilling to forgive others and it very much applies to us as born again believers. It shows that they will be chastised severely and even tortured. We are commanded to love and forgive. If Jesus is our Lord and Master, we delight in doing His will. Mat 18:23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. Mat 18:25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Mat 18:27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. Mat 18:28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' Mat 18:29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Mat 18:30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. Mat 18:31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Mat 18:32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Mat 18:33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' Mat 18:34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. Mat 18:35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Amen @turtletwo!!

Isaiah 43:2. Clearly indicate that we will go through difficult time but he said he will go with us. Obviously christian life is not all about milk and honey but with temptation and trials.

The problem with some of these political debates is that it takes our focus off the person and work of Jesus on the cross. The first obligation of the church is to take care of the widows and orphans in its own congregation, then in neighboring churches and ministries and in oversees missions. It is not the responsibility of the government. It may be a part of our personal outreach.

There is a sense of constriction associated with the term persecution. Like with the word boa constrictor. The sense of tightening, a constriction that can be felt and ignored to a point until the serpent has now got a grip that one can not escape. Standing firm is what we are called to do and what we see is organizations trying to release the pressure. We have a sword of truth that is the only freedom available. We are to love as Jesus loved and Jesus told the truth and without truth, we cannot love. These are growing difficult times, being able to hold the truth in love or to love in truth will try us all but we are called to stand firm. 'We ain't seen noth'n yet' but every decade it seems we are constricted a bit more. We have brethren in areas of the world being beaten by the dragon, the serpent deceives, the dragon destroys. Among Jesus' final warnings were 'do not be deceived.'

I know he can defend himself but I took what he wrote as a referral to the statement that has gone around, "The church wrote the bible so the church can rewrite the bible." It's a derogatory statement about the state of affairs these days with this issue. What interests me is a question I was asked, "Has there ever been a time when the church was actively persecuted over homosexuality?" I'm sure there have been issues but has there been a large sweeping movement against the church in history based on this issue? Imprisonment, closers, recognized legal status taken away due to the moral issue?

Really? Seems to me that is the job of the congregation, to vote in prayer thinking reading and in action of deed, sharing of the word of God, doing what the lead of the Holy Spirit dictates, counseling, questioning and being accountable one to another, for the sake of bringing the gospel of Jesus to all the world as led when led and where led, by the Holy Spirit. Seems to me that there has been lots of votes over many centuries as to proper discernment of the word of God. Why I vote on the word of God all the time. What do I think it means what do you think it means, what do scholars have to conclude, what has been concluded over centuries, and what has not been concluded? All are votes. Now some seem to be slam dunk issues, but evidenty are not, and each believer had really ought to consider that all that seems so easy and clear is not so to many. Best to get a vote if for no other reason than to see the state of conviction and of study and prayer and thinking going on. Driving through Ogunquit Me and seeing the "rainbow coalition" banners on the hand rails to the entry of a Christian house of worship is a bit of a stunner for sure, but it does tell of the need to pray for the Holy Spirit's restraint of evil that otherwise will run amock in a manner yet unknown to us in it's severe depravity.

Too bad, they could use some help evidently. I remember a young United Methodist pastor assigned to a local body that had about six members left at the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro CA. He would do many funerals for me over the few years he and the church were still there, and was quite compassionate to people in need. He was generally soft spoken, but articulate. Though soft spoken, he would enter the chapel from the narthex opening as he walked with " OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!" booming matter of factly, and then he would begin a rather nice personal presentation of comfort that included the gospel of Jesus and of hope that is certain in Him. I was an atheist during that period, yet even today his message proclaimed still rings in my head. My help is indeed in the name of the Lord Jesus. Never know who God will have used in preparation to bring about that time specific when the Holy Spirit turns one about to repentance and to Jesus.

@frienduff thaylorde Yep. You're right, brother. Like I said earlier. Seven worst words to ever hear said to you.

