littlejoe

My dear friends I will tell what I think as for the bible verses,well athough I read the bible frequently,I don't memoraize every verse. So I will let those who are more knowlegable than I to supply the ones they may feel fit. I believe the church will not be here for the tribulation, The reason for this, is I believe this is the time when God will pour out His warth on those who would not accept the testimony of Jesus.This includes the gospel message,and the gospel terms. We are not onlyto be hearers of His Holy Word but also doers.Since the gospel message tell us that Jesus took upon Himself the pain and penalty for my sin, That He suffered the wrath of God the Father for my sins,as He was made sin,who knew no sin,so that by The death on the Cross,He paid the penalty, And He said IT IS FINISHED. We know it was accepted by God the Father.for Jesus arose on the third day,and later assended to God the Father,and now sits at His Right Hand, He is alive,and acts as our mediator between God The Father and us. Also by the Grace and Mercy of God, what makes me a Christian is the great myster of the church,Christ in me. I know some may say What? This is done by The Power of His Holy Spirit. Now if we are reconcilled to God the Father through Jesus suffering on the Cross,and God the Father poured out His wrath on His Beloved Son so we could become the adopted children of God. His Son said Behold I stand at the door and knock and if any man hear and open I will enter in,and I will sup with him... I know this is getting long in thooth but bear with me I hope you can see where I am going with this.God The Father would not punish His Son Jesus again,for Christ only had to die once because He entered into THE HOLY OF HOLYIES with His own blood,not the blood of goats or bulls. And since He is in me by The Power of His Holy Spirit, that makes sense to me to because bodily He sitting at the Right Hand of The Father it has to be this way until He comes again. Even so Lord Jesus come. Amen Love in Christ littlejoe

My dear friends I have read the book, it is a good fiction and I enjoyed it. I haven't seen the movie yet. But should the opportunity arise,I will use it to show how the book and the movie are both fiction. And with God"s help use my testimony to His Praise and Glory. We shouldn't be fearful of fiction,we just need to ask for God's help to turn a bad situation into one that will give Him Praise and Honor. Love in Christ littlejoe

I am a pastoral care volunteer at a hospital, there are 50 of us for the three campus's that the hospital has. The way we do it is the volunteers carry the new testament with them when they visit, we ask the patient if he or she would to have one,and stress that they take it home with them,this helps deal with the problem of disease control' the gideon have been very faithful in resupplying them. Since we are volunteers we get to visit all rooms,the ministers of the different faiths visit their own flocks, we also carry rosary beads for our catholic people, and have been provided a small book of palsams both in english and hebrew for our jewish brethen. So far we have not had any problem with the hospital administartor. please pray that we are able to stay this way. When people are sick the really need to get their thoughts back on God, as He is the Only One who can help them. Love in Christ littlejoe

Thanks I will try to keep this mind, It is great. Love in Christ littlejoe

Thanks again for all your help. This is just an update for you. I will no longer be part of the forum that has taken on this issue. I gave the opportunity for those who wished to change the subject, to announce it,after the service, that's when we take anouncements. Even though they assure me that it would happen it did not. sad. I know that there are some who will not agree with the ONA statement. For whatever reason they choose not to be at this forum. I like to think it is because they don't know the true subject we are taking on. However maybe this is why the people who promised me,decided not to tell the congreation. Who knows. The thing is I will return tuesday night and tell all in that room why I can no longer be a part of this. I have one more duty to do for that church, after I completed that I am done. I have been on the usher team a couple of weeks after I started worshipping there. It's my turn next week. I will finished what I promised. Then I shall leave that church and it's fellowship to them. Thanks again for all your help. Love in Christ littlejoe

My brothers and sisters in christ I know this is a simple answer to a very difficult question. I keep this next to my heart and it helps me. My brother in law told me something and has helped me. This is not our world, we are just passing through and I added a little more,may our passing through be a blessing. Love in Christ littlejoe

my friend this is how I make it work for me. I remember the Our Father. and when it comes to the line Thy will be done.... I insert in me on earth as it isin heaven. No one hears me but God. The only free will I may subject to am other is mine and I freely chose to subject my will to Gods. Love in Christ littlejoe

