JCMS

Hmm, and see what makes me wonder why. Because the sin of Adam and Eve doomed all of mankind to sin. And it hurts God when we sin, though it's in our nature. But it's in our nature because of the mistake of Adam and Eve. Why was this allowed, is what I am curious about. Because God flooded the Earth shortly after, killing everything there was, because of the sin of man. So why was the sin allowed, if God knew in advance that they would sin anyways? "Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth." - Genesis 6:1-12 Genesis 6 says, ""And God said to Noah, 'I have determined to make an end of all flesh; for the earth is filled with violence through them; behold, I will destroy them with the earth." God was upset because of the sin of man. They were violent and disobedient, so he flooded the earth and ended mankind. So, that makes me wonder WHY he allowed sin, knowing what the future would hold, basically. Hope my questions come across the way I'm trying to ask them.

My goodness... positively STUNNING!

Hi all! I was studying my Bible last night and was back at the beginning going over Genesis, and a question came to my mind that I couldn't find an answer for. Hopefully others can maybe point me in the right direction to an answer. Genesis 2:17 states: "But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will certainly die." Why was this particular tree planted? Did the Lord know that Adam would be tempted to eat from it? Jeremiah 1:15 states: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Since Adam and Eve did not come from a womb, but Adam from dust, and Eve from the rib of man, does this verse still go for Adam and Eve as well? And if so, doesn't that mean that the Lord knew them, and knew they would be tempted by the tree of knowledge of good and evil? If this is the case, is there any indication in the Bible of why it was planted originally? I find the planting of this particular tree very interesting because of the events in mankind that followed because of Adam and Eve eating from this particular tree. Thanks in advance!

Thanks guys, great suggestions! I've heard of quite a few of the titles y'all have mentioned, so I can't wait to start reading. Really ... ? Appolyon Rising is your recommendation for a "book that would be good for a newer Christian, particularly those of Jesus." ??! ~clay Should let you know that you most likely don't have a lifetime to get your stuff together..... time is short..... get on with it.

Oh, I've heard the Purpose Driven Life is good! I actually picked up a copy at the thrift store long ago, but never read it. I think I'll start on it.

Hi all! I'd like some recommendations on books that would be good for a newer christian like myself, particularly on those of Jesus. I was directed towards the author Max Lucado, and so far love his stuff. My favorite one so far has been Just Like Jesus, I found it truly an amazing book. Any recommendations would be great. (Also if this is in the wrong area, sorry in advance!)

I also wanted to mention that I do feel very convicted for selling it. I wish I had stuck to my original decision to just donate it. However, I have another one, and plan to donate it to a minister that contacted me, that does prison ministry.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I feel better now. I do have the tendency to look into things sometimes more than what they are, but then I have people in my life that tried to tell me that selling it was a sin (something I already talked about here). So some people tend to fill my head with things. I actually think, aside from the series of unfortunate events, that the Lord is pushing me to turn to his word a lot more than what I do currently. I think I'll go get ready to bed and curl up with God's word.

Maybe I am looking entirely too into things. But I am an extremely nervous person, so this obviously has me frazzled. I wrote here a week or so ago about selling a Bible that I had, that was given to me. Everyone wrote back, said there was nothing wrong with selling a bible, but then I wrote that at the last minute, I was feeling convicted. So I took the auction down and had planned to just donate the bible. I was running low on cash, and decided to just put it back up for a quick sale since I wasn't hurting anything. I sold it, shipped it off, and things have not been going good! First, the money was sent, and PayPal put a hold on my money that's been there for a week now. The hold won't be released until tomorrow (they claim it's a new policy). One of my rescue dogs needed to see the vet, so I decided that I will put the money towards that. Then she gets sick, along with two of my other rescue dogs. I was like, boy that's not good... Then lately I've been all concerned and just plain... well concerned and nervous, and really not all that happy. Guess I regret selling it, and should've donated it. I just can't shake that unhappiness feeling. Then I had to type in the tracking number to PayPal to confirm it was shipped and delivered, and realized that the last 3 digits of the tracking number are three 6's, and that scared me. To top it off, I live in a tiny town of a few hundred people. No one locks their doors, no thefts ever happen, everyone knows everyone... left my dog kennel out in the yard, go back to get it, and it was stolen earlier. Something that *never* happens here. I am starting to feel very... nervous. Did I do something so wrong by selling that extra Bible that I am being punished?? Or is it just a series of unfortunate events and I am looking way too into things?

