Willa

One of my ancestors came as an endentured servent to the Puritans. They also patterned their slavery after that of the Old Testament endentured slaves. There are other verses beside Philemon which instruct how to treat slaves or to respond as Christian slaves. Eph. 6:5-9, Col. 3:22-4:1 Doulos, meaning in bondage or bondservent. Some also translate it as simply servant, but they have masters that seem to own them. 1 Peter 2:18-21 household servant--oiketes. Paul meant to abolish the mistreatment of slaves, a pattern that was built into the Jewish system. The Roman system did not afford slaves to be treated with dignity. I think Paul suggested to Philemon that Omsimus be freed so as to return to him as a bond slave in the Lord, that is a slave by choice. Now we are slaves to jobs by choice and necessity. Workers are still abused by unrighteous bosses. Sometimes unions and laws protect them but often neither do. Some bosses are kind and treat their employees with respect. Some treat them as expendable as when slaves were mistreated. They may not beat or kill them but they can be verbally abusive and subject them to painful or even dangerous working conditions that can kill, without informing them or trying to protect them.

I will be worshipping God and I will be safe with Jesus, without pain. It is wonderful to be with a large group of people who are worshipping and filled with God's love. Many members of my family will be there and those I have been a part of leading to the Lord. The joy that is there will overwhelm and croud out all the disappointments, sorrow and grief of this world. Jesus will look like He does in the Revelation of John and will greet each new soul. The Father will be at once unapproachable light, yet we all will have free access to Him. Strange and magnificent beings like terraphim and serephim will appear and disappear that carry on God's work. The martyrs will have places of prominance and honor, then others that have been servents here such as faithful pastors and evangelists. But all of us will be kings and priests before God. There will be singing, such as the song of Moses and maybe the Halleluia chorus. And everyone will be pure and no longer battling the temptations of this world..but be set free, full of peace.

We are told to let the peace of God rule [act as an umpire] in our hearts. Col. 3:15 from Amp. . This is what is happening when you spot evil and your heart warns you. Even Samuel had to learn to recognize God's voice when He spoke to him in the night. I had a small group help to disciple me and they helped me with a lot of this. You may hear the same message several times during a week, like a phrase from a sermon or a verse. You don't always feel anything. It just comes to your attention several times. That is one of many ways that God speaks. We need to be searching for answers and willing to receive the answer even through people we don't like to hear it from. And most of all it must harmonize with God's word. Our pastor has a book and verse number that comes to mind which he then looks up. That doesn't happen to me. He deals with us as individuals. I didn't feel much when I was baptized. Maybe peace, but not a lot like others discrìbe. We are all different and react differently.

Before my ex boss came, we had a really nice boss who would personally help out with union fund raisers and he was a Christian, as well. People began fighting among themselves, vying for power, and I have never seen such bitter infighting. But that boss quit to go back to his former home. The new one had been a millitary sargent who hated working with women and our job was 4/5 women. He cursed, yelled, and threw things at us and around the room at our mandatory meetings to intimidate us. We no longer were fighting among ourselves. We had a common enemy. It was so bad that people went for mental health counseling, which had him go for anger management training. Afterward they simply said that nothing could be done for him, and we would have to put up with it. He has been there for 15 years now and people don't stay working there long. Often they transfer to a nearby city after being trained. Our union reps were horrible, too. One abused women and the next was a lesbian who practiced witchcraft. They were no help. I stayed long enough to retire with benefits. But I can identify with those out in the working world. It stinks. We try to live peacably with all men as much as is possible, but we are sent out as sheep among wolves. We put on the full armor of God, and having done all, to stand. We are not do be doormats. Yet we are to be in submission to authorities and like are slaves to masters, which is what I feel like in these situations. So we are to be respectful and obedient but to stand in a position of power under God's control. We pray for them but when we try to overcome evil with good, they only see this as cowering to their rancor. So we pray for wisdom as to how to best glorify God . We try to remain thankful that we have a job and to praise Him in all circumstances because He is worthy. And we try not to complain because we don't want to be in the wilderness for 40 years and die there. Therefore we quietly go about our business, doing our jobs the best we can and working as for the Lord, while we try to stay under the radar.

