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Thank You for your service............. John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"

As a Vietnam Veteran myself, I was not aware of this until recently. You are right, Vets remember, and freedom is not free. Even as we came home, the war was not over for us. Aside from the demonstrations, the name calling, and the rejection, the images of what we had seen and done, are still with us today. Thanks for your acknowledgement and respectful thoughts towards us. You don't know how much it really means to finally find acceptance from the people of our country. Gary

Glad you did make it Gary. I was 1st Mar Div, 3rd Marines, 1st arm amphib. I Core, Chu Lia-Danang-DMZ. Yes, God's great mercy, and His amazing grace. Why did we make it? God has a plan......... And He is Semper Fidelis

I guess I missed the demonstrationsagainst. What I remember as a very young funeral director employee was the very first casualty we received, a Marine in 1964. and then for the 169 more on through 1972 that I had some personal part in serving their family as a funeral director and memorial park director. We also gathered supplies from within the community to send over to soldiers by name to their squads in the field. We learned how to make sure the supplies got to them and not get intercepted. Our community rallied behind the cause. We bagged up foot powder, Dr. Shoal foot pads, socks, Jello, cool-aid, shaving stuff, cookies, etc. and had them strung together in baggies on a string line addressed to specific soldiers whose names were given to us by survival assostance officers at Ft. MacArthur. By having a name the goods got through to the field wherever the named person was. We saw on newscasts our strings of supplies beng offloaded on sites in the field from helicopters. We had memorial day services where over two thousand would attend to honor the fallen during that era.

I love going to the jewelry stands by the side of the road around the canyon. One of the times I was there, lightning struck one of the tourist trams and killed the engine. No one was hurt (thank the Lord). I have some nice photos (someplace around the house lol) of storms moving up through the canyon. There is a tree prevalent around there called a bristlecone pine. Rather an ugly tree, or a tree with lots of character. The cool thing about that type of tree is that they can be 4000 years old.

Shalom Phill, Great question and thank you for asking it on behalf of others who may also think the same! The argument, with the points ranging from 1 to 13, make a number of assumptions and so reach an incorrect conclusion. The error it makes is called "complicated equivalence", in which points are made on matters that are without measure or standard, other than themselves. Let me explain it a little clearer and forgive my brief responses. They are not against you, but how I would argue against them: 1. If God exists (the greatest possible being), then God is all-good. What is your definition of "all-good"? Is it as it is understand today? In the culture of the UK in 2019, America in 1950, or perhaps in Japan in 1800? 2. If God is all-good, then God is perfectly loving. Why does all-good mean perfectly loving? Can't a fruit tree be all-good yet not loving? What is the definition of "perfect loving"? Is it the way an Atheist man understands it at the age of 20, 40, or perhaps 60 years old? 3. So if God exists, then God is perfectly loving. God's existence doesn't mean that He then needs to conform to man's idea of "perfectly loving"? These are two separate issues. 4. But a perfectly loving God would ensure everyone is always able to be in relationship with God just by trying. Not necessarily. Who are you to reason what a loving God would or would not do? Which school or university teaches such things? Can such a thing be learned in one man's lifetime? Why could He not choose those He wishes? Are you to correct Him on what "perfect love" is with your limited wisdom and few experiences? 5. And that ability requires belief that God exists. I didn't really get this one, sorry 6. So, if God exists, then God would ensure all believe. Not so. His existence doesn't mean that He needs to ensure all believe. Could He not say "I exist. Those who know - know, those who don't - won't"? He doesn't have to ensure anything because He exists. Rather it's us to ensure we believe. 7. So, if God exists, all persons believe God exists. Logically incorrect. Before Jupiter was discovered, did it not exist? Someone or something's existence is not validated by all people's belief in it. It's a fact, regardless of how many do or do not know. 8. But not everyone believes that. Yeah, true story 9. So no God has ensured everyone believes it. God has no command set over Him that He needs to ensure everyone believes. There is no authority over Him to ensure He does anything, except His own Word. 10. So no God has ensured everyone is able to be in such relationship just by trying. Yet, He has held His arms open to us for so long and given us ALL a way to get to Him through His Son. It's hard to find many in the world that doesn't know of His gift, yet many despise it. 11. So no perfectly loving God exists. 12. So no all-good God exists. 13. So God does not exist. Complicated equivalence. I hope that helps you see what I mean brother. It's a question of perspective. Because whoever gave you this line of reasoning is assuming they have reached a place where they understand: God Demands of His Existence Perfect Love Jobs of being Perfectly Loving However old a man is when he thinks he understands all of the above, is still just a boy. Even if that boy was 80 years old and well schooled in all philosophy and world wisdom - can we then say "Yes, this man can challenge Godly matters and concerns and understands perfect love". No, of course not. So, inevitably that man will win his line of questioning with its complicated equivalence and his "wisdom" has become foolishness as he becomes an accuser of God and His methods. It is all summarised in this amazing verse in which Yahweh says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares Yahweh. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." ~ Isaiah 55:8-9 But I love your questioning mind. Keep asking questions, always. Don't ever try to live up to others and appear settled. If you have nagging questions or areas you are stuck on, post them so that they might help another. So, again, great job brother! You might also find some further help in this story which concerns this matter: Meet Bertrand Love & Shalom

