bethshemaiah

You are right Smalcald and I appreciate your open mindedness... I much prefer church to a nightclub and if it is okay to dance in them, shouldn't it be okay to dance in church? Lets' Party and dance for God!!! He loves it..... Bethany

I agree that for some, organ music and simple hymns are just the way that they love to worship God. However, for a teen to "get into" that style of worship on a consistent basis... sorry but it isn't happening for most of them. And although I am in the over 40's crowd it isn't happening for me either. It is not entertainment that I go to church for... but the fact that it is entertaining is not so bad either. Our praise and worship team is anointed and they are very talented... who does that talent come from? Does the modern style of worship music help me to worship more? Yes, it does. It is just a fact. The Gospel is preached in our church and we are after the lost and broken. Regarding the lighting special effects, we save that for the youth services and there are a few strobe lights occasionally.. in all the years of our youth ministry (13) there has only been one kid who reacted in a negative way to them and far more have been "hurt" playing basketball before the service... should we remove that from church??? The lost teens on the street are drawn into the services by the music and their friends, and something to do on Sunday afternoon... that gets them in the door. Then they are drawn into relationship by the message of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. Blessings, Bethany

AMEN.

Then maybe it's time to walk.

Good start. however I believe that you may need to work on sentence structure, for example: Ever since I first saw Star Wars at the Seaview Movie Theater in 1977, I have sensed GOD calling me to serve HIM in the communications field. Whether it as an actor, writer, or director, I believe that God is calling me to spread the Message of the Gospel to people everywhere. Continuing my education will give me the tools that I need to make this happen. My goals are to be involved in the production of films that highlight the values the Gospels teach. I believe that the Media is a very powerful tool that can be used to promote the message of Jesus Christ and I want to play a part in transforming the lives of people using the gift that God has given me. I would also love to act in these productions. anyway... I shouldn't have rewritten your whole essay but I have a thing about writing and love doing it. Just don't let Marnie see it.. she will tear my version to shreds too. In Christ, Bethany Thanks Bethany. I do have some structure issues. Hey Marnie, you here somewhere? maybe you should PM her....

Good start. however I believe that you may need to work on sentence structure, for example: Ever since I first saw Star Wars at the Seaview Movie Theater in 1977, I have sensed GOD calling me to serve HIM in the communications field. Whether it as an actor, writer, or director, I believe that God is calling me to spread the Message of the Gospel to people everywhere. Continuing my education will give me the tools that I need to make this happen. My goals are to be involved in the production of films that highlight the values the Gospels teach. I believe that the Media is a very powerful tool that can be used to promote the message of Jesus Christ and I want to play a part in transforming the lives of people using the gift that God has given me. I would also love to act in these productions. anyway... I shouldn't have rewritten your whole essay but I have a thing about writing and love doing it. Just don't let Marnie see it.. she will tear my version to shreds too. In Christ, Bethany

Inj, this is very sad news, and I know how saddened you must feel. I do want to share this with you.... I have been studying depression and have experienced it myself and this may comfort you somewhat. There is, in the cycle of depression the desire of the person afflicted to isolate themselves. To put a wall up and not let anyone in on their "feelings" lest they be negated or even uncovered. It is dangerous tool that Satan uses that leads a person further into the depression cycle, from disappointment to discontentment, from discontent to discouragement, from discouragement to despair... all alone and unknown. They will give signals but they are sometimes easy to miss. That is why when a loved one withdraws it is dangerous and a warning sign. It seems that in light of this and your relationship to him as a tutor it would have been extremely hard for you to know what his troubles were, and why "no one saw it coming". Take heart in that.... yet I am sure it doesn't lessen the pain of knowing that this has happened to him. Praying for the peace of Jesus Christ that surpasses understanding for you and his grieving family, Bethany

I think you need to remember that Solomon wrote that in a state of senility and probably depression. That verse is not making a doctrinal statement. agreed Shiloh... the context of that passage is clearly not a statement that we should not celebrate someone's birth.... children are a gift from God and worth celebrating about. But to go overboard with it is like anything else. Personally, I don't like being that much "in the limelight" and consider these celebrations embarrassing as an adult. For children, it is great and very fun.... except for the balloons they made me sit on and pop at this one birthday party.... I did not like that at all. I didn't like clowns either they were scary.... Bethany

I'm trying to show a forest, and everyone is nit-picking the trees. God wants us to be happy - joyful, content, whatever term picks your fancy . . . The trouble is we want God to change our circumstances to bring us to this state, condition, whatever . . . But He was us to change our attitude - outlook, perspective, focus, whatever concept fits your theology - for said above state to happen, to be, however you want to word it. Better? I think that I am seeing a lush green tropical rain forest..... . No, truly Nebula I do understand that our attitude is the focus in this. And for the most part I do see that it is my attitude that needs to be lined up with His purpose.... I think that I have the right general attitude toward the circumstances that are surrounding me. I know that I am to see that God is increasing my faith in the circumstances that I am dealing with..... and I do have joy in that, I guess therefore I have a degree of happiness.... ouch, yes happiness. God Bless, Bethany Thanks for the efforts....

