Rumple

The plan would be great except that who is going to cut their own retirement to that extent on purpose? Perhaps a very strong lobby by enough people against Congress would get them to compromise by reducing their benefits somewhat, but more than that is needed to put the system in the black. Something else that could be done in conjunction with, at least, a reduction in Congressional benefits, would be to withhold FICA earnings from earnings from all work which is income taxable instead of having an upper limit. This, of course, would hurt higher paid workers, but it would produce a very substantial increase in revenues going into the Social Security Trust Funds without making any other significant changes to the benefits payable to beneficiaries.

And which 'believer' would be otherwise? None of us that I know among believers are perfect yet, but this is one similarity between us and unbelievers. We frequently admit that we as believers still see through a glass darkly, but how many unbelievers would admit they also have limited knowledge? Their knowledge is limited to the abilities of their own flesh, while ours is enhanced by the unlimited ability of our God. Oh, of course, an unbeliever would deny that we have such an enhanced ability because they cannot perceive it in us. Only a believer has been given 'eyes to see' even a portion of the things of God. You believe that you have the entire world before you to conquer with man's abilties while we believe that the entire world of your belief is extremely limited, because it lacks the ability to even conceive of what else there might be.

Even the resurrection that occurs in His people, the renewing that brings them to Life from the death in sin where they have been until meeting Jesus?

Are you unloving Greg? That is not for me to say. That is between you and God and, of course, anyone you deal with. As to her identification with the Nazis, NO, we should not ignor it it, but neither should we condemn her on that basis alone. The Pharisees were quick to condemn each and every publican because of their profession, but Jesus called one of them to follow Him and he (Matthew) apparently turned out OK. As to defending the Truth...does it need to be defended? It simply is... and nothing anyone can say or do will change that. If we are to ever win souls it is likely to be souls of people who are very much immersed in the things of the world...even in Nazism. Remember Corrie Ten Boom's 'The Hiding Place'? She was perfectly willing to be a 'good Christian' and pray for the poor tortured and suffering interns of the concentration camp. But...she was shocked when she discovered that her sister was referring to the cruel German guards when she spoke in sorrow about those poor souls.

Hello again nebula! Doing that never occurred to me. One strike against me. She did do that and now less likely it is still possible that the name was taken on the basis of honor the cross of Christ rather than in some favorable recognition of the Third Reich. Lacking more evidence I would still be inclined to give her the benefit of a doubt. It certainly would be better from our standpoint if she would answer for herself. Perhaps from her standpoint for valid reasons unknown to us this is not the case. Indeed, suspicions of her intentions are not unreasonable, and she may be guilty as charged, but a conviction is hardly in order. As to her user name, I understand why a person chooses to have one for their own security. Sometimes the names are chosen randomly and sometimes the names chosen can result in unexpected offenses. Some people like myself are very naive about things which are common knowledge to most others. I recognize my own limitations here and again would give her the benefit of a doubt absent more definite evidence. I know at this point that she looks guilty, but applying the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' doesn't cost us much here except maybe a little time and possibly pride. I wouldn't call it unloving , but neither would I call it loving and probably no one else would. My point is not that she is right about anthing, but rather that we should not have judged, much less misjudged, based on the information available. For example if a teacher is falsely, but publicly, accused of molesting a child, the teacher's reputation is marred even if later exonerated. It would cost us nothing but time to wait until all of the evidence is in before announcing the verdict. The humblest of apologies does little good after the damage is done. Is it reasonable us to convict a person of anything simply because he/she does not accept Jesus? As Jesus did not come to condemn the world, neither should we. Someone who is not saved is already condemned without us adding our two cents worth.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Ecc 3:1 "...a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;" Ecc 3:7 "And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly." Matt 27:12-14

This an extremely unfair attack with no factual basis. Hey - I have to disagree with your assessment of Greg's comment. He didn't say Ehrenkreuz was an evil Nazi, but that he is identifying himself with the Nazis by taking on the name of one of their highest honors. The last sentence had to do with known Nazi practices. I personally fail to understand why someone would take on such an association to oneself. Now, this would make for an interesting theological debate - how did Jesus treat those who spoke evil of Him? If you read the things He said to and about the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and teachers of the Law who opposed Him, He wasn't always very nice. Why did Jesus associate Himself with prostitutes and publican who in the eyes of others were obvious sinners? Erhenkreuz agreed that his name indicated the name of a medal given the time of the Nazi regime. He did not say that he took on the name, himself, for that reason. It may simply be the name that his parents gave him at birth. Also, my German is good enough to know that the word 'Ehren' means 'honor' or 'respect' and may be used as either a verb or a noun. The other part of the name, 'Kreuz' means 'cross' or 'crucifix'. It is the same German word that Martin Luther uses regularly in his translation of the Bible to desinate the 'cross' on which Jesus was cruicified. The origin of Ehrenkreuz's name may well be a Christian one intending to give honor to Christ, Himself. Of course, I do not know that this is the case. But...neither does anyone else here except for Ehrenkreuz, himself. Does he stand condemned without us even knowing the facts? Did jesus stand condemned before Pilate for something of which He was not guilty? Do we on this forum want to counted with the Pharisees and Pilate as condemning an innocent man?