Our sons also have an interest in weapons, WW11 planes, etc.. But the Bible tells us we should think on the things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and are virtuous and praiseworthy. We should meditate on these things. Phil. 4:8. So I have to warn you that your preoccupation with war can get warpped. Joshua is a great book when you keep your focus on their relationship with and obedience to God, and the evil consequenses of their not wholly following God's instructions. Ephesians 6:10-20, v.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Becoming a Christians warrior means spending much time in prayer. It means recognizing who the enemy is behind the aggressors in most wars--satan himself. Recognize his weapons of deception, mistrust, and destruction of families and godly relationships. See how he uses these same weapons in political leaders to manipulate and deceive nations. Become aware, but focus on Christ, the commander and chief of the Lord's armies. Blessings, Willa

Paul also said that it all boils down to Christ and Him crucified. Sometimes we get so caught in the web of doctrinal discussion that we forget the heart of the gospel. In my darkest hours under the attack of the enemy I knew that God loved me because Jesus died for me. And when we share the Gospel with others, we need to tell them the same--God loves them so much He sent Jesus to die on a cross to pay for their sins. 1 Cor.2:2 .1 Cor. 15:3-5. These basics never grow old. 2 Peter 1:3-4 Amp. For His divine power {the Holy Spirit} has bestowed upon us all things that are requisite and suited to life and godliness, THROUGH THE FULL, PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF HIM who called us to His own glory and excellence. By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape by flight from the moral decay of the world because of coveteousness, lust and greed, and become sharers of the divine nature. So we are told that our saving faith is just the foundation to be built upon with virtue, intimate knowledge, self-control, perserverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and lastly giving self sacreficing love. This is what confirms our election, not a ritual. Since it is God who gives the growth, we don't have to work at doing these things when we stay in communion with Him. We just pray, so that we have an intimate walk with Him, and read the Bible which reveals Him. We pay special attention to how God reveals Himself and His character, how He interacts with people, as well as to apply His promises to our life's problems. We can depend upon His promises because of His character. We can rely on Him. We also learn to recognize and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit's voice and longings within us. Thus we walk according to the Spirit, which is life, and don't walk according to the flesh, which brings death. Rom. 8.

Satan came to steal, to kill and destroy. He would rather deceive us so we are robbed of our faith or joy, and made ineffective in God's kingdom. When Christians are killed still confessing their faith and forgiving their murderers, God's kingdom spreads like wild fire. It is not like muslims who die filled with hatred. So I am not sure that satan does understand the results of murdering Christians. Perhaps his hatred has blinded him to the consequences. But he must have thought that murdering Jesus would be his greatest triumph, too. All he can do is play into God's hands.

Nigel, forgive me for my fear. In our country the homeless are more apt to be insane, on drugs, or running from the law. While I have reached out to a few, it was very risky and eventually my husband stopped me. I had even found one a job detailing cars, for which he was fired for stealing from them. It would definitely have to be something that both of us would need to be told by God to do. He was a sociopath running from drug lords after stealing from them, I later learned. There have been others. Most were in their late teens and most rejected my friendship. I occasionally still pray for a couple of them. At the time I had never felt threatened, so God protected me. I so admire the lady who befriended you and am thankful.

The more populous area of our state has been taken over by socialism and immoral values. We are unable to withstand the tseunomi of liberalism. We have common core being implimented soon and school districts as well as parents are having the right to chose curriculem taken from them. I am ready for seceeding to join a neighboring state that is more conservative.

It is better to offer an able person odd jobs or yard work than a hand out.

Faith is trusting in the character and promises of God. It is the way of life for a Christian. But it is also obeying the inner voice and inclinations that God puts in our hearts that replicate His character. It may be to bring food to the sick, to offer to pray for their recovery, or to care for their young children while they are ill. It may be to anonomously give money to a widow who can't pay her rent. It may be to be a big brother or sister to an older foster child. It may be to share our testamonies with those pesky people from cults who come to our doors. [A relationship with God is what they lack, so if we can avoid talking about dogma and churches, it can be very effective.] We can even ask about their relationship with God. Whatever way God leads us, it can be an exciting adventure to step out in obedience. We just need a quick prayer for wisdom and that God would fill us with His love and His words. Whatever opportunities God presents, we have to be alert for them and be willing to walk with Him through the door that opens.

I am so blessed to have been saved and for Him saving my husband and sons as well. He is so good and faithful. I am also especially thankful for His precious Word. My bible is my treasure and most valued possession.

