Jaydog1976

You know some people don't have a choice but to put their loved ones in a nursing home and I can imagine it is not an easy decision. Some families just do not have the facilities nor the capacity to take care of their loved one in the way they need to. Nursing homes can be a good thing but we always hear the horror stories. We tend to look at those who have had to make the choice to put their family member into a nursing home as horrible people who don't seem to care for their family which is totally not true and a really unfair assumption. 

Now I on the flip side these horror stories also take place in the higher cost facilities, while maybe at a lower rate. My wife works in one of the higher costs facilities and it is just as sad. Where I maybe tend to judge people is when they put their family member into a home and then completely forget they exist or they don't want anything to do with them. This is really sad. 

I am not saying that is happening here in this discussion. These thoughts just came into my mind since it did have to do with nursing homes. Would I put my parent(s) into a nursing home? I would so hope that I would never have to make that decision. But I can guarantee you that if I had to it would be because I had to but I wouldn't neglect them and would visit them often. 

The real answer is this: We don't know. Everything we talk about what the mark of the beast is just pure speculation. Scripture doesn't give a description of what it actually looks like other than the location of where it will be and the number of man.  How it all looks on a person isn't really described. 

The important question is not what the mark of the Beast is but what is your relationship to Jesus Christ?

1 minute ago, Annette said:

Hey Jay,

Nice that you are able to do both cursive and print. At least with computers and such we can still get by without having to write.

My husband likes to write all in capitals when he writes. 

Hope you guys have a great Christmas. All the best for 2018.

Merry Christmas to you as well Annette.

I do everything right handed and write in a mixture of cursive and printing. Over the years I have just gotten lazy. I print very nicely but my cursive is a bit sloppy. 

I drink alcohol from time to time but I sure as don't have any desire to get drunk. But I don't mind have a beer with a friend or whatever. It is all about controlling yourself and saying no. Same with the bottom picture. Temptation does come and it will always present itself but one has a choice whether to act on that temptation or simply ignore it and move on knowing it was a temptation. 

The picture almost makes it look like if you have one drink you become a drunkard or if you have that temptation of a inappropriate act that you will automatically indulge in it. 

Both these situation actually take time to develop and those that end up at the end of each picture chose to fall into the temptation of getting drunk or committing adultery. 

I guess I never really paid much attention to it because I don't watch Hallmark movies. I have tried to watch a movie here or there and just can't stomach the cheesiness and the sappiness of their films.

1 minute ago, missmuffet said:

We do not pray to angels, we do not pray to Mary and we do not pray to the dead. We pray to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I have prayed to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Great response. And the correct one. 

The other issue is where in scriptures does it tell us to pray to angels? There isn't one that I am aware of. When we pray we are to pray to the Father. Angels are messengers that do what God asks them to do and they are not to be worshipped. 

I find it sad that some so-called Christians feel that they need to focus on angels instead of God. And then they fall into the trap of the Ouija Board thing. 

Christian tarot cards? What craziness! It is sad that many people fall for this stuff because the term "Christian" is applied to the subject. I mean if Christian Tarot Cards are ok can I then maybe call Christian Pornography ok since it has the word Christian? This is why I believe that Jesus said, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:14)". The NAR and those that buy into this stuff are so blinded to the truth. 

I have some friends that are SDA's as well. Now I do know that an SDA can be a Christian but how they can be a Christian and accept some of the teachings and doctrines is beyond my comprehension. The one I really have a hard time with is the fact that SDA's teach that our sins were placed on Satan not on Christ which is a clear contradiction to scripture. I Peter 2:24 teaches this doctrine, ""He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." He is referring to Christ not Satan. There is no where in scripture that teaches that our sin was placed upon Satan. 

The above doctrine as well as others mentioned make me question the salvation of any SDA because I don't think they clearly understand what salvation really is. 

And then there is, of course, the teachings that following the Law is required for salvation and also the prophecies that never came true. Personally I think Ellen G. White was a bit unstable mentally yet as with any cult, false religion or whatever, their followers will follow man's teaching over God's Word. 

