AnotherSinner

....Tithing is something that I do believe is important in not only maintaining a church, but the missions of various people out there. Yes, there are churches or leaders out there who do deceive. At the same time, there are churches out there that do care and support its family members who are in need. A stumbling block I once had, and sometimes still work to overcome....is trying to remember that.... One bad experience or even multiple does not mean that all instances of a certain thing are going to be the same. A number of us, myself included have had bad experiences in the church. Does this mean that all churches are horrible places? By no means! Yes, WE ALL fall short of the glory of God. Which is why each of us should seek diligently after His word and strive to live in accordance to His will and ways that He would have us live. ....Giving truly should, be something we do eagerly...and from the heart. Even if we have not much to do so with. May God Bless You Dani

Yeah, the SQL thing was what was happening to me in terms of the forums. I am starting to think the sender did. While it shows in my inbox, when I try to open it, I get a message error about the message not being found. Odds are that is it.

Thanks Mizz. Going to check again here in a bit and see if I am still having trouble. It still will not let me read a message I have in my inbox. Still get that same error message. Also tried to get onto the forums after looking at a member's profile and got a similar error message. Weird.

Thanks Mizz. Going to check again here in a bit and see if I am still having trouble.

Amen!

Is anyone else having the same problem? I had a message that I tried to read this morning and kept getting this error: [#10229] We could not determine which message you were attempting to view. Yet the message is there in my inbox and every time I have gone to read it, I cannot. I get the same error message. Anyone else?

Got an answer to prayer this morning. Had to take my youngest, Joshua to the E.R. last night with a 104 degree fever. Turns out it was a cold, but we did not have the money or the medicine to take care of him. After spending a night keeping his fever in check with prayer and cold rags as well as lots of fluids...hubby checked his account this morning to find there was just enough to cover our little boy's medicine. He is gradually getting better too!

I have no problem with people wearing a Cross at work. If somebody wears a neclklace with a trinket with an animal etc, then somebody should be able to wear a necklace with a Cross. I would understand if it were all necklaces and a health risk. Much like some work places do with rings of all natures due to the risk provided that they might get caught in something and risk loss of limb. The cross being a matter of offense should be no worse than someone being allowed to wear an anarchy symbol. If there is no issue there...Jesus or anything remembering Him should not present itself to be one either.

In full agreement with Ayin here.

Well some people celebrate later on that they didn't get their prayers answered. God knows the future so not getting a new sports car could be a good thing if you did get it and have a crash that injures you. Why should God grant every prayer and just say "Yes" to anything we ask Him? By God saying no to a prayer means that He is God and needs to be respected, trusted and obeyed. God even tells us how to pray in the Lord's Prayer. Matthew 6: 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy KINGDOM come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the KINGDOM, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. But do Christians pray like the above? OnAccords, This prayer speaks volumes as to how indeed any of us who claim to follow Christ should live our lives. The sad part is, it is easier to say than to do. It is something a lot uf struggle with in some way, shape or form...I know I have and do. Especially when it comes to the forgiveness part. Prayer otherwise is something I actually prefer to do in private where I can lay my heart out to God. It is defidentlly a prayer worthy of encouraging self reflection. The passage itself too speaks volumes. Thank you for sharing it. May God Bless You Dani

Ruck, You are not alone. I agree. The cuffs were a bit extreme. The child's behavior while it was nowhere near acceptable may have been handled differently. However, what is done is done and seeing as so many of us are parents...we all have different methods. So the best thing any of us can do is respect our differences even if we simply just cannot agree.

No takers huh....disappointing.... will have to find resources on my own then. Thanks anyway.

Its quite ironic. If there is a cross around the atheists claim thats an endorsement of religion. But if the cross is removed and nothing is there, that's an endorsement of the RELIGION of athiesm. No matter what, SOMETHING will be endorsed. Very true....there is simply just no pleasing everyone.

Little, You basically captured my feelings in writing, or text. There are days that it is like my cup is overflowing and I just...I just want to share. There are so many of my friends or people that I know too...who are really lost right now. Others that just....do not know Him. Some who even close to mock Him. It is hard not to want to try to share and hope that maybe...just maybe...the door in their heart will open and He will be let in. Thank you. May God Bless You Dani

I have no problems with time out. It works on some children, others. . . not so much. Our son that we were blessed to adopt through the foster care system, nothing worked on him. Nothing. We never could find anything that would bother him enough to make him think things through and stop poor behavior. We went through some trying times with him, but he decided to join the Air Force and join the Air Guard. They did what I could not and he is a fine young man today that I am very proud of. If you have specifically prepared his room so he can't harm himself there, that's another thing. I didn't know that. As long as he can't injure himself, your fine. I am sure you did your best. Some children....like myself....have to learn the hard way.

