On 11/10/2022 at 8:31 PM, Not of the World said:

I'm new here too.

What would you like to discuss?  

A couple days after Thanksgiving, I was a little bit depressed and started thinking about my former life. And started wanting to get back into it, and I almost did I almost went to the club to be part of that club for a night but after getting dressed up for it, and wearing my coat and all that I ended up going over to the park and sitting at the park and talking to God.

I wasn't angry with God and I wasn't beseeching God and I wasn't arguing and all that kind of stuff. I was just talking to him like I would talk to anybody else.

And then it started snowing. And I love walking in the snow when it's snowing. To me at the moment when it happened I just felt like God was patting me on my back and saying everything's okay. It was like a warm embrace.

I ended up walking on some of the paths, even in my high heels. Probably something suicidal for some, if you're familiar with walking and heels. ( you dont walk down dirt paths )

And then I drove back home.

Do you ever have those kind of moments or you feel that God is giving you a warm embrace?

18 hours ago, Sower said:

The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom by Corrie Ten Boom

Ebay, used (most like new) cheap, 4-5 bucks, free shipping.....

 

 

 

"I pray that God forgive them..." Corrie Ten Boom stood naked with her older sister Betsie, watching a concentration camp matron beating a prisoner. "Oh, the poor woman," Corrie cried. "Yes. May God forgive her," Betsie replied. And, once again, Corrie realized that it was for the souls of the brutal Nazi guards that her sister prayed. Both woman had been sent to the camp for helping the Jews. Christ's Spirit and words were their guide; it was His persecuted people they tried to save--at the risk of their own lives; it was His strength that sustained them through times of profound horror. Here is a book aglow with the glory of God and the courage of a quiet Christian spinster whose life was transformed by it. A story of Christ's message and the courage woman who listened and lived to pass it along--with joy and triumph!

 

 

 

 

I think for myself that probably the most standout part when I read the book was at the end where she had to learn to forgive the guard

On 11/14/2022 at 6:18 PM, Alive said:

Perhaps a less sexually charged analogy to make a point is appropriate considering a general audience.

If i may, i did not see it in the way you recieved it. But the point was well made. Your own reaction proved that.

God's peace be with you. 🌺

On 11/14/2022 at 2:15 PM, Starise said:

Thanks for this clarification. I was aware of that but didn't convey it in totality here. 

And yes...it is complete nonsense. Anyone know where I can find a real decent church? I don't think there are any around here that are spirit filled. It's full of wonderful people following arcane teachings.

My brother stated to me, we should never look at the older churches as archaic, as they were led by people who followed the will of God to. We would not be where we are at now, if they had not followed God.

On 11/14/2022 at 9:25 AM, angels4u said:

I love the  story from Corrie Ten Boom,did you see "The Hiding place?"

Now you caught me. Lol. When i get home i will have to look at the book title, because i don't recall seeing it. Now that i'm embarrassed.  😳

On 11/14/2022 at 9:30 AM, Starise said:

I think we need the verse level and the context to often get a correct interpretation of what was actually said, who said it, why they said it, who they were speaking to etc.

This is the difference between reading and study. Some of the bible we can simply read like a book and get a lot from it. In other portions we can't really safely do that and come away with the true meaning.

Most of the translations of English bibles which had original texts in Hebrew and Greek are fairly accurate, but there are sometimes exceptions to that rule as words used can be misunderstood.

You mentioned  common ground the 1st 4 gospels share. Yes this is true, however there are also differences. Just look at the accounts of the resurrection among the gospels. Then don't let it drive you crazy because there are explanations for those differences.

Knowing something about Jewish culture can be helpful at times, the days they value and why they value them and how this might in some way apply to other parts of the bible.

I learned a lot by questioning every sermon I hear. Most pastors probably would not want me in their church lol. I drive SS teachers crazy. If they aren't going to let me teach then I'm going to give them a run for thier money It's healthy to question everything. Different denominations focus on certain things they feel are important. Why is it so important to them and WHY did it cause them to split into yet another denomination? Why do denominations have their own schools? I think we know the answer to that one. Sometimes it's good , sometimes it isn't. 

 They all have a comeback answer for everything they do. For instance, why do churches baptize infants? It is literally nowhere in any bible. The answer will be different depending on the denomination. In the church I attend now it's all wrapped up in covenants, and they see it as a dedication, or maybe that was just to get me off of their back. Then why call it "infant baptism" knuckleheads?

