Tinky

What an amazing quote! I'm going to remember that one! Amen!

What you said right there was absolutely heartless. I've read quite a number of your posts, What you posted here was not an anomaly. It's obvious where you stand. I pray that someday you will care.

Dear Lord, please help and protect those people! They have already suffered so much!

Better late than never, I suppose.

We do it to them, they do it to us. Same old song and dance.

It happened because evil men give Satan a free hand in their lives, whether they are aware of it or not. You also must realize that all of those babies that were killed went straight to heaven, which is better by far. What those men meant for evil, God made good. So who won? God.

Today, while I was eating dinner, I had a piece of white meat skinless chicken that I was saving for last to enjoy, when, as usual, my little doggy came up to the table begging. He stared up at me with those big, sad eyes, and I began to melt. Problem was, I really was looking forward to eating that chicken. As you can already guess, I sighed, took the piece of chicken and placed it on the floor in front of him. Do you want to know what that little poop did? He sniffed at the chicken, turned, and walked away! I sat there with my mouth hanging open when a thought hit me. In the beginning, God gave us his very best, and just like my puppy, we turned up our noses and walked away. Life lessons come from the strangest places!

A very good article. In recent months my wife and I have watched a number of professing Christians we know leave their Christian walk, engage in a completely worldly lifestyle, and even go so far as to state they aren’t interested in the Church anymore and/or doubt the existence of God. These aren’t simply moderately active believers, either, but rather people who were seemingly very engaged in their faith, families, and various Christian activities at one time. Such drastic contrast between who they were before and what they’ve become now has brought us great sadness and caused us to wonder if they were truly saved to begin with. Is it really possible for someone to appear as a true Christian for some time, but really not be born again? Making the question more personal: How can you tell if you’re a counterfeit Christian vs. the real thing? Commanded to Be Sure Some argue there’s really no way for someone to have full assurance that they’re truly saved. However, if that’s true, why does Scripture command believers to make such an examination and ensure they’re in the faith? Paul says, "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Cor. 13:5). Following Paul, Peter says: “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you” (2 Pet. 1:10). It would seem strange for a believer to not have any means of ensuring their salvation, but be commanded to perform just such a test. This being the case, Scripture should contain the criteria that believers can use to validate that their faith is real. Our task, then, is to determine what Biblical framework should be used to make such a determination. The great theologian and preacher Jonathan Edwards begins his famous work on this topic by asking for the exact same thing: “There is no question whatsoever, that is of greater importance to mankind, and what is more concerns every individual person to be well resolved in, than this: What are the distinguishing qualifications of those that are in favor with God, and entitled to his eternal rewards?”[1] Say ‘The Prayer’ and You’re Done? As I delivered a four-part series of messages I created on this subject at a particular church, one person said the only thing needed to ensure a person was saved was that they had complied with Romans 10:9 and confessed with their mouth that Jesus was Lord. If they had done that, no other test should be used. When I questioned the individual about the need for a changed life and other certain evidences that the Bible speaks of, the man strongly argued against such things and said I was espousing a works-based salvation. While I appreciate his desire to guard against salvation by works, I believe he was confusing two different things: (1) The basis of a person’s salvation; (2) the evidences that accompany that same salvation. The Bible makes it clear we are saved by faith alone and not by works (cf. Eph. 2:8-9 and many other verses). But, Scripture also speaks about people who call Jesus Lord, appear to have the right credentials, but are told by Jesus, “I never knew you” and banished from His presence forever (cf. Matt. 7:21-23). In his epistle, James also mentions those who have a dead faith that is unable to save (cf. James 2:14). Did these people that Jesus and James speak of just not articulate the right prayer? Clearly, there seems to be more to the story. A Recurring Theme Throughout the New Testament, there is a recurring pattern that Jesus and the apostles lay down for differentiating a true believer from a counterfeit: examine the quality and consistency of fruit that a life displays. To see what I mean, watch the back-and-forth contrasts made in these three example passages that speak to the evidences of who are true believers and who will not experience eternal life with God: “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance . . . Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:8–9). “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16–20). “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. . . . As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. . . .If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned” (John 15:1–6). You’ll find the same things stated many more times in the gospels. Jesus talks of four soils, only one of which produces fruit (Matt. 13:23); Jesus tells the religious leaders that the kingdom would be taken from them and given to a people producing fruit (Matt. 21:43); Christ relays the parable of a fig tree that would be cut down if it didn’t produce fruit (Luke 13:6-9); Jesus tells His disciples that He specifically chose them to bear fruit (John 15:16). The rest of the New Testament contains similar statements. For example, Paul says we were saved in order to bear fruit for God (Rom. 7:4), the writer of Hebrews tells us that good ground that brings forth a useful harvest “receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned” (Hebrews 6:7–8), and Jude speaks about fake believers who are “autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted” (Jude 12). Time and again, the Bible describes the primary difference between genuine and counterfeit believers being the ‘fruit’ seen in the life of the person. But what exactly is that ‘fruit’ and what does it look like? We’ll tackle that question and a few others in Part Two of this article. http://blogs.christi...n-part-1-12892/

PETA also opposes owning animals as pets. If they had their way, the world would be filled to overflowing with packs of feral dogs and cats.