Thank you guys so much, all of you. It's nice to be able to share my feelings with Christians who understand, and can reassure me that some of you were in the same place at one time. It's nice to have reassurance and guidance, and help on where to start, from those who have been there. Thank you all.

Hi guys. I am very... hesitant, nervous... concerned, about expressing this openly. I've only did it once, to a former pastor, and walked away feeling like a failure because he basically turned me away. And of course, I left with as many doubts as I had originally went in with. I've been struggling with a LOT of things. And I always have this fear that if I tell someone, either in person or online, suddenly the Lord will "know" how I feel... even though I know in truth, he already knows my thoughts and my heart. And I am ashamed for the doubts I have, and VERY worried for obvious reasons. And I cannot explain WHY I have these thoughts, where they ever came from... some people tell me, "Oh it's because you have an inquisitive nature..." Somehow I doubt that. I am scared that because I have doubts now... I'll always have them, and never really have the relationship with the Lord that I long to have. I guess I'll open up to y'all, and tell you some of the things that I question. And I'll be honest again, I have NO IDEA why I question these things. And it seems like despite all the research I've done online on Jesus, I feel good for a few minutes and then go back to doubting. Other Christians have told me that it's the devil playing tricks, and to pray to the Lord to cast him out. I pray every night for the Lord to remove the doubts and thoughts, and to come into my heart and break down the barriers that I have up, but so far I still have them. I'm rambling... I guess because I am scared, and ashamed to admit this out loud. But here goes... God help me. When I pray, and I talk about Jesus... sometimes it feels faked or forced. Like I am doing it to put on a good face for God, but in my heart... I just don't have the 'faith' I should. I question things in my mind like... who was Jesus really. Are we positive he was the messiah, the Son of God that came to take away our sins. It's not that I don't believe Jesus was born it's just... I think because I've been around those who are not Christians for quite sometime, that I've begin to question things. They used to say, it sounds like a fairy tell, too odd to be true, with the stories of a virgin Mary becoming pregnant, or a messiah come to die for our sins and then die and be resurrected. I question things like... who wrote the Old Testament, is it true and real as it's claimed to be. God... I feel horrible. I KNOW there's a God that created us, the earth, everything. And I am just scared out of my mind that I am questioning the existence of Jesus, and everything that happened, or questioning the bible itself. Maybe it's because I never got into a truly good bible based church. Maybe it's because I've never truly been around a good group of Christians. Or maybe it's my complete lack of knowledge when it comes to the bible, and the story of Jesus and everything that happened. I just hear people say, "I was one an atheist, but I became a full-blown believer and lover of Christ the Lord Jesus." I am NOT an atheist, absolutely not. I was just using that as an example of.... if they came from such extreme doubt, and now have the faith I long to have... why am I having doubts? And if I am doubting now... will I doubt forever? My very soul depends on this (and I'm so scared that if I die right now... where will I end up? This is not what I want!), and I don't WANT to doubt anything! I want to follow Jesus blindly, and love my Lord but... Confusing isn't it? And trust me... I've prayed on this continuously... during the day, every night... I'm starting to feel hopeless and it's depressed me so much lately.

I canceled the auction. Literally with like 45 seconds left to go, I had to remove all the bids first. I was nervous, sweaty, pacing... the Lord was convicting me big time! I did as the Lord convicted me to do, I canceled all the bids (up to almost $80... *sniff*) and ended the auction. I'm going to donate the bible to someone who can use it.

Starting to. I think. Got like 9 minutes left to go, and I'm getting sweaty.

