For Him Alone

Did you mean in witnessing or worship? Because they are different; I approach each very differently. I praise Him with my voice every day--I am a singer in my church! I worship loudly in my car every day--I still sing Jesus Freak every day (or some other Christian R&R) at the top of my lungs--this is part of my morning worship. But in dealing with non-believers, just like teaching anything--you have to take the student's own personality and learning curve into account in the way you teach or witness. :thumb:

I think people pay closer attention to what you have to say if you whisper instead of shout. Make them lean in. It's a psychological thing, but it works!

If I were you I'd get rid of Hotmail. It's the worst for spam. I have never ever gotten spam on our outlook account. Nope, not once.

I have never ever received any of that stuff. But we use outlook, not a webmail. Check out filter options at the hotmail website too...and contact the hotmail administrator.

Isn't he partners with Miss Cleo? Televangelists are further reason to unplug our TV sets. Imagine what the Lord will have as "reward" for these phonies using His name for material gains??? Wouldn't be in those shoes!

Teri, I reckon we just disagree on the significance of Steven King and horror, etc. I don't see the reality of evil is being diminished unless a person is extremely weak...

And have no entertainment at all and spend 24 hours a day in Bible study. Is that to follow? There is a difference in demons and fantasy, guys. Not everything that is imaginary or horror-ific is of Satan. Everyone loves to be scared--yes, you too! Nearly everyone loves a good ghost story. It's a STORY. I'm not defending Christian-bashing, of course not. But like 'Carrie's' mother, it's really easy to go overboard and become absolutely paranoid. She was nuts, not a devout Christian. She was a child abuser; she locked Carrie in the closet for days to force her to pray. She thought that Carrie was of the devil because she felt guilty for having sex with her husband. It was a STORY. The point was not to bash Christians, it was to bash nuts. IMHO. But if you feel sinful in enjoying a horror movie, by all means avoid them. But be careful in judging what a "true" Christian home should do and not do.

I've touched on my feelings on this on other threads. I don't like Steven King mainly because he is Sooooo wordy you can skip chapters and never miss a thing. his narrative goes on and on and on...also his pervasive use of profanity is a turnoff to me as well. However, I don't think that horror/fantasy fiction in itself is displeasing to God. it is imaginary, just like the horror/fantasy in Cinderella, Peter Pan, Snow White, and Harry Potter. I love vampire stories and ghost stories and those eerie wolves around the campsite stories, and I understand the difference in fiction and things that are real. Where can you draw the line if you begin with a certain author? I don't see how you can. just MHO here.

Nope, I don't think so. You're saved if you believe and follow Him. Those who are really saved won't want to behave like demons. Everyone backslides or sins, but not everyone is a demon. Put it like this: Demons know and reject. To know and accept is salvation. Different. If someone truly believes and accepts, then their life and their works will REFLECT that. In other words, you can't talk the talk and not walk the walk and still be assured. No, God is not fooled. Hypocrites are definitely not assured of Heaven, as they are the worst of liars--I think God is pretty clear on this, too! Now maybe that's where the faith + works thing gets confusing to some. Because if you have faith, the works will naturally follow as you obey the Lord. :thumb:

Salvation by Faith = following Him, not just knowing He existed. Why are you picking this apart when it is fairly obvious that demons know christ exists and have gone against Him? My terrorist comparison was a pretty good one. I know they exist, but I choose to turn from them. I am not a terrorist just by believing they are real and knowing what they are capable of. Sorry, but I don't get what you're driving at here.

WE AGREE!!!

I personally don't see a link between faith and intellectual knowledge. In fact, they contradict each other. Here's an example: I am holding in my hand a paper clip. You cannot see it, but I assure you it is there. If you know me to be an honest person, will you have FAITH that it is there? Do you trust that something is true without actual factual proof? That is faith. Well, let me ruin your faith by opening my hand and showing you the paper clip. I have just proven that it is there, so faith is GONE. Not Necessary anymore. Now you have proof, which requires NO faith. In fact you cannot have faith AND proof! I have faith I saw that...nah, doesn't mean the same thing. You KNOW what you saw. You have Faith in what you Believe without proof...am I being redundant? hey, I make sense now and then, huh? OK, OK, my pastor used that in church 2 weeks ago. Still...you'll get it, I'm sure. Man, I could've taken credit for that.

The difference is they believe He exists, but choose to walk separate from Him and defy His Glory. Knowing He is real does not mean they follow His word. (Boy, are they gutsy and stupid or what?!?!) I believe that terrorists exist, but I am not one. For instance.

Excellent point. He has a great Sense of Humor, too! I bet it was fun designing all those silly animals.

True enough. Thanks. That fire roasted flesh sounds good--why don't we do that at Lord's Supper too?

Someone walking in true Fatih with the Lord will not want to do terrible things.

I think it's worth bringing up to my pastor, to get his take on it. I'm sorry I seemed defensive, munari. What I was asking was if it was a Catholic thing or not. I remember we had the little flatbread crackers in Baptist church growing up, but I like the way we do it now, everyone actually breaking a piece from the loaf, like breaking the body. Reminds me more of His sacrifice than taking a little oyster cracker from a silver plate. Was unleavened bread used in the last supper? I should know this! Why don't I know this?

Ah, ha! There will never be a priest present when I take communion so never mind! unless he's trying out my non-denominational church, that is, and ALL are welcome to partake there, if they are Christian! Thanks, munari. As usual, this is doctrinal stuff--has nothing to do with my worship and communion with Jesus. Sorry if RCC finds that offensive, but then again, no, I'm not.

The reason this is biting at me is that at our church we use 2 large, round loaves of bread. And our wine is really juice. I really don't think we would do this if it is unacceptable to God.

I asked this somewhere else but now I can't find it...I get lost in this big ole' forum! Why, in communion, is unleavened bread a necessity? For those of us who think of the bread as a symbol, it seems that any bread taken in the right spirit and reverence would qualify for a worshipper. What if you don't have unleavened bread? Will Christ reject the offering of communion as worship? What if you're somewhere there is no unleavened bread?

Well said, Jipsah! And this applies to ALL fictional magic and fantasy. We should all be much much more concerned about our unsaved neighbors and friends and family...

Thank you, Kiwi, and Timothy, it's ok--you gavve me a giggle. I'm continuing my search, and praying on this daily. I have 2 days off coming up soon; I plan to go to my bank and check loans out. I have great credit and we have several accounts with this one bank--they should LOVE me! Perhaps they'll love me enough to help me get started. Another option brought to my attention (in a dream!) was buying this business and running it the way God wants!

Teri, sounds like you have a golden opportunity to introduce this inmate to the Lord!! :thumb: My prayers are with you--pray that the Spirit guide your responses and watch the magic happen!

Wow, Munari. Excellent point! I do not "worship" everything that I enjoy other than God. We can like ficticious silly things without threatening our salvation or falling into sin--I seriously doubt I will begin hanging out at "vampire clubs' because I read Dracula. I think God is more concerned with my love for Jesus and my telling of His promises. I watched "From hell" the other night--it's about Jack the Ripper. There was drug use and violence and sex outside marriage. I don't want to become an East Side prostitute now--or kill them, either. Or drink Absinthe and Laudunum. It was historical, though, and part of the story. Ok, bad example, not fiction. I saw Snow Dogs too--hilarious. (Sorry--just had to lighten up!)