Irish_Graham

There is a verse in the good book that says we are to "hunger for the word of God" and makes reference to being as new born children when we are first saved. Can anyone tell me what it is or what this verse sounds like it could be? Thanks, Ive tried verse finders but nothing!! Graham

Thank you very much, I appreciate that. My dream is to support my future family by teaching the Bible, have to learn it well enough first to do that!!

Following on from my recent thread about colleges in Washington D.C, I need to ask if any folks know the New Jersey and New York areas well. I may be attending post grad studies in Princeton in New Jersey, and my girlfriend could have a job in New York City, so I am asking is there an area between the two which would give both of us a managable commute. I know its about 50 minutes on the amtrak from Princeton to NYC, so what are the names of some good areas which are equi-distant for both of us to be able to have a place but also not have a long travel to work? Also, is such a commute feasible using public transport? I come from Ireland where its subsidised, would a communte from such an area be really expensive over the long term for us? Thanks, Graham

Hi there folks, Im looking for some advise. My girlfriend and I are looking to move to Washington D.C as she has job opportunities there and that I can begin my theology career there, so I am looking for somewhere which offers a high standard Masters Post-Grad (MA or equivalent in theology/religious studies/divinity). I already hold a BA and am looking at post grads. Ive tried the major universities and so far Georgetown, George Washington University, and American University have nothing to offer me in line of an MA in my field. My choices seem to be :- Wesley Theological Seminary - http://www.wesleyseminary.edu/academics/id.13/detail.asp Reformed Theological Seminary - http://www.rts.edu/site/academics/Degree_p.../Mar/wabac.aspx The Catholic University of America - http://religiousstudies.cua.edu/graduate/S..._Studies.cfm#MA Does anyone know anything about these places or can anyone tell me any knowledge that would be off the radar (as in not on the website/local knowledge)? Im worried that as Im in Japan and I cant visit, that Ill go for the wrong one as they sound so good over the email and on the website, but I could be missing something. Thanks, Graham

You're being really mature about it, well done I acted like a kid once when I was in pain. It was on a flight back from doing mission work in China and the morning of the flight I woke up with a cold. Im not a good flier anyway but flying with a headcold makes it worse, and as a result the landing was about an hour of what felt like someone ramming a screwdriver into each ear and up both nostrils at once. Serious pain. I was angry angry angry with God that I had that pain, something I looked back on and prayed forgivness for. You're doing great, well done.

Heres a verse which I gave to a friend of mine in hospital recently, it might help you a bit. Its from Philippians Chapter 1. "29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me." I take from this that its a priviledge for us to be able to suffer for Jesus, to share the pain he went through so we can understand the suffering. He saved us and we believe in Him, so sometimes we have to suffer for Him too. I think thats important for us to remember when we're down in the dumps.

John Chapter 1 Verse 17 explained this one so clearly to me.

Watched it last night and as a born-again Christian, I cringed and had to look away several times throughout this film. I know it was film making and they set out to paint a picture but these folks were almost indefensible at times throughout this film. Please do not let it enter your head that all Christians are like these ones. Some of us arent obnoxious or power hungry and definitely dont want our kids to be brainwashed into a belief by the age of 5. I made my own choice in life and became a Christian at 21, nothing like what these kids went through in this film ever happened me, I do not agree with this method of witnessing and think that ultimately it will turn these very kids away from Christianity rather than helping them find the Truth. What this does is it gives people who dont know much about Christianity a warped image and makes all Christians look like right-wing, highly opinionated and obnoxious bullies who preach hypocrisy and hate with a level of charlatanism Ive scarcely ever seen before. This for me is so frustrating as people Iwitness to after seeing this film will automatically recall this to mind and getting over that misconception is tough. I wish these folks could stand back and look at wehat they are doing to Christianity with these actions and their lifestyle, I believe many of the same things they do but refuse to be up in people's faces about it and be outspoken and crass about it at every available opportunity. I differ with them on other things though in that the stuff I am unsure about, I stay quiet by and large and say "I think from reading that........but Im not 100% because the Bible isnt that clear on it", but these folks, mostly without a thread of scholarly theological training, blow their lids 150% on the volume control blasting to everyone with their beliefs and their politics. To all non-believers, I know some of you will have fouond a hotbed of ammunition from this film (especially with the Ted Haggard revelations) but please please please keep an open mind to Christianity and realise that there are those of us not like this film's portrayal.

