Aleksander

Wonderful indeed. Its been, what, 2 weeks now? Nothing. Nothing "coming out" . I am well pass the shocked stage. So yeah, I am very happy I stood my ground. Thats two miracles in one accident. Praise and glory to the LORD for this. The repairs should start any day now. About 1/2 way paid by mom and dad. I hope I can get a job soon too so I can pay the rest. This was a blessing after all. Growing more depandant on the LORD and His Word is something I needed. I guess I am so stubborn that something like this needs to happed.

Well, latest word is this is gonna cost US$1000-2500 to fix the damage. Amen, and I intend to do so from now on. Lord help me never back down from this intention. As for going to the hospital... I am still set on NOT going. I donno, but I purposefully read Psalm 91 yesterday and I am not really wanting to give up on the thought that its promises are mine to claim in this situation. I feel that if I go to the hospital that would be like as if I am giving up whats mine to claim. I read the Psalm out loud yesterday and I kept telling myself(and satan )that there is no, and wont be any as a result of the accident, injury of any sort. I have to admit, there is a doubt that maybe I am not at the point where I can say I see myself as having met all the conditions listed in the Psalm in order to say I can claim its promices, and I catch myself on the though that this can be just my arogance, but I am intending to pray about this, while reading that Psalm again and again and fighting for its promices. Lord forgive me if this is just my arogance, but I am set on believing that I can and will have this second miracle. By His wounds I am healed. I'll fight to have it manifest in my life.

Wow, that is interesting. I knew there was a reason to study history, but I wasnt sure what that reson is. Now I know its a good thing to do since it'll help you understand the Word better, . Something to remember, defenetely. More reasons to find and read the Hebrew and or Greek translations of the Bible, as both will no doubt be a very interesting.

Amen. I know better than NOT to thank Him and praise Him for saving me like this. TBH, lately more and more I have been coming across a reminder that God is worthy of our praise no matter the trial we go through. This is a perfect time to live it in my life, not just know it form the Bible. Could be. After this past week, I think I'd be a fool to exclude that as a possibility. @ Trusting Jesus: amen to that too.

Alright, well, hello everyone. I just got home, and I am still shaken up after what just happened. I was driving home when I got into a car wreck. THANK YOU LORD IT WASNT FATAL AND THAT I AM ALIVE AND WELL . The front of the car is beaten bad and the side is a little damaged. But I am alive and well, no scratches, and from what I can tell, feel, no internal damage. Today has Gods Grace written all over it. Thank you LORD. Pictures here: Pic Another pic. PhotoBucket Album, with some more pics. Some people suggested I should not have taken so many pictures so not to prolong the negative feelings and so on... but I donno, maybe they will come handy somewhere. I am still a bit shaken. But I can honestly say I am not affraid, but a bit worried as you can imagine. There is like a sworm of all kinds of thoughts in my head. Guilt(for all the bad things I did and all the goods things that I could have done but didnt). A thought after thought thats a reminder of how I am in His hands and none of this would have happened if God didnt allow this to happen for reason or another. A bit of worry about how we are gonna get the car running or maybe just get another one :shrug: , but I am sure this is gonna work out. This is a second time something big like this happens and I have all confidence I need that God will and is taking care of this situation. I amlost crying thinking that as I type this, He is working on taking care of me and the mess that the car is. Its a feeling like no other, knowing I am safe and sound and taken care of. All this and why? I remember a few weeks back we(me and two of my brothers) sang a song about who are we that God loves us this much and... I think I am gonna try and sing that song again, if not alone than with them again. I am just gratefull I am alive and well. I have my Windows Media player open, and its such a comfort to heat the melody after melody flow and bring peace to my heart. Thank you LORD . Verry fitting that the song "Give Thanks" is playing. I feel like I am really hearing it, not just listening to it, for the first time . And I ask that you guys pray for me. I get the feeling I am gonna need it. As if its not all over yet, as if there is still some more hardship to get through. I suppose that could be satan messing with my head, I donno.

Interesting read, thank you.

Agreed. Besides that, America is a free country, so I'd probably kindly point them to that fact. If I have to put up with Evolution in the science books than they can put up with my music. Its only fair, no?

I see your point. Seconded. But I havent got a chance to read all the posts yet, so I'll have to come back to that.

Allow me to say, that I love the dates you have given. Exactly 6 months apart. Reminds me of the 1st and 7th months within the Scriptures and how they serve as a point of self-evaluation, 6 months apart. I can see His hand in this. Hm, oh oh... thats a mistake on my behalf. Its actually September 5, 2004. I forgot to add the year . Sorry. I'll edit the post... I do try to do that now on the daily, yes. Not so much before though. . Same here. Yeah, but in the story I was told, God takes two stept towars us when we take one step towards Him, . Same idea though . But I still sorta feel like I fall short somewhere. Maybe its just satan tempting me, trying to hinder my growth even still. And yeah, I know I am growing, slowly, that I am sure of it that I am. I do have that first love rebirthing in me all over again, like when I first asked Christ to be my Lord. And I gave up a bunch of things that Holy Spirit pointed out to me me that they were a problem in my charcter, a hinderance. Also, just recently I found out I make a good addition to our church's worship group. And when I got the idea to do a solo song, I didnt turn out too bad at all(although I dont think I can say I am a A+ singer, ). Too bad I was affraid to try sooner, . Thank you everyone. All of what you said makes perfect sence. Anything else to add?