Thanks Fez. I was told by a couple christian people that I could possibly be creating a sin by doing so, since it's holy text. As a new christian, that was quite... nerve wracking, LOL. Even though I really couldn't understand their reasoning. Thanks for the assurance. You should have asked them where they got their bibles. Chances are they bought them somewhere. See what mean? You did nothing wrong. I'll be honest, I've *never* sold a bible before. But I felt others will get more use out of this particular one than I am getting, as I have several other versions, and study bibles, and this is just one that I have only used once or twice, and that was it. I felt others would benefit from it, as opposed to me keeping it. Thanks again!

Thanks Fez. I was told by a couple christian people that I could possibly be creating a sin by doing so, since it's holy text. As a new christian, that was quite... nerve wracking, LOL. Even though I really couldn't understand their reasoning. Thanks for the assurance.

I have one of my extra study bibles up for sale on eBay. But I am second-guessing myself after someone I know asked me this morning, "Can you actually SELL your bible? Is that okay?" I never really thought about that... It's a study bible I don't use, as I have different versions and that one was given to me. I need the money, so I didn't see the harm in selling it. Now the auction is about to end and I am second-guessing myself on is it okay, did I list it honestly (I put like-new. And it is. There's maybe a minor scuff at the bottom of the bible itself, but the bible itself looks brand new other than that). Thoughts?

Thanks man. It's nice to get some reassurance.

First off, thank you guys so much, I appareciate the amazing responses. I think the Lord is putting me through trials to make sure I push myself away from this entire crowd completely. A lot of the immature drama that went on escalated into online threats and e-mails, lies and deceptions A few of the people I felt were 'friends' were really lying and trash talking me behind my back. This is what I want to walk away from, and the Lord I feel has given me that extra *push* to completely walk away from it all. While around these people, even online (and several hours a day), I was not following in the Lord like I should have, nor was I talking or expressing myself in ways the Lord would approve. I feel all this started big, and dramatically, to shake me up, wake me up, and show me that now, not later, was the time to move on completely away from the entire crowd. While apprehensive and nervous, I know in the long run it'll be the best. Someone who can issue threats, speak in derogatory terms or proudly act in ways the Lord would not approve of, is not people I should be associated with. I want to be on the right path with the Lord, and I'll always have a roadblock if I put myself in situations such as that. So I do plan to walk away from that crowd completely, get a new messenger ID and e-mail address, and only associate myself with Christians who walk with the Lord. I love this board, so I am very happy to be here, amongst those who walk with the Lord as well, and I know that it will only help me grow as a Christian. Thanks guys. Oh, edited to add: even though I was highly threatened by a certain person, I still stepped up last night and sent them a sincere apology for the wrong-doing and drama on my part while I was a part of the board. I was replied to with a very rude, and threatening e-mail, but I still feel that the apology was warranted and it's what the Lord wanted me to do. I feel a bit down and upset over the response, and I will not reply to it, but I still feel issuing the apology was the right thing to do on my part.

The Lord is really working on me lately I think. I've been apart of a certain hobby message board and I'd been there about 8 months or so. After joining, I quickly 'fit in' in the little cliques that the board had, with groups of members that had been there a long time. I quickly learned that many of them were not following the path of the Lord and I began to notice that I was talking and acting in ways I never had before. Cussing, sexual jokes, showing disrespect to many elders on the board (women in their 60's and 70's) and just being an all around spiteful person. I did it because the popular 'group' that I was with did it too, and it came off as the 'cool' thing to do. I made the decision to leave the board after realizing that this was not what the Lord wanted me being a part of, and I'm sure he was not pleased with my behavior. I was having doubts about leaving that morning, and that night a major drama fight started that forced me off the board permanently. Now I am glad, as I felt it was the Lord that gave me that "extra" shove to get out of there. The only problem is, now the 'friends' that I had made online, still want to talk with me, e-mail, messengers, chat rooms, ect. And I feel I am falling right back into the ways that I wanted to get out of. But I don't feel I have the strength to cut them off completely, even though I have the desire to. How do you find the strength to cut off all the people you talk to everyday (and some of the only people you talk with even though they are online)? Even though I KNOW they are not a good influence, even just talking to them online. I say things online I am NOT proud of, and I feel it has played a role lately in my straying.