Thanks for all your answers I posted on two other sites but I haven't recieved any answer yet. Hopefully they will respond also. I see you edited the site I placed in my question, sorry thought it would be a good idea to allow the people here to know what I was talking about. The way the uuc church works is they bring up an issue the church wishes to adress,then they form a group of people to talk about the issue, then it is taken to the church Council and if the Council takes it to the congreation to vote yes or no.This only the second week for us to discuss the issue.I know this will be a longer post than I usually place on these boards but it is neccesary because you don't know me so I have to tell youmore about this issue and hopefully you will learn about me. The first meeting was to discuss equal right marriages for all. That is how it was said from the leader of the forum. Unfornately I feel he has another agenda. Because the first answer to the question on the ONA we must deal withit first. Personally I didn't like the idea of going through the back door. I told the prresident of council that it needs to be announced that the subject was changed or I don't contiune in the forum. We will see they promised me they would. I felt verry lonely in that room, I was only one, so far that disagrees with the open and affirming question. Hopefully when the subject is anounced we will get others in that room, so we can have a better cross section of the church.I believe all people should be welcome in a church. I don't believe all should have the right to get married in the church, and I am speaking about GLB and Transgrender people. Although I not a congreational member and thereofre have no vote I am perrmitted to voice my beliefs thank God.I also attend worship services in the Lutheran Churchs. I believe that I can attend any church's worship service provided they Lift up The Lord Jesus. Should the Congretation vote in favor of the ONA policy I must leave. It will be hard,but necessary. Thanks again for all your help. Love in Christ littlejoe

I have been sharing in the worship service of a UCC church for quite some time now. Now this church is considering becoming an open and affirming church.For those of you who do not know OAN is you can find it at *edit*. My question is does anyone believe you can be open and firming to a person without accepting the terms of OAN statement? Love in Christ littlejoe

I once read a book that stated in part of plot that the leaders of The different religious traditions would water down their religious beliefs so that everyone could accept them and incorpate it into one religion. The book is fiction, but after seeing the about post I am not so sure. Love in Christ littlejoe

Iagree with what you have posted In the eyes of God sins are sins.The problem is not all believe that sex with the same gender is sin, we all have sin,Thus The Cross. But we must believe what God tells us. Love in Christ littlejoe

My dear friends I believe all those who have Placed their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation will be caught up in the air to be with Him forever.before the tribulation,because Jesus took upon Himself the wrath of God, on the cross so we would not have to. Love in Christ littlejoe

One thing is certain, those who do not believe in being "caught up/taken away" when Christ returns will undoubtedly remain and experience the "rest" of the tribulation. But those who believe and hope for the coming of Christ who will take His Church out in order not to undergo the coming wrath of God and the reign of the beast, will be "raptured/caught up" in the clouds to meet Jesus and they will be with Him forever and ever. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we ]who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thesl. 4:15-17 These "caught-up believers" are the ones who came out of the great tribulation. And I said to him, "My Lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb". Rev. 7:14 Those who remain (not caught-up out of unbelief or living in sin not washing their robes and make them white) as faithful believers, if they endure, will be beheaded for refusal to receive the mark of the beast; these are the ones who will be raised up and reign with Christ for a 1000 years (after Christ makes war with the beast, the kings of the earth and their armies Rev. 19:19) while the rest of the dead came to life after the 1000 years are completed. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand, and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Rev. 20:4 After the 1000 years are completed, Satan will be released and will deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the "last" war sorrounding the beloved city, Jerusalem, and fire from heaven will devour them. Then the "new earth and the new heaven" as well as "new Jerusalem" will come down out of heaven (since the "old Jerusalem", the "old earth" and the "old heaven" will pass away) as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev. 20:7-15, Rev. 21:1-2. This was confirmed (fire destroying the "old heaven and the old earth" including the "old Jerusalem"): But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." 2 Pet. 2:10 v. 13 But according to His promise, we are looking for a new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." Again, those who believe to be caught up will be "raptured" and those who do not believe will remain but they must endure. And the "New Jerusalem" is the "everlasting covenant" not the "Old Jerusalem, the old earth and its work". Hi German joy, So you are saying that a person who has a true saving faith in Christ, but does not believe that there is a rapture prior to the Return of Christ will not be caught up in the air at His return? I don't find that in scripture at all. All who have faith in Christ, a true saving faith, will be saved in the same way at His return. I don't see two classes of people based on their doctrinal stands over this one issue of prophecy. Unless you are saying that if one has faith in Christ they will agree with you about this prophetic event, and those who do not, do not have faith and are not saved at this time?