Ehrenkreuz, We, believers, live by faith, not by absolute knowledge. Neither do we live by man's ways, but by God's Way, or, at least, that is what we should be both trying and desiring to do. Unfortunately, many of us stumble and you and others will be quick to point out these stumbles. You are obviously a smart and educated fellow. But...we do not make it with God because of either our intelligence or our education. The Bible uses the words "whosoever will" to describe the ones that can receive what God has for them. This is good for rich man, poor man, beggar man or thief, doctor, lawyer or Indian chief. It is also good for those who have memorized the Bible and for those who cannot even read their own language. No one is barred from entrance. You argue and debate for points on this forum and other places, but if we are correct, those points will have no bearing on the final result. The final result will depend upon God judgment alone. [Even if we were wrong, we would still lead a more satisfying life than most do. But...we are not wrong.] You can pick on people who know less about the physical Bible and its origins as indicated by the studies and logic of man than you. This doesn't change the fact that you cannot disprove the validity of the promise we have received. And... I know the contrary thing that you could say here: Neither can we prove the validity of the promise we have received. The proof which we do have can be shared by those that have it, but only those whose hearts are open and sincere are able to understand it and believe it. In other words I can share with you my personal testimony of how God drew me in and showed me His Way and what He has done for me, but that will not make you know what it really is. You can only know that when and if you have received the same thing in your heart. Make God richly bless your search for Truth if it is a genuine search for Truth rather than an attempt to show by man's logic and science that someone else is in error.

Please accept my apologies. I forgot where I was when I read your questions and I did not bother to look at your information. Forgive me for being so harsh in my statement, for I thought I was discussing with another believer. I know its up to you, but I don't think you have anything to apologize for OneLight! I'm not apologizing for what I said, but for how I said it. I should of taken the time to explain why I feel this way, so that the unbeliever would feel the love of Jesus through my words. It sounded like something one would say to a child ... "Because I said so!" Yes, there is charity!

Please accept my apologies. I forgot where I was when I read your questions and I did not bother to look at your information. Forgive me for being so harsh in my statement, for I thought I was discussing with another believer. I know its up to you, but I don't think you have anything to apologize for OneLight! And where is charity? "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." I Cor 13:4-7

its a Medal of Honor in Germany, if I remember correctly. You do remember correctly. Handed out during the Nazi era of Third Reich to citizens who displayed great courage/contributed strongly to the war effort. Oh yes, the Iron Cross! So you are identifying yourself with one of the highest honors that the Nazis awarded. The Nazis, who exterminated the Jews, persecuted Christians, subscribed to the pagan philosophies of the Aryian cultures; what's up with that? This an extremely unfair attack with no factual basis. The man may disagree with the basics of Christianity, but he still deserves to be treated as Jesus would treat him.

its a Medal of Honor in Germany, if I remember correctly. Ehren is honor Kreuz is cross

believe that God knows all things past present and future, but He only shares any of this knowledge at His discretion for His own purposes. God, however, does not not determine what actions a person will take. He knows which of us will endure to the end in Jesus, but He does not determine whether we are saved or not. We do based on our actions and/or decisions. We have been given the choice to serve God or not. The fact that He knows what all of our choices are in advance does not change the fact that they are our choices. So why does He bother to give us the choices, if he knows the results anyway? Very simply He wants men to serve Him and love Him and do all that we can to please, BECAUSE we choose to do so, not because we had no other choice. Our choices are to be made in the midst of many difficulties and a certain doubt as to our reward, if any. He wants those to be with Him through eternity who given such difficulties and doubts remained steadfast in their efforts to please Him. If we knew everything from the beginning perfectly which of us would choose not to serve Him? Therefore He made it necessary for us to live by faith in things unseen with the natural eye, including Him. Even the repetition is part of His plan: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. " Ecc 1:9-10 Individuals rarely learn by other people's experiences and often not even their own. All of this and more is part of God's plan.

Ruling the congregation? I just don't understand this. Where is the authority to decide this issue? Who is to say whether you have 1 pastor or 5? Is this why there are over 25,000 protestant denominations? Welcome to Worthy! I agree, there should not be one pastor but 2-5 at least, per congregation. One pastor leading everyone gives an open door to several consuming sins for him to battle with, it's for his own good AND the congregation. What 'none' says here may be generally true, but it does not allow for the possibility that God's will may be involved in whether there should be only one pastor or several for a particular assembly. Prayer on such an issue is always appropriate and where there is no specific commandment as to our course of action prayer is even more necessary.

Shalom Rumple, No. Jesus did not ordain women pastors. Women who want to live like Jesus should follow His commands as well as His example. No one "just happens" to be a pastor Rumple. It is a serious thing. And something that the Scriptures do not support. VickiLynn, Jesus didn't ordain anyone including male pastors. Ordination rituals were an invention of the Catholic church. Amen!