SeekerOfTruth

You might want to do some research on that... Chapter 9 verse 11 actually says "But if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, they are your brethren in faith; and we make the communications clear for a people who know." (M. H. Shakir translation)

Wow. I hope that she recovers from the mental illness, if that is indeed the case. It it's not, then I also hope that they checked to see if she has any other skeletons in her closet >_<.

Oh, sorry. I double posted (can a mod delete my post? thanks)

I believe the same story was posted before here on Worthy. It's still a great read and yes, it brings the point across quite nicely. Thanks for the share.

Guess again. They have religious police there. They have been known to let little girls burn to death inside a burning school because they did not have their head coverings on. Try going to Mecca as a non-Muslim and see how that works out for you. Yup, all true. To get around the banned bible thing, we brought a children's bible (real bright colours and all), they let that go through, and downloaded the bible through the internet (e-sword, you might have to use a proxy as they block certain sites). If you have any Christian tattoos, beware. I know of someone who had a cross forcefully removed from his arm. Not a pretty picture. Also, don't go out with anything to eat on Ramadan. Saudi's a tough place to live if you're not used to the customs. take care.

good one

One of the children learning books I read as a child used the word gay a lot (it used to belong to my dad). When I asked my parents about what the word meant they were quite uneasy (untill I showed them where I learned that specific word). Yes, times are changing. It's sad that yet another perfectly good word is used for something that God abhors.

I just want to share my personal experiences with you guys in regards to the Harry Potter books. I really, really like the books. I bought the first book before the Harry Potter craze took off and devoured it from cover to cover (I was nine back then, I believe it was around 1997). Fantasy and Science fiction books were a way for me to escape reality for a while and forget about my own troubles. The bad thing is, since reading Harry Potter I have become more and more interested in the occult. Fantasized about what I would do if I had these incredible powers, thinking of what I would be willing to give if I were offered these powers. I started to search on the Internet anything Wicca related and I thank God that He stopped me from doing anything stupid. I received an anonymous e-mail from a an ex-cultist that turned to Christ and how these 'dark arts' from the Devil ruined her life. I have no idea how she found my e-mail or what compelled her to send the mail to a complete stranger, but that really turned me off from my fantasies of power. A part of me really wants to read the new book because I remember how much I enjoyed the previous books, but another part of me says that I should want no part of it. The books planted a seed that I'm still trying to get rid of. I'm learning that if you feed your mind with anything that is not of God but from the Evil one, you are setting yourself up for a Big Fall. These are just my personal thoughts. Take care and God bless.

Hi there. Mathew 7:5 says "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." it sounds as if this verse was written just for her (by your description of what she does and say). First of all, no one is perfect and no one is without sin. God did provide a way for us to be closer to Him and receive forgivness (Jesus), but this is not a free ticket to sin as much as you want (might be what she's thinking???) I have a few family members that sound a lot like this friend of yours. I do believe however that they are good people though they have many mistakes (as we all do). The only thing I can suggest you do is to be like the Bible tells us to be... be like the salt of the earth (salt irritates) and tell her when what she does clashes with what she should do. ...edit... Ok ignore what I wrote, Iryssa said everything much better :-) take care

I'm gonna try my hand at this (real rusty). Vielen dank fur die info. (did I get that right?) Thanks I'm sure a lot of folks will find this post usefull. Take care and God bless.

Hey there! I've an 8 year old brother who does not know Christ and is not really interested in what I have to tell him about Christ. I'm reasonably new to the Faith myself and I'm learning every day. My parents are Gap-theory Christians, or at least say that they are. But their lifestyle does not show them to be Christians. We don't go to church, this is partly the fault of our location (Middle East), but my parents just don't talk about God at all! I myself believe in a literal 6 day Creation as described in Genesis, I also believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God. My brother constantly tells lies, even so much so that he believes himself. He's disrespective towards his parents. He's constantly getting himself into trouble. I think this might have to do with the absence of the Lord in his life. I don't know for sure though. He's being fed the whole Evolutionary theory at school and already adopted that mindframe for himself. I'm in Dubai right now, but I'm sure that these Evolutionary teachings are dominant in schools around the world Does anyone have any tips/resources or anything that can help me talk to him? He's completely uninterested in anything I have to say. I tried to hook him with the idea that man could have lived with dinosaurs, but even that only held his attention for a short time. Any help would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks in advance!

mmhhh... ok. Wouldn't telling her about how I feel be rushing into something? I am feeling somewhat homesick and not sure if that is affecting anything. I'll have a long talk with her tonight...

Ok, this might be a bit of a strange question and I feel it out of place with the other questions and posts on this forum. I moved to Dubai several months ago and left behind a couple of incredible friends. I still stay in contact with them and I talk to one of my best friends almost every single day. I've always had feelings for her but never acted on them or told her about them. I'm also completely oblivious to hints, in hindsight I see she threw quite a few of them. She basically confirmed my suspicions (excuse the spelling) in a recent chat session and I've no idea what to do about it. The second I talk to her about it and tell her how I feel about her, our relationship will change. I know that long-distance relationships do NOT work out (my parents have proven that to me). I'm returning to South Africa in December (hopefully), and will hopefully see her again. Any inputs would be appreciated. It's always good to have someone 'outside' look at a situation objectively. Thanks, David

I agree that the world is getting more messed up every day and that we humans (and of course the result of our sin) are to blame. We use up natural resources, move to a new location, use up more natural resources (endless cycle). Though I wouldn't call you or me a virus or anything similar, the total effect of humanity's presence on the earth is similar to that of a parasite. We use up more than we can give back! I do believe that this guy's ideas are too radical. I hope that the world will become more conscious of the fact that we're messing up our greatest gift, the planet earth, and that bigger steps are taken in order to lessen the load on our precious planet. But once again, this guy is taking it too far.

