darski

It may be a matter of semantics but I prefer the term "receive Christ" rather than "accept Christ". I find that it more clearly reflects God's efforts against our natural animosity. IYKWIM We receive what God gives. Accept has a more active connotation on the part of recalcitrant sinners than is likely.

Encouragement aligns to character building. Flattery aligns to esteem building. We need people of greater character.

Way to go Josh! You listened to the Spirit about the Word - good one!

I would like to recommend the A.C.T.S prayer format for newbies Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication If you are just beginning your prayer life it is a good way to begin. It helps you to think of all you want to say to Abba.

I chose "Other" in your poll because "daily" seemed to imply once during the day and I try to pray without ceasing. Not that i do but I do try to keep in touch. I pick up my crochet hook and it's time to talk to God; walk out the door to go someplace, time to talk to God... and so on and so on. Regarding how to pray or to whom; Jesus was rather specific on that one. BTW, could you fix that in your original post. It drives me crazy when peole miss something that simple. Pray to Whom? that's the ticket.

I choose to celebrate my assurance of salvation by honouring the Lord's day - the day that Jesus rose from the dead. I believe that we have stolen more from our Jewish brethren than is good for us and we should not steal their Rest Day as well. It was a gift that God gave to His people and I don't want to stand in between my in laws. I often wonder if people believe that Sabbath means seven(th) That would explain much of the misunderstanding that occurs. Now, I may choose to honour my Lord's resurrection but I also believe that people must needs do what feels "holy" to them. If you believe that Saturday should be made separate and apart - have at it.

This article might be a beginning to the discussion: http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5629

Your political compass Economic Left/Right: 0.25 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 2.67 I was right on the line between left and right - I think you would be hard pressed to find someone else who would put me as an MOR on anything. I know that they claim that they are pure as the driven snow and that we are just reading into what they wrote...but in fact they are blinded by their own prejudices and without meaning to, they slant the questions. If indeed I am a Middle Of the Road-er, I shouldn't see such clear indications of left bias.

I have been giving prayerful consideration to Professor Dawkins and to his latest book. I have only seen excerpts of it but it does cry out to me as someone in desperate need of salvation. His life is so pathetic if that is the best thing he can think to do with pen and ink.

One element of Superstar the movie that I did like was the contrast from the beginning where all the people are getting off the bus and they're all gung ho and wanna make this movie - Yeh! At the end of the movie, as they all climb back onto the bus, they have been subtly changed. They became contemplative, they were not so self assured anymore. I realize that Norman Jewison wrote that into the script but it was very effective in my mind. Just in case people didn't know... "Always Hoped That I'd be an Apostle" is a song from the movie. It so perfectly demonstrated the self-centredness of the apostles right up to that last supper. Again, it would be good for group study but needs a debriefing time.

I spent a great deal of time listening to this on tape and have seen the VHS video a few times. The intent of this was always to make Judas the good guy and to debunk the Jesus story. There is enough of reality in it to make it hard for Christians to complain but there are major flaws with what it presents. That being said, I was finally able to understand what it meant when they "mocked" Jesus and some of the music does carry the story along. (Always hoped that I'd be an apostle...) They of course had to fall into the Mary M. as prostitute falsehood because it hit a chord (boo, hiss, pun) at that time. I would no longer recommend it except as a study group but I am not sorry that I did use this tape. it could really lead into false teaching very quickly.

There is a difference in the RC belief in infant baptism than in many denominations who observe this rite. Catholics teach that the child will go straight to hell without baptism (never having done any works to earn heaven) and the Reformed churches believe that the child who dies will go to heaven. The Reformed churches believe that the child is welcomed into the family of God and becomes a charge on the congregation but is not saved by baptism. The primary doctrine of the RC church is that Jesus is not enough for salvation. It is the church plus Jesus and a whole lot of works that might get you into heaven.

Here's a thought.... why not just get people to teach kids to read. You would be amazed at what happens to kids who learn to read. But all the money is made in remedial readers..

I still believe we had better teachers who had two years at "Normal school" than we have with 4 years at U and a degree in education. If you can't learn most jobs in two years there is something wrong with the training or with you. (OK brain surgeons can have 3 years )

Interesting food for thought in this article... only 8% of Japanese teens say they are happy with life http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews....=rss&rpc=22