bestill

I drop into Worthy once in awhile just to see if there is anything of interest being said. I am usually disappointed. This conversation is too typical of what I find here and the reason why I visit less and less. I think you should be ashamed of yourselves. What is wrong with the church? We're supposed to be lilke Jesus or at least we're supposed to want to be like Jesus. Take a good long look at your attitude and words and tell me if Jesus is there. Why do you take such offense with each other and why do you engage in such meaningless retoric? Who in there right mind wants to read this stuff. Good night!

Here's your answer from www.gracethrufatih. It's a little lengthy but the absolute best answer I've found on Hebrews 6. Falling Away? A Study of Hebrews 6 Posted in: Selah, Spiritual Life Last Week

The following is a quote from www.gracethrufaith.com from Jack Kelley's article titled, "The Christmas Story Part 1" Swaddling cloths, as they were called, were cut from worn out priestly garments. Mostly they were braided together and used as wicks for the four great four-branched menorah placed in the Temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles. These giant lamps were so tall that priests had to lug buckets of oil up 30-foot ladders to keep them burning, and it

This is what I think it means.... Paul is telling us that we aren't to judge those who don't know Christ. That is God's business. We are supposed to judge those who say they know Christ because they are part of the body of Christ as we are. If someone who is a Christian persists (and I think that "persists" is the key word here) in sinning then we are to break off our fellowship with them. I can see a couple of good reasons for doing this. 1) To continue to fellowship with them condones the behavior. It says its ok when its not. 2) Not fellowshiping with them is a consequence to their behavior and it is often the consequences of sin that turn us around. 3) If outsiders see this behavior among those who profess Christ it ruins the Christian witness.

Sometimes asking God's forgivness is enough. But when we've hurt someone or betrayed their trust in us, we need to make amends. Setting things right takes a lot of courage but it's also part of the cure. When we suffer the consequences of our actions it helps us change our behaviour. If you lose friends, job or whatever, what you gain is the rest of your life as someone who has integrity. Someone who can be trusted with his words. The Bible says some pretty serious things about lying and when it's become a habit it takes drastic measures to cure it. Pray about it. It can be done because Jesus will help you through it and will stand by you even if no one else does. I think it's important to take action. Also the guilt will go away because you've taken responsibility for your sin.

Your not going to like my suggestion but please consider it. You lie out of habit. There is always some self interest when we lie and it sounds like it's become second nature to you. If your really serious about turning this around...here's my suggestion: -pray and ask God to help you remember every lie you've told -take time and make a list with 3 columns 1) who did you lie to 2) what was the lie 3) what did I gain or what was my motive -when the list is as complete as you can possibily make it (pray through it and don't rush) then contact each person you lied to -contact them in person where ever possible. Otherwise by phone -confess the lies you told them, why you did it and ask for their forgiveness. Admit to them your problem with lying -accept all consequences that your confession may bring. ie: if you've lied to your boss This is a tough and courageous thing to do but your concious will be cleared and you will feel like a new man. Ask Jesus to help you through it and ask for His forgivness as well. Now make a fresh start as a man who is honest in all he says and does to the glory of the One he follows.

I will share a good explanation of "predestination" that I read in a study Bible. It was given in reference to Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29-30. I offer this because I thought it made a lot of sense but I'm not prepared to defend or even discuss the subject. I'm still learning. Predestine means to mark out or determine beforehand. Predestination includes events divinely caused such as the salvation of the elect and events divinely permitted. To say that God predestined the evil acts of men does not mean that God caused these acts. Rather, it means that God foreknowing how men will act under various circumstances, determined beforehand to permit them so to act, thus making the acts certain to come to pass as parts of His total plan, yet leaving all men fully responsibe for what they do. The Biblical truth of predestination raises diffcult intellectual problems, but these cannot be escaped by rejecting predestination and affirming foreknowledge. For if God foreknows all events, then they are just as certain as if they were predestined. (Scofield study Bible NKJ) I shall duck out now.

I understand. I have felt such longings before where I just wanted to go home to Him. It's like being homesick. At such times I feel so much like a child who needs her heavenly Father. I just want so much to be in His presence. But I know I need to be brave and that He has things for me to do here. This life is so short and I will have eternity with Him. For now I am here and He has created good works for me to walk in. He knows best and He will sustain me if I am feeling vulnerable and weak. At such times my prayers are to my Abba Father and I am not thinking so much that He is the KIng of kings. The waiting has it's purpose even if I don't know what it is and His timing is perfect. Your not alone in how you feel. Many of us get homesick from time to time. Be strong. Lean on Him. Trust in His plan for you. He has work for you to do. He will never leave or forsake you. He has given you many brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all of the family of God. Be of good courage. Your sister..Bestill

All I can say is that I made a personal decision to tithe a few years back. It is my way to acknowledge God's provision to me and I tithe to the church I attend. When it came to figuring out the tithe, I took the amount I actually received (after tax) and added back on any deductions that were to my personal benefit. This is the amount I used to calculate my tithe. I know of no right way per say. This worked for me. I have found tithing to be a real blessing to me. I didn't want my heart to get greedy and I wanted to always acknowledge God in my finances. Doing this keeps me focused on the bigger picture...He owns it all anyways. For me, tithing is the right thing to do and a way for me to thank God. It's been a tremendous blessing.

Well...we know that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 2:23) and that the penalty for sin is death. (Romans 6:23) and that Jesus' sacrifice paid the death penalty for sin. (Colossians 2:14) If that was all there was to it, then everyone would be saved. I think that it's more correct to say that Jesus' sacrifice makes salvation possible but it is by faith in Him that we are saved.

Shepherdsgrace...how wise you are.

Nobdy, I pray that God may grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strenthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, length, depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God In Jesus name I ask it..Amen (Ephesians 3:14-19)

That's absolutely wonderful Past Tense. I hope you continue to seek God in all you do and in all future decisions you will make and live your life to please Him. God bless you and be with you.

Thank you for your advice and encouragement. I really must get that book. I have been reading about humility by using the concordance in the back of my Bible. I understand humble heart towards God is one that is obedient to Him, dependent on Him and trusting in Him. I have been thinking about this for some time. I think that pride has different faces and is not always apparant. Most think of pride as someone who seeks the limelight and relishes praise. My pride has a different face. I care too much what others think of me. I will serve but am reluctant to be served. I pray for others but seldom seek prayer for myself. If we are called upon to speak up in church, I seldom do it even if I have something to say. I am self concious. I think about self too much. We are to esteem others better than ourselves and I don't do that or know how to do that. I read something that helped me to understand what this means.. "One day President Lincoln was told that one of his cabinet members, Edwin Stanton had called him a fool. Stanton was brilliant, stubborn and at times disrespectful. Lincoln humbly replied, "Well, if Stanton says I'm a fool, I guess I must be for Stanton is a wise man and is nearly always right in his decision." I can often know the right choice and do it. This is a step in the right direction. But I want to be humble in heart and not just deed. I've prayed about this. God shows me my pride in thought and outlook. It seems to be ingrained in me. I have little hope of ever changing this cause it just seems to be woven right into my very being. I will get the book, I will read it and I will pray. What else can I do?

I'm not really sure what your looking for. Hopefully this helps..... -The briefness of man's life is compared to a vapor that quickly vanishes (Jame 4:14), or grass that flowers and then withers (Isaiah 40:6-7) -The commandment to honor your father and your mother (Exodus 20:12) is the only commandment that gives a promise.."that your days may be long upon the land.." What do you mean by thoughts or opinions? What is the question?