This is only one example and the more liberal the church is, the easier it will be to see them all "playing church".  These churches exist for others who only want to play church, or go through the motions and feel religious while going against many of the bible's teachings.

Expository preaching is great if they are explaining what they read, especially if it takes up in successive passages the next church service. Just cherry picking a verse though is pretty shallow if the pastor doesn't give any context. There are motivated pastors and lazy pastors who would rather keep it simple so as to avoid too many questions or concerns from the congregation. They want people who just come to church, pay their money and go home. 

Some of the best preaching i have heard came from video's my brother has of a paster, now with God, who used puppets and props to help teach the Gospels. 

On 11/14/2022 at 8:34 AM, JohnR7 said:

Sometimes I still use the name expotheo. Meaning expository theology. It would take a book to define every word in the Bible. The very first word: "Beginning" could not be explained even if you used every book in the world. It would take a dictionary for every word that talks about having the Mind of Christ. 

John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Sir, i hope you don't take this as poking, or finger pointing. Lol

Not in this post, but the one before you stated, "We usually only quote the most important part." this was in reference to scripture passages. 

Honestly, i dont think there is a most important part, unless intended for that days message.

I will read a passage, and a couple of verses will stand out. Then a week later read the same passage. And another verse will stand out more, and i will wonder why i had not noticed it

it is in the moment of reading God's Word, that He chooses for us what He knows is best.

1 hour ago, enoob57 said:

The science of interpretation of written material, called hermeneutics, requires a step-by-step process ending in contextual analysis of the whole sieve of Scripture... every portion of study:  grammar, historical, cultural, contextual (immediate passage, chapter, book, testament, whole council) requires work and labor in the objective format of His written word...

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

A book that was given to me a few months back that I really enjoyed reading and there was so much more in the pages than just reading the book I was just floored. The book was written by a lady by the name of Corrie Ten Boom, and in one of the passages that fits here really well. She says that reading scripture is like eating a candy bar you don't sit there and try to figure out what the ingredients are you just enjoy the candy bar.

No maybe that's a little bit too simplistic of a view of looking at the scripture. But when we take apart verse by verse what is written or even word by word in some cases it really takes away from the fullness of the scripture in my opinion.

If I recall reading somewhere someone's comment, that scripture is like reading a love letter from God to us.

I do understand what you mean by grammar, historical, cultural, and other things. I guess you could say there are many ways of reading scripture, or that God talks to each of us in our own ways in the scripture.

I never majored in literature, but I've always been fascinated with literature especially poetry. But over these past few months and reading the scripture especially in the Gospels I find that there is a lot of unique setup that has been done I think for our benefit.

As I've listened to the preachers over the months that I've been Christian I've noticed one little error. And that is that almost every time there is preaching that is done it is always with a short verse and not covering a larger perspective of scripture. So here I have a few examples of what I am talking about

If you look in the gospel of Mark, you'll notice that Jesus is talking about what is the kingdom of God like and you'll see that he does the parable of the lamp, of the measure, the seed growing by itself, and the mustard seed and I think that in answer to those same parables just beyond it we have a series of Miracles that take place.

And each of the Miracles in turn start out with the simplest going to the most complex in faith.

Jesus calms the storm. The next is the demon that comes out of the caves. And I want to point out with this, that the man himself had no control but it was the demons who caused him to run up to Jesus screaming "what are you going to do with us".

The next reading is kind of two in one the first being Jairus with his daughter and then the next is the woman with the hemorrhage.

And finally Jesus making the comment after the men came to him saying that his daughter had died. "Do not be afraid, only have faith"

I have found a lot of comparison between the gospel of Matthew and of Mark in the sense that there is a lot of depth in larger passages than just a simple verse. I'm not saying that simple verses are not necessary, but I am saying that there is more to be found than just in one sentence.

On 11/9/2022 at 5:36 AM, Kat70s said:

In my old fundie (fundamentalist) days, this was called "cherry picking" the Bible. We were supposed to follow all the commandments...but while avoiding pork we'd be wearing mixed fabrics...

I am amazed how many denominations don't read Scripture...I quoted a verse about "David danced" and was told dancing wasn't allowed in the Bible so that verse wasn't in there...

No person is perfect, no church is perfect...