And a little study in full black to full white monochrome. Taken at Castle in the Clouds above Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, USA. I do still better appreciate monochrome over full color imaging. Not all that great at it, but have a little fun on the computer with it even to this day.

sunsets/rises are my favorite thing to try and get into good photos.... the shuttle differences in colors along with the huge width of contrast can be difficult to get with a simple camera and takes a very high talent to get on film. lots of practice and failures to get what you want

Part of my job with Xerox was to understand why things were not looking correct when going through our printers so I had to be certified in both Photoshop and Acrobat. It is amazing what one can do with those two programs.

I don't think we can embed pictures any longer that are not already uploaded to worthy's server. and what you show here is the only way I know to do that.... Most of the memes I post are what I copy from FaceBook, but most if not all the photo's I take are my own work from years of long driving vacations. Then there are those few are from home. First one is a stitched combination of six or seven shots of Crater Lake. The second is the actual house that spawned the story of Anne of Green Gables... both are my work.

I tend to agree. I think it's important, but He'll still save someone who doesn't have a full understanding of the Trinity...i don't think any of us have a full revelation of that anyway I know some people that don't think the Holy Spirit is a person too And they love Jesus....I'm happy to leave the details between He and them

Just curious .......how much was the hot dog ...... how much for a beer? ( asking for a friend, lol)

I know Wikipedia is not a solid source, but it is a beginning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism Study who these groups are and what they do believe so you can approach them on their level of understanding and reason with them about what is the truth. Remember, the only unforgivable sin is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

It occurs to me that the term itself should be defined / debated / discussed. What IS prophecy? I gather most assume it is entirely PREDICTIVE prophecy. Mysticism. A kind of insight some people have over others (who don't have it). Before I give the definition I have evidence of... I wonder what ♥ Worthy Posters ♥ think / feel / believe / know prophecy is. Thanks in advance for your participation.

If I could convey only one aspect of the return of Jesus to someone who knew nothing of end time prophecy, and what I told them would be the only thing they would know about those days, what could I tell them that would prove to be the most beneficial? It would have to be that when Jesus returns, everyone will see Him. If a person was armed with that knowledge they would be able to discern that the man of sin is lying when he claims to be God. They would see him as false and know to shun him. A close second and related beneficial thing would probably be to expose the deceptive nature of the man of sin and his plan to subjugate the planet through the mark and the image. Knowing ahead of time that he will be able to perform amazing signs and wonders will help to keep from being misled into thinking that he is God, and understanding the kind of war that he will wage against the saints will help a person to be better prepared for it. However, none of this knowledge will be of any benefit to someone if they haven't built their life on the teachings of Jesus. Unless a person strives to worship God through a lifestyle of obedience to His will, it's not likely that they will have the spiritual discernment and perseverance required to endure to the end. There is a reason why Jesus emphasized that everyone needs to be ready and alert. The end times will affect everyone individually and a person's decisions will have eternal consequences.

