Tigger56

Can't a false prophet or leader also use the name of Yeshua or Yashua to lead others astray as well? Look to the fruits as we are told in scripture.

I agree with Debp. God knows all languages. I only know English and those I speak to, also knows this language. So I know the Lord hears when I speak the name Jesus and I know those around me also understand of whom I speak.

I was a quiet baby myself.... but I grew out of it.

Actually being kind is living for Jesus and in Jesus. Don't misunderstand, I do not speak of kindness as acceptance of wrong, I don't mean compromising with evil or permissiveness. Kindness is rooted in love. I can stand for light and for my Lord and be kind. I can refuse to compromise and be kind. I can walk in gentleness and kindness without being weak. In fact, walking the path of the Lord in love and kindness can take an inner strength that can only come from the Lord.

In the need for silence I almost didn't respond to this post. But here I am chattering along. I appreciate the times of silence and solitude and find them each morning as I begin my day. I find moments throughout the day for reflection and prayer. At church, it is a place to worship but it is also a day to serve and show love. If someone starts to gossip, I will tell them that I would prefer not discussing that particular item or person. I will rather ask questions that go back to better topics. I am blessed that at church this is something that rarely happens, most conversations are uplifting and good. But I can control what I am willing to hear. I can do this without developing techniques to put people off. I desire to be loving, kind and approachable. But people know that I will stop comments that are inappropriate. I will stop gossiping or stop those who I call "fixers". I do have an advantage being a pastor, but hope others among themselves follow this path as well. Be loving, be kind, be patient, be approachable, but do not be accepting of wrong conversation, help guide it to light. If you cannot, advise them that you will not listen to gossip, if the subject doesn't change, leave. I follow this rule both in church and out of church.

A good thought.

I'm kind of surprised Who Me by your post. I do not need to attend a nightclub or be in the drug culture to be a friend to sinners. I believe that Unworthy Servant made an encouraging post with a good thought. If we rise each day and surrender the day unto the Lord and truly seek to be a broken vessel unto his will then we truly won't have time for wrong pursuits. I try to be kind unto all people. I know all are God's children and He loves them. I know there are many that are lost and alone and need Him in their lives. So I pray that the Lord will bring people into my path each day. Someone to show kindness to, someone to lift in prayer, someone to help... I have never had to attend a nightclub to find them. When the Lord Jesus sat with sinners to eat, they came to him. They were drawn to him for as a man, he was a man of truth, kindness, love and light. I pray the Lord's light will shine through me and that I am so busy helping others that I truly can walk a path without sin.

I agree you should never "intentionally" cause someone to stumble. But you can't walk around on eggshells either. Who are believers, who are not? sometimes difficult to know since we don't wear name badges declaring it. Also what offends one will not offend another. also people get offended by many, many different things. You walk in love, you walk in truth and do the best you can. Because some believe a devil jumps out of anything of alcohol is a case in point. I won't drink it in front of them if it offends. But purchasing it from a grocery store.... if that offends then all I know is to tell people they may want to order online and get their groceries delivered because they sell things like tobacco (gasp!) and alcohol (double gasp!) at grocery stores and convenience stores.

You're right, but bet it would sell at a gift shop on the beach! Anyway.... world beware! I am wearing my "Ya'll Need Jesus" shirt today!

I think I should put that slogan on a t shirt "If you love Jesus.... share your beer" ingenious!

Me too brother, me too.

So true. Can't remember the last time I had a "beer buzz". I naturally seem to have a large tolerance but don't try to test it. One or two beers is fine for me. I had my oldest brother, born Sept, 1955, one year almost from me, Sept, 1956 die due to alcoholism. I have another brother who is an alcoholic. Both had almost no resistance to the effects of alcohol. My great grandmother was a full blooded Cherokee and they inherited the dark hair and darker skin and apparently the susceptibility to alcohol. My other brother and I take more after our father and have brown hair (now gray) and lighter skin. My brother who looks a lot like me rarely drinks but does occasionally enjoy a beer or mixed drink. I pray for my brother that is an alcoholic. But I don't blame the alcohol for his problems. It was choice. He choice to drink knowing it affected him and he chose to drink to excess. I keep him in my prayers. He is another one that I will keep alcohol hidden from when in my home, not to avoid offence but to not enable.