I am unable to go to church due to the fact that I live far from the city, that churches are really rare over here in the Middle East and that I've got serious transportation problems. I do go on chat regularly and I know that the bible says that where 3 (2?) or more gather, There am I. So worthychat is church for me

Leonard, I've been told to start at the NT before. I really dislike the idea of hopping around in books like that, but I'll read the NT again (Currently rereading Genesis). Yes, please stay in contact. Thanks slog. King David is one of my favourite characters from the bible because 1) we share the same name and 2) we share many of the same problems. Thanks Elkie, I really appreciate your thoughts and experiences. Looking forward to speaking with you on chat. Thanks for the prayers too. I'm somewhat jealous, you speak of God with such reverance and love, it shows me just how much my relationship with Him is lacking. I shall try and rely less on feelings and more on His words as well. Baerbed, lol, you're not the cause of anything. Why would you think that? I've yet to see Him bare the bigger part of the yolk (did I say that right?). But I'll keep my fingers crossed

(Seeker gives himself a pat on the back) Thanks for the compliment. I really like this verse I do ask God for understanding, more specifically, I ask the Holy spirit for the spirit of discernment and understanding. I do not get answers the way you do though (quote "And know that He will speak to you from almost anything."). Thank you very much I thank all of you for the replies .

This post will be a long one. I thank those of you who will take the time to read this and I doubly thank anyone who replies. I'm a Christian, I asked Christ into my life several months ago. I came to the Lord in the hopes that He would put meaning back into my life and help me with my problems. I believed that God would break my addictions, free me from depression, take away my loneliness and make me 'whole' again. I started off with a frenzy, I read the bible as much as I could and when I did not do that I prayed to God in my spare time. I basically meditated on His Word and on my prayers. As time went on I felt no difference in my life. My addictions began to consume me and I lived a more sinfull life than ever before. I began to dispise the bible for it's seeming contradictions (note, I said seeming) and the fact that so much of what it said did not make sense to me. How could a God of mercy, peace and love order death and destruction in His name? Why did so many of the kings appointed by God lead such sinfull lives? Why does God not fullfill the promises of protection from psalm 121? I know that many of these questions are raised in ignorance and the inability to comprehend his perfect Word. But they grew inside me and consumed me. At that point, I ceased to be a Christian for I wanted nothing more to do with God. Over time I searched for proof that God either did or did not exist (a nagging question that would not let go). Though I've found nothing definitive, I've come to the conclusion that God must exist and that Genesis (if God word's indeed infallible) was a literal account of Creation. Once again I fell to my knees and asked Christ for forgiveness and asked Him back into my life. This was about the time my life started to fall into utter turmoil. I was wrenched away from family whom I dearly love, friends who mean the world to me and a place I called my home. I'm living with my parents now, but I feel estranged from them as I've been away from them for so long. I detest this place (Dubai, UAE) for I feel utterly imprisoned (No means of transportation, I know no-one and have no friends). I find some solace in the the material I'm studying at a local college (though the students are mainly Arabs and there's both a language and a cultural barrier between me and most of them), I started to go to church back at home and am now unable to do that too. My addictions are clawing at me stronger than ever every single day and I turn to them in times of need, fear, anger, sadness and loneliness. Other Christians speak of a "Personal Relationship" with their maker. Some speak of feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit. I ask now, why do I feel completely empty inside? I cry out to Christ each night and sob when I ask Him to forgive me for my sins. I despise myself for I know I'm not worthy of His forgiveness. I know that He won't stop me from sinning though, and I can't stop myself either... I still do not like to read the Bible. It fills me with confusion and doubt. I find more and more questions to which I can't find the answers, each time I open it. I can't speak to my family about Christ for they fill me with even more doubts. I feel wronged somehow... each time I turn to Christ, it feels as if my life plummets further and further into the abyss. Why do I feel this way? Why aren't my prayers answered? Where's God in all of this? Is he trying to tell me something but I'm to blind and deaf to notice? I'm filled with rage and sadness and I've no way to let it out, it won't go away... I ask forgiveness for this confusing post. I also ask forgiveness for any mistakes I've made while writing it (English isn't my 1st language [or even second for that matter]). I must go now but I'll check back tomorrow. I ask for prayer, for advice for any insight on why I'm going through this.

Worthy is a great place to meet wonderfull people. Join the chat sometime, it always helps to cheer me up and I've made good friends with many of Worthy's members.

Lightheart. I think I might know what you're going through, there are times when I feel the exact same way. I have no verses to give to you, or advice... but I can tell you that you aren't alone and that you aren't the only one who's had to go through this trial. What helps me at times is this: When I'm at home and depressed, I listen to music which makes me feel better. This can be anything from light and easy jazz, easy-going songs, to gospel music (Switchfoot has a positive effect on me). When I'm not at home, I give the world the biggest smile I possibly can and act as possitive as possible, even when I'm hurting inside. Doing this will lead to two things, people will treat you in a positive manner and this can sometimes be enough to keep unwanted emotions at bay. Furthermore, it can rub off on you :-) . By just smiling and acting joyfull, you can become happy just because of the act (very strange but true). Don't know if this helps... but it helps me at times. Also prayer is good. Meditate on your pleas for God and on scripture. Edit: Oh, and we all sin... it's something that's in our nature. But God forgives us every single time if you really are sorry. This is something I struggle with too... Sin makes me feel dirty before God. Asking forgiveness makes me clean again...

I hear "Faith like potatoes" is really good.

That post was disturbing. Scary. I hope that not many fall for his lies.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit means no forgiveness, EVER? Even after repentance?