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I too am struggling with my health and am off of the forum for long periods of time. Sometimes I wonder if people think that I am a troll! It never occured to me to explain why I am absent for long periods of time. Thank you for your courage. I too am praying for healing for you.

This is my personal experience/testimony (the short version) I was an athiest. I tried to kill myself by taking an over-dose. To the best of my knowledge at one point I was declared dead. I had an experience/dream/vision (whatever you want to call it). I was with someone in a field, they were on my right side and we spoke for a long time. I do not remember what the person looks like, who the person was or what we were speaking about. What I do know is that when I woke up I knew that God was REAL, I knew that He LOVED me and that I needed FOREGIVENESS and that the only reason that I was alive was because of Him. That was 15 years ago. Since then not only have I received Christ but so has my husband and both of my children. We love and serve the Lord. Amen

I too am homesick. I think that Paul eloquently said it the best: 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. Philippians 1:21-26 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far This I think we all know and yearn for, but at the same time 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. As long as we are here God has a purpose for us. We just need to trust in Him and his perfect timing and know that some day our aching to be home will be satisfied. (I tell myself this all the time!)

Sorry, I meant to add that the first commandment is vertical, the second is horizontal and an overflow of the first (the glasses were a great example!). We are called to love others as ourselves. And what does that mean? To love others as we want to be loved: which means to be accepted as who we are (warts and all), not to be controlled but to be free to be who God created us to be, to be encouraged in both our best and worse moments, to have open and honest relations. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that is the key All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

Golden Eagle I could not agree more on your original post! 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

It is the same here in Canada.

I fully believe in the 6 day creation as it is written in the Bible. As to the age of the earth the only question that is in my mind is in regards to Adam's age (930 years old) and whether or not God is counting from the day He created Adam or the day that Adam rebelled and was kicked out of the garden? If God is counting from the day that he created Adam then around 6,000 - 10,000 sounds right. If He is counting from the day that Adam sinned then we have no way of knowing how long Adam and Eve were in the garden and therefore no way of truly knowing how old the world really is. I do not believe in evolution or that the science behind it is accurate, I have no problem believing that the earth is 6,000 years old, just saying that I also don't know the time frame of Adam and Eve's life in the garden. Hope this makes sense?

fairmaiden, I think that most people feel like they don't belong and Satan loves nothing more than to use this to seperate us. You have received wise council with sound biblical backing, if you are truly seeking out the truth this is a good place to be!

Weeds in the garden sometimes grow slower then the real crop but in the end the weeds will chock off the true life of the crop if left to grow. ICL~~~~Dennis Who or what is the weed in your reference? Thanks, just want clarification.

fairmaden, it is my prayer that you don't feel like you have been treated too harshly by everyone here, I know it can be overwhelming when no one agrees with you or admonishes you. Please know that what is being said is out of love and concern for you and your family. I encourage you to continue asking questions and sharing your expereinces and heart here. May you be filled with God's love, peace and joy! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

I believe that here in Canada our animals are treated the same as they are in the States. I would like to add that the costs involved in an indoor cattle farm would be astronomical!! The cost to feed them, the buildings to house them and in addition the manpower that something like that would take is mindboggling. I have lived on a farm almost my entire life, both sets of my grandparents owned dairy farms. To mistreat animals is to cut your own throat. I'm sure you do have people out there that do stupid things to cut corners but they don't last long in the business. Personally I am more concerned about the growth hormones that are given to the animals than the treatment of the animals themselves. Further to others assesment of the intellegence of turkeys and chickens - it is true they are stupid! If left up to their own devices they will literally eat themselves to death! We lost several during a thunderstorm (I find leghorns the worst), some of them actually die of fright. We have ours in huge penned off area to protect them from our neighbors dogs, coyotees etc. We had a faulty latch on the gate allowing the chickens to leave the enclosure. They would escape and then spend the entire day trying to get back into the area but will not go through the open door that they just walked out of! Even trying to chase them back in they want to avoid the obvious way in and try in force their way in through the fencing (which they can't get through). Not bright at all BUT they do taste mighty good! Getting back to PETA and their ilk quite frankly I am more horrified at the treatment of animals at their hands than at any other. No kill shelters make me sick, their comes a time in an animals life that the most humane thing to do is to put it down. They go to great lengths to hide the pain that they are in and because of their inability to communicate and their natural need to cover up their pain there are many animals suffering out there today because it upsets people to do the right thing. There are alot of cities out there that are trying to ban all cats from being outside under any circumstances under the direction of the humane society (which by the way is made up of volunteers). How is locking a cat up in a house or an apartment without ever being able to go outside humane?!?! I could go on about the foolishness of this and its consequences (black plaque anyone?) but I will stop here. (finally )

