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Well I'm clearing out of worthy boards guys. At least for a while. I've been on the brink of this for the last two years and I've finally decided to just pull back a bit. Honestly I'm tired and worn out and I just need to be with myself for a while. Mostly at church, people consider me a good example of christ and I just need to get out of that light and have a little room in my own skin. Because I've stepped back from the church I feel like somewhat of a hypocrit posting on these boards as a Christian (although I am a Christian) when I'm where I'm at with my faith. So thanks for everything! Thanks for the advice and the encouragement! Don't take this as anything personally to the boards. They are great, just not for me right now. If you want to talk feel free to email me at the address in my profile. Thanks again!! -ink

Congrats... I don't remember the day that I was born again. Well I remember it just not what day it was. Ok I don't even remember what month...it was during sixth grade though...lol sad

I'll be getting drunk!!!!! ok no I'm only kidding...I promise!!!! Really though... I'll be spending the day with my mom and her boyfriend and the night at one of my best friend's, Lindsey's, house. Her parents are having a party so we get to hang out too.

I don't really like their taste but I love to read my fortune. It's not like I really believe it or give it a second thought. It's just fun. And nowadays they are less about telling someones future and more about morals. The ones I usually get tend to say things like...live each day to the fullest, exc..

Sometimes prayer doesn't seem like enough. I am born again. I haven't spent time in an atheist forum. I've come up with these thoughts on my own and that's what really scares me.

I'm not so sure I need help...just a place to rant and bit. I've gotten to a place where I'm really questioning all this God stuff. There are times when I'm so sure God is real but lately they have been far and few. Lately I've been really questioning the truth in this God stuff. Is it possible that there is no God? Or not the God of the bible anyway? Is it possible that we're all being fooled here? I've started to wonder if the purpose I have in God is really much of a purpose at all. I guess in my head I know I should believe in God but, now at least, I don't feel it. I love God but there are times when I look at the bible and the world and feel that the God I know shouldn't let people suffer like this. I don't really know how to vocalize exactly what I'm feeling right now about God. I don't really know what to believe anymore. I'm not sure Christianity is worth it.

I don't think we should ever just completely discredit a source w/out looking further into it. Ok so i'm getting a little off topic, but my view of science is that God put science and scientific reasoning in this world to be used along with faith and His word. I don't think you can have good science w/out some faith and good faith w/out some science. Well now that I've completely digressed....lol

I agree that gays need to be told the truth about God...but there is a certain way to go about it. We can't just say, even though it might be true, that being gay will send you to the lake of fire. The way I see it is in this world there is no reason for a Gay person to become straight. Being gay is too widely accepted as the norm. What I mean is murderers, they are more likely to change their ways without God because our world and culture says that it's wrong. But being gay is seen as ok by the world's standards. So the only way they'll really have a reason to change is God. Instead of trying to fix the sin, why not try to bring that person to christ first. (I've probably said this before) But then they'll probably see how wrong the sin is on their own. If they don't believe in God or sin then telling them their sin will send them to hell is useless. They have to know God and understand what sin is before they will have a desire to change it. First tell them about God, don't act condeming or mean. Show them the love of God and make sure they know about God and what He can do in their lives. Don't talk to them as a homosexual talk to them as a person who needs God. And always keep them in prayer. Prayer can be very powerful.

I don't know if this is necessarily a good punishment or if it's lawful (although the courts say it is) but it's better than prison and I doubt weather he'll ever steal mail again (let's hope anyway)

I agree. If you look at the Bible as a way to prove your point then you're sure to find a loop, but you'll rarely find truth. We should instead approach the Bible looking for truth and nothing more. No justifications and no expectations for the ball to roll in favor of a bahavior we probably already know is wrong. Read the bible w/ an open mind and heart....only expecting to find God.

My parents were never legally married...but they did have a religious ceromony. They professed their love to a group of people and promised to be faithful under God. At the time marriage wasn't an option because of where they were (in africa). When they got home they never legally married because they had lived in Africa for many years as a married couple. They had their ceromony and religious leader declare them a couple. I don't think it even crossed their mind to get anything more. I feel that God honors that commitment. That's how I see being married under God. It's not just a certificate, although that too is important. But I don't think people understood what I was getting at. Legal marraige is very important. In this day and age if you have the option of being legally married then take it, take it, take it. That's the most logical and Godly thing to do. But some don't have that option, like my parents, (When I used the slave example it was just an example...i know people don't have the road blocks that slaves had w/ marriage...that was just an example) But if you don't have that option then I don't think it's un-Godly or any less of a marriage then one that happens in a chaple with a pastor and family.

Yes, because as I said above, the Bible says that you are to obey those in authority over you. If you love someone, why not get legally married? If you don't love someone enough to sign on the dotted line, what makes you think you are married in God's eyes? This whole "married in God's eyes" thing is a sham. It is code for, "Why can't I just shack up with someone just so I can have sex with them, and then ease my conscience by pretending we are married in God's eyes?" If you are not willing to make the commitment, and put your name to it, you don't deserve to be married. Being married in God's eyes isn't always just "shaking up". You can go in front of a religious person and have a ceremony. This can yield a very long, loving, committed relationship. People don't always like the idea of having a certificate (for various gov. conspiracy theories and how they use this info) so they opt for this route. Not getting legally married isn't always about not being willing to make a commitment. Anyway, the bible says to follow the authority...but there's no law saying that to live together or love each other you must be legally married. It's an option (legally I mean) but it's not like speed limit laws that say you MUST obey the speed. So it's not rebelling against authority. Don't get me wrong though...I'm not against marriage. I do agree that marriage is important and a very real show of love. It's just not always a good option, or an option at all (like I said slaves in the old south, people of other cultures, exc...) for every one.

I still agree that justice should be served and that he should be punished. I know he did horrible things and he should be held accountable for that...but I also hope Saddam is saved. I hope he spends eternity in heaven.

I've always had that question too. If two people live in a comitted relationship w/ another person for a long time and they are not legally married how does God see that. I mean in the old south slaves couldn't get married so they just had celebrations and jumped the broom and then they were married and that was supposed to be fine in God's eyes. Do we need to get married legally if we're married in God's eyes?

There's no doubt that Saddam is a bit crazy and absolutely horrible....but I still like to pray for him daily. I pray for him to come to Christ and to repent before he dies. It seems a little strange, but I don't know, I just like to pray for those kinds of people. I don't like to think about people ever going to hell...even those who deserve it.