revolutionist90

I don't think you understand since I am still in saving mode for the future I have yet to start living above my means.I am talking about how to balance between savings and living expenses. My income is still above my outcome at the moment especially when calculating how much I have saved. I am saving for the rent and the bed and the possibility of other expenses. The job I am getting will be well over what I am saving and the rent for the apartment that I am getting will be fairly under what I am saving but it is my first apartment. The $2000 is not living expenses it is savings for the things I think I will need for my first apartment which would be the first months rent, deposit and a bed. The money is so that I will have enough to pay for rent until I start getting set up for my new job. I am worried that I am being more concerned with saving as much as I can rather than believing that God will work things out since I really don't know the future. While I commend you for living in a mobile home the mobile home site would be quite far from my job and I would have to calculate in costs for gas which if I were to get a home closer I could possibly alleviate. And I'm not sure if both you and your wife were married but the extra income from a spouse is something I don't have at the moment. Also the place where I am at now does not have a kitchen (it is a dormitory since I'm still in college) so groceries and the occasional eating out has to be a possibility. At the end of the day my question isn't really about budgeting but if I am balancing the future (something I don't know) on my shoulders rather than place the burden on God? When you were going through your first home did you always feel your future was secure despite monetary troubles? OH...... I get it now.... Actually when we got married I was not a real Chirstian..... I was a believer so to say but I had not turned my life over to Jesus to run...... and no I wasn't secure about anything... I was a typical southern redneck husband that should have been beaten every day for the first two years of our marriage..... but that's a whole other story. The question you are asking about trusting God for furnishing your needs is a real tricky one from my point of view. He will furnish you for what you need..... trouble is in deciding if what we are attempting to do is a need or a want.... he does not always furnish what we want. I don't think I could even wager guess at whether or not the two thousand might be enough for I have no idea what you are looking for in an apartment, or a bed. I do understand that your apartment cost should not be more than about 25% of what you will be making 30% if your rent includes utilities.... I don't think you understand since I am still in saving mode for the future I have yet to start living above my means.I am talking about how to balance between savings and living expenses. My income is still above my outcome at the moment especially when calculating how much I have saved. I am saving for the rent and the bed and the possibility of other expenses. The job I am getting will be well over what I am saving and the rent for the apartment that I am getting will be fairly under what I am saving but it is my first apartment. The $2000 is not living expenses it is savings for the things I think I will need for my first apartment which would be the first months rent, deposit and a bed. The money is so that I will have enough to pay for rent until I start getting set up for my new job. I am worried that I am being more concerned with saving as much as I can rather than believing that God will work things out since I really don't know the future. While I commend you for living in a mobile home the mobile home site would be quite far from my job and I would have to calculate in costs for gas which if I were to get a home closer I could possibly alleviate. And I'm not sure if both you and your wife were married but the extra income from a spouse is something I don't have at the moment. Also the place where I am at now does not have a kitchen (it is a dormitory since I'm still in college) so groceries and the occasional eating out has to be a possibility. At the end of the day my question isn't really about budgeting but if I am balancing the future (something I don't know) on my shoulders rather than place the burden on God? When you were going through your first home did you always feel your future was secure despite monetary troubles? OH...... I get it now.... Actually when we got married I was not a real Chirstian..... I was a believer so to say but I had not turned my life over to Jesus to run...... and no I wasn't secure about anything... I was a typical southern redneck husband that should have been beaten every day for the first two years of our marriage..... but that's a whole other story. The question you are asking about trusting God for furnishing your needs is a real tricky one from my point of view. He will furnish you for what you need..... trouble is in deciding if what we are attempting to do is a need or a want.... he does not always furnish what we want. I don't think I could even wager guess at whether or not the two thousand might be enough for I have no idea what you are looking for in an apartment, or a bed. I do understand that your apartment cost should not be more than about 25% of what you will be making 30% if your rent includes utilities.... I thought he meant a week or a fortnight. 2k a month here in Australia is just above poverty line because things are so expensive. I studied abroad in Australia and you are right that 2000k a month would be pretty much below poverty line. The 2k is more of the start up money before I get my paycheck since I need money to move in. In the U.S 2k for a single is pretty livable imo. So far the best apartments are around 1000- 1100 (includes dishwasher, dryer/washer, refrig and a shuttle to the place i'll be working at) which is okay and a nice bed is around 500 so I think I'll be in good range. I have to make sure I have enough money for utilities though...

