Alive

It may sound strange to folks, but it’s not so much the scriptures that convince me...but the Lord I have come to know. And a bigger picture that is between the lines of the words.

I agree in part. I do not agree that sonship can be annulled. It simply doesn’t fit the Plan as I understand it. Also...I think there is more than what many of us have been taught regarding Gods Grace.

I am not defending such things. That doesn’t fit into my understanding of reality. Its seems an irrelevant fiction that’s just doesn’t compute.

It grieves me to read this FF. Truly, it does. It feels the same as the mourning I experience when considering the degradation all around us.

We don’t often think about such things. We just live it, but I suspect all sons can relate. After all...we are family. Just typing that last sentence makes my soul jump.

I have learned to think of that 'fear of the Lord' admonition to mean more along the lines of being in awe of Him. Its a difficult feeling or sense to describe--I reckon. But I have been 'afraid of consequences' once or twice. :-)

Entropy is not your friend. I believe it entered the Creation's dynamic at the fall. Fellas--do some research on how the "increase in the rate" of mutation in the human genome is increasing in each generation. We are not what we once were. Note that bit--increase in the rate. Most all mutations are deleterious. Entropy is the key to all of this. First life is another very interesting study!

Yes--and this is fundamental to the dangers of the 'religion of climate change'. If you were unaware of such a glaring reality, you might want to revisit the issue altogether. You do realize that a slight warming is actually good for mankind? Such an example is recorded in European history. Having said that, I remain unconvinced of any balanced global warming. Weather changes--yes, but man isn't causing it. Time will tell, but I am convinced that this is a tool being used by globalists who have coopted the gullible and easily manipulated masses who need a cause to validate their own existence. The scientific community has always been 'moved' by forces extant throughout the years. They are frail and vulnerable humans just like any other body.

Don't underestimate fanatics. The Middle East is a different animal, IMO. Tactical nukes isn't necessarily MAD. Just a real mess.

These are all good points. I was thinking about the nuclear threat potential.

We have no choice but to wait and see what happens, but I suspect, if A new base is built closer to Israel--Israel will make preemptive strikes. This is certainly piling on stress to a stressful situation. It doesn't make sense at the face of it. This is why I am wondering if it's a strategy between Trump and Israel...to knock out Iran.

I learn stuff through the feasts, the tabernacle design and the book of psalms. ”all scripture is profitable......” The early disciples taught Christ that way.

I am not sure what to think about this. on the one hand I applaud bring troops home. On the other hand there were just Bout 50 personnel there. This appears to be more of a giving Turkey permission and if the result is increased threat to Israel, that could mean starting the war. Could that be the plan? Pushing the inevitable conflict to a sooner date?

I am impressed by the effort all of you folks have put into this stuff. This isn't something that the Lord ever has led me to search out much beyond the reading and what you run into as a matter of course through the years. After reading the thread---the impression I am left with is that none of you know for sure. I have wondered over the years a time or three why the Lord hadn't opened my eyes to understand the book of Revelation. I reckon He leaves that for other members of the Body. I actually remember a time where I thought the Lord was telling me to leave it alone. Go figure.

Oh boy! I have no skin in this game my friend. I have stated my views. That is enough. I attempted some levity and am sorry if it offended you. For the record--I believe in climate. I see it every day. I believe in weather as well. I see it every day. I also admit that we 'may be' in a warming trend. What I don't believe is the doom and gloom related to these things. As I have said--lets talk in 10 years and we will most surely know then.

God moved on from the physical to the spiritual when His Church was born. Although natural Israel still/will play a role, His sons are now spirit born from above. Jesus Christ is prophet, priest and king and the first of many brothers--He is nowhere depicted as a father.

The ten years is this ridiculous claim by some that we are done in by man- caused global warming. I think the models are as reliable as my claim about underground water.

I just dreamed that up to make a point.

Oh Lord no. NO, No. It is a term of endearment that myself and folks have used for so many years.

I hear you and am praying that the Lord will lighten your load and heart and give you His strength and peace. for your husband and children, also.

The Lord brought me on a similar path, GreyJay. Believe me, I understand. I've mentioned it before. The Jacob lesson.

This is weird because I haven't discussed this for a long time. The Lord has occupied me with different stuff. I am glad to be thinking about it and working through it. I find that my mind can make a bunch of arguments for predestination, but it seems unnecessary, somehow. Perhaps that is the Lord. Its not new--who am I to put my hand to something that so many others already have. He has in miraculous ways shown me that faith and confession are required and very important, but that lesson didn't negate the other. I will share the experience I just alluded to. I was a young man still and pastoring a church. The Lord woke me up at 2 o'clock one morning and told me to go see this fella I had witnessed to. He told me right where he would be. I met him driving taxi cab. The small church wasn't wealthy. Anyway, I woke my wife and told her. She thought I was crazy. Nothing new there. I drove to where the Lord said Buddy would be. I didn't know what else to do because the Lord just said, 'go see Buddy Breau and he will be in such a place". I got out of the car and went to his cab window and asked him if he had thought about what we talked about. He said "yes--I believe" I said, praise the Lord and went home. Approximately an hour later--Buddy was robbed and shot in the head and killed. The lesson that night was, "pay attention, this stuff is serious". That very pointed lesson was a milestone and meshes perfectly with being predestined by God. There have been other dramatic lessons and none of them showed me different. Days later talking to his new young wife, was another story.

I suppose this is true in the main. Every soul is different. My path was a bit different. I didn't come to this particular belief through a denominational creed. Anyway, it wasn't until years later that I looked back at my conversion experience in light of 'predestination'. It came over time and knowing Him. I honestly don't understand how believers can not believe that God predestines us. The scriptures are so clear--to me. For some reason, its an argument that has gone on for a long time. This is a mystery to me.

That word 'dragged' in Acts is the same word used in John 'draw'. I understand all of the counters and scriptures to 'predestination'. A person can take a few scriptures and construct pretty much anything as has been done since the beginning by a ton of people. In my estimation, the entire body of scripture needs to be taken into consideration when desiring to come to a conclusion on an issue. In addition to the lines of scripture; is the mind and intent of our Creator that is everywhere between the lines. The entirety of that, makes for a tapestry that depicts a great saga. I 'believe' first because of the gift of faith through grace and then go on to continue to believe by both choice and grace. "Lord help my unbelief". How many times have members uttered that cry! I can't even breathe without Him. I am completely and totally in width, breadth and height dependent on Him. After conversion, my freewill is still limited. He hems me in and keeps me in the hollow of His hand. Nobody can snatch me away and I can't walk away. I tried once. Praise the Lord! I understand you don't agree. I have talked about these things for over 45 years with all kinds of folks. I know I can't convince you and I don't need to. That is up to the Lord. Of this, I am also quite sure. May the good Lord take a likin' to ya. :-)

There are many 'choices' after conversion--aren't there? Can the pot say to the potter....? John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me adraws him; and I will braise him up on the last day. Acts 16:19 But iwhen her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and jdragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. Rom. 8:29 For those whom He aforeknew, He also bpredestined to become cconformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the dfirstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He apredestined, He also bcalled; and these whom He called, He also cjustified; and these whom He justified, He also dglorified. Eph. 1:5 1He apredestined us to badoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, caccording to the 2kind intention of His will, Eph. 1:11 1also we 2ahave obtained an inheritance, having been bpredestined caccording to His purpose who works all things dafter the counsel of His will,