Willa

Welcome, Jason. However, the first question is are you both strong believers in Jesus Christ? That means have you both turned away from sinning and turned to God for forgiveness? Do you believe that you can only be forgiven because Jesus died for you on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin? Have you confessed that Jesus is your Lord and God and do you desire to serve Him? In answer to your question, the Bible says that living together outside of marriage is sin. It is called fornication. Divorce is also frowned upon by God; the possible exception is if her husband committed adultery and left her. But God forgives all who in humility truly hate that they have sinned against God and who turn to Him for forgiveness. God demonstrated His love for us when He sent Jesus into the world to die for us sinners. When we turn to Him for forgiveness He also confers Christs' sinless righteousness on us and gives us a new life that is cleansed by the reading of the Bible. We are empowered to follow and serve Him by His Spirit. God changes our desires and our hearts to be more like Jesus as we surrender our lives to Him. It is a process. He also grows these qualities in us: love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. They are produced by His Spirit dwelling in us. I urge you to read a Bible such as the ESV (English Standard Version) and start reading past the middle in the New Testament. The Gospel of John is a good place to start, or any of the Gospels since they tell about the life and words of Jesus. Blessings, Willa

It is true that when we stray from God, He chastens those He loves. Part of that is losing fellowship with God, and part is suffering the natural consequences of sin. When we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Unknowing or accidental sin is automatically covered by the Blood of Jesus and we remain in fellowship with God and other Christians. 1Jn 3:2 ESV Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1Jn 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 1Jn 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 1Jn 3:5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 1Jn 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 1Jn 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1Jn 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 1Jn 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does _not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Jn 3:4 LITV Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 1Jn 3:5 And you know that that One was revealed that He might take away our sins, and sin is not in Him. 1Jn 3:6 Everyone remaining in Him does not sin. Everyone sinning has not seen Him, nor known Him. 1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no one lead you astray; the one practicing righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous. 1Jn 3:8 The one practicing sin is of the devil, because the devil sins from the beginning. For this the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the devil. 1Jn 3:9 Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin, because His seed abides in him, and he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God. 1Jn 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God; also the one not loving his brother. The English Standard Version and the Literal Version are two versions that do a much better job of correctly translating the verb tenses than KJV did. Here in 1 John 3 it is one of an ongoing act. Those who make sin a lifestyle or continue sinning have not repented and turned to Christ. That doesn't mean that a Christian will never stumble or sin again; they will confess it to God and move on. Those who follow Christ and walk in God's love, in the Spirit, will practice righteousness. 1Jn 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. This is a better translation. King James doesn't translate ongoing acts of verbs which can't be done with one word. We have no direct translation of that tense. So it creates an incorrect understanding of many such passages. The context of the whole passage is that of continuing to practice sin or righteousness. It does not refer to an occasional occurrence of sin. People who believe they are without any sin in this life are blind to their own faults and are in danger of falling into self righteousness. We are all a work in progress and are being transformed into the likeness of Christ as we keep our eyes on Him.

It was in downtown Jakarta that Christian friends of missionaries we were interviewing were pulled out of their car and decapitated in front of their children. This had happened only days before, and they were still in shock; one kept repeating, if I can't forgive, my preaching means nothing. They lived on Sumatra, and we haven't heard from them since the earthquake and tsunami of 2004.

For many years I have followed the indigenous mission of Moses Swamidas and Bible Faith Mission. The outreach is to the Dalits. He obtained credentials so that he could represent Christians before the national government and has opposed legislation that permitted persecution of Christians. They send out many missionaries to the north and only solicit funds to support them. His own church is self supporting despite the fact that the Dalits lose all government advantages when they become Christians. My own church supports another mission and orphanage that is east of there as well as outreaches to lepers and gypsies, the latter of which are lower even in Dalits in cast. They suffer great persecution and our pastors are no longer allowed to travel there.

You know God is changing you from the inside because you hate the unwanted thoughts. If you were not changing you wouldn't care, but now you do. So thank God that He is changing you. The more of your life you surrender to God, the more you will be changed. All Christians are harassed by unwanted thoughts of one kind or another. Even Jesus was tempted by satan after he was baptized and was led out into the wilderness. He was tempted to not go to the cross as well, but He always overcame without sin. The world, the flesh and the devil tempt us. Satan accuses us. All of us have our faith tried, but as it is tried it is also strengthened. Jesus is praying for you! As others have said, find the promises of your salvation in the Bible, and then stand fast on God's promises. Salvation is not based on feelings. It is based on fact. 1Ti 1:15 ESV The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Eph 2:9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." Rom 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. Rom 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, Rom 4:6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Rom 4:7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Rom 4:8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin." Rom 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Rom 10:11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 1Co 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 1Co 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 1Co 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 1Co 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 1Co 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