TL;DR Why doesn't God reveal himself to humanity in a stronger, more conclusive way? Hey fam! So I think it's time to do my first post so I apologize in advance if this is in the wrong spot. I wanna discuss with everyone the whole idea of argument from non-belief (a.k.a "divine hiddeness".) So this can be simplified as: 1. If God exists (the greatest possible being), then God is all-good. 2. If God is all-good, then God is perfectly loving. 3. So if God exists, then God is perfectly loving. 4. But a perfectly loving God would ensure everyone is always able to be in relationship with God just by trying. 5. And that ability requires belief that God exists. 6. So, if God exists, then God would ensure all believe. 7. So, if God exists, all persons believe God exists. 8. But not everyone believes that. 9. So no God has ensured everyone believes it. 10. So no God has ensured everyone is able to be in such relationship just by trying. 11. So no perfectly loving God exists. 12. So no all-good God exists. 13. So God does not exist. This has always been troubling to me because growing up I've always read stories of people like Moses, Elijah, and even John the Baptist...etc that had first hand experiences and/or conversations with God. God seemed to make himself very evident between 1500 bce to the mid first century ad. After that God seemed in directly interact with humans less and less until today where human/God interaction seems almost non existent. I understand the counter argument of free will but if someone is actively seeking God, why does he seem so elusive? Let's start here and see if we can reason through this together ??

Almost nobody else has heard of it either. The Vietnam 'conflict' is the war most Americans believe 'best forgotten' The higher ups are trying to 'make up' still for what the veterans received returning home from war. The citizenry, California mostly, greeted them with their ticker tape parade; tomatoes-eggs-spit. The vets did not start the war. The politicians did. People forget. Vets remember........ I thank God returning veterans today receive their due. Freedom is not free. On March 29, 2012, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 29, 2012, as Vietnam Veterans Day. On March 28, 2017, President Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017. This act officially recognizes March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

Back in my mis- spent youth, I could have had two cases of Budweiser for that $10.00.....Of course,to keep things in perspective I was only making $1.50 an hour back then , changing Semi truck tires.....ugh , my back “ still” hurts....

I'm sorry I kind of got carried away this morning...… time to go exercise...

we do have some threads here. I think they are in the Hobbies forum.

I can "find" pictures online and within my own photos. I just click and drag them to my desktop then to a post "attachment". Amazing what smart people have thought up for even a tombstone kind of guy to be able to use. Leaves me "bugeyed" in amazement.

An early good morning to you on the other coast, wow you are up early! I don't know how to post pictures I just drag them to my desktop, then drag them to my post down below at the paper clip; the "Drag here to attach, or to choose files which is an active link .. I'm pretty much a tombstone kind of guy, I use words chiseled onto my monitor, but without too much difficulty I can drag from my desktop an image to a post like this one:

$10 for beer, for another $5.50 a free hot dog too. Must have plastic to pay for them. Watched from my couch tonight and what do you know we won! One hundred and sixty more games to go to playoffs. Oh oh decision time today, Grandson's Little League game to attend, plus Bolts and Rays play later. I will attend the LL game, then watch one pro game and record the other. Have to decide which to watch live or be busy with PIP on the TV monitor flipping back and forth. Need to be doing some work too, and a little fun Bible study/reading time - The Baptist Confession Of Faith 1689. I am way way behind already on that two year weekly class, but there is a break this Sunday so this is my chance to get caught up or fall hopelessly behind. This is when a touch of insomnia is a good thing. Sunrise coming in an hour can get in a little of the yard work that is desperately needing my attention. Oh wait it is Saturday isn't it? Need to wait until 8 AM, can't be pounding outside earlier than that. All at our Lord's allowing me the day anyway. This ol' geezer is moving slower and slower it seems to me, anymore if given two chores I find it to be an endless list to accomplish. I think I am living the old adage; the faster I go the behinder I get. Except that I know the reality is the world just seems to be moving faster around me as I slow down. Praise God for the privilege and excuse of old age.

