Sonwalkr

Score one for a real man. Thank you Daymon. There is hope for me yet.

I wonder if I should even try to reply to this thread......

In this wonderful world of the internet, one has to ask this question. "Who can you trust?". Even in this Christian ministry forum it begs the question. We all are human after all, right? It is so easy to open up and share things with those who you think you can trust. After all, it's safe... you're just typing things out instead of having to look face to face with someone. People reach out in the hopes of filling a need or for help in solving a problem in their life, and people are there for them, ready and willing to be someone for them. Why is it that there are some people online who you know you can trust immediately and then there are some who give reason for doubt, even if all of them are Christians? There are some who I know are for real and have given me no reason to doubt who they are. Then there are some who I can't say who they are. People who know me know that I tend to be a dreamer. The Lord has something for me and I'm still having to wait for it. I know I'm guilty of throwing myself into things. I'm a giver and a servant and a listener and a friend. Yeah, people have taken advantage of it, but does that mean I grow cold or throw in the towel? There's been times where I've made a friend and its been appreciated by that party and it gets to a point where it can't go anywhere else and then it gets shut down to a trickle, if that. Was it me? Was it just circumstances? Did reality just hit and there wasn't anything solid there to begin with? With some it is so easy to have and maintain an open dialogue. With others, maybe it gets too close to becoming something deeper and it has to shut down before it hurts someone. So.. I'm not sure where I'm going here. My friends know I'm not one to say much in here. It's just that in my experience online I've had to endure some hard knocks with some people about trust. One of these persons I actually met in person and I still got taken for. Hmm.. Another person online has told me they would trust me with their life. Was that just some flowery expression to make me feel good? I mean this person has reason not to trust anyone; especially not trust someone from online who they have never met in person. I know trust cuts both ways. Some people think online is not for real. I know this forum and its ministries are for real and they do make a difference in people's lives. I think all I am asking for is something mutual. Something real. It's so easy to be real and not make up some sort of character that you'd think everyone would like. The Lord sees us for who we are, so why not be that for everyone else? Maybe all of this is just another chapter in the lesson book of my life. I'm starting to think that Philipians 4:6-8 is becoming my guidepost passage for me even though I have been saved since I was a child. Why is it so easy to forget to let the peace of God, which tanscends all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus? Why is it so easy to be anxious? Those who know me know my wishes and dreams. They know the person I am. Somehow I am not afraid to open up to people. This might sound sort of weird coming from a guy. I can't fake this stuff. One thing is for sure.. We know we can trust our Lord with everything. I know that's another lesson I keep having to learn it seems. Well, it seems like I've rambled on here. I hope it makes some sort of sense. Not sure if this was the right spot to post this. Feel free to comment y'all. JC (Sonwalkr)

You would think that a computer teacher would be smart..... Here's the story. Paperweight Severs Calif. Teacher's Hand From Associated Press April 04, 2006 6:05 PM EDT VENTURA, Calif. - A teacher who kept a 40 mm shell on his desk as a paperweight blew off part of his hand when he apparently used the object to try to squash a bug, authorities say. The 5-inch-long shell exploded Monday while Robert Colla was teaching 20 to 25 students at an adult education class. Part of Colla's right hand was severed and he suffered severe burns and minor shrapnel wounds to his forearms and torso, fire Capt. Tom Weinell said. No one else was injured. He was reported in stable condition at a hospital. The teacher slammed the shell down in an attempt to kill something that was buzzing or crawling across the desk, said Fire Marshal Glen Albright. Colla found the 40 mm round while hunting years ago and "obviously he didn't think the round was live," said Dennis Huston, who teaches computer design alongside Colla.