I dont know, I think its VERY IMPORTANT that you are a member of a church. For couple of reasons. One, you as a Christian, need to be baptized, and to my understanding when you are baptized you become a member of that chuch, no? Two, fellowship and mutual benefit. There is likely to be a church where God wants to use you gifts and talents to bless and benefit the congregation, church. But if you hop from one church to another, something I heard people refer to this as being a "bunny believer" , you cant really use you God given talents to benefit the church, congregation. Well, unless you are like a singer or something. Besides that, our pastors are accountable for us when we are members. Yes, they can still email exange with you and guide you and all that, but their first priority is to the the members of the church, and non-members second.

I was baptized in river we have running through the city. IIRC, the water was cold, a little . September 5, 2004. I think I'll always remember that date. Its not exactly a matter of where, but rather WHY . Being baptized is you proclaiming your decision to follow Christ for the rest of your life. It is a proclamation, a sign, for everyone, in human and in spiritual world, that you want to be a part of God's family now. That you promise to serve Him all your life in good faith and dedicated heart.

Same here. But my situation is a bit different in the way that every Sunday evening I can go to almost any one of the 70 or so Russian churches in the area. Church in the morning(usually 10AM to Noon), church in the evening(usually 6PM to 8PM), . Makes the day not so boring,

Amen Aleksander. Thanks, but I cant take the credit, . I heard it on the radio,

QFT. Well said.

I am just gonna add this to what was already said: God doesnt look at you as you are. He looks at you as what you can be in Him.

I was watching a TV program, IIRC it was Kenneth Copeland's "Believer's Voice of Victory" , where they were talking about the same thing. Interesting. I think I have to make note of this and look into this more.

First, if you dont mind, a bit about why the topic... March 5 2003 was the day I asked the LORD to forgive me of my sins and be the Lord of my life. So I'll always remember that morning, . A year and a half later, on September 5, 2004 I was baptised. So these two dates will always be a sort of that point when I slow down and think about how I lived the year, and so on... Now the topic: March 5 2008 marks five years of my Christian life. And after a quick review, well, I am not really happy with how far I got in growing in Christ. Not to say I am complaining, I know God has His plans for me well ahead of time so I trust that things happen the way they do for a reason, but its just that after five years I should have been more mature I think. Reading from 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 just added to my thinking that I am not up to speed. Sort of makes me feel bad... Of course, I do see things that happened in my life that I could say slowed me down. I wasted a lot of time in the past two years playing games, even though I knew better. So I realize its my fault I let that slow me down. But by His grace I was freed from that hinderance. I guess the question is this; Any help, advice, etc on the subject of *how to make up for what time I lost *general advice in groving in my relationship with God *ideas for improvement and the likes? I mean logically 5 years is enough time to mature to the point where I can say that I am ready to go on a missionary trip, or that I should be familiar with the Bible well enough to answer some basic questions that non believers can ask, or that I should be more confident when I am talking about God and His Word to them. Yet, I've noticed I am not too good at either of the mentioned. Does it sound like I am beating myself up too much for not getting far enough? Maybe I dwell too much on the past and should just get up, dust off the failures, and keep going with reneved faith and determination?

There are some paraphrased bibles that are like story books and should be considered as such. Saying this, you have to remember that the Holy Spirit is our teacher and He will teach us the truth. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Good point. I do have to watch what I say . I am sorry LORD .

Link Here-Click Now I am not sure what to make of this exactly. But a few things that the authour points too in the article is, well, causing me to be concerned. Because if its all true, we have a problem on our hands.

No one ever talked to me about Christ....ever. Me and the Lord kinda found each other and we went from there. ? I'm affraid I dont follow you... you mean like you were a self-taught Christian? Discipleship... Hm. Well, I was EXTREMELY blessed to be born into a Christian family, grow up in a Christian atmoshpere. My mom was a big help at some point or another. My pastor was too.

When its only been a year and 3 month since you joined and you already have 4000 posts... I have to admit I dont spend as much time here as I do on another forum that I am with. Something to think about, I supppose. But generally, if your post count is that high in that short of a time... yeah.

More and more so by the day, I think. A bit while ago I didnt bother with bumper stickers or t-shirt with Christian massages. But I do now. I am a member of another forum, and not too long ago I didnt think to even mention God in my signature or posts or bother with avatar thats Christian theme in any way. But now my sig looks something like this: Are you a good person?Test here. Questions about God? I'll be happy to oblige. So, yeah, I am becoming more and more so Jesus Freak by the day.

Sodom and Gomorrah all over again. But we cant just sit here and greave over it. We, Christians, have to speak up. Those that can vote, dont miss the chance. When a bill like that which passed here in CA was voted on, the For count was much greater than Against. Who voted? Not many Christians I bet.

Well, this is a good time to remind myself that Holy Ghost is with me ALL THE TIME... TBH, a visit like that would be indeed a humbling experience. One to shake you up and shake you up GOOD .

Maybe its just me, but I dont think of Christianity as "religion" anymore. All the above posts are perfect illustrations of exactly why I say that Christianity is NOT a religion. All the religions are basically the same in their core: *Do good, be good to earn salvation or free yourself from suffering. *You get more than one chance at life, aka reincarnation or some such concept. *The universe is about you and about you achieving something. All those are clearly the exact opposite of what Christianity is: *Slavation by faith. Good works are result of that salvation, not means to it, and are motivated by love towards the One Who saved you. Saved to save, saved to serve. *You live once, and once only. *Universe is about God, HIS purpose, and for HIM. So, I dont see it fit to compare Christianity, or count it in the same line with, to what humans made up(believes that are so radically different from Christianity).