My brother was telling me that church is today are more verse based in their thinking then they are in actually retaining the word in the sense of reading it as a whole

And I have to agree with him because at church last Sunday one of the preachers was making a whole speech on four words of a phrase. And when I read the scripture that he took it out of the rest of the paragraph in the scripture was not what he was talking about in the first place

On 11/7/2022 at 4:37 AM, Desopixi Seilynam said:

Verily Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this good news shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman has done, be told for a memorial of her.  Matthew 26:13
Jesus speaking of Lazarus' sister Mary (John 11:2) who put ointment on His feet.

We don't read Paul speaking of her, and neither does any denomination make any regular mention of her (besides perhaps what a preacher may happen to preach)

But clearly Jesus said "wheresoever this good news shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman has done, be told for a memorial of her"

So how are we to take that? Should every sermon preaching the 'gospel' include something about that Mary?
I don't think so, but what we can see is that the four core 'gospels' Matthew Mark, Luke and John all say something about her.

 

I think more respect is needed, clearly.

8 hours ago, missmuffet said:

I see a lot of the world on Worthy.

Agreed

On 11/7/2022 at 2:05 AM, JohnD said:

I agree that non-Catholic Christians tend not to give Miryam bat Eli (Mary the Mother of Jesus) the honor that is due her. She is, after all, God's choice for the unbelievably harrowing task.  To be:

1. the gestational surrogate of the last prototype human being (1 Corinthians 15:45) Adam = prototype Note also: Jesus never called Mary "mother" or "my mother" but "Woman."
2. to bear the shame and pain of being doubted by all as to the legitimacy of the pregnancy (Matthew 1:19 and the Jesus son of Pantera [a Roman sodier] lie that impugns Mary) 
3. some believe John 8:41 is a snide inference to Jesus' legitimate birth being called into question an thus a lifelong stigma both he and hims family and his mother lived with
4. Joseph did change his mind about divorcing Mary (the Bible calls him a just man for not wanting to have her stoned in the first place) but there is only one other inferred mention of him after that (when Jesus was 12 and remained in the Temple courts "his parents" chided him... Joseph may have died, or left eventually. He was nowhere to be found when Jesus handed off the responsibility of Mary's care to John (John 16:26-27)
5. Mary not only endured the additional stigma of people doubting her legitimacy, the added pain of child birth as a virgin, the trek to Bethlehem while about to give birth, doing so in a barn / parking garage for 1st Century C.E. mode of transportation... raising that perfect child among siblings who must've hated him, but she watched him die the more cruel, agonizing execution known to man

But Mary will tell you herself she was not immaculately conceived. That is the Roman Catholic way of trying to explain what science later learned was the gestational surrogacy of the fully functional holy embryo that God the Word became by the lone creation of the Father (John 1:14 / 1 Corinthians 15:45). The trouble with regressive virgin births is that no matter how far you go back, there has to be another one and then another and so on. Jesus is the Adam the Father created. The Adam Jesus created was a full grown man on day one. The Adam the Father created was gestated from the embryonic stage to meet all the legal requirements of being born the Son of man (i.e. Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David...) without having the genetic fallen nature of man.

Roman Catholics in their veneration of Mary (which is a form of the Queen of heaven cult [Jeremiah 7:18,  Jeremiah 14:18-19, Jeremiah 14:25] ) praying to her, worshiping her, and even classifying her as co-redemptrix with Christ... also the distorted phrase Mother of God... 

While none of that is biblical, and no doubt extremely exacerbating to Mary, I agree with you most Christians do not giver her the due respect and admiration she deserves.

I hope I don't come across to you as "reading the manual of an earth mover." I do believe in citing evidence in God's Manual... but not just firing unexplained verses at people (unless they are the definitive answer, of course).

Be blessed.

You show a lot of personal views, that are more personal than scriptural. 

I can not agree with most you have said. Not really sure where you are coming from.

1 hour ago, David1701 said:

Mary was indeed blessed by God; however, the reason for that was not that she was the mother of Jesus; rather, it was because she heard the word of God and kept it.

Luke 11:27,28 (WEB)

 27  It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!”  

  28  But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”

Anyone who hears the word of God and keeps it is blessed.

Part of the trouble here is that Roman Catholicism teaches that Mary was blessed in ways that are untrue; e.g., they teach that she was born sinless; they teach that Jesus was sinless because she was; they teach that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, Mediatrix and Co-redemptrix; and, they teach that she ascended into heaven without dying.