Praise Jesus !!! Thank you all for the excellent replies. I realize there are likely numerous Trinity threads and I made a decision to stop engaging in heated debates over the complexity of God. I found early on that I could not convince a Non-Trinity believer to change their mind. I tried for years and I can only plant seeds. I also concluded in my own mind that God will understand if we don't get everything right. I try to follow the two Great Commandments and the 10 of course, but I can always do better.

The LORD Jesus came to Earth as a man and fulfilled the three offices of the ultimate Messiah: Prophet Priest King This is what got Saul in so much trouble as an under messiah. He was already a King and a prophet. But when he transgressed and offered the sacrifices when Samuel was running late, Saul took on the third office. This cost him his life.

The entire Bible is prophetic. Not only in its foretelling of the future but in its forth telling of the past and even the present. 2 Peter 1:20–21 (AV) 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The typology is completed in the One who is in a category all of His own. For Jesus was the ONLY High Priest who never had to bring an offering for His sin...being He was 100% sinless. "Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." (Hebrews 7:27)

Jesus said he did not come to bring peace but a sword and ones enemies will be of his own household. Matt 10:36 Even when your own family turns against you we must weigh the cost. There is only one savior of all. that may cost your life just as Christ gave His life for us.

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus The Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How marvellous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever be. How marvellous, how wonderful is my Saviour's love for me. He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own, and took my burden to Calvary, and suffered and died alone. How marvellous...

There's not much there I can respond to. You assert that the GWT judgement is for unbelievers ...but offer no Biblical reason to believe that. And Rev 20 seems to clearly say that ALL the dead not raised in the first resurrection are going to be at the GWT judgement. In the absence of Biblical evidence to the contrary, I have to stick with what I can see in the Word.

* Thank you 'In Him' for the emphasis you placed in Leviticus 4:1-3 which made me think of Hebrews 4:5 and Hebrews 5:1-10. * Thank you 'turtletwo' also for your note against Leviticus 3:16-17. Praise God!

So much in all that I believe I've been taught as well. God IS a number of things and LOVE is primary. He is also truth and life. I think we can see a principle in nature that He left there, the lesson of which is actually magnified by the fall...not diminished. But one "principle" of life we can see modeled in nature is the fact that life grows. Since the fall, if GROWTH stops, life begins to wane and death sets in. Take a tree for example. Once a tree ceases to grow, it becomes senescent and from that point, it becomes subject to decay. For a tree it may take many years yet but it will become more vulnerable to disease, invasion by insects....any number of assaults on the life in it. And it begins to die. The idea of God....and the life principle He is made of needing/desiring to grow and expand (and some very literally similar characteristics of love) give some good insight into why He desired to create. Why He desired to HAVE a creation He could shower His love upon and give His own life to. So I think He just expanded Himself... Before time began He was a family. Father, Son and Spirit self-existent, whole and perfect, existing in a delightful dance of loving one another, preferring one another above themselves, serving one another. And I think there must have been a time when Father, Son and Spirit peered down through the time they would create and beheld a Bride. An helpmeet suitable for the Son. I think she must be beautiful indeed and someone Jesus longed to become One with. Another "person" He could love and invest all of Himself into. I believe He must have gazed down through time and said something like "Oh Father, she is beautiful!! I will die to have her....." and the plan was set in motion. The fact that it was known that Adam would fall, before he was ever created, was no barrier. The fact that Jesus would have to appear here, suffer as a man to remedy/reverse the effects of Adam's fall, none of that stopped Him. He counted the cost and found the prize - HAVING US - worth the price. Free will is why sin had to be allowed. If we stop and consider God's power it's clear that He HAS the power to wrench every man, woman and child to their knees, right now, and force us to worship Him. But what would that be worth to a God who is love? It would be so hollow, so artificial, so powerless a worship it would have no value to Him at all. For worship to have any value to love it MUST BE FREELY OFFERED. And if we have the power to offer it freely, then we MUST have the power to choose to deny it...withhold it... He GAVE man free will, and WILL NOT violate it. You also have to stop and consider that Jesus is STILL a man, and STILL possesses a body, though the body He now possesses is far greater than the one He walked in here...it's still a body. So we can also assume that God knew all that back before He even began to create. At some level a decision was made that the King of the Universe was going to be A MAN. And that He would rule and reign from Jerusalem for all Eternity. He created Adam in a form, after His own image and likeness, knowing full well it was THAT FORM which He intended to take upon Himself, and from that rule and reign forever...as a man. I think it was His longing to have more to shower His love on and share His life with that inspired His whole plan for creation. He "imagined" each of us, as souls He not ONLY longed to enjoy for all eternity, but to even invite to join Him in the intimacy of relationship defined by "family" not just "friend" or "acquaintance". And then His love appointed a specific time which we were to be born into, and a specific and uniquely individual set of life experiences, parents we're born to, circumstances that would both develop the soul/personality into exactly what He longs to partner with and enjoy for all eternity while also giving each of us the MAXIMUM chance of responding to and returning that great love OF OUR OWN FREE WILL....and accepting that invitation to be lifted up into His own family through the sacrifice of His Son. If we can ever get ahold of some of that, we will never have to question our own value as human beings, or seek "significance" in what we do or how we perform or what anyone else thinks of us. Our value is found solely in the fact that He was willing to risk everything, and give even the life of His own Son to have us... Our value to Him is found in the price He was willing to pay for us to be lifted up into that place of "sonship" ...and realizing He and Jesus agreed that the price necessary to pay for that was not too great to pay.

