Riverwalker

First let me state categorically that anyone who has Christ for their Lord is a Christian. Catholic or protestant or whatever 2nd There is one body, and one Head....Jesus Christ Denominations are made by men and as with anything made by man there are flaws. If you put your faith in your Church instead of Christ, there is no salvation To answer simply. The difference between most protestants and orthodox groups (not all) and Roman Catholics is thus Protestants are sola scriptura...that this they think that the bible alone is the will and direction of God Roman Catholics take their theology from the bible and what they call "sacred" tradition, and it is in that sacred tradition where all the faults lie. Teaching on purgatory, praying to saints, the power to forgive only given to priests, transubstantiation, Mortal and venial sins and all the teachings of the Catholic Church that are outside the bible are found here. But their core beliefs as found in the creed and the mass service are pretty solid Christianity I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

In the case of salvation I think it breaks down like this Romans 8: 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. We often talk about God as being Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent, but he is also omnichronic.....everywhen - eternal So because God Foreknows what we will choose in regards to Him, those He knows who will choose him He Predestines, Preordain, prepares the path that we will walk to come to the moment of of that choice. Once that path is laid he calls....and we choose to follow. When we come to the moment of that choice and of our own freewill choose to reach out in faith tom Him, He Justifies (Saves) us. And when we reach the moment of our last breath and die, He glorifies us All of this predicated and arranged around a choice that we FREELY make.

I do not fear death....for me and all Christians there is no death...just the passing from this life to the next. Although I must admit that I am a little leary of the transition process. But it is only a short time and soon over When I was a youth I fought against the idea, thinking I had too much to do, but as I grow older the words of Paul are a comfort to me 2 Timothy 4: 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

we are talking major share holders, not mutual funds

A very good point.....we do not seek to avoid sin to be saved...we seek to avoid sin because it is right and plasing to God The reference scripture here is 1 Corinthians 3: 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. The works we do, the lives we lead are not done to try and be saved, but to try and please God. That one day we may hear "Well done good and faithful servant" as far as us continuing to pursue sin? Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Aspects of a good church Bible teaching and preaching focused, light on personal opinions from the pulpit One where praise and worship is part of the process and not an add on One where people are taught that giving is as we purpose of the heart and not a requirement One with a lot of groups that specialize in a social structure ie Youth Group, Singles Group, Young Adult Group, Young Married Group, Marrieds, Senior, Addiction et all where no one falls through the cracks. Small in home bible study groups A Congregation that is taught and practices being open and accepting to people. So that people are not ingored, rejected or scorned due to physical appearance One that does what the bible says the ministry is for: Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [e]edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Agreed but with patience 1 Cor 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, When we come to God we are saved and our Spirits are made new, But the "renewing of the soul" takes a little longer It is a process and in this process we fail, in this process we fall, and in this process we get up and we learn from Our mistakes, and God gives us grace to cover our weaknesses, and mercy to cover our sins Romans 12:1 I beseech[a] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Embrace the process as long as you are moving forward its all good. Let patience (endurance / perserverence) have its perfect work James 5:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing

Follow the money Many of these politicians who are banging the vaccine gong, are stock holders in the companies making the drugs....cha-ching They don't care about you or your health or they would not have released and pushed these mostly untested drugs, it will be YEARS before the side effects are known, and now they are trying to get the vaccine to kids under 5 who are in absolute no threat of the virus Cha-ching

The US grows enough food for itself and many other countries So no But with the vast reduction of domestic oil production and russia's lines being stopped, fuel prices are raising drastically and that raises the price of everything

so where was the water before there was the heavens and the earth Because God created those Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I think the key to David's success was in Him knowing Who He was ....a Child of God, a member of the Chosen People....and who that giant was 1 Samuel 17:26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” This is the faith of David

The picture God has given me is of a rock in the river. I do (or have done) a lot of hiking and on more than one occasion I have found myself at the top of a waterfall. where there is a river that is simply flowing until it drops. Invariable before the water goes over the falls, there is a rock....and the water bashes into it dramatically. The rock does not move, it does not waver....it stands. Sure the water smooths it out a bit, but that is a good thing God has called me to be a rock in the river....to be there and stand in that river there are the lost and the "semi-saved" (for lack of a better world, the people who have reached out to God but have no yet found the way. And my job is to stand there to be an impediment to those who would without thought plunge over the falls in hopes they can change their mind, and to be there as a hand hold for the Christians who have been carried away. To stand for the truth and take everything the water has to throw at me in hopes that someone might find away to avoid the plunge. Jesus describes us a light on a Hill to shine His light to draw people to Him Indeed having done all....to stand.

There are two things to consider here 1. He is talking about doing miracles and helping others This is not about getting things 2. What does it mean to "Ask In His Name"? it means to ask in the authority and will of God. And where do we find the authority and will of God. The Bible...so what things are in the bible....healing, miracles, words of prophecy, et al. As well as "Our Daily Bread" grace, mercy strength That New Mercedes EV is not in the bible....so probably not going to find away to Ask for that in His name

The killing of innocent human beings is not justified under any situation. She needs to get out of the abusive situation, and anyone who does not want to have kids when married should use protection. We create a lot of problems by doing the wrong things, marrying the wrong people. But there is no way in hell the Innocent little baby should die to cover our mistakes.

Yes it is likely you did something wrong. And it is likely she did. But the fact that she got full custody kind of tells me that you made a serious misstep along the way....that you indeed did NOT follow the plan God had for you but made your own away, and in doing so brought disaster.

The word for remember there is Ezkor (root word Zakor) meaning" Bring to my rememberance" this does not mean God doesn't know our sins, He just has filed them away and will not bring them up again...because they are forgiven Psalm 139:2-3 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

Well I quoted someone

Slow your roll pal....correct with long suffering

I could see this for powering a water pump. But I don't think besides that the villages you speak of have much use for it.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your [c]flesh, And strength[d] to your bones.

Where isn't God?

Telling some that if their religion does not recognize that Jesus is God (as they both do not) that they are following a false gospel that will not save them...is love. tough love but love Our purpose here is to save souls...not feelings. As much as is possible try to do both, but when push comes to shove....tell the truth

Truth We are not saved by words, but to them Ephesians 2:. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. And our works will be judged, those that remain will be worthy of reward, those that don't will be burned and even if all are burned we will be saved, (although a bit scorched) because while works are a sign and a fruit of salvation they do not bring it about 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Sounds like a lot of hyperbole.....Telling a JW or Mormon they are in error is telling them the truth

Just curious. can you define cruel?