I don't think you understand since I am still in saving mode for the future I have yet to start living above my means.I am talking about how to balance between savings and living expenses. My income is still above my outcome at the moment especially when calculating how much I have saved. I am saving for the rent and the bed and the possibility of other expenses. The job I am getting will be well over what I am saving and the rent for the apartment that I am getting will be fairly under what I am saving but it is my first apartment. The $2000 is not living expenses it is savings for the things I think I will need for my first apartment which would be the first months rent, deposit and a bed. The money is so that I will have enough to pay for rent until I start getting set up for my new job. I am worried that I am being more concerned with saving as much as I can rather than believing that God will work things out since I really don't know the future. While I commend you for living in a mobile home the mobile home site would be quite far from my job and I would have to calculate in costs for gas which if I were to get a home closer I could possibly alleviate. And I'm not sure if both you and your wife were married but the extra income from a spouse is something I don't have at the moment. Also the place where I am at now does not have a kitchen (it is a dormitory since I'm still in college) so groceries and the occasional eating out has to be a possibility. At the end of the day my question isn't really about budgeting but if I am balancing the future (something I don't know) on my shoulders rather than place the burden on God? When you were going through your first home did you always feel your future was secure despite monetary troubles?

Yes I have budget. I put the income in and what is left-over. I take out the money for my savings from my paycheck which leaves little left over for the loans other expenses that I have to prioritize. The problem is that the money that I am saving is taking a lot out of the money to pay for other expenses so I am trying to deal with that but I need the money I am saving. Honestly I'm getting paid that much even with three jobs...

I have just received a new job at Baylor Center of Medicine in neuroscience research. I trying to set up my first apartment. and I am working on a goal of 2000 by the time I graduate. I'm working roughly three jobs (about 60 hours per pay period) That much should take care of apartment and a bed...or at least that is what I first calculated. I have to pay for other things at the moment such as loans, necessities like clothes/shoes/food and hobbies like sewing so that 2000 is getting eaten into already. I guess my question is when do I know I am worrying too much. I keep telling myself that God will provide my needs so my excessive worry over if I will have enough money is unnecessary. But then I think well God provided me with three jobs so what if the plan is to put in some more hours? What should I do about the other needs and wants that I have now such as a new pair of jeans (last ones ripped) or shoes (some are falling apart at the moment) or that coral for my saltwater tank? What if I can't make my goal of $2000? Is $2000 even enough? I have so many worries and I don't know if I'm just failing to trust in God as much as I should or if these are good since they keep me from being in a bind in the future... Any thoughts/Suggestions?

Amos sounds like the author does not know if God will be gracious. It sounds like the author is expressing doubt. This type of questioning is common in Psalms also. The heart always guides the actions. If the heart of the person is filled with evil then they will do evil things. If you understood the necessity for at least a website explaining some of these changes that occurred during the 2nd and 3rd centuries you would understand my skepticism in believing in your word. With all due respect you are a stranger I am typing to on the internet and no more so please provide some type of reference that this topic of Christianity was influenced by the pagan Greeks. Maybe he pleads with people to do the right thing because he offers them free will and they continuously do evil. A God in repentance, imo, does not mean that he did not know man was going to do such things but he still laments when man does evil. God provides free will in the hopes that we will choose good but that still does not mean he doesn't know what we will do. The God that I'm talking about is personal. Also Christianity and the paganism of Greek philosophy were around the same time so why is it that stoicism, which seems to be the struggle to understand free will and cosmic determinism, influenced Christianity and not some tenant of Christianity that the Greeks then used for their purposes? From a quick read (though it is wikipedia) they seem very different but have some similarities.

