Willa

The cost of living varies in different parts of the country and even in the state. Rent in one area may be $500 for a one bedroom apartment and in another it may be $2500. But the income in those areas vary accordingly. Perhaps net worth or at least savings and investments should also be included in the assessment.

lol yup, that's what I thought I said.

A lying spirit is an evil spirit because Satan is the father of lies. God permitted them to be in the mouths of false prophets just as he permitted satan to afflict God within the limits given.

immutable like mutate, to change.

God must be both love holiness and righteousness. Without this balance He would not be perfect. My teaching also included omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and a few others but all loving was definitely included. However, that was the Lutheran church.

No, that would be not the heavenly hose but one of satan's minions.

Most believe that the confession of Peter is what the church was built upon. "you are the Christ, Mat 16:16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The same thing occurred to me. We have been broadcasting the Gospel into Iran for decades.

You might check out wikipedia's article: John G. Lake. Granted, it is written by an unbeliever. The following is just a partial clip. Lake was born in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada and moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan with his family in 1886.[4] He was born into a large family of 16 siblings (eight of whom died young).[5] He graduated from high school in St Mary's shortly before the move to Michigan, and claimed to have been ordained into the Methodist ministry at the age of twenty-one.[4] However, his seminary attendance has never been confirmed [6]:53 and census records cannot confirm even ten years' education.[7] Lake, then, may have had no formal theological training. Lake moved to a suburb of Chicago, Harvey, in 1890, where he worked as a roofer and construction worker before returning to his hometown in 1896. According to Lake, he became an industrious businessman and started two newspapers, the Harvey Citizen in Harvey, Illinois and the Soo Times in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan,[4] before beginning a successful career in real estate, and later, becoming a millionaire in life insurance dealings. Historian Barry Morton found no evidence that Lake ever owned the two newspapers, citing sources which indicate the Harvey Citizen was founded by the Harvey township,[8] and the Soo Times was started by George A. Ferris and owned by Ferris & Scott Publishers.[1]:103[9]:394[10] Morton further alleges that Lake exaggerated his business career, and that "clear evidence" shows Lake instead worked as a small-scale contractor, roofer and "house-flipper".[1]:103 In the 1900 Census, Lake's occupation is listed as "carpenter".[7] In February 1893, Lake married Jennie Stevens of Newberry, Michigan, and the two had six children and adopted another before her death in 1908. During the 1890s Lake and many members of his family began appearing regularly in Dowie's services, where they were invariably healed and allegedly brought back from death's door. In 1898 Lake opened a small chapter of Dowie's Christian Catholic Church in Sault Ste Marie and held meetings in the attic of his parents' home. In 1901 he relocated his family to Zion, Illinois, where he worked in the theocratic town's construction department. After massive retrenchments affected ever-bankrupt Zion City,[11] Lake found new employment around 1905. He later claimed that he maintained relationships with many of the leading figures of his day including railroad tycoon James Jerome Hill, Cecil Rhodes, Mahatma Gandhi, Arthur Conan Doyle, and others.[12][13] When he began his preaching career he claimed to have walked away from a $50,000 year salary (around $1.25 million in 2007 US dollars[14]), as well as his seat on the Chicago Board of Trade. Lake's biographer, Burpeau, reported no evidence outside of Lake's own assertions that Lake was connected to these wealthy financiers and industrialists.[6] According to Morton, contemporary records show Lake never left Zion City at the time Lake was said to be making his name in Chicago; he instead worked in nearby Waukegan as an "ordinary, small-town insurance salesman". Lake does not appear in contemporary newspapers until 1907 where he gave an account of his experience of speaking in tongues.[1

I knew the daughter of John G. Lake, Gertrude Reidt. She died because she had a bowel blockage and had refused to use medication or see a doctor before it got to that state. She waited for God to heal her. Her dad claimed he was only taught by God, but his teaching was not sound and full of a lot of lies about who he knew, where he had been and what he had done. Gertrude's husband Will Reidt was my Sunday school teacher and his doctrine was to teach John G. Lake. Sorry, but while he could be an excellent teacher, Will's teaching was full of half truths and Lake's exaggerated claims. He ordained dozens of men of that church as ministers of his own church, Lake's apostolic church, thus creating a church within a church and splitting it. Some of those ordained into his church admitted doing it for tax breaks. I have little regard for Lake and for the fruit his ministry produced. However, I agree that a person doesn't need a degree to be an excellent pastor or teacher. They do need to compare their teaching with that of others to be sure it is what others understand from Scripture and teach. This is what Paul did.

When I apply the directives I find in the New Testament to my situations and they work, they bring good results and peace in my own being, then I verify its truthfulness in my own life. When I look at the end results in a persons life as they face death I also find that those who love God face death with joy and those who have not received Christ are either in terror or are extremely anxious. The final truth is found in the Holy Spirit. Seek God to fill you with His Spirit. Luk 11:11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; Luk 11:12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? Luk 11:13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" The Holy Spirit was given to lead us into all truth. Joh 16:12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Joh 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. Joh 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. After you have received the Holy Spirit it will probably be much easier for you to discern what is from God. You will learn to recognize His voice in time.

You are free to read what you want, but I don't read her stuff. There are others that are more accurate and reliable. Kay Arthur may be a better choice. My favorite is Corrie Ten Boom.

This is the type of criticism that I would object to. It is supposition to suit someones opinion but apparently has no facts to support it. For the most part the word of God should be taken at face value and not twisted by what could have happened. When I was young I did those things and paid the consequences. I am either in submission to God and His word or I am not.

