Prodigalson123

Oh what a story! You have been instrumental in many peoples lives, and at least one was saved probably due to your wintness. We all have times that our actions certainly didn't win someone to Christ, but the Lord knows your heart, and I'll bet that there will be a few surprises instore for you when you go to meet the Lord. You might be welcomed by more then a few people you didn't think you had an effect on. May the Lord bless you and keep you

My wife is a pantheist, it makes for some interesting discussions with our homeschooled son!

no worries LadyRaven, I didn't think you said anything particularly to me, and my comments aren't angry or accusatory to anyone in particular.

my comment earlier wasn't to cherry pick what you don't like and use origins as an excuse. If we as Christians want to "celebrate" the days, but not as holidays, I think that's fine. We "celebrate" 4th of July, Presidents Day et al, but my point ins....if someone in their heart believes it's wrong to celebrate a holiday,origin being pagan or otherwise, then they can't because to do so is a sin. Romans 14 states that you as a "stronger" believer shouldn't condemn that weaker brother/sister I think Paul is quite clear that neither the weaker nor the more mature Christian should be critical or quarrelsome on this issue. That was my point of the last post. Specifically, I can't and won't celebrate Halloween, Easter or Christmas as "Christian" holidays because they aren't. They have been defiled in the sense that the days were originally pagan holy days and they were Christianized by the early church. Does that mean I condemn any who do? not at all. But the same spirit of contention and quarreling that permeates the fundamentalist to say that is present when the believer who claims freedom under grace states that My point is that they are two sides of the same coin, but neither are edifying anyone.

so...if someone holds the belief that due to the origins of something, they can't in good conscience go through with the ritual, holiday, food etc. it's a sin for them to do it. If they believe it's wrong, then they are bound by their conscience to avoid such things. Whatever is not done in faith is sin, so do you continue to "tell" them that they shouldn't hold those convictions? I understand your opposition to someone telling you that you "shouldn't " do something because they hold it in a differant light then you do, but at what point do we apply the passage of scripture that Paul states that you shouldn't do these things in the presence of a weaker brother because you will be a stumbling block for them?

LadyRaven.... I would be very interested in speaking to you sometime about your wiccan background. My wife is a pantheist, and would love to talk to you about it

You are correct, we can't all be right. But I believe that the Lord has left some things ambiguous, and He expects us to have the heart of His Son in dealing with our brothers/sisters that we don't necessarily agree with. It's easy to be kind, patient and all the other 1 Cor 13 attributes we are called to do when you agree with everyone. But I see it as an opportunity to show that just because I don't agree with someone, that it may not be an issue that should cause dissension, or division. Obviously if someone doesn't belkieve in the virgin birth, then there is a matter that needs to be addressed in truth and love, but for example, drinking alcohol usually gets strong reactions no moatter which side of the issue you are on, the freedom under grace side, or the keeping your testimony side.

I don't lust after the Lord, I long for Him, I don't want my dark side having anything to do with Him, I don'tr want that side to touch Him because that would defile Him. I'm eternally grateful that He doesn't feel that way. Zechariah 3:1-5 Clean Garments for the High Priest 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" 3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." 5 Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.

It's God's love letter to me, it's a treasure map, it's a beacon and a gps system for me to find my way home, it's the most cherished letter I've ever received, it's a mirror of what I was, am today and a glance at what I am yet to be, it's a chronicle of the heroes who have gone before me, it's the wealth of knowledge and wisdom that man-kind has been searching for but doesn't recognize.

good stuff, the ever constant struggle of legalism vs grace

because we as Christians hope for the return of the Lord, and those who don't recognize Jesus like to think that man-kind can determine his own fate.

Hi and welcome, there is nothing wrong with living in joyful expectation of the Lord's return. Anyone who tells you that there is you should be wary of. Now if you believe that there is one definitive answer to eschatology, there in lies the problem. The end times sequence is not a topic that is agreed on by the church. Just trust God that He will make known to you any wisdom that He feels you need, and live your life as if Jesus was coming back today, and all will be well.

e-sword is awesome! I love cross-translations. I love the NASB and the ASV, not crazy about the KJV just becasue of the language. I like the more literal versions so that I know the actual wording being used, and not depending on a translator for their spin

Aye, having been born Jewish, I know that. That is not a good custom to my mind. Woman are of great importance to all things. And deserve equal, if not greater, mention than men. (Yes, I am a male Feminist!) But still Mary is not mentioned as Heli's daughter. Is she mentioned that way in another chapter? You might want to be careful brother, there is no disticntion between men and women in the eyes of the Lord in regards to importance, maybe you should conform your thinking to God's

don't feel silly Ayin, if only 1 question gave you trouble, you're way ahead of the curve!