Hey folks, thought Id dig this one up. What does everyone think of the pope's Turkish visit? Kinda makes me feel he stepping on toes to have a big apology and reconciliation session which could lead to some sort of bond being formed. Call me cynical but this does seem kind of contrived.

Thanks folks.

Hey, can anyone tell me the verse where Jesus tells us to watch for the signs of the end times and be as watchmen for the end? I cant remember where it is, someone has asked me for it as I know the verse almost by heart but cant think of the actual reference. Also, recently another one has come up. Can anyone tell me the old and new testament verses which deal with pre-marital sex and purity. Thanks, Graham

Not many at all, few here and there, most westerners who live here. Main faiths are buddhism and shintoism, not good, a demonic stronghold no doubt, both from ancient occult beliefs like buddha and shinto, as well as wave after wave of new age stuff.

This can also be interpreted to mean the "Invisible Church" both Jew and Gentile believers who do not congregate with one another but will make up the body of Christ. So after a couple of short years I have come to a saving knowledge of Christ, I refuse to reject Him and Love Him with all my heart but because I have chosen to read and attend sermons and services which promote reading and study of scripture, I now find myself at an impasse with the Catholic Chucrh who do not advocate Bible study, nor do they even have Bibles in the pews to follow through at mass. Here are just a few questions I have concerning what I have found in scripture and what the RCC teaches it's members. 1 Timothy 2:5 Scripture says the only mediator between man and God is Christ. The Catholic Church I attend has a statue of Christ on the cross ascending into the arms of Mother Mary and not to the right hand of God as stated in scripture. Where in scripture does Mary ascend into heaven? where in scripture does God grant mary the position as Mother of all creation? Christ said "call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." chapter and verse Mathew 23:9 Please explain why the Catholic Church defies God Himself? under what or whose authority does the Vatican grant a priest to become the mediator between man and God violating 1 Timothy 2:5? Exodus 20: 3-5 Under what authority does the Vatican have in violating Exodus 20:3-5 by placing statues to which people bow and kneel to upon entering and exiting the Church? Where in the following verses did our Lord identify His Mother as being anything more than a person truly blessed for actually bearing the son of God? Looks clear to me that the only one mentioned with reference to heaven is the Father. In John 2: 1-4 Jesus refers to His mother as "Woman" in a way that does not seem to identify any form of authority towards her person. Don't get me wrong Mary was truly blessed to have been chosen to give birth to our Lord but no where in scripture was she granted any special status to be the mediator between man and God. It's very important that we understand why the Vatican has granted it as such, but it is non-scriptural. There is no scriptural evidence to support the Catholic Church on this view. Peace CJ These are some of the reasons I cant accept Catholicism as being Biblically based. There are others too, the rosary, saying hail Mary's for penance, purgatory, classifying sins, the confessional with the priest, the pope, celibacy, male only preachers, the vatican, all these things as I see them go against scripture and again Jesus' words.

Thats true unfortunately, its one of the reason I wanted to leave Ireland and now live in Japan, drink culture is rampant and you are some sort of outcast/freak if you are like me and dont drink.

Hey Graham how did you like the Popes remarks concerning Islam. Kind of puts a crinkle in your theory that the Vatican is going to join Islam and create a one world order. Thanks for getting this discussion back on track and back to subject. I have close to zero faith in what any of the popes say, and again not to be brash, but I believe the entire position of the pope is ofunded on a misinterpretation of scripture, so his comments are usually not taken too seriously by me. I live in Japan at the moment so I am waiting on all my books to be shipped over from Ireland, many of which address this subject, so when I have them I can read you some stuff first and then Ill address the pope's comments on Islam. The Pope was clearly coming out against terrorism and violence in the name of religion. Your from Ireland and not Catholic?? Thats correct. Im a born again Christian who attends a Presbyterian Church at home. I dont like the whole denominational thing, when anyone asks me what religion I am I usually tell them I dont believe in a religion but a relationship with Jesus, but that I would classify myself as a Christian who goes to a Presbyterian Church. When I became a Christian and began to read the Bible I got a picture of Christianity and my heart understood what I now was and what I was to do, and what Christianity is, and later when I compared this to Catholicism's teaching I just couldnt reconcile Catholicism with the Bible, it contradicts it so blatantly in places. Ive never been to a mass or anything like that, but I know quite a lot about Catholicism and read about it all the time, and from this reading I have come to these views. I would encourage you to attend a Catholic Mass in Ireland sometime just to check things out. I know what goes on, and I know numerous former Catholics who became born again Christians who've told me all the details of the sacrament and the confessional and all that. They also told me about their still catholic families getting the priest over to try and "win them back to the mother church" and the hours of discussions which ensued, most of which ended up with the priest having to admit that catholicism is "a combination of God's will and man's will". I dont want to take part in a mass. Jesus dies once for our sins, and once was enough, to take part in a ceremony which attempts to call him down and re-enact the entire crucifixion again does not seem like something he would approve of to me.