Lol. I always give to God first because there is never anything left over to give Him. But if I give to Him first I always have enough. It doen't make much sense but it works for me. So I never put money into the offering plate. I send it from my bank at the first of the month and let the people in the church office complain about it messing up their book keeping. We are to give of our income. If we have no job or have had a big cut it pay, God wants us to give freely and not of compulsion; we give out of love and gratitude as we are able and as He provides for us. God is concerned about our hearts, not about how much we give. The widow's mite was all she had.

So true. I read the Bible to perceive how God has revealed Himself. It is in how He has led, spoken to, and revealed Himself throughout Scripture. It is in how the Father revealed Himself in Jesus. It is in how he revealed Himself to all in the Old Testament. And throughout all He reveals His nature to me: how He deals with people, His patience, His love, His righteousness, goodness and holiness, and to what lengths He goes to in redeeming His creation. Even the Revelation is a revelation of the person of Jesus Christ, not just end times events. He is awesome beyond imagination and beyond words.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Read things to him like: Matt. 8:28-29 Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

Many have experienced your past as well as your present problems. From the point you asked God to forgive you and cleanse you, and invited Him into your life, you became His child. Period. Trust in God's word and His promises, not your feelings. Continue to give problem areas to God and try to do the things God instructs you to do regarding them. Some things are bad habits and we need to retrain our thoughts, for instance. God is the One Who changes us. We can't change ourselves. But we can try to think on things that are good and lovely as in Phillipeans 4:4-8. This may mean turning off TV and internet things that get our thoughts going into the wrong places. There are many things we can do to prevent trouble. Remember that the enemy of our souls, satan, is the accuser of the brethern. He is also the father of lies. So you don't have to listen to accusations or anything that contradicts God's Word. So start reading in the Book of John, then the other gospels--Mathew, Mark and Luke and rest of the new testament. I always use a crayon type highlighter to mark verses that help me. When the Holy Spirit convicts us He does not condemn us. We just confess our sin and He cleanses us. Satan condemns us. So continue to cling to and rely upon God. He will never leave you or forsake you.

I once had to face that fear as well, MorningGlory. I rolled our car over an embankment with our 4 year old son in the front seat. That produced my fear of losing control of my car on graveled narrow roads. But as I was going over the edge, thinking for sure I would wake up with the Lord, I committed my young family and husband to the Lord's faithful loving hands. They are His to begin with and will care and provide for them whether I am here or not. My husband had only been saved for 5 months at the time. When notified by the hospital he thought that our youngest son had been killed. He found himself thanking God for the time we had him. It still makes me cry as I recall it. God is so merciful, and does test out hearts. Hubby was baptized a week later.

Our law is not consistant. If a fetus is killed in the act of killing the mother it is considered a double homocide or a murder plus homocide. When women have the right to murder their own fetus, it is not longer a "right". Nor is it their own body that they are murdering, but that of an individual human being. The whole thing has become irrational and is twisted. But I have a very close friend who is deceived by the propaganda. She has never wanted children and I don't believe she has ever conceived. But she bitterly defends the "woman's right". The only thing we have a right to is to be faithful to a husband or remain celibate. To do otherwise is base and degrading, in my mind. Sin is base and degrading. Thanks be to God Who washes us, sancitifies and justifies us in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

