His light

I wrote the date in the back of my Bible. It's important to me-- more important than my birthday, or the date I graduated high school, college, grad school etc. The dates I adopted my children are important to me too. They are reminders of the most important events in my human life.

I am single and in my late forties. When I was younger, I adopted a child, and two years ago took in another. I'm almost never alone and my happy little family goes to church and worships together. I'm soccer-mom and taxi driver, nurse, counselor, laundry doer and chef. But I'm still lonely most of the time

Hi lillith, I was taught that "original sin" is the sin committed by Adam and Eve, and that when we are born, we are born of that nature-- born of Adam. When we are baptised, we are washed clean of that sin. Welcome

I love my church. It's the place where I was saved. It is a place where sinners and saints come together to worship and praise our Lord. It is a place where every member is called into ministry, where children are valued and included in education (not just Sunday school)-- they are called to participate in ministry. It is a place where healing of physical and emotional infirmities happens all the time. It's where I learned to truly confess and repent, and forgive others. It is a place where I am held accountable. It is in a building, but it reaches out to the community and to the world with missionaries right next door and as far away as Cuba and Afganastan. It is my home on earth. The apartment that I live in, that's just a building!

yes, always

Zoe-girl: This post provokes and immediate emotional response-- but its one that is really hard to comprehend. The violent taking of innocent lives is like a giant billboard for the enemy! As a teacher in a public school, I often find myself in the position of wanting to encourage children with the Word, but I'm not allowed. I've considered looking for a job at a Christian school, but I figure that I can at least be an example to the children I see everyday, even if I am not allowed to overtly teach them about Jesus. And, believe me, the more examples they see, the more open to learning they will be when the opportunities arise for them to know Christ. Be blessed

I love the answers, ah, questions you all have asked. Especially the one about coffee. But I think when we get to heaven.... all things will be made clear-- we won't have any questions.

I'd like to meet John the Baptist and Deborah

Matthew 12:33-37 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and every evil man out of the the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." I believe that Jesus loves what is good, and hates what is evil. We all have choices about the words that come out of our mouths. "for every idle word" (I think that means every careless, unkind word) Jesus hears every word. Because I want relationship with Jesus, I do pray that my words are truthful and kind. I pray that the Holy Spirit gaurds my heart and that my heart receives good treasures.