Please forgive me for a poor choice of words. I didn't mean to offend by using the word "babble." I don't hate anyone. I'm just of the opinion that those who spoke in "tongues" were those in the early church who miraculously spoke in the languages of the hearers. Again, I meant no malice. I didn't say you hated anyone....I am just up to here with all the negativity against the Holy Spirit by those who think they know better than what scripture states I am sorry...I should have put a 'do not take this personally' in my post...I usually do and I forgot so I did not mean to offend you personally...I certainly do not hold you accountable for a book someone else wrote...! I really did not aim this one at you...it's just a story I have heard over and over...so forgive me too if I hurt you...I didn't mean to

BALTIMORE (BP) -- Legalizing gay marriage will lead to it being taught as normative in elementary schools, according to new TV ads in three states where the issue is on the ballot. The 30-second advertisements in Maine, Maryland and Minnesota all feature a couple, David and Tonia Parker, who live in Massachusetts, where gay marriage is legal. "After Massachusetts redefined marriage, local schools taught it to children in second grade, including the school our son attended," David Parker says to the camera. "Courts ruled parents have no right to take their children out of class -- or to even be informed when this instruction was going to take place." In the Maryland version of the ad, Tonia Parker then says: "If Question 6 passes, same-sex marriage could be taught in local Maryland schools, just as it was in Massachusetts. Don't make the same mistake and think that gay marriage won't affect you." The Parkers' story is true. In 2006, two years after gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts, the teacher in their son's second-grade class read the students "King & King" -- a story about a prince who searches for a wife, only to choose another prince as his husband. The Parkers and another couple filed a lawsuit in federal court against the school, but a lower court ruled against them, asserting that "diversity is a hallmark of our nation" and that such diversity "includes differences in sexual orientation." An appeals court upheld the decision. Maryland residents are voting on Question 6 while Maine voters are considering Question 1. Passage of either one will legalize gay marriage; traditional groups are urging a "no" vote. Out West, Washington state citizens will vote on Referendum 74, which also would legalize gay marriage if passed. In Minnesota, pro-family groups are urging a "yes" vote on Amendment 1, which would amend the state constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Meanwhile, President Obama -- who supports same-sex marriage -- has endorsed the pro-gay marriage initiatives in Maine, Maryland and Washington. http://www.bpnews.ne... Top Headlines)

Their reward in Heaven will be great.

How incredibly stupid. These are the same lunatics that wanted fish to be called "sea kittens" so that people would be less likely to eat them. And the same bunch that equates killing chickens with human beings killed in the Holocaust. They have no problem with killing babies through abortion, but lose their minds when someone eats a McNugget.

Please forgive me for a poor choice of words. I didn't mean to offend by using the word "babble." I don't hate anyone. I'm just of the opinion that those who spoke in "tongues" were those in the early church who miraculously spoke in the languages of the hearers. Again, I meant no malice.

Creflo Dollar Urges Megachurch to Donate $234K; Clear Debt of Shooting Victim's Family Creflo Dollar, pastor of World Changers Church International in Georgia, on Sunday urged members to help pay all the bills for the family of the 37-year-old church employee who was shot and killed at a church prayer meeting last week. "The goal is $234,000," the pastor told the members, challenging them to give the amount by the end of the day. "We want to completely eradicate all debts in their lives … house, cars, everything. Let's now show the world the power of a megachurch." http://www.christianpost.com/news/creflo-dollar-urges-megachurch-to-donate-234k-clear-debt-of-shooting-victims-family-84094/ While admirable, why doesn't Creflo just personally pay those debts - he's certainly rich enough.

Amen. I'll bet even the angels in Heaven were amazed when she converted!

How sick. But liberals are smart enough to know, if they can brainwash them young enough, they'll have them for life.

I believe it's a person who is so wrapped up in their own spirituality that they don't even take the time to spread the Gospel or witness to others.

The reason I asked the question is I read a book by a pastor I admire (John MacArthur) who stated that certain gifts have ceased because we now have the complete word of God in the Bible and no longer need such confirmation of the faith through such miracles. I also personally believe that such things as speaking in tongues were simply those that spoke miraculously in the languages of the hearers, not the "babbling" that is prominent in many Pentecostal denominations.

Very interesting article. Thank-you!

Scores of Twitter users have flooded the social networking site announcing their plans to go on looting sprees once Hurricane Sandy makes landfall, as the New York National Guard announced it would put troops on duty in Long Island to prevent such activity. http://www.infowars.com/gangs-plan-hurricane-looting-spree-via-twitter/ The depravity of man really makes me ill sometimes.

I believe legalism is trying to earn favor with God apart from the final work of Christ on the cross.

Well, people interpret scripture many ways.

I guess my original question was dealing more with two adults (male and female) living together as husband and wife before marriage before God (but I guess one could say the state as well)... The question was more directed at people (particularly Christians) that don't see this as a sinful relationship and how one could possibly justify this Biblically or otherwise. just because a male lives with a female doesn't mean there in sin, it's what they do before there married is what's the issue. if i'm not mistaken apostal paul had women stay at the same place he was staying out of convenience a few times. Okay so help me understand what you're saying. Are you saying that two people who live together in a romantic/physical relationship (and we all know that living together implies other things) before they're married is not a sin? If so what is the Biblical backing for this please? come on, just because 2 people of the opposite sex live together doesn't mean that they are having sex- remember god has giving us a spirit of self control. we shouldn't let man's or church tradition overshadow what the word says. be blessed. can you give me scripture that states a man and a woman must live in seperate buildings? Forgive me for jumping in, but in my opinion, having non-related single people of the opposite sex living together is like like putting a steak dinner in front of a starving person and expecting them not to eat it.