Hey Graham how did you like the Popes remarks concerning Islam. Kind of puts a crinkle in your theory that the Vatican is going to join Islam and create a one world order. Thanks for getting this discussion back on track and back to subject. I have close to zero faith in what any of the popes say, and again not to be brash, but I believe the entire position of the pope is ofunded on a misinterpretation of scripture, so his comments are usually not taken too seriously by me. I live in Japan at the moment so I am waiting on all my books to be shipped over from Ireland, many of which address this subject, so when I have them I can read you some stuff first and then Ill address the pope's comments on Islam. The Pope was clearly coming out against terrorism and violence in the name of religion. Your from Ireland and not Catholic?? Thats correct. Im a born again Christian who attends a Presbyterian Church at home. I dont like the whole denominational thing, when anyone asks me what religion I am I usually tell them I dont believe in a religion but a relationship with Jesus, but that I would classify myself as a Christian who goes to a Presbyterian Church. When I became a Christian and began to read the Bible I got a picture of Christianity and my heart understood what I now was and what I was to do, and what Christianity is, and later when I compared this to Catholicism's teaching I just couldnt reconcile Catholicism with the Bible, it contradicts it so blatantly in places. Ive never been to a mass or anything like that, but I know quite a lot about Catholicism and read about it all the time, and from this reading I have come to these views.

Hey Graham how did you like the Popes remarks concerning Islam. Kind of puts a crinkle in your theory that the Vatican is going to join Islam and create a one world order. Thanks for getting this discussion back on track and back to subject. I have close to zero faith in what any of the popes say, and again not to be brash, but I believe the entire position of the pope is ofunded on a misinterpretation of scripture, so his comments are usually not taken too seriously by me. I live in Japan at the moment so I am waiting on all my books to be shipped over from Ireland, many of which address this subject, so when I have them I can read you some stuff first and then Ill address the pope's comments on Islam.

Just reading my comments, Im sorry if I come across as anti-American, Im not anti-American, I have several American friends who I am very close to and dont want to portray an image of hatred, its just the attitude I outlined that a lot of Americans hold that I have an issue with, and its that that I am aiming my comments at, not the average American person. Graham.

No, and I've got no great desire to, either. Anymore than the citizens of those countries they're sent out to invade. What country was invaded that has not been justified? Iraq recently, in the past Panama, Grenada, Cambodia and Vietnam spring to mind as direct examples of old fashioned invasions, and there is of course the Bay of Pigs farce. In addition it is worth mentioning support given to vicious regimes and terror groups in various parts of the world by: the CIA; and US military trainers and "advisors". What's your point with this post?? The United States isn't perfect, but this country is a democracy and has tried to spread democracy thoughout the world. Why is it that millions upon millions of people would love to immagrate to the United States or are in the process. One word "Freedom." This doesn't exist in much of the world. I would be curious to know where you are from, France? Not out of disrespect, but I would be interested to know how you got your beliefs about the United States. There are many freer places in the world than the US, and in fact with all the laws since 9/11 the US is fast becoming a place where the individual has fewer liberties than many other countries. Its by no means a democracy, a romantic ideal but doesnt exist anywhere in the world, certainly not in the US. I dont want to start a mud slinging argument but that is one attitiide which many US people hold which genuinely irks me. The US is not the only free place on Earth, and I know you were brought up and force fed the "fact" that it is, it isnt, not by a long stretch, and many many of the developed world have immigrants from other countries, some at a higher rate than the US, its not as if every non-US person on this planet spends their whole life desperately trying to get to the US at all costs (there are some US people I met there who think this.....honestly). I dont want to sound argumentative but that was a comment Ive heard far too often to let slide. Graham I am trying to figure out which places are "freer" than the US. I imagine most of the countries you speak of as having more freedom than the US are largely socialistic in nature so there is little economic freedom to be found. Also, since 9/11 I am not really aware of any of my freedoms that have been compromised other than ease of flying. If you think freedoms are being compromised because we are tracking communications of terrorists then I think you need to rethink that. If the terrorists win we will only have freedom to worship a false religion and be ruled by barbarians. The Constitution is not a suicide pact. sw Economic freedom exists in the left leaning countries you think of, the government just intervenes whenever there is bully boy tactics from major corporations. The US does not hold a monopoly on freedom.

