kodischild

Here WE go again.....someone has an honest question in mind and some people get their claws out and go in swinging. Heaven forbid we ever lovingingly answer an honest question instead of condemning the question as stupid, making accusations about justifying a lifestyle, and threats about consequences.

Wonderful! Aren't you glad you didn't stumble into something with him when he isn't worth it?

I suggest reading them again anyway. I got so much more out of them when I read them as an adult. Lewis wrote them as children's books, but adults enjoy them, too.

How wonderful that you are doing something to help work it out. God has gotten me through my toughest times. Sometimes I have to turn things over to Him every few minutes for awhile. Still, I ask Him to take my problems and control them, then I put them out of my mind. When I find myself worried again, I turn them back over to Him and focus on something else. I find that repeating positive Bible verses to myself as I go to sleep helps me.

Not judging and loving your neighbor as yourself seem to be the same thing to me. Just hear me out on this one. AT some point I could have been described as mean, vicious, cruel, lying, and a greedy snake. Maybe I don't do it often, but I know I have said things that hurt people. I know I have spent money on myself that could have gone to the hungry. Here is the strange part, I don't consider myself a bad person. I make excuses for myself. I wouldn't have said that mean thing if she hadn't started it. I didn't want to lie, but the truth would have hurt him. I wasn't being cruel when I told her that she needed to go on a diet, I was trying to be honest and help her get healthy. It isn't my fault she went home and cried for hours. Or I tell myself that I'm not usually like this, so it all balances out in the end. So I do the same thing with other people. I don't know what they have been through, I don't know what motivates them, I don't know what their relationship with God is. So I give them the benefit of the doubt just like I would hope other people do for me. In the gospels I don't read that Jesus lived in lala land while they ate Him alive. He healed people, then told them to stop sinning. He told people when they were doing the wrong thing, or thinking the wrong way. He taught with patience, but not weakness. What I mean is there is a difference in how you express things as a Christian. Telling someone that you love them, forgive them, but can't be around them if they are going to treat you a certain way, or if they continue in a certain sin is one thing. You can express that as a message of hope-that you know they can be a good person and you want the best for them. Now, telling them that they are a sinner, useless, you hate them, and they ARE greedy and mean, and their head is full of dog poop-not the Christian way. That is judging. That is "you aren't good enough for me, watch me look down on you" kind of judging. I think that is the stuff we are supposed to avoid.

Not well enough. I used to know them all, but some have moved, some have died, and some take their kids inside when they see me outside. I'm not going to bug them I hope to make cookies and deliver them to folks this Christmas and try to make some friends that way. People always like you better when you bring food.

Don't be afraid to talk to God about this when you pray. Sometimes it helps me to tell Him, "God, I can't focus, my thoughts are bouncing off the ceiling, I'm being interrupted by my own mind. I don't know if I want to stop sinning, but I know I should and I know I should want to. So I am asking you to help me stop sinning and get back in touch with you. Help me love you." He knows your struggles, but talk to Him about them. Tell Him like you would a friend. He is big enough to handle your doubts. Isn't there a scripture that goes something like Lord I do believe, but help my unbelief I pray? Someday I'll learn to remember where I find things, but for now I think it is out there. Finally, this happens to the best of us. David had his down days. Paul had his thorn. Most important of all, Jesus had a moment on the cross where He felt like God had forsaken Him. Certainly He knew that God was there, but that is head knowledge. Keep your head pointed in the right direction. Your heart is sure to follow.

I see that you live in Michigan too. Snow is just part of our winter weather. As far as my screen name, I used to be known as Snowgoose. Then I changed it to Snow4JC, well actually George came up with the name. Where is Michigan do you live? I live in Rockford just north of Grand Rapids. Snow I live in Fremont. It is also north of Grand Rapids, but it takes a bit longer. About an hour most of the time.

I don't know why, but I have noticed the same thing. Maybe it is easier for them to see someone else's sin than to see their own. (Plank in your own eye and such.) Afterall, who cares about their "minor" sins if they can spend time picking on someone else's "major" sins? Perhaps it is because they like to feel superior? Or maybe they think they are helping others to avoid sin. I think we should be very proud of those people we know have overcome so much. What a wonderful chance they have to witness to others who are in the same situation!

Yeah! What he said!

Does anyone know what happened with this? I can't seem to find anything. Ok, I could keep looking, but if you knew off the top of your head that would be nicer.

I used to have a huge problem with this. Or I was huge because I had a problem with this. It could go either way. I would eat to fill up the hole in my life, then the hole would get bigger because I hated myself for eating like that. And since I felt bad anyway, what would eating a pie hurt? So I ate the pie.....Can you see where that ended up. I'm doing much better now, too. I'm glad to hear that you are taking positive steps in your life. Sorry to hear about your mother, but if it is the worst thing she ever does I guess you'll just have to love her anyway. We do need to discuss your screen name. You realize that those first 4 letters are snow? Must you really remind me that the white stuff exists? I have the curtains drawn and am studiously pretending that it has never existed, or at least couldn't happen here.

