D. Adrien

Thanks for asking Michael. Doing very well! Neither my wife or I have anything to complain about. Mowed the lawn for the first time this year and am in the process of replacing a fascia board that rotted behind a rain gutter for the porch. Plan on the replacement being synthetic material so I don't have to deal with this again. May your blessings be as plentiful as mine! I find that being able to focus on prayer also helps me to focus on reading scripture. For me, both endeavors usually include my mind wandering into all kinds of other areas except for what I'm trying to do in the present moment.

No, it isn't Eastern religion meditation. I force myself to focus on the word of God and nothing else.

I use to meditate filling my mind with verses from scripture or some of my own concoctions and I'd do 3 hours of this kind of prayer. It would seem like just a few minutes would go by after the first half hour. Upon finishing I'd have the same as a runner's high for a while.

Thank you Starise, I comfort myself with Deut. 29:29 when I am at a roadblock; The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. I have had answers in the past concerning questions I've had and I know that God has perfect timing for revealing Himself. Again, thank you.

I have an ongoing list of paradoxes, is there such a word? I know that my lack of understanding plays a huge role in this. Here are a couple by how I reason: Free will and predestination. (Both exist simultaneosly)? Can one find the narrow gate without being led? (Being led by the Holy Spirit but not led to the proper gate)?

All I can say is that God alone has righteous judgement and leave it at that.

I'd question if perhaps it wasn't the god of this world using these guys to murder and destroy.

Yes farouk, and the same Paul also asks; "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" Also from the book of Romans. This is how I perceive my relationship with Christ, which is always evolving; Obedience beginning with repentance which places me in the attitude of Mat. 18:3-5. Mental submission which enables me by the Holy Spirit to worship in Spirit and truth, per John 4:24. Attitude. Agreement on all points with Jesus which brings me in alignment with His prayer in John 17 and the Sermon on the Mount. When I am out of agreement, I'm at fault, not Jesus. The need for ongoing repentance.

There were plenty of times. His preaching influenced others to murder many.

Mr.M, do you remember what John Calvin did in a Swiss city when he became frustrated that believers weren't believing rightly? Christianity cannot be forced upon anyone. It is by the Holy Spirit of God that we all have understanding and each one of us are burdened with our individual carnal past. We all arrive where we need to arrive by the grace of God. Jesus is the vine and we are branches. We can do nothing without His input. I do hope you find what you seek.

That saving righteousness is a gift through Jesus.

Many verses attesting to His righteousness being given to the faithful. Another: Rom. 3:22-23 ...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Christians have the righteousness of Jesus as an adornment. This exceeds by far anybody's righteousness. Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Being a Christian doesn't have to be defined as having a disregard of the sciences. Some worldly knowledge can be difficult in grasping. Godly knowledge is difficult in the doing,(without the Holy Spirit). Otherwise we'd all still be in some dark age.( We are, but in a different way, in a spiritual way, not having enough doers of the word). Edit: Medical science is a great benefit for mankind.

Listening to a YT video of two physicists having a discussion, as someone once stated, is like coming to understand how a dog feels like, listening to his human master talking. Job is asked by God, where was he when the universe was formed? Most of us cannot fathom the deep things of this material universe, how are we to fathom the deep things of God, which aren't given any defining words? Even His way of thinking is alien to man. Thoughts need to be given defining words to frame them into the physical world. Isa.55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Yes, people come from varying backgrounds and are raised differently through culture and types of parents. The Holy Spirit leads to a repentance of sin in each one of us, but different sins for different Christians, after repenting of the very basic obvious sins that we all must overcome. Each Christian's understanding will be colored by the past and the present, as well as type of education, and how one's mind works. This way Jesus through His Spirit is developing Christians fit for different purposes as Paul wrote. Some are for a more noble application than others.

I just want to add about glory; The type of glory attributed to God is very different than the glory attributed to man. The glory that man seek needs an audience, it's self aggrandizement, vain and elevating of self over others. Without an audience there is no glory. While the glory of God is freely given by all of creation because of His loving kindness and His serving to His family - the bride of Christ. This glory elevates everyone that comes in contact with it, His love, holiness and righteousness. I'll pass 0n the economics and politics.

I find the Gospel of John to be mystical. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth. What is truth? God's word is truth. Sanctify them in truth. Your word is truth. Spirit gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak are spirit and life.

Certainly. Mat. 4:8-9 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Luke 4: 6-7 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Authority can be viewed as power and the kingdoms of the world require territory. And of course glory can be viewed as reverence by the masses. For many years I considered these a temptation for Jesus, but recently I've changed my mind and just consider it really weak sauce for Lucifer to attempt such an act, perhaps desperation. I understand food may have been a temptation after the long fast, but power and glory? Not so much. Jesus knew who He, (Jesus),was and where He came from.

If Christ has set you free, you will be free indeed! Globally, you can see a slide towards totalitarianism. Many of the elite in the West look at China with envy at their form of government. Corporations are who has representative government in this era. Wealth, power, influence and the will to rule.

Religious = glory; A cult of personality such as Taylor Swift's. Economic = territory; Landmass to exercise slave holdings and oppression over the masses, tyranny. Political = power; Through a network of Oligarchs ensure a tight reign of terror over any opposed to policies.

Support the word being preached and those hearing the word a bit of food in their belly. Allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to action. Pure and undefiled religion is to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to remain unstained from the ways of this world. Polycarp was still testifying shortly before his martyrdom quoting Psalms. He in words when that is all that remained within his power, but we all still have time for action.

Grace! Grace to all believers! May the righteousness of Jesus be present in us! Grace! Grace to all believers!

A short prayer I pray which is based on Rev.4:8, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and will be - into eternity, with all authority. Amen, amen and Amen! Edit: Fun to say aloud while walking out in nature! Rev. 4:8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Newfound lake before the condos...just so peaceful.