MK202002

Things happen in our life, some say they are being punished, others think they are going through some kind of trial. Looking just at our own lives, how can we tell what God is intending? If we believe it's a test and determine keep at it, bravely bashing our heads against the proverbial brick wall, we probably will prevail eventually, but what if that wasn't what God wanted? What if we missed the most important lesson our lives? On the other hand, what if we look at a situation in our lives and say "this happened because of my sin". So we clean up our lives, but we're 'gun shy' and hesitant for the rest of our lives. And no, it's NOT easy to tell all the time. My smart-alek husband says "If we knew, it wouldn't be a test!" Is that part of it? I'm going crazy! How can you know if God is still on your side? Two years of this people, and still no answer from God. My faith is falling apart! Does anyone care? At church I get eye rolls the few times I do open up about this. It IS a big deal!

reloading is a fun hobby. knowledge is power!! (whoa, too much sugar, sorry)

wanna bet?

hi, haven't posted for a while, if this topic already has a thread, please refer me to that one and I will delete this one to save on cyberspace. What thoughts do you have on the shootings this morning in Colorado springs, Colorado? Conversation ideas: Persecution or random act of violence? Armed security guards at a church? Do you (or someone you know)live around the area affected? Another blow to a Haggard (haggey?)-founded church?

I think maybe what he meant was (correct me if I'm wrong, smalcald) taking pleasure in the idea, not the act. The idea of being in control, and being more powerful.

uh, let's not forget the credit cards for illegals without a social security number etc. and let's not forget the reduced college tuition that isn't available to citizens. I don't understand- how do you get those things without a social security #? I see how to get it if someone steals a SS number, but otherwise?

just curios

Being smack in the middle of the contenental US, I don't know much about how illegal immigration effects us. How exactly does it cost us "millions of dollars" every year?

Thank you, I totally recieve that. But again- this is not about his struggles, it's about mine. I know why he's in jail, why does God want me to do through this mess? Do you think I sinned? Of course I do, I do every day, as I'm sure you do, but I don't know what God wants me to get out of this.

Did you ever think to share the gospel with him? LT Frankly, I would've been too scared and too ticked off to think of that. I'm sorry, but it's true. Besides, I sincerely doubt the guy would've been receptive. Maybe YOU could've shared the gospel with him, but then, you're a guy, so he probably wouldn't have approached you in the first place, and if he had, he would have been a little more cautious with you. Hi Iryssa, What do the following verses have to deal with. If you are born again why should you fear/be scared? LT Because theres some sick sorry lowlifes out there that would attack a woman alone. thats what she has to fear. these same sick lowlifes don't care what God has to say. She had every reason to be scared with the way things happen now days. so? there have have always been rapists and thieves. what do our lives amount to anyway compared to the cause of christ? seriosly. maybe he wouldn't have been receptive to the gospel then.. but years down the road, he could remember and who knows? I'd much rather get jacked while spreading the gospel than jacked while making pathetic protests that may not do any good at all.

thanks- I think I feel kind of condemed right now. Maybe it's my church, or friends, or maybe it's in my head. Maybe this whole mess will help me walk more humbly. Anyone 50+, is it true that at the end of your life it's common to feel like you will never "get there?"

or: John 15:13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. or: 1 John 3:16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

We must realize that as believers we do possess absolute authority over Satan and his forces. We were given this authority by Jesus. You must take into account that this authority operates based on laws which God set forth. Our authority and dominion over Satan can not be turned on and off at will. Your husband has free will. He is a free moral agent. He exercised his free will. He committed crime. Now, even though he is saved, he must pay the price that society dictates. God forgives, the state does not. (as a rule) Your husband set events into motion that must run their course. In the eyes of God he is righteous, in the eyes of the State he is a criminal. Even though he has repented, he still owes a debt to society. It is actually unjust if he does not pay that debt. I am sure the crime had a victim of some type. If your husband were to escape punishment, then the victim would be hurt. I remember Kenneth Haggin telling a story about pick handles. During the great depression, two men purchased a pickup truck load of pick handles. The handles were turned, but yet to be sealed. This load of handles was worth over a years wages to the men. They brought the handles home and noticed it looked like rain. They debated parking the truck in the barn but decided to pray protection over the handles instead. It rained. The handles became warped and they lost a years wages. The men were crushed. They asked God why. They reminded God that they had trusted him to protect the handles. They heard no answer from God and became bitter. They saw brother Haggin and recounted the story to him. They asked him why their faith had not worked. He told them they had mistaken foolishness for faith. He said God showed you that it was going to rain. The fact that you were too lazy to open the barn doors and drive the truck in was your own fault. Sometimes binding, loosing, and taking authority is so misguided it is foolishness in practice. To avoid prison time, you hire the best lawyer, get letters from important people, and talk to people who can make a difference in the sentence. The way to keep someone out of prison is hire the right attorney. Get someone who has clout to pressure the D.A. Get someone who has clout to pressure the judge. You would be amazed what someone properly connected can do. I am not talking about rich people either. I am talking about people who can pull large numbers of votes. People who have pulled large numbers of votes. Get the victim to request leniency. As a police officer, I can promise you that the court sees religious conversion as a ploy. You would not believe how many people get saved right after they get arrested. Then, they get saved again the next time they get arrested. Then, they get saved again the next time they get arrested. Then they have a jail ministry. Then they get out and get arrested again. It is sickening really. Some people change. Unfortunately, the ones who use religious conversion as a means to try to escape punishment ruin it for the select few who truly change. this really isn't about my husband getting off scott free, but more of my understanding of the situation from a spiritual perspective. I'm letting him deal with his own questions. I generally do not like cops, but how in the world am I supposed find a lawyer with 'clout' over a court? A lawyer will certainly tell you that he has influence over a court, if you seem interested in hiring them. Are you aware that these people lie? And they were two-non violent class D felonies. He was connected to a case that had a victem, but he was not charged with anything violent. Another thing that is sickening is cops who say they are christians and have no quams lying, planting, being overly aggressive, and breaking the law to help others build a case. And they ruin any trust that might exist between another cop with integrity and the public.