The simplest "summary" of the gift of prophecy as I understand it might be expressed as: "a forth-telling of the mind of God in a given situation" I believe it has more to do with simply being used to "speak out" the mind/will of God into human circumstance. The idea it's foretelling the future generally comes from our ideas of what a prophecy is being polluted by the likes of Nostradummy and psychics like Jeanne Dixon claimed to be There is a gift of the Spirit that deals with the future...but it's not prophecy...that one is the Word of Wisdom. We can separate those out for the purposes of studying and understanding them but in practical situations often more than one is at work at a time. And in such a way it's difficult to distinguish which is which while they're actually on display. Edit to add: understanding Rev 19:10 is a HUGE key to defining prophecy too as In Him just brought up

I'm sorry if this is rude, but I had to strain my eyes to read that. Could you please perhaps go with a bigger font size in the future? First, I back up the idea of getting away from any "LGBT minister". I mean, i'm glad they talked you out of Islam, but that's really not the kind of person anyone should take lessons from. Second, you must ask yourself which is more important, a relationship with Jesus, or these friends you "cannot leave"? A person is what they focus on, or in other words, you reap what you sow. Spending time around some LGBT minister and friends who likely agree with said minister would not have the best effect on you. I could understand wanting to change their minds, but it doesn't really sound to me like you're either well-equipped or well-prepared for such a task. Third, as other posters have said, feelings aren't the be all end all. If emotions dictated our lives, we would all be giant angry babies unable to function. I know it's easier said than done to ignore your feelings or depart from those whom you percieve as friends, but what reward is there in easy things? Fourth, if you are having issues with Islam appealing to you, repent of that and pray. Ask God for help, and he will help you.

I believe we can KNOW that Jesus walked His life on earth FULLY as a man. Part of what Jesus had to do was retake the "test" Adam failed, and pass it. For that test to be legally valid, legally admissible evidence before the Divine Court, He had to pass that test with NO advantages over Adam's abilities or environment. The "conditions" of the test had to be exact. Is Jesus fully man and fully God? Yes He is, but He laid aside, completely, all the rights, privileges, powers and glory (that are legitimately His as God) to be found in this earth as a man, fully and completely man and no more than a man. He took that test and passed it. He never sinned. Never chose against God. Never did ANYTHING apart from God's will. He walked in 100% total submission to Father His whole time here. I think it's important to understand that Jesus walked His whole life as a son of Adam. He was empowered in His ministry by the indwelling Spirit of God. And His walk proceeded with NO advantages over the conditions He left for US to walk in. There is nothing He ever did that we cannot do, because we have all that He had access to. And that is the precious promise from Heaven, the Holy Spirit. As He walked, so His sacrifice empowered those "in Him" to walk. That is why He could say with such confidence that those who believe in Him will do GREATER works, than even He did. He could have done any "work" God appointed Him to do ...including those "greater works" He assigns to us. But the issue was/is timing. It was Father who decided that the latter rain should be greater than the former. I suspect He knew He would not be here for that time, but we would. We're headed toward a day when the works of God displayed in this earth will far exceed those recorded in Acts and the Gospels. And once more He will do those works THROUGH His own sons and daughters.