The above means that the expression "blessed Mary" carries a great deal of baggage with it, and most genuine Christians (if they know about the issues) would not use it at all.

Sorry to disagree with you but I feel blessed knowing that Mary an average everyday person was willing to say yes and believe in faith that she would become the mother of Jesus. So yeah she would be special to me at least. Maybe not so much to you because you're a guy you don't quite understand that. I'm not a mother but I have a deep love for children, and I think that's inherent with women that have accepted Jesus as Lord. Maybe there's something special in that accepting Jesus for women to have a deeper sense of nurturing.

So at least for me I think it's good to say blessed Mary. And if others don't like it it's their problem

7 hours ago, JohnD said:

I believe you'd really appreciate the teaching of the late Doctor Chuck Missler (Koinonia House Ministry) he got into the nooks and crannies of scripture.

Until he went into the ministry himself he taught Bible classes one night a week at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California. If you can't get into his exhaustive library of sermons and Bible studies at K-House, try Calvary Chapel. We used to attend Horizon Christian Fellowship during our 14 years in San Diego. There they had cassettes of every Missler study he did at CCCM. 

A very staunch teacher on Acts 17:11 which he said means don't take his (or anyone else's) word for it. Study the scriptures. 

Also the late Walter Martin has a listening library at (WalterMartin.org) which his daughter and son-in-law maintain.

Martin founded Christian Research Institute.

Ok so you seem resonable, on a different subject. I have this question. When i ask at church, all i get is sarcasm.

We understand that Jesus is the author of the scripture. And the scripture even states the this is via the Holy Spirit. Mary says, "from this day forward, all nations will call me blessed"

The comments other than sarcasm include, that is catholic teaching.

So, they believe the catholics came before the scripture, how absurd. Why are Christians not observing that Mary is blessed. I never hear anyone ever referred to Mary as blessed Mary Mother of Jesus.

I know that Jesus says that anyone can be the mother the fact is that only one person was the mother and she said yes. I think that we should at least have some respect for Mary and not throw her in a corner as if she was nothing. People have more respect for Queen Elizabeth than they do blessed Mary the mother of Jesus.

It just seems to me that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the ones that feel it is important to have it written in the scripture. Otherwise why would it be in the scripture in the first place if there was not some importance put to blessed Mary.

On 7/16/2020 at 6:47 PM, Daniel Marsh said:

Thank You both

Dimitri Determan, a man that was born in Romania. Was given Visions about America, experienced a lot of hardships from the Russians and the Lord led him to come to America and preach. 

I found his story to be really inspiring

On 7/30/2020 at 2:49 AM, Figure of eighty said:

I feel , despite my situation( backsliding), God gives me dreams but I don't understand the meaning. Not completely anyway. 

Can I pray for this gift?

I went and spoke to a man I know about your question. I know he understands things a lot better than most.

He said that the Lord wants you to write down your dreams. And then he said that you should pray over them and then write down whatever comes to your mind.

On 10/30/2022 at 11:13 AM, JohnD said:

Jesus the LORD said that the traditions of man nullify the Word of God and make worship of him in vain (Mark 7:13 / Mark 7:7). 

There is a biblical procedure / method of studying and reading the scriptures that avoid the traditions of man and our own confusion by allowing He who wrote the Bible to interpret the Bible (which the passage states we are to know first).

You would think what we are to know first would be "Jesus saves" or "God is God and no one else is was or ever will be" or "You need a Savior..."

But no, the Bible teaches we are to let God interpret His own Word.

As zealous as God is about his name, Psalm 138:2 concludes that God magnifies His Word above even His name.

We should take deliberate notice of how important the Word of god is to God.

2 Peter 1:20–21 (KJV)
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

"Prophecy" is to profess. As you will note in my signature, by definition prophecy is not just predictive prophecy as many assume. It can speak to the past, present, or the future.

1. So this verse (above) refers to scripture in terms "no portion" of scripture is of any private interpretation. 
2. The scripture and interpretation comes not by the will of man (that means any human being)
3. But the Prophets spake / wrote as God the Holy Spirit moved / inspired them
4. Ergo, God the Holy Spirit alone interprets the Bible correctly

Then there is a method to test the spirits to be certain the interpretation is truly from the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:1) by the scriptures themselves (Acts 17:11) under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit who leads us to all truth (John 16:13).

Hope helps.

 

I know that I tend to pay attention to words, even little details.

In the Gospel of John the first chapter I think you will find the answer that you were looking for.