Maybe this is it?

Okay Nebula, how about this.....? I would have a bad attitude if it wasn't for the joy of the Lord........ Yes, I agree that it is an attitude that we must have.... one that embraces that happiness or joy is not about us but about what Jesus can accomplish in our lives...... I still don't feel "happy" though.... at the moment I still trust Him and hold onto the fact that He is my provider and will accomplish His purpose in me..... that is my joy. Sorry just cannot let it go....... Bethany

Yes, that is true. God cares more that we are obedient than happy. So, being an obedient child of God will bring us happiness. If we are obedient we will perhaps not find happiness for sometimes obedience leads us to places that we "might" not want to go. Perhaps the better word for what the obedient children of God will receive is: JOY perhaps there is a difference between joy and happiness. As thinking and feeling human beings there are times the we may not feel happy about things that are going on around us... yet we can still have the joy of the Lord, He is our strength. JOY: To rejoice, dance and praise God in the face of our enemies, and in our victories... joy has to do with giving the praise and glory to God. HAPPINESS: self satisfaction, an inner feeling of contentment. Just a thought..... I am going through a season right now... things are not going exactly the way I would like so I am not "happy", but I am able to see that God is in the midst of this time and working His purpose in my life and that gives me Joy. Peace, Bethany

Shalom Bethany, You can eat organic turkey pepperoni. Pig (pork) is a nasty animal and not fit for human consumption. You are right, and I do eat a lot of turkey products such as turkey bacon, sausage etc..... but if someone puts a pizza, lets say from Pizza Hut with all that Sausage and Pepperoni on it.... well I am done for, (unless I am fasting). Generally, I do opt for the healthier and less nasty stuff though. Bethany

Kosher simply means that it is Rabbinically approved. Any health benefits over and above regular food is minimal. Jews still eat cake, pie, cookies, candy, and so forth. Kosher food is simply that which is fit or proper for Jewish consumption. One is assured by the hescher stamp of approval, that it was made in accordance to Jewish law. But would it be cleaner or not? What I mean was to prepare something Kosher do you not need some of your cooking tools heated to some huge degree, I know in cheese processing (we have a kosher cheese plant close which is a bizarre story in itself), but they have a cleaner plant then they used to by orders of magnitude for it to be certified kosher cheese. That's what I was getting at. Not necessarily the modern "kosher", but the Levitical way to eat. Well from the standpoint of toxins and poisions, yes. Pigs, for example have only one stomach. A pig cannot process the toxins from a dead rat out of his system. Cows on the other hand, even though they are herbivorous can process through their cud chewing and the their much more sophisticated digestive tract any toxins they might accidentally ingest, such as any animal waste residue on the grass they eat or so forth. The same applies to things like shrimp, lobster, and other shell fish. They are the oceans scavengers/garbage collectors. They eat the dead bodies and waste products of other sea life. Any toxins they ingest may very well be in their meat when they make it to your plate. Also since God commanded blood not to be eaten, a person would not ingest any blood borne pathogens in the animal's blood. That is defintely a plus where eating a "Levitical" diet is concerned. And of course, ALL fruits, vegitables, beans and nuts are allowed by God. Yet none of this is a prohibition against eating chocolate, soda, or other heavily laden sugar products. So if you ONLY stick with beef, veal, chicken, turkey, other game fowl, the prescribed fish, fruits, vegitables and nuts, you would certainly be healthier. I am sorry, I thought you were asking about the difference between a regular chicken and a "kosher" chicken. I misunderstood your question, earlier. That actually makes a lot of sense. In other words, if one were to eat Kosher and avoid excessive sweets, it would be healthier. I think I may start trying to eat more Kosher (whilst avoiding sweets) just to see what happens. Avoiding sugar and sweets is never a bad thing... if you want to get the sugar out of your system trying eliminating all white bread and starch that converts to sugar also... like white potatoes and white rice.... eat sweet potatoes and brown rice instead..... for our culture who battles with diabetes, hypoglycemia and all of that blood sugar stuff it is not a bad idea. I eat Kosher whenever possible.... in packaged foods like hot dogs, lunch meat, etc. if I eat these things, well................ (I eat pizza with pepperoni too, yummy), so much for all kosher, Bethany