No, I don't think that WE can heal people by praying for them and having faith. That would mean God answers to us. I think God has every right to say "no" if he has something else planned. How can we possibly know what His reasons are for letting a person die, or even letting them be sick. Often we can see later why bad things had to happen the way they did. Sometimes God doesn't reveal the reasons to us. I see no reason why we should lose faith over that.

Well, if we are wandering this direction anyway...... At the National Training Center in CA they have 4 restroom buildings. They rotate which one is the famale's so there are urinals in all of them. The big, long trough type ones. Every rotation we went out on we had to explain to the new girls that they did NOT want to brush their teeth is that long sink over there. Every rotation there were girls who still did it.

I suppose I can see both sides of this topic. The mega churches do seem to be very commercial and I think they have to be very careful to remain a place of worship instead of becoming a place of business. They need to remember that they are offering ministry, not services. I do like the idea of having "milk" services and "meat" services so you can attend the same church and still be challenged to keep growing. On the other hand, our little church just can't offer the types of ministry that the people need. I love the people in our church, but they are mostly retired. I wish there were more people my age who are in the same place in life that I am. We lose most of the young families because we don't have enough youth to have any youth programs. Only without the youth programs we are never going to have the youth..... I guess there is a place for each type of church. Besides, I don't think you can judge a church based on size. There are good and bad in either type of church. I guess I'm drawn to a church based on the people who go there. If Spirit filled people are pouring out of the church doors then they must be doing something right.

People give me weird looks, too. I think it is because so much of what we do is just society polite. Like when you say, "Have a nice day." Or "How are you this morning" eveyrone knows that you don't really care if they have a good day or how they are. So when someone is really nice it takes people by surprise. They figure you are either crazy or want something from them. Remember that you are nice to people because they are God's creation and He loves them so you should to. You are not nice to people because of how they respond to you.

This isn't that new. I know it was going on at least 10 years ago when I was in school. This and inhaling household products, both scary things because parents don't even think these types of things could be going on. HOnestly, how many of us consider ropes or hair spray to be dangerous? And who even thinks to have the conversation, "Son, I don't want you hanging yourself when you go out today." Scary world sometimes.

Yes, there seems to be a lot of repeating going on around here. You can't do enough. You aren't good enough. If you think you can be good enough to get to heaven, get over yourself. God is perfect and only perfect things can enter into His presence. YOu can have all the bad cleaned off of you, but only by asking Jesus. You can't work your way into Heaven. Only Jesus can get you there. All you have to do is ask. There is no enough. There is no not enough. There is nothing you can do to work your way into heaven. All you have to do is ask for Jesus forgiveness and accept it. Clear? One more time, you cannot do enough to go to Heaven. You cannot be too lazy to go to Heaven. You simply ask Jesus to forgive you, the sins all go away, and you get a free trip. It is a gift. Stop trying to make it into something you earn when it has already been given to you. Now, on the subject of gifts. If you were homeless, hungry, freezing to death, alone in the dark and scared, and someone came up and offered you food and a home, you would take it. That would be a gift. If every night you left your warm home and went out to sit in your old box in the alley, and as you were freezing to death the same man came along and took you home, you would go. (Ok, not everyone, there are those who refuse this gift, but you're a smart girl and take it.) Your benefactor is a rich man, and all he does is go find homeless people and give them free houses and free food. One day he asks you to go find another homeless person and bring them to their new home. He doesn't say that you will lose your house if you don't, he doesn't take your food from you, he only asks you to do a simple task. Do you go share what you have with others or do you sit home and leave the others to take care of themselves? That's where you are. God has given you a wonderful gift. You didn't earn it. He isn't taking it away from you. He is asking you to take care of His home that He has given you, in this case the home is your salvation. He is asking you to tell others the good news so they can be warm and fed, too. It sounds like you want to know how little you can do to get by with God. That isn't very greatful, and it does not sound like real love to me. I suppose we should all be glad that He gives us what we don't deserve instead of what we deserve. He didn't see how little He could get away with for us. God didn't say, "I could send my son to die, but I guess they will be ok if I just send my pet dog." He doesn't say, "Hmm, should I answer prayers today or watch that new movie that is coming out?" Aren't we blessed that His love is perfect and not selfish or lazy like human love? That wasn't pointed as an insult in your direction, Daughter, we are all guilty of not doing the right thing now and again. We all need grace, none of us is perfect. On the other hand, I don't think that excuses not even trying.

