Catsmeow

Heartbreaking, isn't it? The poor man was just paying a compliment to a old collegue. Thurman was just celebrating his 100th birthday.

Shilou - I always love your posts. They're so right on. What I especially appreciate about your attitude is that you state your position, (ex. not celebrating Christmas), but you don't condemn others who differ. That is a wise and mature attitude. I know there are things we must take a stand on, but I think Christians should be careful to hold our tongue and patient and kind in all things. I do celebrate Christmas but I do not feel that you would condemn me for that - nor would I challenge your convictions. You are correct...fellow believers are notorious for throwing stones. Maybe they mean well...and are being zealous for the faith, but it can be counter-productive. - Cat

CD: So very true. People will always let you down, but Jesus never will~ :thumb:

Real wisdom...Shilou. God is surely with you.

I think it's all so awesome that we are all in agreement here. Probably because at one time or another, we've all experienced the pain of rejection and the misery of being misunderstood. And who hasn't "messed up"? Let's also not forget that some people are impossible to please. I am amazed at how easy it is to offend someone. I guess we all have our "buttons" that others can push...but as we mature, there should be fewer and fewer buttons available to push. That is, we shouldn't be easily offended or angered by others, even if they're very different than we are. We may strongly disagree on certain issues, but shouldn't forget the importance of maintaining the bond we all share in the Holy Spirit. We are Family...each one of us. Can I get a witness?

NOTE: I did have a dream about a dirty bomb. The dream that's perplexing to me is actually a dream my husband had. We both think this dream is from the Lord. This is the dream: We're driving down the highway at night. He's driving. There's no other traffic on the road. He comes upon something in the road...he sees three (3) loaves of bread laying in the road. The loaves are warm, freshly baked & delicious. He brings them back to the car and gives the loaves to me. Then he drives on. The very same event occurs three times. Each event is identical. (all of this is one dream). Then he woke up and clearly remembered the dream. We just both sense this dream is of God but don't understand it's meaning. We so hope that someone will know how to interpret this dream. Most dreams you just ignore. I feel like this is something we need to understand. Could use feedback...I'm stumped.

Shilou... most definitely my kind of Christian...Amen and amen! I sure wish everybody thought like that. Folks are so quick to judge. I try to be really careful not to fall in that snare. If a brother is defiant and unrepentent, of course...we can't embrace open rebellion, (Example: out drinking it up every night; smoking crack, gambles the family's income, etc.). But folks are so hard and quick to condemn when they don't have all the facts. We really have to be very careful, lest we be judged. Boils down to this...love the sinner but hate the sin.

Timothy: Hey, bro...howzit going? Starfire: Any new dreams lately? I sure wish I knew someone who could interpret dreams. I have one I strongly believe is from the Lord but I can't interpret it. Drives me crazy...It involves the the number, "three".

You got that right!

I had heard a speaker at a seminar once describe Babylon as the spirit of rebellion and it's not really one particular city or country, (i.e. Rome, New York, Jerusalem, the literal Babylong, and so on) but rather...each of those cities or even whole countries might be described as "daughters" of Babylon. He also described Satan's kingdom like an onion, with layer upon layer, (himelf at the center). The world is too complex to narrow it down to say, just one city (New York) or one country (United States)...but that many cities and countries are "players" in this game of evil and intrigue. I'm not sure if putting it that way is politically correct, but that's almost how it appears. There are so many conspiracy theories out there and we, the average "Joe Public" don't have all the facts. I think we're probably more savvy than many Americans, but there's just so much we don't know. I, personally, agree with the speaker ... who said that the spirit of Antichrist has long been with us and Babylon has also been with us since the Tower of Babel itself. Man has simply become more sophisticated in inventing evil.

Dunno...but it still sounds like if your mother appeared ill, maybe she was suffering from radiation poisoning. I think all these dreams are prophetically related. OK, I can't prove it ...it's just a guess. You remember (Book of Revelation) the rider of the horse who was pale and sickly looking? I mean, that horse was really in bad shape... all kinds of plague and pestilence going on. Perhaps the beings coming "out of the brown cloud" weren't "nice" angels but the "other" kind...the ones that bring doom to mankind.

Can't you all just feel the Holy Spirit working here? I can!

Amen, Starfire...I think we might suffer but I also think God is preparing us right now - today - to handle whatever we will have to face in the future. You know what's strange? I'm not at all afraid of death. I'm not even a little frightened of it. Don't get me wrong...if I met a lion in my back yard or a rattlesnake, yeah...I run like away - fast! I mean I'm not afraid of death itself. For some reason, God chose to invite me into His family and I said, "Thank You! I accept Your kind offer!" So, whatever happens Starfire...I'm not afraid. I know I'll see our Father in Heaven when that time comes. One thing I've discovered is that our Father who art in heaven is AWESOME!