I am not telling you that your parenting is lacking. I am not passing judgement. I am not condemning. All my foster children were special needs children. All 12 of them. I know a little something about special needs children, and they don't hand a Foster Care License to just anyone in Missouri. You have to train for it and then continue your training occasionally to keep your license. I am not a neophyte. The majority of today's so-called "professionals" will hardly ever advocate any kind of intrusive discipline because they think discipline is harmful to the child. A Christian knows better. Discipline is not harmful whether the child is considered "normal" or "special needs." If truly examined in light of reailty, all children are in some way "special needs" because all children have problems and all children require different parenting skills. Special needs often becomes a blanket to cover, allow or pigeonhole bad behavior. It is often the equivalent of other "professionals" labeling every problem that a child has in school as ADD and tranquilizing them with Ritalin. We were classified by DFS as both a special needs household and a Respite home. If parents wanted a break, they could send their children to our house for a week or two to get some air. The child I talked about came to us as a respite child. After she had been with us for a week, the other foster parents did not want her back. We found out then that she had been in 14 foster homes in less than a year. Specifically because of the tantrum problem. We had her for 4 years. The tantrums were frequent when we first got her and became less frequent over time because, I think, we learned to deal with them in a way that worked, which took a lot of time to figure out, and I think they occurred because she had been shuffled around so much, she always saw any home she was at as a short time affair until she was moved somewhere else. She injured herself several times while throwing tantrums. Bruises, knots, cuts, you name it. All I am saying, so you can spare me your derision for bringing it up, is that as some point, if you do not try and restrain your child while he is having a tantrum, he will injure himself. How will you feel then? He has an egg-sized knot on the back of his head because he threw his head into a window frame. What now? I have made many, many mistakes as a parent. Thankfully, my children turned out well despite them, but I still have regrets, and you cannot make regrets go away. They are a constant companion. I am trying to encourage you not to set yourself up for regrets later, that's all. Cobalt, I know my son. Please understand that. Attempts have been made to restrain him, this has only added further injury to himself or me. I check on him periodically if he is quiet after being placed in time out. Time out...as much as you may not agree with it, actually works for him. So I am sorry but restraining all children does not work. The special needs label also was not just thrown on him. There are health issues, physical ones at that which are hindering his development...speech as well as coping abilities, and I am sorry but I felt you were very insensitive to that. However, I cannot argue with you that a lot of children are very often misdiagnosed. I know not one parent is going to think the same as the next. I respect that you may have a different form of parenting. However, as I stated before...I know my son. For some reason, time out works. His temper tantrums have decreased in number and severity dramatically since we started implementing it instead of sign language, threats, saying no, and even restraining him. There is nothing worse to my almost three year old boy than boredom as he is a very active little boy. It is awesome that you have tended to so many children. Especially voluntarily. It takes a lot of patience, devotion, time, and really a lot of love too. So I admire you for that. Just when it comes to my son, I think I know him well enough to know...just what he needs. Professionals did not make me decide what was best for him. They gave me ideas and I went on my own with my husband gradually experimenting until we found what works. My boy is not perfect, but he does say "Thank you" without prompting and he is not yet three... He follows directions...and a sweeter boy...most the time, I have yet to see. Has he hurt himself in the past? Yes. Have I had to move him and implement some kind of safety measures for him? Yes. That is why he is put in a room where there are soft surfaces to lay when he kicks, head butts, and thrashes. He does not throw himself through windows nor does he try to. He is just a grumpy little boy who gets mad every now and then when he does not get his way which is never rewarded. He has really come a long way in the past year. He used to do so much worse than he does now. So....call me crazy, but I must be doing something right as his mommy. So although you and I may not agree on methods in the perspective of my child. I really do respect you and what you do. As I said...it takes a lot. I admire that in any woman or man that is willing to do that.

Thank all of you for your insight. It is strange, but seeing as I had never been approached before....I had not thought anyone read my postings. Then that is what those posts were made for, to read, for any who wanted to seek or know a bit about God. I have sent out invites to online bible study to various friends and family to never have anyone join. So guess it just really took me for surprise that anyone would even ask. I am pretty introverted myself...and self esteem, well...it has been an off and on issue for me throughout my life. You all have given such insight on here as to responses, feelings, and thoughts. It is much appreciated. Thanks Again May God Bless You Dani

Where can I learn how the Bible originated? How did the Bible come to be? I am not just asking of NT texts, but OT as well.

Just yesterday at a family dinner night, I had one of my in-laws ask me: "Are you some sort of internet evangelist or something?" It was awkward. Yet this in-law had seen much of my posts on facebook. My daily to weekly bible studies are posted there in a group I have called :Bible Explorers. Otherwise I have a blog on Xanga and Livejournal that I use for just the purpose of sharing God's Word with others. Guess what I am trying to ask here is: Is it normal that I would feel awkward about this? How can I address this question when and if it is asked again? I am by no means...a priest...prophet....or anything. I am just a person, an individual who sins and seeks to walk away from such by living my life for God as much as I can. Really do not know how to feel here.... Thoughts? May God Bless You Dani

Winsomebulldog, Like you...I do not listen to either one. As embarrassing as it is.....I do not really know who either of them is. What drew my attention here was the ongoing 'War on Women." The whole instigation of it, not really caring who or what side started it, has had my feathers ruffled. Politics have always been ugly....and that is why I likely...though I cannot remember how I am registered, when I go to reregister or register for my current area as I have not registered since my last move or two...I am likely not going to declare myself either side as I cannot back either side....be it Republican or Democrat. This is why a lot of the time I have had issues voting...there is too much mud slinging and no real focus being placed on the issues that matter.

