GreyDestiny

You do make very good points; it is not required for a Christian. Many Christians are against the practice of circumcision. As one who practices the OT as well as the NT though, I see it as in keeping with the covenant. I've thought about what I would do if I had a son, and I think I would leave him uncircumcised. If he wished to change that later on, seeing things as I do, then he would have the choice.

Maybe... I find it difficult to agree because i'm rather opinionated when it comes to politics. We need to convince people rather than force them, I can agree with that. People just get so lost within the pettiness of it all, especially with the modern stubbornness where people are seemingly unable to engage in civil debate, instead pounding their chests and swinging from one tree branch to another.

It's going to be difficult. They love aiming for kids, and they just keep aiming younger and younger. Not even the wombs are safe. I'm unaware of your children's ages, but if they are still quite young, perhaps it might work to go about it like a 1st grade teacher might. Flashcards, interactive learning, and quizzes. You could summarize the passage on the flashcard and have a depiction of the events within that text. Maybe even have them draw a depiction on their own notepads. Have a vocal quiz on chronological events, like first asking who the first people were, and then asking for their sons names. This simple way of going about it can kind of seem like they are missing points, but kids are fairly simple. They will come to appreciate the complexity of Christianity when they get older. If they are past a certain point, then getting through to them will be much harder, perhaps impossible. They already have evolution on their minds, the sex ed they have been taught, and so forth. If all seems hopeless, just keep in mind that God does not wish for our children to be led astray. Implant these ideas into them, and then see if they choose to be Christian or not. Let Jesus take the wheel, as they say.

Well, i'm a bit of an oddball Christian. In my eyes, the new covenant basically says we can now be saved through the blood of Christ rather than having to sacrifice animals and sprinkle their blood about on an altar; it does not make the old one irrelevant. I engage in a kosher diet, I believe in circumcision, I look at the bible as a whole rather than just picking at lines. However, typical Christian views are that because of the blood of Christ and a few other passages in the NT, the OT laws and practices are obsolete. God gave Peter a vision of a table covered in non-kosher meats. Peter said no, as he hadn't ever eaten of anything common or unclean, and God replied, "that which I have created, you should not call common or unclean". Many state this as proof of Christians not being bound to OT dietary laws. However, Peter explains it a few lines later that it was about MEN, not food.

I'm sorry, but I kind of chuckled at the use of the anime Sword Art Online as the movie's cover art. You see this message everywhere these days, it seems. It doesn't help that, for some insane reason, many lunatics out there wish to hamper free speech. If a priest stands atop a box in public and starts preaching about scriptural truths like homosexuality being wrong, you always get crowds of people screeching at them, assaulting them, you name it.

I don't know if there is a spiritual explanation for that. I will say two things, though: 1. I have to back up what Frienduff Thaylorde said. 2. Much of a person's appeal comes in the form of their confidence. Not overconfidence, mind you, but a comfort within one's own skin, at least. I can understand where you come from because I have insecurity issues as well, but we have to overlook what petty people have said in the past and might say in the future. Words are just words and people are just people. I'd say go for it. If they really were so shallow as to turn you down because of a poor physical appearance, they weren't worth it anyway.

I have to be honest, whatever you just said flew right over my head. I'll try to answer like I understand, either way. Maybe the two of you just have similar interests? You were meant to be friends? If I were to randomly meet someone who was pretty much just like me, i'd be scared of an obsessive stalker. Maybe i've watched way too much Dateline and creepy youtube videos, I don't know.

Well, look at it this way. If you don't get married, you just slept with someone else's wife. Not in that... Particular sense, but still. Nobody needs that kind of temptation, anyhow.

Ah, traditional art. I applaud you, it's rare to find these days. Nice shading, by the by.

I was getting on-the-job training from a guy we'll just call Jeremy. Now, during my training, Jeremy not only put his work on top of my own so that he could slack off, but he was also apparently training me incorrectly hoping that i'd mess up and get fired. Instead, Jeremy got fired and I seemingly have a new trainer, in the employer's hope of breaking me of the false training I was given by Jeremy. While I was working under Jeremy, I have to admit to not being too terribly fond of him (if you can imagine that). Like I said, he would walk off and leave me to do two people's work. The revelation that he was teaching me the wrong things has also significantly lowered my opinion of him. He also mentioned, however, that he needed this job because he had kids. He mentioned he moved to the area from a few states away, hoping to find work. He didn't seem to be lying. On one hand, he has kids to take care of. One the other, if he really needed this job, went through such effort to obtain it, and wanted to stay there, why was he so unambitious? I feel like I should wish him and his children well either way, but I also just feel weird doing so for a guy who pretty much did it to himself.