Can we imagine paul saying okay lets vote whether we will agree or disagree with the bible . Can we imagine Jesus saying that . How bout james or jude , peter or any . Say it again , CLETUS , say it again . Because this should be terrifying to many . Voting on whether to allow What GOD has said , or inspired . Vote . Yeah , um , no . WE either live it and love it , or we don't KNOW CHRIST and if we don't KNOW CHRIST, I shudder in fear for those who don't KNOW CHRIST . TIME to learn the TRUE GOD . TIME TO TRULY LEARN CHRIST . TIME to truly learn what them apostels wrote . Time to open bibles . For their is no love that comes from GOD that puts God second to mens opinions or mens so called happiness. Flat out , either we love GOD , TRUTH and place Christ above all, or prepare to hear , I never knew you on HIS DAY .

I have known for quite some time that the United Methodist Church is not a church I would attend.

@Cletus Amen. Well said, brother.

@Mozart's Starling Thanks for posting this article. I'm glad that John and Charles Wesley can not see what has become of their long standing legacy! Amen. "Likewise, their men have given up natural sexual relations with women and burn with lust for each other. Men commit indecent acts with men, so they experience among themselves the punishment they deserve for their perversion." Romans 1:27

You are loved, brother. Keep up the good work.

I do want to make mention of this also . WE LOVE OUR DEAR SISTER TURTLE TWO . Whom is called swidl.

Depart from me. I never knew you...words nobody would ever want to hear. But sadly many will... "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14"

Whats sad is anytime we warn out againt sin , it seems so many have to say at least every other sentence , no we don't hate . You would be amazed today at how dumbed down this false love and acceptance has destroyed mindsets badly . Today if any one with a ten foot smile , a positive joking manner and says I love you at least every other sentence is accepted with no testing at all . But if one gets up who is serious , they are seen as evil , until after maybe six hours of explaining maybe one or two might say , OH I see what you saying now . WE been trained dead wrong the last twenty or thirty years . DEAD WRONG . The last time I checked Jesus nor the apostels had to say We love you every other sentence . They just spoke . But men did this . Our whole image of what a godly man is , became based on emotions , NOT THE TRUTH . And it worked . Its why even now I can flood places with truth and yet its seen as either hate or hateful . Folks don't know anymore . THEY got no idea what they have lost , because in truth its been many years like this . This is what the majority of the under fifty group knows . And I am under fifty . Its just , I was raised in no church . I had heard the gospel before . I was led years later to Christ , at HOME . And put in ONE BOOK. THE BIBLE . its why my demeanor seems so alien to many today . I sat under a pure teacher and one pure book and the HOLY GHOST gave me all I do need and have needed . I did not realize how different my approach was till years later when I got on a computer and started typing away . And man it was not received at all. Not by most anyway . Some WHO already KNEW the truth REJOICED , but those are well, not many to say the least . This generation , Specially if they sat under a preacher or any who was in any way connected to the seeker friendly , rick warren , Daniel plan , THEY got no idea what they have lost , let alone that many are STILL LOST . That has to be the most scary thing . TO believe you are saved , to believe you are following Christ when in truth , you followed only an image of Christ that MEN TAUGHT . THAT is so scary . it terrifies me for folks . But all I can do , is by grace keep doing what i have been .

Yes, it truly does seem that the end is upon us. At least it will be over soon I would say (obviously not sure how soon no man knows). These are wicked times, and btw I am not saying to hate gays/lesbians/trans. No we should love them as we love ourselves, but the Bible is quite clear on this issue, and if we truly love them we will tell them the truth.

The churches have been prepared unto this hour for the all out deception of all religions being one also . When I say prepared , I don't mean prepared to withstand this evil , I MEAN dumbed down to ACCEPT IT and call it all LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE. What a deception has occurred and will get only far , far , far , far worse . Better strap on the pure holy armour of GOD , cause the churches and the religions , even wicans and gays will all be uniting as one under the big human fraternity message that satanic one teachs . The FP gonna point and cause the world to worship the beast , its image and take its mark . We in the last stages of advanced decay . And try warning folks and mostly you hear , AWAY with you haters , don't preach the HOLY ONE to us preach unto us this all inclusive sin loving god .

seeing how it doesn't make lots of cents … I don't think he should receive much