I like GQ.org. I may not always agree with them but they are a great resource. However people do need to get out of the online virtual church as Yowm said above and get out and get into a physical local body of believers. And I know that there are some in the forums that just need to get into the Bible. I find is sad that many times you'll have someone post something that sounds spiritual yet they don't know scripture to lean on. Just my 2 cents. 

This discussion happens every single year and quite frankly it gets old pretty quick. My opinion is that observing or not observing Christmas is not required for salvation and it does not tear down the essential doctrines like the deity of Christ and others. Until it does I will observe Christmas. Yes I focus on Christ every day but one day a year to really focus on it is not a bad thing. 

Observe it or don't observe it. That choice is really up to each individual. There are valid arguments for both sides and this discussion really doesn't change anything nor does it really change anyone's opinion. But I guess you need a post like this so that those who oppose observing Christmas can have a sounding board to give their opinions. 

I guess for me I just spend time in God's word when I am able. Some days I am not able and other days I am. But I never feel like Im cheating. If I miss a passge or whatever I know at some point in my life I will read it. I have missed a couple of days but I'll just start off on today's reading. I think sometimes we beat ourselves to much over the head over when we read or don't read that we miss the whole point of what this club is about. Sure it's about reading the Bible in a year but it seems much more than that in that it is designed to get you to actually read your Bible. I have been liking it because it helps me with what to read.

Thank you Omegaman for the work you put into it to make our lives easier.

Interesting. I never even thought about it. But I learn something new everyday. That I think is what makes God's word so fascinating once you think you think you got it straight God shows you something new that I quite honestly didn't know. Now I learned something new about the 1000 year reign.

Christianity is based upon a relationship with Christ very simply put. Most if not all religions require works or be done to gain favor with God or whatever god they feel they are trying to please. 

On 11/2/2017 at 1:01 AM, existential mabel said:

 how do you examine the scriptures if  you are not well versed in the bible and therefore vulnerable to being decieved?

The answer to your question is a very easy one. One has to get into the Word to know it. They have to study it and learn it and even memorize it. That is how I can tell a counterfeit from the truth. To be well versed in the Scriptures one has to read it and be in it on a daily basis. 

The issue is that many Christians leave their Bibles on their shelf at home and don't even crack it open except for church on Sunday morning. 

Yeah I am not sure how accurate all this is. I'll stick to what God has to say. I guess I am trying to understand why it is so important to know these dates. I guess for me is that I know that Christ came because in Genesis 3 God promised that Christ would come. He did come and He gave His life for mine. And I have put my faith and trust in Him as my Savior. That is all I need. Dates can be skewed and fabricated but God's Word is not. So again I'll stick with God's Word and trust what it has to say not dates that man set or fabricated. 

20 hours ago, Sister said:

Hi Patriot2017

I understand if the conversation goes on a bit, and saying "Hi so and so" every two minutes may get annoying, but I'm not talking about that kind of thing, but the initial greeting is showing brotherly love in my opinion, and a respectful invitation to engage in conversation.

I think forums are not that much different to letters, because for one, it gives us the opportunity to put into practice all the things Christ taught us starting from the basics on how to conduct ourselves with others.  Unbelievers are reading also, and watching for our souls on how we behave towards each other.  We need to set a good example, and I guess for me, it goes even deeper than just addressing someone's name.  We are sitting at a screen and no one can see our faces,..all they can see is what comes out of our heart through words typed onto a screen, ...these words reflect our spirit.  It is very easy to lose control on these forums and a perfect opportunity for the devil to come in and have fun with us.  Even though we cannot see each other's faces, we should appreciate that the internet is a good tool to have communication with just about anyone as if we were sitting in the same room looking at each other.  If I walked into a room where you are, I am sure we would both greet each other kindly before starting conversation.  We would show each other respect.  I don't see a forum as being any different.