He... He still looks like a man. I just don't get how people work anymore. I don't understand how lunacy can become so commonplace so quickly.

I'd agree with Yowm. She was dishonest, but at least she didn't string him along forever. It's a bit like welfare. Some of our money goes towards those who truly need it, but likewise, some of it goes towards people who would rather abuse the system. We help people either way. We can only dislike what someone chooses to do, after all, rather than the person. As for a purpose in people's lives, I don't think so. Think about all the kids in your graduating class you never spoke to and who's names you don't recall. Why, I never knew my year had a Chinese exchange student. We were probably in a class together and I just never noticed her. It would be rather pointless if her purpose in my life was for me to look in an old yearbook and be perplexed at her presence.

Sigmund Freud had a whacky theory. That men lusted after their mothers and women after their fathers. Many of us laugh at this, myself included, but there is a hint of truth in it. You see, the reason why a kid might gravitate towards a parent, let's take a mama's boy for example, is because he is unknowingly learning what to look for in a mate. He will have kids someday, so what better a natural template than his mother? It sounds gross, but people tend to choose partners that remind them of their opposing gender parent. People fear the unknown, so they seek what they know. Like a young girl raised in a home with an abusive father. This girl will seek out aggressive men simply because it is familiar. Then again, I can't provide much of a personal answer as my parents are divorced and my father remarried (I grew up in my father's home). My real mother, i'm honestly not too familiar with. I visit her on holidays sometimes, but still, I don't know her as well as my dad and stepmom. I'd say i'm closer to my stepmom; she's approachable and i'm always concerned about worrying my dad too much. Looking at it from the angle of Freud's views, I should be into women like my stepmother, right? Not really. In fact, my ideal woman isn't like my mom or stepmom.

My parents were more religiously inclined when I was younger, but it didn't last long. There was a spot of drama in the church we attended, and due to disagreements, they were invited to never return. They really haven't been to a church since. It's too bad; I wish I had spent more time as a Christian. My earliest memory of church is that I was given a bible by a churchgoer (it might have even been the priest, I don't recall) where they wrote my name and the date the bible was given to me on the inside cover. It specified the church's "daycare" setup they had during the service. I gave it a look at the time, but lacking any pastel pictures, I put it aside to collect dust. So many years later, I picked up that very bible, the one that I read today.

Oh, lol. My two favorite colors are brown and grey. I went with grey because BrownDestiny sounds odd. i have struggled with this particular sin before, as I lived in it daily for multiple years before I found God. This loss of control has diminished somewhat now though; my body isn't quivering as much, so i'm able to have some semblance of relaxation. I've considered taking up a trade before. I've thought about making furniture, stained glass, or perhaps becoming a translator/language teacher. I'll keep that in mind for the future, but for now, i'm just going to seek out a factory job. All of my immediate family work in factories and they love it, so I assume it's in my blood. Thank you for your post. God bless you.

I'd agree, but i'd also say it's addressing hypocrisy. I can't judge much because I think we're all a bit guilty of it. However, many do not seem to understand such a concept because they believe everything is fine as long as one says, "sorry". Empty words have no meaning, for it is what lies in the heart that matters. If one does not truly repent and work towards bettering themselves, they are worsening themselves.

I have started a new job recently. As my grandma would say, take what job you can get, THEN look for the job you want. I honestly don't know if i can appreciate following such advice. This job has only stressed me out. One of those jobs that puts you down for part time but is just shy of 40 hours, so they get lots of work out of you without having to pay you benefits. People apparently quit often, and I can see why. My feet are sore, my back is in such a pain that it hurts to stand up or even just stand, and I am exhausted. I can't seem to rest; I try to relax but my body won't quit quivering. I find myself praying under my breathe just so I can get through the day. I can see it in their eyes, they expect me to stay. I'm currently trying to find another job in the hopes of escaping any corners/traps they might try to use to keep me there longer. In any case, alongside all this stress, i've found any grip on my thoughts and feelings lacking. Any focus I can have is messy and limp. As such, I have found myself relieving the stress by... Sin. I don't wish to specify, but it feels terrible because I know it is wrong and i do not wish to do it. I do not feel it's right to blame the job for my own wrongdoing, as it is MY wrongdoing. I just find myself uncertain and unfocused. I am grateful for the opportunity to work, but not much else. So, what i'm wondering is, if anyone has any advice on how to deal with stress? Like I said, i'm looking for other job options (I wish I had more time to), but I just need advice on how to get through this. I hardly have time to myself, let alone think.