Hey Fiosh, I know the US has many immigrants and many people from the surrounding poor countries attempt to move there, Im not dusputing that and never have, but what I have a beef with is the haughty attitude many Americans Ive met in my travels hold that the US is some sort of utopia and every other place on Earth outside the borders of the US is automatically inferior (many Ive met who hold this view have never left the US, just believe the what the media tells them!!). All developed nations have immigrants, Ireland is one of the major immigrant destinations in Europe, in fact the world, for immigrants. People risk their lives to get from poor nations to rich nations in many other places other than the US, North Koreans die trying to get to South Korea etc, that doesnt make these countries utopia. Freedom exists in many many many places, its not purely a US thing, every opportunity afforded to a US citizen is available to someone from western Europe (barring gun laws, not a bad thing at all IMO), be it economic freedom of enterprise, political freedom of expression (something the US is fast losing as I hear reports of people being asked by police to cover up anti-Bush t-shirts etc.) and social freedom. Again and as always I want a discussion and Im not trying to cause anyone any offense, but bottom line, the idea Americans are raised to believe that the all-great US is the greatest place and on this Earth and that freedom exists ONLY in the US making it every non-US person's goal in life to go there, IS ABSOLUTELY AND UTTERLY MEDIA SPUN GARBAGE, I travelled the world and the US is one of a multitude of free places with no exceptional qualitites to give it a claim as "The Greatest Nation On Earth". Graham

No, and I've got no great desire to, either. Anymore than the citizens of those countries they're sent out to invade. What country was invaded that has not been justified? Iraq recently, in the past Panama, Grenada, Cambodia and Vietnam spring to mind as direct examples of old fashioned invasions, and there is of course the Bay of Pigs farce. In addition it is worth mentioning support given to vicious regimes and terror groups in various parts of the world by: the CIA; and US military trainers and "advisors". What's your point with this post?? The United States isn't perfect, but this country is a democracy and has tried to spread democracy thoughout the world. Why is it that millions upon millions of people would love to immagrate to the United States or are in the process. One word "Freedom." This doesn't exist in much of the world. I would be curious to know where you are from, France? Not out of disrespect, but I would be interested to know how you got your beliefs about the United States. There are many freer places in the world than the US, and in fact with all the laws since 9/11 the US is fast becoming a place where the individual has fewer liberties than many other countries. Its by no means a democracy, a romantic ideal but doesnt exist anywhere in the world, certainly not in the US. I dont want to start a mud slinging argument but that is one attitiide which many US people hold which genuinely irks me. The US is not the only free place on Earth, and I know you were brought up and force fed the "fact" that it is, it isnt, not by a long stretch, and many many of the developed world have immigrants from other countries, some at a higher rate than the US, its not as if every non-US person on this planet spends their whole life desperately trying to get to the US at all costs (there are some US people I met there who think this.....honestly). I dont want to sound argumentative but that was a comment Ive heard far too often to let slide. Graham

Bump, want to get a few more opinions.

Thats exactly what Im worred aboutl, I already know some "Christians" who dont pray to Jesus, thinking praying to Mary suffices despite me reading them John 14:6 over and over. There is a book out showing how the "Mary Queen of Heaven" ideal is going to pave the way for all those groups you mention to justify the One World Faith which will ultimately forget Jesus and accept his counterfeit.

Interesting note: I have been reading The Chronicles of Narnia to my daughter, and what you have said started in the 70's, C.S. Lewis mentioned in The Last Battle back in 1956. For those who haven't read it, or haven't read it since childhood, an ape (false prophet) has a donkey (false messiah) put on the skin of a lion and pretend to be Aslan (real Messiah). The ape then gets in league with the Calormene (Muslims) and convinces much of Narnia that Aslan and the Calormene god Tash are the same. Good post Irish. I was wrong actually, the ecumenical councils started in the 60's with the first ecumenical session in august 1962 with pope John XXIII, didnt know C.S Lewis held that view on it.

Thats true alright, its up to all of us to watch out for compromise in our Churches. I have to admit though that I am still watching every single move and statement made by the pope to see signs of compromise. Just recently he said something which may seem harmless and maybe Im being overly critical of him, but "above all else I am a catholic" to me didnt sound great at all. I always say I am a Christian who attends a presbyterian Church, I never call myself a presbyterian. Maybe its just a difference in language or a play on words, it just didnt sit well with me when he said it like that.