Petra-Psalm118:8

How do you define graven image...for example, carved wooden animals, or sculptures or busts of historic figures?

6strings...I know exactly how you feel...it has been a little over a year since I recommitted my life to Jesus and, like you, I have a difficult time with different doctrines in different churches. I completely believe as Portia pointed out, that the Holy Spirit is your guide on a journey to Gods truth. I don't believe that journey actually stops as I keep growing, learning and understanding Gods purpose and the Bible more and more each day. I gain knowledge from Christian brothers and sisters from all denominations and truly believe that to have the power of Gods love and the ability to forgive as God does is the most important doctrine of them all. With Gods love in our hearts, the Bible guides and leads us to His truth...and the journey has begun. There indeed is false doctrine out there, but the Holy Spirit, Jesus teachings and Gods amazing love and power will help lead you back if you wander and keep you on His path. Pray, ask questions, have faith in Jesus gift of life to us through His sacrifice and read your Bible everyday...it all helps with your journey. And Welcome, albeit I'm quite new here too.

I can certainly reinforce that the most important of all Gods laws is to love and forgive the people in our lives and in the world in general. With the love of God in our hearts, we would be following the rest of Gods commandments anyway because they all follow from that one law, as was already mentioned. In essence that makes them no less important or less significant in our walk with Jesus today. As a Christian I do strive to follow Gods law, as a human, I know that I am full of imperfection and need Gods forgiveness when I falter. I am reassured by the knowledge that Through Gods patient love and understanding , and His knowing my heart that I will be forgiven.

Keeping the Sabbath...that's a tough one for a lot of people because of work. Glad to hear that you don't have to do that anymore. It is difficult to apply that to the way the world is now, especially considering the cost of having/raising a family, even to just maintain basic needs for many. Poverty and homelessness has always been a problem in the world, but even more so now with the economy in such a bad way. It truly is good news to know that God is our judge, loving, kind and understanding and Jesus our spokesperson. It is also a large group of people that need prayer from fellow Christians. A day of rest is important for health and wellness too.

Thanks...I am looking for discussion on them...when I was going over them again, I was thinking about how Gods commandments would make life on earth (the way He originally intended) so simple and peaceful. As a Christian, what do you find the hardest ones to keep?

What do the 10 Commandments mean to you? If you take a moment and look at each Commandment, what does it means to you, and how/or if you believe it it applies to Christians today. I have recently reread this passage and am wondering about Christian thoughts about them. Exodus 20 King James Version (KJV) 20 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. 18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. 25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. 26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon. .TakeTake a moment and look at each Commandment and explain what it means to you, and how it applies to Christians today. I would like to know how Christians think about them. This is intended for a discussion where views can be expressed and why. Please do not contradict anothers view, just allow for open opinions to be expressed.

I'm sorry you feel this way. I think it is sad that you believe it is just scare tactics to fill church pews. People here speak about their first hand encounters and you have just called them liars. Whether you believe the video is one thing, but you truly are lost if you don't think this kind of stuff and much worse is not happening and at a heightened level today.

I think it is hard to pray and let go. To just walk away and leave it in Gods hands. We keep thinking about our prayer and what we want changed. We wonder if we will get an answer, or when. We wonder if we are worthy. So many thoughts that keep us from just letting go. I have been working on that one myself...a lot lately. Some things are easier to leave with God in prayer, while others aren't. Like if I pray for others for whatever reason, health, happiness, understanding etc., it is not hard to let go, but when I pray for family, especially when it concerns their salvation...it is much harder to pray for them and let it go. I don't know if anyone else experiences this or not.

I do not regularly go to a church...I have yet to find one, nor have I been led to one...at least not yet...I am leaving that in Gods hands... Many organized religions have become more and more "lukewarm" seemingly evolving with a changing world. I'm not ok with that. I don't want the fire I feel to be cooled by them. So instead...I read my Bible everyday, I pray everyday and I fellowship with other Christians (Anabaptist, other protestants). I seek Gods truth through scripture and through other Christians. I feel Gods Holy Spirit in my life filling me with the desire to know His truth, so my relationship with Jesus, my Saviour is building and growing as He leads me to our fathers truth.

We recently had a huge protest in our area to keep Monsanto out of our alfalfa crop. Local government thus far remains supportive regarding peoples concerns against Monsanto...but who knows for how long. Monsanto should be boycotted by all food growers/producers. Monsanto is a very powerful and vast operation.

God is awesome...

God doesn't need technology to acomblish his will, he's God. Of course He doesn't...LOL... He didn't design the space weapons program. Man did...along with many other earth destructive devices. When God reveals His power, all people will know who is behind it, and His people, the elect, will be swept away...gone, safe, saved and spared this wrath. Man, those who have provoked Gods wrath, that day of sudden destruction will fall and the chance for salvation will be gone.