To all you guys: I read some posts that make my blood boil but you guys are on the mark! Everytime I hear people bashing their brothers for some infraction or pointing the accusing finger of blame, I get in that maternal mindset and become defensive of the poor victim they're bashing. If we don't all realize that "but for the grace of God, there go I", then the Lord will make us keenly aware of our humble condition. He did me and boy did I eat humble pie...and I mean the "whole pie". What I learned, (the hard way) from our Father in Heaven is this: (1) Never compare yourself with others...all that is is pride talking. (2) No matter what we do on this earth for the Lord, if it isn't rooted in love, it's worthless. (3) If you're really not sure how to respond to someone in a particular situation, ask yourself how you would want them to treat you if the roles were reversed. This is what the Lord taught me during a difficult time of "pruning".

Refuge: Starfire and I both had dreams of a dirty bomb. Your brown cloud might symbolically represent a dirty bomb. I began to think that when I read your dream again. You said your mother was in bed sick...the house was boarded up...doesn't that give you idea of a neighborhood that's been forsaken and people dying from radiation sickness? My dream seemed so real but the "bomb" hit in New York. Where do your folks live? - Cat

Starfire: I also had a dream about a month ago. I dreamt there was an explosion of a dirty bomb, (not the usual "nuke") and this occurred in New York. I woke up and told my husband. The dream was hazy but I do remember that I was very disturbed by it because it seemed so real. ???

Oh, this is the best quote I've read yet on these boards. Right on! :thumb:

First off, ALL of us have sinned. Yes, some have in some "major" way (adultery, theft, etc.). But All of us, if we're honest, are guilty of sinning daily - even if it's just being a little selfish, getting nasty w/another motorist in a traffic jam or neglecting the Lord and putting ourselves first instead of Him. Of course, no one ever condones the sin but we should always love the sinner. That means treating them the way we would want to be treated if WE were the guilty party. Also, some Christians are wounded because they don't "fit in" with the mainstream. I am referring to some who are poor, needy, hurting, or going through a difficult season in their life. I worked in a Christian school as an elementary teacher. The teacher next door to my classroom was having difficulty controlling her unruly students. The "Christian" administration were harsh and critical of her. We, (fellow teachers), rallied support and encouragement for her. We sent over special treats, greeting cards we all signed, and stopped by to give her a hug. The "Christian" administration fired the poor thing. Many of the teachers were angry and disgusted at the way she was treated. Some people step on others who are having a hard time, instead of loving them and doing all they can to support them during difficult seasons of their life.

Timothy: I am with you entirely. Let the Lord direct you. And also, I will say this...you can't outgive God! It's impossible. Everytime I've given all I had to the poor or someone who was needy, God blessed me richly afterward. I then, in turn...shared His blessing with others. It's a beautiful and awesome relationship of giving with our Lord. I am against the prosperity doctrine often taught in some churches. God blesses us not to hoard His blessings but to share them with others. Ultimately, what it all comes down to is... it's all about God...what HE wants...it's not about me or what I want. He wants me to be a "light" in this world of darkness. Also, recalling Luke, Chapter 6, Lord Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father is kind to the righteous and wicked...He makes the rain to fall on both. He is kind to the grateful and the ungrateful...that's just His nature. He commands us to all... look out for the stranger, the widow and the orphan...even the unbeliever. We are to be living witnesses to them. We are further commanded to love our enemies, (friends, love is a verb). God commands us to bless those who curse us and do good to those who spitefully use us. I love it!

Awright, you guys...break it up. Be good and play nice :inlove:

Levi: In answer to your question, no...I don't know who "they" are and I doubt if very many do. This would be a highly secretive group of people who manipulate world powers. I think these people have already figured out how very easy it is to control the masses with various propaganda and dis-information. Shortwave is very enlightening. But remember what Jesus said? If you take a little yeast and mix it in with bread dough...? Well, you essentially contaminate the whole lump...it only takes a little. Same with truth...if you take the truth and mix in a lie here and a lie there...the whole truth becomes tainted and spoiled. We are victims of disinformation because we are so quick to judge and condemn. We have to be very careful, less our enemy, Satan, create division amongst us and destroy us like a cancer. That's his goal ultimately. As far as us "doing something" ... do you have any idea what it is you're supposed to be doing? Here's what I do: I do what God tells me to do: (1) to feed the hungry and destitute, (2) show kindness to strangers (3) avoid speaking ill of others (gossiping) (4) minister to the needs of others (5) apply God's Word to my life and (6) share the gospel of Christ to those who don't know Him. That's what I AM DOING in my life. If I'm going to be "vocal" - it will be to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.