I have been on several forums and I think for the most part people are fine with just making their statements and then moving on. I don't think it shows or doesn't show brotherly love if I use there name in the initial greeting. As another poster stated I also just quote the person and then if I feel like addressing their name in the response I will. Forums are this way not just here but just about everywhere. It is common place. 

Now if  a post is offensive or attacks someone then yes I would consider the brotherly love thing. But personally I don't use the usernames of people here just because I respond to the quotes. And I think for the most part people are fine with this type of forum etiquette. 

Just don't let it bother you if people in any forum don't greet you by your name or even your username. They are not being offensive nor does it mean that they are not being kind. This is really just how forums work and we as forum users have accepted this as the norm.  

It just looks so tacky and it sure isn't a good thing. I can guarantee that my daughter will not wear her pajamas out in public as long as she lives under my roof. 

3 minutes ago, frienduff thaylorde said:

while we ought not tattaoe Gods temple.  how long have they been around and few like me who don't have one , CAN STILL BUY and SELL.   that Is THE KEY that shows what the mark of the beast will be.  Somethng in GODS TEMPLE and something you cant BUY or sell lest you have .    Good we had this talk eh.    that is why credit cards and phones

are ruled out ,  and tattoes too , ITS WHEN its not only IN OR ON THE SKIN but also TIED INTO BUYING AND SELLING .  rfid tech IS THIS .  it has BOTH componentes

AND it is a sin to tie our temple into SUCH a wicked system.  THIS IS IT or like tech anyway.  DO NOT , DO NOT mark , do not render unto ceasar that which is GODS ALONE

we can render to ceasar that which is his and we render to GOD that which is his........BUT Never , no not ever , render to ceasar THAT which is GODS ONLY

and our body IS HIS TEMPLE , not mans .   THIS IS IT.  now don't be scared,  I know its coming and I have no fear.  Don't be scared.  say it with me

NO FEAR of man.    ONLY fear HE who can destroy both body and soul in hellfire .  DO NOT give unto ceasar that which is GODS.   I warned you enough about it , let it sink in .

I guess I'll just move on. I thought we were just having a great discussion but apparently I said something that felt that I needed to be warned about something. I never said that tattoos were a good thing and I never said that I would get the RFID chip. I was just giving a differing opinion from a completely different perspective. 

Personally I don't care if you feel that the RFID tech is the mark of the beast or not. It is your belief and that is fine. I don't believe it is. It really isn't that big of a deal because quite honestly as I said before you don't really know what the mark of the beast really is. I don't know what it really is or what it really looks like. We like to use our imaginations though and I have to admit that sometimes we let our imaginations run wild with all sorts of scenarios that may not actually be the truth. 

Anyway I don't want to ruffle any feathers and sorry if I did. That wasn't my point. I thought we were having a great discussion. Anyway take care. I am sure we will meet again in other posts  .

1 minute ago, frienduff thaylorde said:

The credit card fails due to IT AINT IN THE SKIN.  so yeah that should have been a major false idea right at its start.

When a system of hateful of GOD , asks us to mark what is GODS .............and ONLY GODS as we have been bought and our body is not even our own.
THAT alone should sound out warning bells.   

So in that case are tattoos the mark of the beast? Of course they are not. My point is that too may Christians are so worried about the details and trying to figure them all out instead of just trusting in a God who knows what will happen and how it will happen. And that same God who is in control also will protect you and I (that again is dependent upon who our faith and trust is in) from obtaining that mark. Jesus in Matthew 24:24 said "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Again my thoughts which are probably more opinion. 

I don't spend a whole lot of time trying to figure revelation out. I just spend time learning about the God who has it all under control.

1 minute ago, frienduff thaylorde said:

Their is truly such a point made about that mark that none could ponder it .  this is so obvious.  And no man could BUY or SELL.  see that is the KEY so many miss now

when some try and say monster cans, or days of worship sunday etc....................nope .  cause I can do that or not do it and I can still buy or sell whether I do or don't.

NO.  its rfid tech .  I guarantee it .     look at the commercials , look at how its becoming a move , and its all about how good it is in the skin.   Don't take it,  don't do it.

no matterwhat .     