God's word tells us to support our pastors, and that the pastors who teach and preach the Gospel should receive a double portion. However, I would look also at how the pastor lives. Does he have very expensive houses and cars, and dress in thousands of dollar name brand suits? Or does he dress and live modestly? Is the church building extravagant? Or are they using the money coming in prudently. Does the church help our poor churches and missions? Some pastors are using the gospel as a means of getting rich, which is forbidden in Scripture. I turn to the New Testament and look to what is said there about giving. We are not under the Old Testament Law concerning tithing, but the principle of giving is an ongoing truth. 2Co 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2Co 9:9 As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Jas 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, 1Ti 5:17 AMP Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching. 1Ti 5:18 For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain, and again, The laborer is worthy of his hire. [Deu 25:4; Luk 10:7] I am an animal lover, but giving toward animals is not a directive of Scripture. It should be a gift over and above giving to your local church and giving to the poor. I would personally say that the latter could be combined to be a part of your tithe. But let the Holy Spirit guide your giving. Gal 2:9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Gal 2:10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. 1Ti 6:5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 1Ti 6:7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 1Ti 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 1Ti 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Joh 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Jesus is saying that eating His flesh and partaking of His blood profits nothing. It is His words that impart grace and life. This is the key to understanding the passage.

Your first prayer should be one of turning away from wicca and all sin and unrighteousness, and turning to God asking for forgiveness. Jesus died on the cross so that you can be forgiven and be seen as clean and pure in God's eyes. Witchcraft and all occult is punishable by death. But all sin is punishable by death, yours and mine. Jesus paid for your sin when he died on the cross. He died in your place. So thank Jesus for dying for you and making is possible to be in Father God's presence. It is because of Him that Father God hears your prayers. Just talk to God. It is that simple. He loves you. 1Co 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 1Co 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 1Co 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 1Co 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 1Co 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 1Co 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Rom 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Eph 2:9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Welcome. The answer is a no brainer. Run! Never communicate with her again.

We used to have an iguana when our kids were in grade school. They can't survive outside in the northern tier states. I couldn't get anyone to feed our lizard collection while we were on vacation so had to return them to the pet store. We also had a Jackson's 3 horned chameleon that was about 10 inches, and a crested chameleon that was about 12 inches as well as a flying gecko named gator jaws. I enjoyed our lizards.

If they are parasite free we could make dog food from them.

Today I will choose the Gospel of John, due to the depth of the theology that Jesus reveals Himself. He is Eternal God, the Word, the I AM.

2Co 11:28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 2Co 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? Paul suffered much for his faith. He suffered stress, brutal beatings, often near death from hunger & thirst. He was in constant danger. God gave him grace beyond measure. Yet he had anxiety for the churches he planted. Many people are in great pain and suffer from diseases and infirmities. I don't think we dare judge another person for his response. Some have brain cancer, others neuropathy (nerve pain), crippling arthritis, cancer that has eaten large holes in their bodies. Great constant pain changes the brain chemistry causing depression. We have not walked in their shoes. Some people go through this having lost all their family and their homes as well, and are abandoned in nursing homes. Start visiting one on a regular basis and encourage these people. Don't judge them. Reassure them of God's love for them. Pray for them. God looks at our hearts as to whether we have compassion on those who are suffering. That is why we are to offer a cold drink to the thirsty. Jesus is sent to bind up the broken hearted, and so His love sends us to weep with those who weep. When our faith is strong it is for us to intercede on their behalf. Perhaps our faith is not enough to move their mountains. Often the things we have suffered in the past bear upon how well we endure. They color our perception. Yes God heals our hearts in time, but it is not often overnight. We are to bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Joh 3:3 ESV Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Joh 3:4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Joh 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' In context the first birth of water is natural birth of a mother's womb, so it is not speaking of baptism here. This verse is often quoted out of context and without enlightenment as a proof text of baptism. Joh 4:1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John Joh 4:2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), This text only proves that the disciples were baptizing those who were coming to follow Jesus. I am sure that they were baptized, but your proof texts are not saying the things you claim they are saying.

There is another group that now calls themselves the Church of Christ that used to be the Reorganized LDS mormon church. This is a cult and should be avoided. Then there is the United Church of Christ that used to be Congregational plus the Evangelical & Reformed Church. It is all about unity and includes all kinds of beliefs some of which are not Christian, denying the atoning blood of Christ for sins. Pres Obama went to this church in Chicago. This is also a church that should be avoided in most cases because it is usually ultra liberal.

