Billiards Ball

Follow Matthew 18: 1) Ask your wife if you can ease your mind by asking her some difficult questions. 2) If the answers are still problematic, follow the rules for discussion in Matthew 18

Did Jesus literally die for me? Did He literally exist? Am I going to a literal Heaven? These are three questions besides Creation that have to do whether God's Word is literal or metaphor. There is much evidence for Evolution out there AND for Creation. You'll have to decide at some point.

"Beloved child".

I'm a born again Christian. I love you, dear brother, but let's not argue. Debate? Sure. But not fight. This has become a fight. And I don't see Predestination as the worst thing, at all. We both contend for the faith once delivered (Jesus is God, King and Savior, men cannot save themselves). Blessings to you, brother. Please forgive me.

Hard for me to continue much past this: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined" does NOT link foreknowledge to predestination . . . ?!! It's a sequence, foreknew (who would trust via free will), predestined them (to Christlikeness, partial likeness now, full likeness at the Rapture), these are called, justified, glorified (born again, saved). I'm also struggling through Rom 8 "those whom He foreknew" is "all about what God does and not remotely about God's foreknowledge of our actions." . . . ?! John 3:16 is interpreted by Calvinists, to fit Calvinism, using added words, "God so loved [a subset of] the people of the world, that He [forced] whoever trusts to not perish [if they continue with perseverance of the saints]." You may not be a Calvinist, but the ultimate logical end of predestination regarding salvation/total sovereignty regarding election is Calvinism. I'm further troubled by your combative spirit. "How many errors is it possible to make, in one post? You must be trying for some kind of record!" Either speak to me as your brother in Christ or argue with someone else, if the goal is to be hurtful, divisive.

Let's narrow the focus:All five times predestination is mentioned in the NT it is tied to God's foreknowledge of actions, not forcing our actions, and to the destiny of born again people to be made morally perfect for Heaven. They are predestined--due to assurance--to be made like Christ, later. And the most common passages used for predestination regarding salvation are badly interpreted (the clay pots of the OT are nations, not people; Esau never served Jacob, rather he received presents from Jacob) or insert imagined words (God so loved [a subset of!] the world that He gave His Son so that whoever [is elect!] will never perish [if they persevere!] . . . ). The sects that believe that election compromises free will also tend to reject Israel and favor the Palestinian cause and/or teach works salvation because they replace Israel in the NT with the "elect". I'm okay with people who believe in election determining salvation where they still have a trust gospel, not works, and a zeal for Israel.

Hey folks! If you want X from me to continue you must do Y for me, or X will stop by tomorrow.

I used to believe in Predestination but I guess I was destined not to. All five times predestination is mentioned in the NT it is tied to God's foreknowledge of actions, not forcing our actions, and to the destiny of born again people to be made morally perfect for Heaven. If God predestines rather than gives us free will, He predestines people to Hell, which is not love, and God IS love.

Perhaps the goal in visiting the funeral is to lift Jesus's name--many people are open to the gospel, especially at funerals.

Thank you, but that is not what I was speaking of. Jesus gave me power to judge, to cast out demons, to perform miracles--and to forgive. I'm not commanding you to forgive, I'm telling you instead that if you choose to forgive, you need not petition the Father to do so or even Jesus--you simply forgive--in the power of the Spirit--a magnificent, effective forgiveness that will change your heart.

Most Christans make an effort to forgive and/or ask God to forgive. The power of forgiveness is on YOU if you've trusted Jesus for salvation. To really forgive, think of the greatest words, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!" then say I FORGIVE THEM IN THE POWER OF JESUS. Repeat whenever a general or specific offense arises. You'll know you've done it right when the pain is replaced by joy. The opposite of bitterness is God's joy, not nothing. The opposite of anger is God's love, not quietness, etc.

Grace (and wisdom, righteousness, justice) of God were on Him because He is and was and will always be God. It's like saying, "BB's wisdom is on BB."

Are you aware of the verse where Jesus "heals all who come to Him, including epileptics AND demoniacs?" Per the NT, sometimes afflictions are demonic, sometimes not!

You aren't explaining grace but how to block or unblock the Holy Spirit's influence in our lives. Mercy - a criminal who should get 20 years gets 2 Grace - a criminal who should get 20 years walks away free and the jury awards him some money to start a new life

I think it will be important to you to have at least two kinds of Christian friends: 1) People strong in Christ, who've walked closely with Jesus a long time 2) People with a very similar background, who've wasted a lot of time and will keep on this journey with you--and you with them--for accountability I'm here if you need a friend to talk to offline.

Jesus came down from a throne, to redeem us. Trust Him for eternal life!

Congress can do it. The President can not introduce new laws.

Cutting off opportunity (as in the criminal triangle) helps with temptation.

I'm excited for your progress. I had about a year where I was unemployed in the traditional sense and did side hustles including several paid writing gigs. It was a healthy move for me to go back to a workplace.

In this economy? I would get a job if I could, while they still can be secured, since I always feel better working than not. Enjoying work is one of the few things that has lasting meaning in Ecclesiastes. I think it's also important for you to have a job so that you're forced to leave your home, rather than become a shut in. Get out there if you can!

Considering our modern culture and the fact that my wife recently wore her wedding dress for a several mile stroll through our neighborhood for fun, the issue isn't whether the pacifier is culturally accepted, but whether you are able to live your life apart from fear and anxiety. Pray about it.

In both testaments, God shows mercy and times, judgment at times. To understand both better, realize they intersect at the cross: We all deserve judgment, so God judged Jesus. God wants to show us all mercy, so God struck Jesus. God will punish all sinners, so Jesus will be Lord of Judgment Day. God will free all who trust Him, so Jesus died and rose, so you can trust Him.

It's vital to take people at their word, and given the same message again, my response would be the same. Suicide prevention is based on prompt response to cries for help. I'm sorry you are having struggles/have had past struggles.

Get immediate counseling from a born again church if you're thinking of ending your life. PLEASE.

In His Name means, "What would you ask God if you watched God watch you while you asked?" Would I ask for vengeance and the life of my enemies In His Name? Or would His will conform my prayers over time, even as I prayed them?