What verse is that and what Bible translation. Thanks, K.D. James 1:13-15 NIV Thank you, What do you think it means by " and sin when it is full grown" Charles Stanley gave a good description, he said that sin originates in the mind, where we either reject it, or dwell on it. Then it moves to the heart. Once in the heart it grows to action. We can shut down the process by renewing our minds with scripture, and thus eliminating the dwelling on the sin. But we need to make sure we use the HALT method. Never let ourselves get too....Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. Those things make us more prone to give into temptation.

What verse is that and what Bible translation. Thanks, K.D. James 1:13-15 NIV

great comment ERIC I agree wholeheartedly with your reply

The phrase "rapture" is relatively new, but how can you state that the concept of what that word infers as new? 1 Thessalonians4:13-18 That seems to be the passage that is referred to often when referring to the rapture. As to the tribulation and the 7 years, Daniel 9:27 is where that is cited. But to be clear to my esteemed brother Leonard, I'm not concerned about the rapture, tribulation et al. Christ said only the Father knows the time, but we shouldn't be preoccupied with it. I try to live my life as if it's today the Lord will come back, and if he doesn't, that's fine to. I'm not sure why you are getting (seemingly) so worked up about this.

G2347 θλίψις thlipsis thlip'-sis From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. Mat 24:21 For1063 then5119 shall be2071 great3173 tribulation,2347 such as3634 was1096 not3756 since575 the beginning746 of the world2889 to2193 this time,3568 no,3761 nor ever3364 shall be.1096 Mat 24:22 And2532 except1508 those1565 days2250 should be shortened,2856 there should no3756 flesh4561 be saved:4982, 302 but1161 for the elect's sake1223, 3588, 1588 those1565 days2250 shall be shortened.2856 so....explain to me the context that no flesh be saved, the description such as was not since the beginning, nor shall ever be? Be exogetic, not isogetic. Don't twist things to say what your theology says. I don't hang my hat on the issue, because it isn't one worthy of division, the Lord will do what He wants regardless of who makes the better arguments, but to claim that there is deception going on shows that you aren't looking at it objectively. The issue was present long before any "books" were written. This has been an issue in the church since the 1st century. Thus the reason why Paul wrote 1st Thessalonians, the entire reason for the 4th chapter was to explain to the church at Thessalonica what happens to their loved ones when they die. So this question has been around alot longer then Lahaye Ministries.

excellent job of making things right

The funny part is, a loving God allows us to determine our own destiny. We are given a map via the Bible. Choose your path, and end up where you want But it is so typical of the human race that we blame God for the freedom to determine our destiny ourselves. He gave us the way to Heaven through our Lord Jesus' sacrifice. Imagine the pain that the Lord feels whenever one of His children decides that etetnity is worth being traded for lust, greed, avarice, self-love, money, power, hatred or indifference. What a great God we serve, and I hope canadasuzi you choose Him if you haven't already

outstanding response Nevin John 6:39 is you promise that if you are a Christian, satan can't "take" you away And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

(((((((((((((((((((TIB))))))))))))))))))))))) I love you in return. You are an inspiration and so much more than you know and it's all unconditional as I don't ask for anything in return and here you are giving it so freely. Thank you, brother. It's Jesus love that is love in it's purest form. One of many gifts from God that are so abundant. I agree it sustains. I would be so empty and y'all would be able to see through me if I didn't have God's unconditional love. It's because He lives in me and in all my brothers and sisters and allows us the ability to share it with each other with is so awesome. When my children were babies, it's an example of such love I never experienced on earth. How they depended on me for everything and that first smile was such an incredible reward. I agree rose, my son has taught me more about Jesus' love for me then anything else. When I think of my son ruining his life and wasting the opportunites for him, I think of God and His view on me, when I think of my son being lost and never coming home, it strikes me down, when I see the love in my sons eyes, I thank God He loves me more then that. Being a father is the greatest gift I've been given, and the greatest learning experience both temporally and spiritually in my life