The danger of some textual criticism is that both critics and lay people will stop trusting in the Bible as being God's word. They start making excuses, telling themselves that this doesn't apply to me, or that wasn't part of the original text. Where do you stop with this? Some even remove the words of Christ: I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me. Others remove everything written by Paul. So let's just remove everything we don't like or don't agree with. I am not against textual criticism per se. True accuracy should be sought after, but not to the extent that the faith of the weak is destroyed. Conservative measures should be applied.

1Ti 2:11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 1Ti 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. This does refer to women not be in a teaching role or in authority over men and to be submissive, respecting her role and being under the authority of her husband. It seems, as today, many women distract others by making comments, asking questions, gossiping and being rude in church. Often the comments are a joke she heard or what they will do after church, having nothing to do with the service. A women who is under the authority of God and her husband will not do these things. She will be respectful and have a quiet spirit, being at peace with her role in all godliness.

Many people who go to Bible School or seminary do so because they are seeking God but they may not find Him there. Some mainstream churches schools are as apt to teach there is no God or teach nothing about a personal relationship with Christ. My former pastor actually led the president of his seminary to faith in Christ! The man was a highly regarded theologian in a presbyterian seminary. Another former pastor graduated summa cum laude from his Lutheran seminary, but he didn't believe the Bible is God's word. He changed the creeds to fit his own beliefs and had us repeat those instead. These people perform the rituals of their churches but risk being told by Jesus the He never knew them.

Rom 6:3. Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Rom 6:4. Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Going beneath the water in baptism represents the death and burial of the old man. Coming up out of the water helps us to identify with the new life we have in Jesus. We are born again with Christ living in us. It is a testimony to what Christ has done in us. In infant baptism the parents repent and confess Christ on behalf of the baby, but the child is suppose to confirm those things around the age of 12 confessing their own repentance and belief in Christ. I personally believe that infant baptism is just a parent's dedication to raise the child to believe. It would seem more scriptural for the child/person to be baptized after they repent and confess Jesus Christ as LORD God YHVH. Never can I think that a person who has not been immersed as an adult is not saved. However, I do know of people that God has called to be immersed as adults who refuse on the grounds that they had been baptized as infants. If the Spirit is calling a person to obey in baptism they should definitely obey. That is walking in the Spirit, obeying the Spirit in faith.

We are told that in the end times there would be a great falling away or apostasy. Like I said, I believe that God keeps all who want to be kept. However, there will be those who renounce their belief in God and in His Messiah and who choose to believe something else. to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 2Th 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, Heb 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Heb 2:2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, Heb 2:3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, We are warned to not neglect our salvation but to nurture it. Some ways to do that are by prayer, reading Scripture, fellowship and exhortations by inspired preachers. Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Heb 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, Heb 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. There are some that need to be warned who are taking God for granted. There are others who need to be encouraged that God is keeping them. 1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you 1Pe 1:5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Barclay states that James is speaking of works of the Spirit as a result of faith while Paul was speaking of works of the flesh being unable to earn salvation. Luther said it is not faith or works, it is faith that works. Saving faith produces works. Works of the flesh produce self-righteousness.

You seem to be twisting my words. I trust in God to save and keep me. Were I trusting in my own works I would be severed from grace. However, I am not a strong Calvinist. I do believe His grace can be resisted just as the Holy Spirit can be resisted and grieved. Act 7:51 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Those who believe in Christ will trust in Him, adhere to Him and rely on Him. Some pray to saints, others pray to their ancestors. Those who pray to God through Jesus Christ are turning to Him with their concerns and relying on Him. We can be in full time service to the Lord simply by doing that which He has called to do. The woman who is called to stay at home caring for a handicapped child is no less than the missionary who has left all to serve Christ in another nation. Both require denying self, taking up our cross and following Christ. One is no more difficult than the other. Translation: Jesus Freak.

Walking in the Spirit is done one step at a time, like a treasure hunt. We obey one step and He gives us another to take. This may be an inclination of our hearts that we know is not our flesh, like to give to the poor. It is a principal supported by Scripture. The next step may be to direct us to a particular group or individual that has a need. Having our minds on the things of God usually comes first. We may find direction during a Bible Study or a sermon. Walking in the Spirit usually produces fruit of the Spirit in our lives. God lives in and through us to meet the needs of others. He blesses our obedience with love, joy and peace. Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

I do not believe in salvation by works as you accuse me of saying. However, we are also told that those who would be justified by the law are no longer in Christ. They are apostate. You can't trust in the law to save you. It is the schoolmaster that leads you to Christ. When we find we are unable to keep the law in our own power God writes the law on our hearts. We truly love others when we trust in Christ and He lives in us. Gal 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. I do believe that salvation is by grace through faith, a gift from God not of works. I said I believe it is possible for a person to renounce his faith and become apostate. God does keep all who want to be kept by Him, who cling to and rely upon Him in faith. That is the definition of believe, to trust in, cling to and rely upon. God does chasten those He loves and will do so to keep us. So He does severely chasten those who become prideful and/or self-righteous. Warning signs of back sliding are: no desire to study the Word, poor prayer life, no desire for fellowship etc. People can't practice these things to be saved. They are just a wake up call when we find we no longer want to do these things. People who continue in unrepentance, in habitual sin, are vulnerable to deception and other devices of the enemy. It is a dangerous place to find oneself in. Moreover, it is a miserable place without the fruit of the Spirit: without love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control. 1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were renouncing Christ and turning back to the Jewish religion. I do believe it is possible for a person to renounce their faith, but it may be due to allowing their hearts to grow cold due to unrepented sin. Sins of the heart like pride and self-righteousness can be very devious. It is so important to stay in fellowship. It is a scary thing to lose our desire to fellowship, to pray or to read our Bibles. This should be a wake up call to any Christian. We are warned that in the last days there will be apostates. 2 Thes. 2:3. We need to be on guard.

Asymptomatic reinfection means that they will be carriers of the disease who will spread it to others.