This one is for my precious mom (who went to Heaven on 2-27-19)

We have had many very long threads on worthy over the years, and it seems to me that whether you believe in the deity of Christ depends on which verses of scripture you focus on and in some cases which translation you use. And even because of the ambiguity of the English language what verses are actually saying. Example is Romans 10:9 Rom 10:8-10 that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; NASB The definition of the greek word translated Lord is on the surface a or the supreme being,,, but can also be other::::: In reading through many of these threads I have come to the conclusion that most people don't understand the original Hebrew and Greek meanings of the word God/god. Most people have a preconceived idea of the word's meaning of being a single entity that created the universe and is head of all... but to an Israelite in Moses or Jesus's day would not understand it that way... Is it a salvation issue... While I personally understand that Jesus was the God of Israel that interfaced with mankind. Did he keep any of his deity when he chose to take the form of man.... I can't tell you that for sure one way or the other..... but he was in the form of god before that and the Father gave him back the glory he had upon resurrection so in reality it doesn't matter. We know he was deity then a man, then back to deity again.... and one can make a scenario of the importance of keeping his deity and another of not. Jesus in the for of god could not die for our sins because a god can't die.... could Jesus die if he was still fully God.... I suppose he can do anything he really sets his mind to do so it's still up for grabs who is right... Does it matter is the real question and I personally don't think the Lord requires us to be a theologian to be saved. He requires us to confess him be Lord and to believe the Father raised him from the Dead just as Romans 10 states. Edited to add:::: confessing him as Lord is not a simple thing...…. because then one is expected to do what he told us to do..... and if one confess him as Lord, and doesn't do the things he told us to do, it appears to me that one has just made themselves a liar and not a saved born again.

Huh? What greater miracle than the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit might one have? Like Jonah, Jesus; and He Jesus has left us a comforter and restrainer the Holy Spirit of God until He returns! Many are called specifically to their own salvation seems an awesome ongoing miracle to me. The miracle that dwells within all Saints in Christ the born again believer bond-servants restraining the evil one so that each may withstand the minions, the little antichrists, and Satan is awesome beyond all other miracles, as it evidences righteous merciful love from God. The result of His love being many being called out to their salvation and to eternal life with God, with each instructed to be doing all that they may do to the glory of God is bow down before God. Miracle worthy is it not? ..."the crowds were increasing, he began to say, 'This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.' "

You might want to check out Jayne's post in this thread. I think the same reasoning applies. The early appearances were for the sake of legitimacy and planting the seeds of faith that have grown into what they are today. Also consider the story of Thomas. Other disciples had told him Jesus had been resurrected. Thomas was skeptical, and when he finally did run into Jesus, what did Jesus say? "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29) This is a call for faith and a blessing for having it. If God's voice boomed from the heavens to give instruction then it would greatly diminish the element of faith. When we look at the big picture, the Bible as a whole, faith is clearly prized. Another thing to consider is the story of the rich young man in Matthew 19. He was seeking God and Jesus told him how he could do that, but the rich young man didn't like it very much. Similarly there are things in our lives that can impede our relationship with God. Often we'll be dealt with about these things. It falls to us to correct the issues. We also need to consider that even in the Old Testament God speaks through others. Did God directly speak to Moses? Yes. But it was Moses who communicated what God had to say to the Israelites. The disciples walked with Jesus Himself, but they're the ones who communicated so much of what they experienced and learned to others. The messages spoken of by Jesus and the disciples are still being communicated today. Similarly God does sometimes give people insight on what to say to others. Think about some of the miracles in the Bible. For instance, the daughter of Jairus who was dead, but raised by Jesus. That was a single family's issue. But we know of it today because it was recorded in writings that have existed for thousands of years. This is the case with all the other instances in the Bible. I have no doubt that God still does intervene in ways that are sometimes subtle and sometimes more profound, like people being cured of cancer or other illnesses. But it's up to us to share these stories with others.