What the youth pastor (cadillac) says is true, it is a problem with men. I think it was last November when I made a commitment to the Lord to keep my eyes clean. I've stumbed a handful of times since then and I am so much happier in general to have made that choice. I can say that it is a choice for every action that I do. People can come up with so many excuses to say they can't conquer it or that they can't help it, but they can help it if they choose rightly with the Lord's help. It sure as heck isn't easy as, yes, I do look at women in public but my thought stops right there and I move on. One has to train their mind to think of good things since we are predisposed to sin. I do want to share one thing, I have never gone as far as to masturbate. I am thankful I have never fallen into that trap. For one, my imagination can't replace one thing for another in that respect. I can also be thankful that I'm still a virgin by the skin of my teeth. Someone has told me that once you go there it's hard to quench that desire. I would liken it to a drug addiction. But as with anything addictive, it can be stopped if the person is willing to take steps for change. The Lord is able to deliver us from these things as the others have said. Like the Word says, we must choose who we will serve each day, every moment, dying to our own desires and seeking His ways. I do pray that the Lord holds my thoughts captive. I agree with the statement about not letting that thought move on into sin. Well, I think I mght have repeated some things the others have said, but I know we can all relate to this thing since we are in this together. Just remember that the Lord is in control and can work in us only if we let Him do so.. that means surrender. Our flesh can become so overbearing in our lives but we need to fill our lives with the pure things the Lord has for us. The lovely things of this world get twisted by Satan, so that's why we need to rely on His Word and His strength. Philippians 4:6-9

It seems like the world today is stuck in this mindset of "What's in it for me?". People complaining over the most frivolous stuff just to have an excuse to not go to church. If we'd only get back to basics and realize that surrender to the Lord is priority instead of "what we want". To live is Christ, to die is gain. We shouldn't be going to church for selfish reasons. If we are serving the Lord in the capacity we are able to, we do get blessed beyond what we think we actually get in return. Fulfillment comes from pleasing the Lord with our actions, with the talents He's given us, with our obedience to His word. Fellowship has its place and rightly so for we are the body of Christ and we each are members joined TOGETHER. You don't see body parts just floating around everywhere, that makes them USELESS. So, there is a reason why the body of believers is to be together in fellowship one with another. It makes the body much more stronger and more useful for His purposes. Yes, the choir director belongs on Lawrence Welk at my church, but I am going there because I am serving Him with my talents and I have fellowship with the family there. In this world full of unsavory people, there are some gems of people at church who are the best people to be around. If you keep looking at the faults of people which in turn turns you off of going to church, then you need to examine yourself and ask why are you here on earth. People are sinful and imperfect and if we are His, we need to be the light, even in the church. We are here for His purposes, not ours.

OK, lets see here. Classic shows I remember watching as a kid, you know during summer and after school: Star Trek (the original), Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, Beverly Hillbilies, Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, Emergency, Gilligan's Island, Bonanza, Little House, Hogan's Heroes, Gomer Pyle USMC, Not so classic: A-Team, Remington Steele, Murder She Wrote, Magnum P.I., Rockford Files, Mr, Belvedere, Growing Pains, OK, I'll stop before it gets cheesy there. And why did they have to cancel The Pretender? Does anyone remember Amazing Stories, produced by Steven Spielberg on NBC? Ah, Quantum Leap. Shows I watch now, if i watch TV: CSI, House, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis, 24(sometimes). I'm glad someone has pointed me to LOST. It's a good show. Can't jog my brain any more. I know there's more I like. Oh well. Next J

Thank you Marn for that very good post. Preach on..use words when necessary . J

OK.. Sing it... "Everybody's goin' surfin'.. surfin' USA!"

Put me down for 2 acres.. My fee, if you will. hehe Jason

Quote from the intro to "What If I Stumble" on DCTalk's Jesus Freak album " The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians. Who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

Congrats on your 100th post.. I just wonder if there is any hope of me ever reaching 100 posts since I'm such a quiet guy. Jason

Peace on earth, good will toward men. Let's just try to get along here, ok?

Amen and amen, Marnie. My pastor did a sermon on that very topic a few weeks ago. Things are definitely shaping up for our 'shipping out'.