In my church we use them and for me it is great, we also give them to our new visitors this helps me because I don't have to wait to be introduced. Sometimes we have people come in and they don't know anyone so our name tags are a big plus. we even went so far as to see they don't ruin your clothes by using ones that you don't have to pin to yourclothes. It also helps me to place a face on member who name I know is in the church book but I haven't seen him or her for a long period of time. Love in Christ littlejoe

I am reading this now, I started with the gospels because that's what I am most expose to and it is easier for me.The next volume starts with Acts,and ends with Rev. After that I will start with Vol 1. Has anyone read this? Tell me what you think. Love in Christ littlejoe

This is what I do, I have been taught that Jesus is in My heart through the Power of The Holy Spirit, so when I wake up in The morning I go to Him in prayer and ask that He Jesus sit on The throne of my heart and rule me through the Power of His Holy Spirit in other words take my body together with all it's members and use to Your Praise and Glory no matter what The circumstance or condition I find myself in. Then in Faith believing I step out and walk with The King. It works for me because before I tried to rule my Life and I have to tell you That didn't work for me. That doesn't mean I don't have bad days or that am with out troubles it just helps me to remember that I am not alone in them. Love in Christ littlejoe

I hope this maybe of help to you.We worship and pray to God. He is a prayer hearing and answering God.This is the way it works for me. God hears and answers in His perfect timing. Sometimes it yes,sometimes it is no, and sometimes it is wait. The first one is easy we know right away,the second is alittle harder to handle, and the third is definetly tough. But we must remember if it is no,He has something better in mind for us,and He gives us the Grace to accept and sustain us even though He said no. As for the third, we may keep knocking,until we know that the answer is no. Try to keep His promises in mind when you pray,I will turn all things to the good of those that love God and are called according to His purpose. Now that may not be the exact scripture,I don't qoute The Bible, but it is in The Word of God. Someone on This Board could probably give the verse so you can see for yourself. Love in Christ littlejoe

I have been taught that the term born again can also be translated from above. Thus we had nothing to do with it, It all comes from the Power of God, and I believe this happens when you accept Christ as yoour Lord and Saviour. Love ib Christ littlejoe

This is my answer to your question, God knows who He will have Mercy on. But it is all in His own perfit timing. I was born in 1941 and was saved by The Grace of God in 1979. I am a student of the bible and know there are verses in it that apply to it. I shall leave that to those who can quote them to you. I will tell you my thoughts with the understanding that I am aways willing to be corrected by anyone on these boards. It was in the wonderful consul of God that Christ would die for me before the foundation of the World,and yet it was not until 1979 that I was connvicted of my sin and showned my need for The Lord Jesus Christ. I do my best to treat all professioning christains with a special love because they call my Lord Lord. And I try to treat all people I met with love because we share the love of God. I don't know all my brothers and sisters in Christ, I think I only know a few,but GOd Knows us all for we are His Blood bought children. He will call His people from all over The World from all different people. But as far as I am concerned it is always in His Perfit Timing. I Hope this helps. Lovein Christ littlejoe

The church I now attend and share their worship is Glenside United Church of Christ. All though I share in the worship and support the church wi th money and my time I am not a congreational member.By The Grace of God, Iwas convicted of my sin and of my need of the for Lord Jesus Christ. And so I am a member of the church that meets there. I can share the worship of any church that raises up The Lord Jesus Christ. Love in Christ littlejoe