To mock her as they did was wrong. I am not ever going to deny that. Especially as her being the mother of a child with special needs. That is no walk in the park. Then I am not surprised she was as Obama has shown a clear dislike for individuals who have some form of disability...

With all due respect, if you are simply laying a child having a tantrum on the bed and locking him in a bedroom, you are taking a huge gamble. He will injure himself sooner or later, perhaps seriously. A child throwing a tantrum has to be restrained immediately. You don't let the child just work their way out of the tantrum. Big Mistake. Threats have a very real and tangible purpose. They are not bad and they are not harmful. To avoid them actually means that one does not want to discipline or punish at all. Because any kind of discipline is useless without two vital components. The threat of something really unpleasant if the rules are broken, and then a follow-through with that unpleasant thing if the rules are broken. It's very simple. And effective once a parent finds out exactly what thing is most unpleasant for a child. It may not be a swat or a spanking, it may be taking away a favorite toy for a day or two. Many parents today will use A and "threaten" their children with impending doom if they don't behave, but they simply repeat the threat over and over again, there is no follow-through, and the child quickly learns there will be no negative consequences for negative behavior. All disipline, whether for an adult or a child contains an implied threat. Do (A) and (B) will be the result. Break the speed limit, lose money, perhaps go to jail. Show up late for work too much, and lose your job. Throw a tantrum and you don't watch TV for a few days. Discipline is not rocket science. You are now telling me that my parenting is lacking? Wow....I am sorry but who are you to do that? You have no idea the methods I have tried. You have no clue about me or my family or my life and you feel you can pass judgement. No wonder so many parents out there give up. They have people like you trying to condemn them without a moment's thought. Again my son is special needs, you cannot just simply restrain him. It only makes the situation worse. The method I use too was also a recommended method given to me by professionals after having him seen by such. Then you did not bother to read into that did you? Any disciplinary action that has been decided has been after a thorough evaluation of his past behavior and disciplinary action taken. Then...I should not be explaining myself to you. Seeing as I am now upset and getting judged on my parenting skill....I am done here.

Actually, it was there last election. Both Hillary and Sarah were burned, but Sarah more so. Then...it was more personal, IMO, as it was around a private affair. Whereas this has turned into an outright war on the view of stay at home mothers.... Then it could be just me.... but doubt it as so many stay at home mothers have already taken an offensive position.

Mark, Read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They reveal the most you may come to learn about Jesus. Otherwise a book I am really wanting to get into is "The Case For Christ." The book approaches finding out the truth about Jesus with a good amount of actual resources. It is one...I am thinking my mother may have given me that I am about to go digging in some of my unpacked boxes to find. If I do....I am going to start reading it. If you can find it, I encourage the same. Jesus...is so many things, that is if you are wanting to look into the more personal understanding of Him. I will even read these Gospels with you and learn with you on the way. Hope you find all the answers you seek. May God Bless You Dani

People saying that the handcuffs were wrong and/or extreme are either failing to realize a child throwing a tantrum has to be restrained to avoid injury to themselves and others, and they also fail to realize that that restraining is not going to be simple no matter what age the child is. Trying to restrain a child that is out of control is no different than trying to pick up a feral cat. A 6 year old who is kicking, screaming and punching is not an easy package to contain. I know, from firsthand experience. Sometimes just one adult can't get the job done. They will kick, punch, thrash, bite, scream and roll and even a 6 year old is strong when acting out and no longer in control of themselves. If the parents of this child think this is bad, they ain't seen nothing yet. Imagine this unbridled child as a teenager. I do not mean any disrespect, but my child has thrown a temper tantrum and restraining him only escalates the situation. As to the proper method to have handled the child in this case, well one has to know the child personally. This by no means, means spoiling the child or giving in to her whims. On the contrary discipline should still be used. I am a mother of an almost three year old boy who has on occassion, though much lessened as of late has kicked, thrashed, head butted, and even thrown things so as to get mommy to understand that he is not happy with the concept of not getting his way. The response he gets? He gets closed in the bedroom after putting him down gently on the bed. He is then told what he did wrong and left alone for a time to cry and when things are quiet and in about five minutes, sometimes longer if he continues to have a fit....mommy opens the door lets him come out and I tell him again what he did and tell him I love him. Then finally give him a hug after prompting him to repeat me and say 'sorry.' Handcuffs, threats, and the like should not be a resort unless absolutely necessary. Though threats are strongly discouraged. Then I, as a mother am making a notebook with strategies to handle my special needs little man, in the event he does take things to the extreme as he has not dealt with change real well in the past without being talked to.