Melinda12, I never look forward to pain and suffering. I do know that in the human condition we face hills and valleys, we will know good and hard times, it is life. But as Peter, I want to suffer for the Lord's sake and not because of my own sin and error, but that hasn't always been the case for me. I also know that in this fleshly temple we grow older, we see loved ones pass, we see suffering and heartaches in others lives as well as in our own. I have hopefully learned to praise the Lord in sunshine and in sorrow. To do this I must always look past the circumstances of the moment and always look to the Lord, for I believe in their perfect will, their perfect timing and in their perfect love. In regards to the question of is pain and suffering truly necessary to bring us close to Christ? I do believe we are refined in living our lives according to their will, this will bring, at times, pain and suffering. It may not be "necessary" but in this life it is "unavoidable". I live life abundantly in the Lord but I feel pain as I look at the world around me. When the Lord gave me eyes to see and I truly saw others as never before then my pain increased because of the suffering, because of so many lost and alone. So many prayers needed, so much love to show... it is a calling for all Christians. The pain I have isn't always for myself or because of mistakes I make... sometimes yes, but mostly for others. Though it is hard, just as in the birth of a child there appears there must be tears before laughter. One day, the Lord shall wipe all tears away and there will be much laughter.

Yep! I smile almost constantly and love to whistle as well. I like talking with people and telling jokes, etc..... not known as a shy kind of guy. I do tend to walk around high..... high on Jesus. I'm glad my wife learned to put up with me years ago and for some reason loves me with all her heart.

I think a Crack House would be wrong if participating. But what if one goes there to help a friend or relative that is there and is wearing a Jesus shirt? Jesus perhaps shouldn't have sat with prostitutes and sinners in the public view, after all that might have offended others. I think some the "look out for the weaker brother" as a cop out. It allows us to be weaker by hiding the fact that we are Christians. In regards to the Jesus shirt being worn while purchasing beer at a grocery store... don't know if the couple was offended but they didn't appear pleased at the sight of me. What of those in this forum, what are your thoughts if you saw a man, with a big smile (that's the way I usually am) come out of a grocery store wearing a Christian shirt what would you think? Would you judge me? Would you condemn me? Would you think anything at all? Would you be glad to see a fellow Christian? What would be your thoughts if you were in the parking lot and had seen me instead of the older couple?

I would go out of the way not to offend.... in the right circumstances. I have a brother in law that is Baptist and he feels all alcohol is evil, so when they come to our home we never drink or serve any alcohol. But when I am outside going about my business..... I don't plan on the stopping of the purchase of alcohol and I don't plan on not displaying by beliefs. My "All For Jesus" hat probably offends some... but will wear it. My professing the Sabbath probably offends some Christians but will continually defend it. When Paul discusses not eating meat sacrificed to idols as to not to offend a brother. Well, case in point, if I know if offends someone coming to dine with me I will not serve alcohol nor meat sacrificed to idols. Christianity itself offends many but we cannot hide our beliefs. The elderly couple that appeared shocked by me. How do I know if it was the beer shock, ing them, it is an assumption on my part as I didn't actually speak with them.. It could have been my face (it is a lot to take in broad daylight!) It could have been the Jesus shirt, it could have been the beer and the shirt or could have just been the beer and they never noticed the shirt. Or could have even been the USC hat I was wearing (university of South Carolina), there are many Clemson fans in my area, so my hat may offend some of them, a chance I will have to take. If my intention isn't to offend, then why am I responsible for those who are so easily offended.

Obviously joking.... always helps to put an emoji in for us that are a little slow and don't always catch the joke.... sorry, just missed the joke but don't feel bad one man at our church will tell jokes that sometimes go right over my head!

Don't mind honest opinions, but I am allowed to disagree am I not?

A whack over the head and you feel that is Christian? Actually the older couple didn't "stare" me down. They appeared shocked by me, but I actually smiled at them, after all I had committed no sin. I was simply purchasing a perfectly legal item from a grocery store during daylight with no pretense or shame. I was out of beer and had been working outside, so I wanted a cold one later on. There is still the implication that I should be a hypocrite and hide the fact that I am Christian when purchasing beer which implies that only sinner purchase beer! How judgmental and hypocritical is that!