One pastor graduated cuma sum Louda of his class in seminary, but he was not born again and couldn't understand what makes a genuine Christian "tick"; he didn't believe the Apostles Creed so he rewrote it to fit his unbelief and had us repeat his version in church. One pastor finally obtained a BA in Bible School and became proudful, erring from the truth. One led the president of his seminary to the Lord. One had a full ride scholarship to Harvard but turned it down, got in a couple of years at a local college and became self taught. His well read library contains all the greats in theology, from Ironside and Spurgeon to Pink, as well as books by Andrew Murray, Jonathan Edwards, Simpson, Torry, Tozer, Finny, Wesley, Moody and Edersheim. He also reads church history and systematic theology. Moreover, he is the best Bible teacher I have encountered because he depends on the Holy Spirit to guide him and inspire him. I have to agree that the last 20 years have turned colleges into propaganda machines in which you will be flunked if you disagree. When I was in college I was applauded for my arguments and evaluations. Not so today. One student was told she would flunk if she were still a Christian by the end of his humanities class. That is not even touching on the Marxist political Science classes. Then there is the exorbitant cost of higher education. If rabbinical school were anything like what higher education is like today, I suspect Jesus would have cleansed it like He cleansed the Temple. Not everyone can afford private Christians colleges. And even they are being threatened by losing their state credentials if they don't teach all the gay marriage and gender trash that is politically correct. I am glad there are those who are graduating from universities today and are managing to do so debt free and still maintain their Christian identity and integrity. Not all are able to do so and a growing number find it repugnant to do so.

I collected a little of everything and most are 33 1/2 LPs. Daniel Band, Leviticus, Ogden Fong, a lot of Larry Norman, Stryper, Jerusalem, DA-Daniel Amos and all his aliases, Choir, Rez-Resurrection Band, Gideon's Army, Petra, and so many more I can't remember. I wasn't ignoring you. I just don't want to dig them out, deal with the dust which irritates my asthma, and sort through them all. Most of it was harder stuff with a good rhythm that I could walk to. I had always listened to the classical romantics but they are lousy to walk to because the rhythm often varies. Vinyl lasted a lot longer than tapes so I collected them till CDs came out. I do have a few of the old 78s but Don't remember what was on them. There are some 45s from my childhood. Abba Dabba Honeymoon, Bozo under the Sea, Tweetie Pie, And Bugs Bunny were some of my favorites.

I still have my collection of Christian 78s, as well as a phonograph, but I rarely play them.

Pro 23:13 Amp Withhold not discipline from the child; for if you strike and punish him with the [reedlike] rod, he will not die. Pro 23:14 You shall whip him with the rod and deliver his life from Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead).

If you were married to an unbeliever and they chose not to remain with you, you can divorce and remarry according to 1 Corinthians. 1Co 7:10 But to the married people I give charge—not I but the Lord—that the wife is not to separate from her husband. 1Co 7:11 But if she does [separate from and divorce him], let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband. And [I charge] the husband [also] that he should not put away or divorce his wife. 1Co 7:12 To the rest I declare—I, not the Lord [for Jesus did not discuss this]—that if any brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ] and she consents to live with him, he should not leave or divorce her. 1Co 7:13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she should not leave or divorce him. 1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is set apart (separated, withdrawn from heathen contamination, and affiliated with the Christian people) by union with his consecrated (set-apart) wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart and separated through union with her consecrated husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean (unblessed heathen, outside the Christian covenant), but as it is they are prepared for God [pure and clean]. 1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving partner [actually] leaves, let him do so; in such [cases the remaining] brother or sister is not morally bound. But God has called us to peace. Welcome to Worthy, gordon.

It is wise to measure ourselves not by what others think, but by what God thinks. Gal 6:4 AMP But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor. If we worry about what others think we will be using the world's standards, not God's. So we are to compare ourselves with Jesus and be thankful for God's grace.

Mat 8:11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, Mat 8:12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." There is nothing mythological about the things Jesus taught. Some people who don't believe the Bible aren't genuine Christians, as is the case of my friend who prays to her dead parents. She has made up her own religion, and has created a god that suits her ideas because she doesn't like some of the things the Bible plainly teaches.

God has a way of forcing us out of our comfort zones. He destroyed Jerusalem so the church was forced even more into other areas and countries. He uses these things for our growth. So look for opportunities to sew seed of the the Gospel and witness to people. This can be done in the grocery store, a cafe, or wherever you go. Withdrawing is not the answer. Yes you are supposed to spend time alone with God, praying and reading Scripture. But we are not to hide our lights under bushel baskets. You may even start discipling others on your own or having a home Bible study. There are many resources for these from various groups like Navigators and Precepts ministries that have Bible studies people can buy that are fairly reasonable. If there is a mission that feeds the poor in your area, volunteer there. Visit the elderly in nursing homes or shut ins at your church. Give rides to church to those who need it. The possibilities are unlimited. My church does not have much formal ministry but expects people to just do the things that God has put on their hearts. It was hard for me to get used to this grass roots type of outreach because I was accustomed to committees like you have. It takes a lot more courage to just follow God instead of joining something. Don't be critical of your church. Pray for them. Ask God to change your attitude as well to love and accept them in spite of their rejecting you ideas, and that He search your heart in case it was your pride that was hurt. Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Augustine was a great blessing to all Christians as to the truth of many of his doctrines. However, his symbolic interpretation of Rome being the New Jerusalem did great harm. Not everything he wrote was godly doctrine.

Did you ever find some plugs that are child size? Nothing stays in my ears because my canals are so small.