I don't believe we're expected to fully understand anything. If we were capable of perfect understanding and behavior we'd be quite different. But we are expected to try! As for believing in the Trinity, just look at Jesus. God in the persona of Jesus is CENTRAL to Christianity. How can you have Christianity without Christ? Deny the divinity of Jesus and you have a fundamentally different religion.

Interesting, how can one believe that Jesus has died to save one from ones sins etc unless Jesus is God? May I suggest that you ignore such threads unless you are prepared to raise issues like the one I've raised. Never discuss whether someone is or is not a Christian. That is not our role.

I trust in God, 3 in one. New Christians may not fully understand but we should believe that Jesus is the Messiah Who is prophesied in the Old Testament. They should understand that He is the only begotten Son of Father God, born of Mary. He died for our sin because God loves us\; and we should believe that God raised Him from the dead. He now is in Heaven exalted with the Father. They should know that He claimed to have existed before Abraham and existed in the beginning with Father God having created everything with Father God. Believers should be able to surrender to Jesus and confess Him as Lord and Master just as Thomas confessed Him to be "My Lord and my God!" They should understand that the Holy Spirit is God with us today Who calls us to Himself, Who convicts us of sin and helps us understand and apply Scripture to our lives; He guides us and gives us power to do God's will.Throughout our lives we grow in our understanding of Who God is and about His relationship with us.

The Holy Trinity is at the center of the Christian faith. The word "Trinity" is not in the Bible but the concept is. I do not think a Christian should give the words of the Holy Bible their own meaning. 1) There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5). 2) The Trinity consists of three Persons (Genesis 1:1, 26; 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8, 48:16, 61:1; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew plural noun "Elohim" is used. In Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7 and Isaiah 6:8, the plural pronoun for “us” is used. The word "Elohim" and the pronoun “us” are plural forms, definitely referring in the Hebrew language to more than two. While this is not an explicit argument for the Trinity, it does denote the aspect of plurality in God. The Hebrew word for "God," "Elohim," definitely allows for the Trinity. In Isaiah 48:16 and 61:1, the Son is speaking while making reference to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Compare Isaiah 61:1 to Luke 4:14-19 to see that it is the Son speaking. Matthew 3:16-17 describes the event of Jesus' baptism. Seen in this passage is God the Holy Spirit descending on God the Son while God the Father proclaims His pleasure in the Son. Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 are examples of three distinct Persons in the Trinity. 3) The members of the Trinity are distinguished one from another in various passages. In the Old Testament, “LORD” is distinguished from “Lord” (Genesis 19:24; Hosea 1:4). The LORD has a Son (Psalm 2:7, 12; Proverbs 30:2-4). The Spirit is distinguished from the “LORD” (Numbers 27:18) and from “God” (Psalm 51:10-12). God the Son is distinguished from God the Father (Psalm 45:6-7; Hebrews 1:8-9). In the New Testament, Jesus speaks to the Father about sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). This shows that Jesus did not consider Himself to be the Father or the Holy Spirit. Consider also all the other times in the Gospels where Jesus speaks to the Father. Was He speaking to Himself? No. He spoke to another Person in the Trinity—the Father. 4) Each member of the Trinity is God. The Father is God (John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2). The Son is God (John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20). The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16). 5) There is subordination within the Trinity. Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Father and the Son, and the Son is subordinate to the Father. This is an internal relationship and does not deny the deity of any Person of the Trinity. This is simply an area which our finite minds cannot understand concerning the infinite God. Concerning the Son see Luke 22:42, John 5:36, John 20:21, and 1 John 4:14. Concerning the Holy Spirit see John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7, and especially John 16:13-14. 6) The individual members of the Trinity have different tasks. The Father is the ultimate source or cause of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11); divine revelation (Revelation 1:1); salvation (John 3:16-17); and Jesus' human works (John 5:17; 14:10). The Father initiates all of these things. The Son is the agent through whom the Father does the following works: the creation and maintenance of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17); divine revelation (John 1:1, 16:12-15; Matthew 11:27; Revelation 1:1); and salvation (2 Corinthians 5:19; Matthew 1:21; John 4:42). The Father does all these things through the Son, who functions as His agent. The Holy Spirit is the means by whom the Father does the following works: creation and maintenance of the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30); divine revelation (John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21); salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2); and Jesus' works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). Thus, the Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit. https://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html

I think the only Ones who understand the Trinity are the Three Members of the Trinity.Some things are just beyond the grasp of human intellect .That is fine with me.