Actually "alcohol" has done none of these things. It is the abuse of alcohol that has done these things. Just like guns are not evil, but the wrong use of them can be. Alcohol is not evil or wrong. It is one of the blessing given to man by the Lord. He is the one that created fermentation and Jesus had no problem enjoying wine. Never to excess. I am the one that wore the shirt with Jesus on it. My question wasn't if that was right or wrong, it was asking for people's opinions on the enjoyment of alcohol and perhaps people's backgrounds. As in my original text, I grew up in a "dry" county. I also grew up in the Bible belt where many Southern Baptists had a real problem with all alcohol and practically believed that a devil jumped out of a bottle of alcohol. In just recent years our state did away with "blue laws" which had prevented the sale of alcohol on Sunday, including restaurants. In my opinion there was no appearance of evil or wrong doing by wearing a shirt with the name of Jesus on it while purchasing beer as I do not consider it to be a sin. It would have been hypocritical of me to make my purchases hiding the fact I am a Christian. Isn't that implying that only sinners buy alcohol?

I normally post such things in "Absolutely Positive" but in our general discussion arena I just thought I would share. A Day Lived Well It has been a hard day, and with great weariness we lie down to rest and sleep, We go to sleep tired, and we awake tired, for the rest needed is not always complete. Work is good, and work must be done, but some days there are burdens beyond work, Not all burdens pass with rest, for there are things that weigh upon us, but we persevere. Being tired from labor and an honest day’s work is a blessing not always recognized, Blessed to have work to do and blessed to have the strength to do what must be done. Weariness from our labor is not the same as weariness of the heart and soul, The burdens of sin and shame can weigh most heavily upon the heart and soul. A day lived well may be a day of much work and labor, a day of many tasks, A day lived well is a day where honor, integrity, and truth are very clearly seen. Tiredness of body is different from being tired from life, weary from all the burdens, There is rest for the body, but is there rest and refreshing for heart and soul? Rest from labor is found in sleep, but rest from wrong choices and sin can elude us, There is a place of rest and there is a place of refreshing for the troubled soul. Go unto the Lord, for our Redeemer lives and His mercy can restore body and soul, A day lived well is a day lived in awareness, a day pleasing in the sight of the Lord. Life can be difficult and the burdens can seem to be never ending, but there is hope, Mental burdens can be greater than physical burdens so we need peace in our heart. To quiet our mind and our soul in times of trial is difficult, but not impossible, Look to the Lord and seek a calm spirit and seek a quiet resting place nigh unto Him. The burden of work passes with rest, and the burden of sin passes with forgiveness, Seek the burdens of sin and the weight of shame and regret to be lovingly removed. Work hard, and walk righteously before the Lord, for this is a day lived well, There will be days of work, and burdens to bear, but there is peace in a day lived well.

I believe the Sabbath is of great importance in our worship of the Lord. The Sabbath is mentioned throughout scripture. I always ask people one question, Who can make a day holy? The answer is only the Lord can do this for He is holy. There is only one day mentioned in scripture as being made holy and that is the Sabbath. That Sabbath is the seventh day known as Saturday on the Roman calendar. The observance of the Sabbath and or Sunday or some other day of the week has been discussed a good bit in this forum, each with our own set of beliefs. As you will see from your responses and from the responses to my post. Study the scriptures, pray over it and be led by the Lord in regards to this. If we love the Lord we are to keep his commandments. We should seek to please Him, so what will please him? I pray God will guide you in this. I

Thanks for sharing that story. I love hearing the personal and practical stories shared. I believe in a phrase, "there are no coincidences to the surrendered man". It is ever being aware of God and believing that they are in charge of our lives if we surrender it to them. So I surrender each day and yes, as you, I thank them for an empty parking space, etc... I will pray for those things and many simple things. It is a simple under the breath prayer. I pray for people in an accident if I pass by one, I pray for those in an ambulance if one goes by. I pray for a break in traffic if I need one. I pray for a person that goes by that appears to be lost and alone in their walk in life. If I see a person covered in tattoos and piercings I lift them in prayer, not in judgement to condemn but in true desire for God's mercy and help for one of his children, for I believe God loves all of mankind, He loves without approving of all of their actions. If I see a homosexual couple I lift them in prayer. Prayers of thankfulness, prayers for others, prayers for needs simple or complex.... all of it is part of each and every day.

You don't know how much I would enjoy that.... so here's to one day!

Wow! I'm way under, I typically drink only 3 to 4 beers a week! Even less in the winter, but when working outside and getting super hot in this humid South Carolina weather... man a cold beer is good!