I agree that most animals are not treated cruely at all. Yes they must be killed to be eaten but the goal is to kill them, not hurt them (if you get my meaning). The methods that are used to kill them are as humane as possible. Is death pretty? No, but it is reality. To many people act on emotion instead of reason. Here is the thing that I find ironic about the whole "animals are equal to humans" movement...it is neither biblical nor is it in line with the evolution theroy! Too funny! BTW bornagain2011 I love your C.S. Lewis quotes, in fact our pastor used the first one in his sermon this morning!

There is a preception that animals for feed are treated horribly and cruely could someone please elaborate on what they mean? Thanks.

I'm a little foggy this morning so hope this makes sense. In the past our youth pastor was teaching a "bounce off" exersize to the youth. Meaning make it a habit to bounce your eyes off of any part of the opposite sex's body. The longer you look the more ingrained a thought becomes. There is nothing wrong with noticing that someone is attractive or that they look good in that outfit - those thoughts are not sinful, just an acknowledgement of a fact. The sin comes when we lust after them causing us to desire and fantasize having sex with that person. Lust is actually extremely creepy, unless of course you are lusting after your spouse!!

Couldn't agree more Ed!!!

I agree with Golden Eagles' Option C. Each of us need to take responsibility for our own actions. My daughter (who is 15) and I talk alot about this, how to dress attractively but modestly. And she brings up a good point, it isn't just the girls/women that need to be modest in their dress and protect themselves and their brothers but the guys/men must do the same. How is a guy deliberately wearing his jeans so low that you can see his underwear modest? Or standing around flexing his muscles and taking his shirt off modest? We never seem to talk about this issue - it is not only men who struggle with lust.

I heard that in church once. The most beautiful voice I've ever heard singing right beside me. There was no one in the row of seats with me and or behind me. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget and I am grateful that you shared with me because I sometimes I doubt these experiences and think that I could be imaging things. Thanks again!!!

It hasn't happen to me...but I've heard others speak of it. Why would you feel you maybe losing it? Never measure yourself according to what others "may" think or feel. If you are praising and praying...check with the One who truly know...God. I have actually never heard of anyone else experiencing this before so I just wanted a little bit of confirmation that this does happen. Just making sure that it wasn't a "smelling burnt toast" type of deal. Thanks for the advice though, you are right about comparing ourselves to others, it never works out well!

funny!

Does anyone else hear music while they are praying? I don't mean a song that you know. I mean flutes, drums, horns, trumpets, sometimes like a solo and other times like an orchastra? Or am I losing it?

This discussion leads me to ask a question....how would you be able to tell if it was a "ghost" or a demon. I mean if the ghost looked like some one that you knew how would you know it was really them and not a demon. I'm wondering if asking them who they served would work or would they/could they lie about that? Could they lie and say that they served Christ?

I think Mr. Harper is the best Prime Minister that we have had in most of my life time.

7angel: awesome

Bold Believer: I agree with you and that is why I said I am not tolerant. Love the sinner not the sin. We are called to love all people but that does not mean we are to tolerate (come into agreement with) the sins in their lives. Not saying that I don't have sin in my life. How horrible it would be if someone didn't step foward (in a loving way) and tell me the truth! It is a fine line that we walk...to recognize sin as what it is and rejecting it without judging and rejecting the sinner. I am very grateful that in the end that it is God that sorts all of this out and not me!!

I couldn't agree with you more we need to minister in a truthful and loving way. Didn't mean to sound harsh earlier.