Well, you could do all this and still go to hell. You will go to Heaven if you are saved by Jesus. You will love Jesus if you are saved by Him. If you love Him, you will want to do good things. Stop trying to make the works the important thing, they aren't. What is important is loving Jesus with all your heart. The rest follows once you get that down. The only one who ever "did enough" (or didn't sin at all) to get into Heaven was Christ. If you were Christ then you wouldn't need Him, but you're not Christ so you do need Him. (Like that sentence? ) So, put what you should or should not do away for a little while. We can come back to it, and it sounds like you are missing grace for the sake of works. Christianity is not a set of rules. It is not what you should or shouldn't do. It is a relationship. Your name already says that. You are the daughter of the King! NOt the daughter of the rule book, the slave of the judge..... Ok, I like examples. I learn best from examples. I get long winded because of examples. But I'm going with a couple anyway. Ever been in love? Being a Christian is like being in love. (Only better because He won't let you down.) If you really, really love someone then you do things to make him happy just because it makes him happy. If a man brings me flowers because he wants to see me happy, that is love. If he brings me flowers because it is Monday and it is required that all men bring flowers on Monday, that isn't special. It doesn't make me happy. Same thing with God. If you serve Him because it makes Him happy then that is special. If you are doing "good works" because someone gave you a list of good things to do, then you are really just wasting your time. Finally, compared to God we are all children. If you try to teach a small child how to tie her shoe she is going to get frustrated, kinda like you are feeling frustrated right now. Ok, if the child works at it and works at it then you will be proud of her and she will eventually get it. She is being a good girl because she is trying even if she is failing. You will help, the shoe gets tied, life goes on. If it is time to put her shoes on and she throws the shoe, stomps out of the room, and yells that she won't tie her shoe. She can't do it and won't try, she would rather get mad and refuse. You aren't going to be proud, she is being bad not because she won't tie the shoe, but because she won't try and is getting mad at you even though you are trying to teach her the right thing. I mean, you can't let her wear velcro (do they even make that anymore?) for the rest of her life. Again, we are kinda like that. God knows we are going to fail. It isn't about if you fail to do the right thing, it is about if you try. So, first priority is to love God. Love Him and do your best for Him and He will be happy with that.

I'm a card person myself. I like getting cards better because I can keep them around a lot longer and they don't fade. Also, I'd be a bit confused if a single man gave me a flower because I would be worried.....well, you know. A card that says thanks pretty much means thanks. That's just me. I'm impressed that you are going to give her something. Very thoughtful, and it sounds like she deserves it.

I gave up TV completely when I was going to night school. Since then, the only TV I watch is 1 hour a day to catch the news. I honestly had no idea how bad it has gotten. I thought it was bad a few years ago. There's never anything on that tempts me except news channels & sometimes I watch a news special. The other times I watch TV, it's with a DVD. I collect all Lucille Ball shows, I have the complete first five seasons of I Love Lucy. Plus old movies. And science shows. But even DVD's I don't watch very often. I just can't justify sitting in front of the tube for hours when I can do other things. {Like sitting in front of the PC for hours} I was never into sports, so I don't watch them, except maybe the World Series or the Super Bowl, depending on the teams playing. ANd I do try to watch the Olympics. I wonder what, if anything, we Christians can do about this trend? in Him; corey I suppose we could start by writing to....someone. There must be someone to write to? Ok, someone help me out with this one. We could boycott everything that the makers of Tag, or Axe, or the worst of the offenders make. ONly it would take a lot of us to boycott, and we would have to be pretty motivated. We could stop getting cable/satallite and start subscribing to the Christian cable or satallite company. What is it called? Angel walk or somthing. We could support the American FAmily association more. Ok, ok, it turns out I don'thave any specifics here. Poor little brain must be frozen or something. (Hazard of heating with a wood stove and being on the other side of the house from the stove.) Anyone out there who can clarify whatever it is I thought i was thinking????

You will be missed. Well, since it looks like you are already off, which means you will read this when you come back.....I guess I mean that you were missed. I guess since you appear to be such a consistent prayer warrior, some of the rest of us better step up and start praying double!

I don't watch much but TVland anymore. Apparently I am much older than I look, because I can't handle the modern junk. Tv is bad enough, at least we can turn shows off. What really, really get me are the commercials. There I am watching something that is at least halfway decent, then a commercial for tag or axe...ahh, what's the one with the prostitute straddling the senator? Some phone commmercial. Anyway, it sickens me that I have to have the remote in my hand just to turn to something else during the commercials. It bothers me even more that my 6 year old niece is exposed to stuff like that. It is so hard to explain to her why we don't watch this commercial or that one. She is too young to understand most of the references, but also too young to be exposed to such things. Magazine covers are heading downhill fast, too. Some of the things that teenage boys have to walk past are downright pornagraphic. Ok, they should know enough to look away, and I assume that full grown men do. Still, that is a horrible temptation to shove into a 13/14 y/o boys face!! It is hard enough for them to keep their thoughts pure at that age! Ok, I guess I'm done growling. This is one of the issues that really, really upset me!

How could I have missed this thread before? What a great thread! I enjoyed The Hawk and The Dove trilogy by Penelope Wilcock. Ok, it was fiction and set in a monastary about 800 years ago, but the character development is amazing! I didn't think I would like it at first, but didn't want it to end by the time it did. I also enjoyed the Screwtape Letters by Lewis. I didn't understand them the first time I read them. But the second reading I could see how much truth there was hidden in there.

Funny, ours was set up by a college student, too. I don't know how much people use our website. We do a pretty good job of keeping it updated. I think it is important that churches have websites when possible. I know when I was looking for a church one of the first places I would look was online. I got so much more info online than in a phone book. And I don't tend to lose my computer, I lose ads or papers when I see a church advertised somewhere. http://www.fremontchristianchurch.org/