I believe in real choice, and that God doesn't know everything I'm going to choose. Therefore, for me, prayer is important. It also helps build relationship. Without talking with someone, are you ever going to really know them? So you believe God is not all-knowing? What scripture says this? You stated that God doesn't know everything you are going to choose. I'm not sure what scripture you got that from so I asked if you believe if God is all knowing meaning... What scripture says that God is all knowing? This comes from Greek philosophy, not from the bible. 1 John 3:20 " For if our Heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things". Psalms 44:21 "Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart" If God knows your heart he knows what you are going to choose so he is omniscient. And what of prophecies? To prophesize one must know what others will do and what society will do. If God did not know what was to come (what the people would do) then how would He convey prophecies? I have no idea where you got Greek philosophy from but from what I understand Zeus really did not have any powers over fate or what the person did. None of the immortals knew what the mortals would do neither did they know what other immortals would do. If it comes from Greek philosophy what scriptures do you use to back up that God is not omniscient? Or do you have any proof from text in Greek philosophy that this view of God is incorrect?

I believe in real choice, and that God doesn't know everything I'm going to choose. Therefore, for me, prayer is important. It also helps build relationship. Without talking with someone, are you ever going to really know them? So you believe God is not all-knowing? What scripture says this? You stated that God doesn't know everything you are going to choose. I'm not sure what scripture you got that from so I asked if you believe if God is all knowing meaning...

I believe in real choice, and that God doesn't know everything I'm going to choose. Therefore, for me, prayer is important. It also helps build relationship. Without talking with someone, are you ever going to really know them? So you believe God is not all-knowing?

You provide good points especially the first one. It would make sense that God is more concerned about our spiritual well-being rather than the physical.

I don't think everyone is a non-believer. I know of some who were raised to know God and always knew him.

If God already has a plan laid out for us and knows what we are going to do, who is going to get sick etc., then why do we pray? Does prayer have any influence on God? I'm thinking of two scenarios: If it is in God's will for a person to be sick and not heal from the sickness then is praying even worth it? If a person is a non-believer since God gives us free-will not to believe and already knew this person was going to be a non-believer then would our prayers actually influence God's hand in pushing the non-believer to be a believer especially since the person has total free will to not believe?

When did someone bring up the Holy Spirit? I read the discussion being about God the Father and Jesus whom both seem male or are at least referred to as being male. Also if one believes in the Trinity then they might see all as one... Nobody did bring up the Holy Spirit because we have no evidence that the Holy Spirit ever appeared to anyone in any form. Well, that is not entirely true. The Holy Spirit appeared as flaming tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost. The only instances where we see God in a human like form, he is male. We know that God created Adam in his image, and Eve was formed from Adam's rib. There is no instance of God ever appearing as a female in any form. You could say that God the Holy Spirit isn't male, but it is obvious that God is male because of Jesus Christ and the Father. I agree that no one brought up the Holy Spirit but I was responding to "the other ones" post that we were talking about them as being the same. I was confused by the statement and how we need to define God. I do agree that one can't really say the Holy Spirit is male but that the the Father and the Son are male. This is just a general observation taken from my college peers (no data behind it just my observation) but I feel there is a push to make God more gender neutral or to see God as a female rather than male. Have you ever seen this occurrence Butero? Is there some type of danger in seeing God as a male rather than gender neutral or a female? Thanks rev90

When did someone bring up the Holy Spirit? I read the discussion being about God the Father and Jesus whom both seem male or are at least referred to as being male. Also if one believes in the Trinity then they might see all as one...

I had been in a discussion on this topic sometime ago, and I asked the Lord about it. The answer I got was God is a man. How do I know that? Jesus Christ is God and he is a male. Yes I agree with that God is male also. Do you think the posted scripture Number 23:19 is more about humanity?

God is not a man as in gender or as in humanity? I thought the KJV did use the male pronoun but I do agree that God is not a part of earthly humanity.

This is sad. It is from my understanding that the business owners did not rent to any one that was not married (as in a couple who wanted a room). I think it is there right to refuse service especially since they decided not to rent to anyone who was not married (unmarried couple) so heterosexuals and homosexuals were both turned away. Since they turn away both heterosexual and homosexual I don't think they discriminate based on sexual orientation but on holy matrimony. But it's just another attack on religious liberty same as with the Arizona (?) wedding photographer who didn't want to photograph a homosexual wedding and was sued or the cake owner's who didn't want to bake a cake for a homosexual wedding and was sued. Why not choose a different B&B, wedding photographer or cake owner? It lies within the belief that such ideas (mainly Christian one's so far) should not be tolerated and thus suffer persecution in the hopes that such ideas stop existing.