John's gospel States, "in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Then later on in the same chapter it states, "and the Word became flesh and dwelt Among Us."

We understand that the Word is Jesus.

And now you know why the Word is so important to God. Or as it states in Scripture, all things were made for Jesus and every knee shall Bend for his name.

I think you'll find this completely agrees with what you've written

On 10/30/2022 at 10:49 AM, JohnD said:

First of all, WELCOME TO ETERNAL LIFE ! ! !

Secondly, I used to indulge in chat rooms almost 30 years ago (which were so addictive to me then, well I'm better off on message boards... ).

I am also not a very fast typist (with many corrections needed). So message board it is.

I completely understand your point about chatting with Christians.

I must admit skipping over the many posts even here that indulge in the type of conversations you are speaking of.

I do believe in Bible study and teaching it's principles. But that doesn't necessarily mean "quoting the manual" at each and every point. 

Your Screen Name is what caught my attention. My Beloved Wife (of 42 years this Christmas) spoke of how she liked to eat from the

mud pies she used to make as  a small girl. Her mother took her to the Doctor for it and he diagnosed it as a mineral deficiency. My Beloved

said she simply liked the taste. LOL

Anyway, I hope you stick around here to chat / converse on message boards and that it is more like what you are looking for.

Oh, I wanted to add, that I am on Quora Digest for the same reasons you mentioned. Many of the people I interact with are non-believers or

new believers there. My handle over there is John DBaptiste (observer of life).

 

Lol I actually call myself dirt eater not because I like eating dirt but because of my job. I work on the electrical and computer side of heavy equipment or in other words Earth moving equipment.

My brother's and my nephews are always so jealous of my work because I get to play with the toys that they all dream about. Bulldozers, motor graders you name it. Oh and I drive them too. I test them out on the back lot to see how they operate.

Eat Your Hearts Out Boys LOL

23 hours ago, missmuffet said:

Don't put words in my mouth. 

I had that problem here too of people putting words in my mouth

On 10/9/2022 at 2:30 PM, missmuffet said:

That is the problem with "demoninations" they have their own little beliefs. Even if they are not biblical. There is a lot of false teaching in Churches today and we see that on Worthy. Where are these people on Worthy getting all this false teaching? From their Church or reading the Word of God and giving the Words their own meaning?

People need to search their heart. Am I truly with Jesus Christ? 

But there is also a problem with doing it yourself. No guidance. 

From all i have read in the scripture, one thing is clear. God does not want us to be individuals. 

Even when God created Adam, he made a partner for him, Eve.

Then there is another fact, God is all about Family. Just in the fact of Adam being male and Eve, female. We were not created like worms, as they are both at the same time. 

We were created to have family. 

The step greater than this. God ordains the Jews to build His Temple. It is evident, God wants us to worship Him with others, and not only as individuals.

On 10/14/2022 at 3:09 PM, David1701 said:

Don't heed instruction; don't listen to those who are more experienced and trying to help; just focus on yourself and your relationship with the Lord; and, whatever you do, never, ever accept correction! 

Lone-wolf Christianity and deception, here we come...

Your "advice" in this post, is some of the most appallingly bad I've come across recently.  I hope and pray that no-one pays any attention to it, including you!

I appreciate what you're trying to say David, but I don't think it would be right not to accept correction. Because sometimes we need to be corrected.

Wasn't there a disagreement between Paul and Peter at one point. If they who were both baptized in the Holy Spirit can come to disagreements then I think that it's likely that we could too

17 hours ago, missmuffet said:

Save yourself some frustration and don't argue with those who think they know the truth. Search for yourself don't listen to these people. Find out the true literal truth and pray to God to show it to you. And don't let those on Worthy make you feel bad about yourself. I have been through this before. 

Thank you

3 hours ago, JohnD said:

Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, Vincent Price... 

the greats.

I loved watching Vincent Price movies

2 minutes ago, David1701 said:

There is absolutely no need to be insulting.  I'll make allowances, because you are a young-in-the-faith Christian, but you will really need to grow out of that.

The next time you are transfigured and talk to Moses and Elijah, let us all know.

It doesn't matter Jesus talked to the Dead playing and simple and he also talked to Lazarus who was dead for 3 Days in the Tomb. Just like Jesus said about the devil cannot cast himself out the same thing is true about God God cannot break his own laws.

And by the way I say it as I see it when I called you what I did