If we truly believed in the sanctity of human life, abortionists would be tried and convicted as murderers. Abortion is murder. It is the wanton act of taking an innocent human life. By which court? God is the judge and He hasn't missed a thing. I think you are forgetting the current condition of this world. It's fallen. The way you justify murder is to dehumanize your victim. That is why babies are presented as just blobs of tissue. That's why unborn children are called "fetuses" and not "babies." The term "fetus" helps one avoid the immorality of abortion. How about genocide? those people are not fetuses. Human kind in general are lost without God Sevenseas, I was replying to Shilo's statement which is in quotations. My pad lacks the ability to separate statements or put them in colors. I was merely explaining the medical terms. My statement starts with the fact that our family has actively opposed abortion. Fetus has been used long before abortion was legalized and has nothing to do with dehumanizeing anything. It has to do with anatomy and physiology. So I don't understand your arguement since I only disagreed with the claim that the term is used by the medical profession to dehumanize. It was never meant to do so. Calling a fetus tissue is dehumanizing. Calling a fetus a fetus merely discribes a state of human development. The public often misunderstands technical terms and their true meaning. Senile refers to old age as a state of development and not to one's mental state, but it also is widely misconstrued. I also consider abortion to be murder as does the Bible. But I am trying to be rational rather than getting into a rage. So call me senile. Just don't dismiss me or dehumanize me when you do so, as the public tends to misuse the term. We, as the church, have a lot to be accountable for in regards to our general moral indifference to abortion. There are only a relatively small number of Christians who really actively protest abortion or even care about the issue at all. Which we is that? Why do people generalize so much? There are many buildings calling themself a church but they have 'Ichabod' written over the doorframe. But it does not yet seem time for the wheat and chaff to be separated, so I have a problem with the church in general being kicked into the corner as though there were no hope. Our family have actively protested abortion in picket lines as well as writing letters to congressmen. Well, that's seem's good...but that does not give the right to judge all that is going on However, fetus is a medical/biological term to identify a stage of development after the embryo stage and before birth. Just as abortion is the medical term for miscarriage, but it now is referred to as spontanious abortion due to the number of murdered fetus. When I began nursing they were differentiated by abortion and illegal abortion. I still think in those terms since both murdering a fetus (and adultry) are still illegal in God's eyes irregardless of civil law.. The Didache listed the commandment as "you shall not commit murder or commit an abortion" due to the practice being prevalant among the Romans. It did not have to be mentioned among Jews because they counted a person's age from the moment of conception so there was no question as to whether they were murdering a human being.

I don't believe in coincidences. I do believe God gives wake up calls.

OK, I admit that I fear dental work, and I fear house fires at night, and one way gravel mountain roads with steep cliffs on each side, and rope suspension foot bridges over deep canyons. Those are genuine phobias, terrors based on life experiences.

There's a good book called "heaven is real", it's about a child who went to heaven and came back. Inspiring true story . I'm hesitant about those books. I have the recent famous one about the Doctor who saw heaven also. I just don't know if they can be believed. I too don't trust stuff like that. I also am a skeptic by nature. But I personally knew a little boy, 4 years old, who had pneumonia and was clinicaly dead but had an "out of the body experience". His experience was so vivid that he did not want to return to his family, and begged not to be resusitated in the future. His underlying disease was cystic fibrosis. Though I still prayed for God to heal him, he did die about a year after that experience. I was with him in his final days. No one wrote a book or went around for speaking engagements. Such experiences are fairly common, and were discussed when I was in nursing school. I know another man who saw himself in hell. He had been a self appointed apostle and claimed pastors were to come under his authority. Not so after the farm accident in which he had also been delared clinicly dead. He came back humbled and glorifying God. So I give give some credence though grudgingly. Still another was a Baptist pastor who spoke at our church. He had been dead for 45 minutes as verified by the hospital. His discriptions were very Bibical and also much like others I had heard but with more detail; he saw Jesus much like Revelation 1, and he also discribed odors and seeing forms of ancestors he had never met, and a cousin he did not know had been saved. He was awed and overwhelmed by what he saw, and also did not want to come back. Our pastor concluded it by saying that all we can really trust is the Bible. But our pastor rarely turns his pulpit over to those outside our church--in 10 years only 2 or 3 times. I am more apt to believe these accounts than visions of angels. Adisciple, all seeds of doubting God's word are planted by the enemy, from the time he asked Eve "has God indeed said?" just as faith is a gift from God. So just consider the source.

So we should stone adulterers? There wouldn't be as many today if they did. (That's my warped sense of humor)

Sometimes the baby has to be taken to preserve the life of the mother, such as in fallopian tube pregnancies. Planned Parenthood lies about what happens to the baby. They don't tell that the baby can feel pain, and that it is burned to death with acid or else pulled limb from limb. They tell teenaged girls that they are just removing unwanted tissue from their bodies. This is the organization that should be blamed as well as those universities and politicians that perpetuate the lies to prevent overpopulation.. Often the young girls are under great pressure from the father or their families to get rid of the baby. Others don't want to assume the financial responsibility or embarassment for the baby. So 14-15 year old girls are ostracised and even abandoned for not having abortions. I agree that the surpreme court is now creating law. At best it interprets law to circumvent the constitiution, as does our president. It is a web of lies much like the ones about the evolution of one species into another. Both have gone on so long they are set in stone. And both attack the sanctity of human life.