This is going to be a simple statement to an indept view of the ideology of personhood in regards to healthcare and social structure but: I agree. The human life begins once the cells start dividing and the circumstances that caused the cell division are irrelevant to the humanity of the new developing human being. The developing human should not suffer due to the actions outside of its control. The concept of personhood in that sense automatically denies humanity and life for the sake of another's "choice", "individual freedom" and "dignity".

Well if I saw a person hurt I would help them but maybe that is more human compassion. The problem is what is the definition of love? There are many different types. The phrase I hear now is that "Love is Love" an empty circular argument but what is it really? Is it simply human compassion in the case of non-romantic, non-familial/unknown human beings? That word unfortunately has become so twisted, so out of touch with reality and so jaded that I don't even know what it means or what a person is referring to. So I'm going to equate it to compassion for the sake of this thread. Do we in total as human beings have compassion for one another even going into familial at times? No. Personally I think such a trait does not come naturally and has to be learned or achieved because we are all born into sin. The only true love I see is from God. Sometimes I see it between parents and children and family but it doesn't go far from there. Do we strive for it? Yep, but it can easily become twisted with our own humanity especially if we separate it from God who has pure love. Also, I know this is a controversial statement based on previous threads, calling oneself a Christian or being in a Church does not guarantee that person will be "loving" or compassion (or even a Christian). I have learned not to expect a person to act a certain way because they call themselves Christian and "love" is a very important trait that I don't always expect.

I don't agree with what the woman did but I wouldn't call it forcing her beliefs on someone. She is not advocating for a law nor is she strapping people down and forcing them to listen to her. She isn't even following people around and harassing people. It doesn't even sound like she wants bad things to happen to obese children. She is giving letters from her own door to people who willingly go to her house and they can either accept the letter or reject the letter. The parent (who should be with the child anyway) should decide what to do with the letter. And the news team just wanted some fresh meat for ratings just like they always do so they equally willingly chose to broadcast her. No one actually forcing anyone.

I agree. Many people think that standing on a street corner and preaching is one's opinion crossing the line. And many people think placing bibles in hotels is one's opinion crossing the line and forcing others to conform to a certain belief. We do all tend to draw a line based on our own biases and tolerance levels.

This was very funny to read.

Well it is California and after the whole "let the transgender kids use whatever bathroom they want" bill I'm kind of losing hope for them at the moment. At least for the gov after the prop.8 thing I think the people are actually not in agreement with gov mandates all the time. But of course, an obviously confused boy with gender confusion should be helped and not celebrated.

I would not marry an unbeliever. I met a couple where one was a southern baptist (sound very conservative Christian from what the wife told me) but the wife was a full on pagan. I don't know how the marriage is working out now but it was pretty rocky because of their difference of beliefs. The guy also wanted to marry the girl within one week so it was a little creepy.

Yes. Political ideology is pervasive. On my campus it is quite common to hear some Christians label themselves as conservative or liberal and mean nothing of their stance on the Bible.

It can not be just as damaging in your relationships & your mind? That's not my point. My point is that it shouldn't be compared to substances that cause physical dependence. But the author of the article's point (if I have understood correctly) is that porn's effects on the brain are far more damaging as an addictive 'substance'. No? I think that is a very misleading claim. I do not think porn should be compared to physically addictive substances. I would agree but only because the term narcotic itself is misleading. The basic definition of a narcotic is a psychoactive compound with sleep inducing properties. This is misleading because sometimes compounds that are psychoactive do not cause sleepiness but are still labeled as narcotics. I think porn is psychologically addictive which for some is more dangerous than being physically addictive. With physical addiction the body responds but if the person can psychologically withstand the urges then the physical addiction can be overcome. That said there is some growing research claims that it does affect neurons in the brain in terms of neuroplasticity and sensitivity that are linked to the reward pathway.