I don't believe that it is RFID tech. From history there were Christians who believed that credit cards were the mark of the beast. We know they are not. Remember bar codes? Again the same Christians believed that bar codes were a mark of the beast. Which we know they are not. I am very careful that I just don't assume that some type of technology is the mark of the beast. 

Now I am not saying that RFID tech is completely let off the hook. There are some very negative aspects of RFID tech but there are some very great things aspects of RFID tech. I would choose not to accept RFID tech because I don't trust the lack of security measures. But it doesn't mean that if I put an RFID chip in my hand that I am accepting the mark of the beast. 

I don't believe that you, me or any other Christian knows exactly how the mark will present itself or what it actually is. We don't even know what it looks like. God didn't give us that description. However we do know that as Christians the Holy Spirit will show us and we will know that it is not something that we are to partake in. And we also know that those that accept this mark (whatever it is) is doomed for destruction. I put my faith in the fact that God is in control and that I don't have to live in fear or worry of technology or anything of that sort. We will know and I believe that we will know without a shadow of a doubt. That is if we are saved and know Christ as our Savior and trust Him and His word. 

4 minutes ago, frienduff thaylorde said:

THEN remember these two SIMPLE things.    Our body, temple is not even our own , we have been bought at a price

and remember that none will be able to buy or sell lest they have this mark.    Darn................this means they going to put something in or on Gods temple OUR BODY

and we wont be able to buy or sell without it.   YEAH anything seem to be so clear , that its RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR FACE .  RFID chip or tattoe.   and its all tied into buying and sellng

AND , its all about putting it IN GODS TEMPLE .  aint that simple .

My point wasn't to go into the whole passage but just demonstrate how simple it actually is to understand what the number means without using a numbering system. Now how it all will be implemented is not really known since John was the one who saw it and wrote what he saw. It's hard sometimes to really create a picture with just words but I also know that what John saw and wrote will be an absolutely terrifying day. I do also agree that yes, if you have the mark, then you are doomed. I am so thankful that I am a Christian and have fully put my faith and trust in a wonderful Savior who took my place on the cross so that I can love Him with all my heart and have that assurance that through Jesus Christ I have eternal life and will have the wonderful privilege of spending an eternity learning and loving my Savior. 

I guess there is an obsession here to try and figure out that the numbers 666 mean in Revelation 13:18. The problem is that I don't think it takes some type of number counting type algorithm to figure out what it means. I do believe however that the Holy Spirit (who lives resides in the believer) will show us what that number means. The number 6 shows imperfection of man. The number 7 in scriptures has been used to show perfection (like the 7 days of creation, etc). The repetition just shows emphasis and how man falls extremely short of perfection. The number is a very simple way of showing where man stands before God. 

If anyone really wants to know, mystic Jews adopted Gematria in the Middle Ages. It is a made man system that is quite deceptive. There are several different variations of Gematria so the question I pose is how do you know which one is right if any of them are right? Another question I pose is if God wanted to use some numbering system to figure out His word why then do we need the Holy Spirit? What is His purpose since a numbering system and math can be used to understand scripture? 

I for one will avoid man made systems that try to figure out God's Word. I don't believe that God's Word is so complicated that we have to use man made numbering systems to figure out it's deepest meaning. I tend to lean toward the idea that God is a literal God and when he says something I believe He means what He says and says what He means. So I just interpret scripture literally where it is literal and understand when God is speaking in metaphors because it is pretty clear that it is a word picture or something similar. 

That's my two cents. I just caution against using outside sources that have somewhat of a sinister origin to interpret God's word. 

On 11/16/2017 at 3:48 AM, Sojourner414 said:

Recipe for Fruitcake:

1 loaf pumpernickel bread
1 pound marbles
1 can marine varnish

Take the loaf of pumpernickel bread and a mallet
Pound the marbles into the bread
Marinate the bread in marine varnish overnight
Serve immediately

I always wondered what was in fruitcake to make it taste like it does. Thanks for the recipe.