The two witnesses...fire from their mouths...I think it odd that as Christians, we believe in the Holy Spirit, we believe that Gods miracles of the old testament happened, yet prophecies for the end times are viewed as symbolic...as if supernatural acts performed by God will or cannot happen in our day...or in the last days. I'd be less inclined to believe fire from heaven came from God given the advanced technology of the space weapons program...just a thought...

Where did you find this information? Do you have a link? Yes this is where I read it this morning. Thanks

Where did you find this information? Do you have a link?

I believe they are guilty as well...I believe that has pretty much been established. I'm referring to all the other bits and pieces of "evidence" floating around. This is where the speculation and theories come into play. Until all the evidence is in, the story remains unfinished. So no, it is not arrogant to believe these two brothers are guilty, but that seems more of a fact than an opinion. Unless of course some one put them up to behaving so guilty after the bombing, but that is pretty unlikely, not impossible, but very unlikely.

That sounds like a pre-tribulation rapture perspective. One I used to cling to for many years, but I have since been shown through scripture that my beliefs were wrong. We are to endure to the end as a test of our faith and like all Christians throughout the history of the Bible to present, we will face extreme persecution in the tribulation of the last days, but be spared the wrath upon the wicked at the end, Gods final judgement. It is then the dead shall rise first, then those left living will be swept away and protected from the annihilation of wickedness on the earth. No Southern Deep Fried Chicken Wings And Mashed Potatoes With Gravy For You, lol ~ To Chastise A Beloved Brother For Looking Up For His Redemption And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28 Is Perhaps, At The Very Best Unwise Wouldn't You Think ~ Oh The Misery Those Two Prophets Gave To The World Of Happy Happy Sinners And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. Revelation 11:3-6 Oh The Joy When Their Big Fat Mouths Were Finally Shut And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. Revelation 11:7-10 Oh The Fear When They Were Resurrected And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. Revelation 11:11-13 And Were Snatched Up By Their LORD ~ I Believe This Is The Turning Point In The Life Of The Nation Of Israel And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. Romans 11:26-27 Where The Remnant Finally And Forever Turn To Yeshua Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: Romans 9:27 Turn To Yeshua (Jesus) And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Romans 12:17 I Believe LOL...well, I don't know about southern fried chicken, but a big bowl of spaghetti with garlic bread and salad sounds pretty good...maybe we'll get to dine together someday:) Sorry, I didn't mean to chastise. My views about the rapture have changed though...whether right or wrong...I'm prepared and hopefully worthy to be counted as one of Gods own. You have spoken very eloquently and it sure would be wonderful to be spared all the chaos of the last days.

That sounds like a pre-tribulation rapture perspective. One I used to cling to for many years, but I have since been shown through scripture that my beliefs were wrong. We are to endure to the end as a test of our faith and like all Christians throughout the history of the Bible to present, we will face extreme persecution in the tribulation of the last days, but be spared the wrath upon the wicked at the end, Gods final judgement. It is then the dead shall rise first, then those left living will be swept away and protected from the annihilation of wickedness on the earth.

Having a view is one thing...stating it as fact is another. I'm not sure at this point, that all evidence will ever be revealed to the public. That leaves room for a lot of speculation. When bits and pieces of evidence are fed to the public, regardless of the source...people start to play connect the dots to get at the truth of the matter. Consequently there will to be holes/gaps in all theories proposed. IMO anyway. The truth will out eventually...but then people will have to decide whether they want to believe it or not, much like 9/11.

They are described as being hated by all the world and that people will party and exchange gifts to celebrate their death. That would indicate we will know them. If all the world will celebrate, does that include Christians? (Rev 11:9) After 3 days of being dead in the streets, God gives them the breath of life and they ascend. Those who witness this become afraid, then there is a great earthquake and those left living "affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven" Rev: 11:13. So maybe we won't know them at all until all this has happened.

The two witnesses are speculated to be several potential characters from the OT, and NT. It causes a lot of debate that I would rather avoid. My question is, how will we know they are here, or how will we know them. Will they be like John the Baptist?

It may have sounded like a dumb question, but apparently, there is reason to believe they were. I just can't remember which news report was talking about it. In any case, it doesn't make any difference now.

If it's the report I watched...he was asking about whether or not they had a bomb drill going on that morning...his questions were left unanswered...ignored actually. I think it was confirmed elsewhere that they were, but I'm not sure.

Quite frankly, the only thing that can be done is to pray for them. The deed has been done, the final word as to responsibility yet to come. Speculating on it will not speed up that process, but praying for the witness that the all powerful God will give him a change of heart may bring the truth to light.

It's too late for that.