How do you feel about Christians in the military? I don't imagine many would have issues with support roles (mechanic, medic, certain coast guard jobs, etc) but feel free to include those if you do.

I feel that the real issue is a diminished view of what marriage is. Marriage SHOULD be a very serious and lifelong commitment under God and one not to be taken lightly. There is a reason why it typically takes place in a church and why "till death do us part" is typically in the vows. Too many people view marriage as "something you do". Why, even something someone MUST do, whether they are a Christian or not, whether they wish to or not. This mindset has led to the trampled versions of marriage that exist today. I do not think a divorce should happen unless there is cheating or domestic abuse. In terms of this scenario, I probably wouldn't go. I'd still wish them well, though.

I must be honest in admitting that I don't know how to define a friend. Lack of friendship today is brought about not only by technology but also age. Not only are more people spending far too much time with their faces in their phones, but opporunities for friendships seem to diminish the older you get. I'd also say a lack of social exposure; a generation raised by television, internet, and video games has little experience with people face-to-face and feel uneasy about gaining it. As a young man, I must admit to falling into this category; I simply haven't spent enough time around strangers growing up and now I find conversation to not only be somewhat vexing but also pretty exhausting. What I do in terms of being friendly is preferring to listen more than I speak (though one can do the vice-versa; someone's got to do the talking), offering a helping hand if it is needed, and not intruding on another's time or life in an inconvenient or unpleasant way. If I can help it, at least.

Some folks say that everyone is on the spectrum, but i'd say it's more that everyone's a bit awkward and can empathize with some things. I'd view it like I view a racing video game. It doesn't matter what car you choose, but rather how you use it. Some cars have tons of speed and little handling, some tons of handling and little speed, a few are fairly average, etc. They can all be useful in their own ways. In this sense, autism in not a detriment; merely a different means of going about the race.

I can feel this, especially as someone relatively new and ignorant. I was... Supposedly raised a Christian. I say supposedly because my parents didn't do much by way of teaching me. Just handed a small child a bible and figured i'd read it, much less understand it. In truth, unfortunately, that bible just collected dust. That's not to say i'm entirely upset; i'm rather quite glad to not have old habits a younger mind would've clung to. Might have beeen nice to start earlier than I have, though. Any Christian is on a neverending quest to learn more and grow closer, I feel. I have had some trouble, but I believe the answers we are looking for are with God. There are definitely more people out there that know WAY more than I do, but we need to keep in mind that nobody knows everything. I feel that what it means to be Christian is to seek out the lord, for the lord is truth. Some folks just get so lost and caught up in wording that they leave little room for feeling. Best of luck on your endeavors, everyone.

I think people might be better able to address the issue if they knew details. It's like asking, "I need a new part for my car because it sounds funny. What part should I replace?" We would have to know the model, the year, specifics on the sound, etc. Since I lack details, I can only conjecture. If it is God you are speaking with, then perhaps it is a test. It occurs to me that, if he made promises of rewards and did not deliver (at least, not yet), maybe it is because you expect reward for walking in his ways on some level. Reading through this topic, you seem to get somewhat upset about the absence of fulfillment of the promises. Even though they seemingly came without you asking for them, you want them to come true so badly that you accuse God of being a liar when they do not immediately come through. It could also just be a matter of patience and of faith. Again, I can only conjecture and I don't know what i'm on about. The answers are between God and yourself. Forgive me if i'm wrong.

I read a website/article recently that made some decent points. The link is below. http://www.cjfm.org/resources/statements/should-christians-keep-kosher/ (Sorry. I just couldn't be bothered to type it all out myself.) In any case, I was wondering what thoughts any of you might have on the matter.