oh my gosh thank you. You're like the only person who offered any scriptural reference. I'm Sorry but i don't particularly care to associate the bible with the klan. they might use the bible for their own purpose, but they do not follow its scriptural teaching. you have to remember that todays klan is nothing but a bunch of cowards. IF they were real men, they would stand toe to toe with whomever they had a problem with and settle it like men. I totally agree. The original purpose of this post was: 1. To find where they get thier twisted beliefs, 2. and how to show a person who subscribes to simular theology what the bible really says about the real Spirit of the Gospel. Using scripture references.

oh my gosh thank you. You're like the only person who offered any scriptural reference.

awesome, thank you. yeah, like a first grader still in the first grade trying to understand calculus.

Amen. thank you. That's another fishy thing about this teaching on authority. You move some of the trust into your own abilities and understanding. Like results based prayer;if you prayed and it didn't happen, the problem is you, because God promised us everything we want in prayer. (uh-huh) Even when there is no problem at all, you just need to trust God and ride it though.

Thank you everyone for responding, your multiple insights really help. A few nights ago at a Bible study we were talking about this authority teaching. It can have adverse affects, I think. Parts of it are true, but how I've heard people explain it leaves everything wide open to interpretation. This is the normal verse that is included: Ephesians 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. But I'm not fighting any demonic forces here, as one of you pointed out; demons are not keeping him in prison, the Department of Corrections is. Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (assuming this means like government institutions and such. So the question I brought up at this bible study was: How do demonic forces manifest themself? Because if we knew that we could know what was from God and what was an "attack of the devil" I personally think we give Satan way to much credit as far as being able to hurt us. Does anyone know where any of these ideas come from? They put so much reponsibility on a person. I think the 'authority teaching' will be short lived in the church. Right before my husband was sentance, our pastor preached a message on telling mountains to move out of our way. I'm not blaming him for tripping me up, but some of the teaching could be taken totally wrong. Or it simply is totally wrong. What do you think?

This is a personal question- have any of you killed anyone? In any type of situation, like combat, home defense, etc? What do you think of what you did? would you do it again? I appriciate everyones input, but maybe when deciding on something we should first we should look at scripture (which we did), and second at the first hand experiences of people who have put thier beliefs (on both sides of the arguement) into practice. Because we all know what we plan to do and what we end up being able to do at the time of the situation are two different things.

To make things simple, I'll come right out with my personal business. And I promise not to hold a grudge if one of you says something insensitive but 'true'. Tell me what you think: The deal: Three years ago before he was saved my husband committed a couple of crimes. After he was arrested, he genuinly came to Christ (he did, it stuck). One year ago they finally got around to sentancing him. Make a long story short, he has four more years to go till he comes home. The damage: I thought he was going to get off with probation. Not because he was good, not because he didn't deserve it, but because I believed God was telling me he would. So this shattering of nievity has caused me to attempt to synthesize everthing back together, and the devil's got his claws in the job. Stumbling blocks: *The 'authrity teaching' floating around in my church. We are to take authority and abolish all demonic forces. This put 100% of the responsibility on us. If something bad happens, we should have been able to beat it, we;ve been given the power, etc. *The 'trials and tribulations' teaching. God puts us through trials for our strenthening. Bad things happen for a believer's good. * The "God's discipline' or 'natural consequenses' idea. ok, he is our father, but how do we know what he wants us to learn? So those are three schools of thought I encounter, either in myself or in others when I try to process through this and understand it. They affect how a person views tragetys in others and in themselfves. They are very important. And I am freaking out because I have no idea how God wants me to take this!! Do I think that I am so perfect as to never have hard times in my life? No, of course not. Yes, I know there are people out there who suffer so much more than I ever dreamed, and I respect that, but it doesn't answer my questions, only enhance them. And please don't simplify the dilemma to 'why do bad things happen to me'. I don't care if they happen, I just need to know how to respond.

how did I reply 3 times? silly computer. Ok, a scenerio. My folk want me to start packing. I can't shoot anybody! I mean, for real! I just felt so wierd driving around with a 38 in my car. My mom, dad and little sister all strongly believe in self defense. So far I've found more scriptural evidence of letting God defend me, instead of defending myself.

hhhmmmm.....i guess either verbal or physical

hhhmmmm.....i guess either verbal or physical

hmmm, I gues both.