Matthew 7:7 (NASB) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. To those who’s hearts would be Christ’s. to those God says, ask. to those God says, seek. to those God says, knock. Than comes the God of love, with His fulfillment. “And He will be found by you.” For the finding of Him by His children is the joy of His heart. For His heart is toward all that would truly want to know Him. Those willing to have that intimate one and one relationship with Him, that takes place in the secret recesses of the heart. Where no one knows what transpires but the believer and this God of love, that died to make such a relationship possible. It is to this relationship God calls all those that would desire to be His. This call is to the heart of man, from the heart of the God of love. From the heart of God to the heart of man. This is God’s invitation to all those that would be willing to be His. “Come to me all that are heavy laden with fears, doubts, confusion, questions and any and all things that would prevent you from coming to me” Says the God of love, to all those that would be willing to be His........completely. Blessings, Much love in Christ, Not me

Here is the issue I have with discussions like this ... one is judging another persons salvation. We cannot look at the heart of anyone, nor can we, like God, know a persons state of being. All we can do is witness their actions and see the fruit these actions birth. People are so quick to judge another as if a person will fully change into a Christ like believer the very second they accept Jesus. Each of us are in a different part of our walk with Christ, some at the very beginning of their journey, others toward the very end, while both have accepted Jesus, both do not have the same maturity in Him. SOme put too much weight in what others think of them, if they are "good Christians" or not. It is true that we should be held accountable for our actions, but what is being judged is our actions, not our salvation. What is a Christian? Jesus tells us in John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." We read the root of all His commandments in Mark 12:28-31 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

a Christian is a person who believes that Jesus died for his or her sins & rose again & that he paid it all at the foot of the cross

A Christian is somebody that has Christ “IN” them.Christ is formed in your heart by faith.Faith is believing a promise of God and ACTING on that promise.Here is a good promise for one to get started—- “Turn to Me and I will turn to you”.Its THAT simple.Jesus lamented the fact that His fellow Jews would not “ come to Him so that He could heal them”.Simply come to Him as you are,ask Him to save you......you do not have to change. But be warned ! If you trust Him , He will change you! It happened to me.

I TEND TO LEAN TOWARDS LAUGHTER, BUT TIME FOR YOU TO MEET THE OTHER SIDE THERE IS ALSO DEEP WITHIN ME DARKNESS THAT I CAN`T ALWAYS HIDE THEY CALL IT DEPRESSION, I CALL IT HELL IT DISRUPTS EVERYTHING I DO, I JUST WANT TO BE WELL IT`S ROBBED ME OF MY JOY, AND TURNED MY SMILE INTO A FROWN I CHOOSE TO NOT LET IT RESIDE, BUT TURN THE DARKNESS AROUND I HAVEN`T ALWAYS BE ABLE TO, I JUST DIDN`T KNOW HOW I REFUSE TO LET IT DESTROY ME, I KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO NOW BE A VICTIM OR A VICTOR...IT`S UP TO ME WHAT I KNOW ISN`T BASED ON WHAT I FEEL, I KNOW THE "TRUTH" YOU SEE YES, IT`S REAL AND CAN GET VERY UGLY...SOME NEVER MAKE IT THRU I`M NOT SUGGESTING DENIAL, BUT TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT INSIDE YOU, I DO HE`S NEVER FAILED TO RESCUE ME AND TURN MY DARKNESS INTO LIGHT HE TAKES THINGS THAT ARE TERRIBLY WRONG, AND YES HE MAKES THEM RIGHT I`VE LEARNED TO TRUST HIM IN MY DARKEST MOMENTS...HE`S THERE I KNOW HE`LL NEVER LEAVE ME, AND I KNOW HE`LL ALWAYS CARE