Elbit Pada

It's hard when we really, really need God to come thru for us, yet we don't know where He is in what we are experiencing, and which direction He wants us to go in. I tend to follow two truths: 1. Everything God says in His Word is true, because, well ... He said it is. And 2. He says if I honestly seek Him with all my heart, I WILL find Him; for me, its not really about WHAT i'm supposed to do. I find the harder I try to see my way, the 'foggier' it gets. Rather, try to know God more ... and He will reveal to you what He wants you to know and when He wants you to know it. It's really about growing your faith and trust ... and not so much about 'getting it right' RELAX in your faith ... HE called you ... and He will get you there! Don't let satan mess with your emotions ... YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER!!!!!! (God says you are)

woohoo!!! THANK YOU LEONARD - this is exactly the point - I'd say the risk that smokers take is similar to that of coke/pepsi addicts; (after all you CAN clean your toilet bowl with it and it really works) If you choose a handful of any products in your local grocery store and analyze the ingredients, I think you'll find it just as shameful (the amount of chemicals that are allowed to be put in FOOD products as "harmless") I think thats much worse, because its being sold under the 'guise' of being healthy -- much, much more insideous; I mean what possible nutritional value can there be in 'red dye no.2' Yet our "powers that be" (food and drug 'deciders') tell us ... yep, itsallgood.

Totally 'get you' tigger... my husband just recently saved ... as you pray fervently for a dearly loved one that you see EVERY day, day after day, after month, after year ... your heart aches for them, yes I was prepared to trade my spot for my husband ... so to answer your question .... yeh, i'm crazy too!!!

AMEN AND AMEN !!!!! WHAT A WONDERFUL WARRIOR OF A GOD WE HAVE WHO FIGHTS DEATH AND WINS!!!!! ONLY ONE THAT I KNOW OF *HAPPY DANCE*

Alright: I suppose I will throw my hat into the ring. Disclaimer: I have not studied this out, it is merely some thoughts of the top of my head that many will/may disagree with. It is not intended as anything more than something to consider, nor can I support it. As a young boy, it is without doubt that like us, Jesus had a measure of the Holy Spirit within. However, just like us, he was tempted in every way and victorious over the temptations, be those temptations of the flesh, the mind, etc.. It was not until His baptism by John, that the full measure of the Holy Spirit, the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily [cf Col 2:9], was poured out upon Him. Have I stepped out upon a limb here and have the saw working next to the trunk? That is possible. Based upon everything that the Scriptures testify unto with regard to the Holy Spirit, if the full measure of the Holy Spirit was always within/upon Jesus, it would be near impossible for Him to truly understand/sympathize with our weaknesses and to be tempted in every way. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are

I wonder if this will work??

Now you guys got me curious ... i'm gonna have to play with it too ok, well, THAT was a flop lets try this way

ANY TIME !! ...and i do mean anytime ... i would be honoured to pray for you and your hubby!!

More great advice ... you guys are GREAT!!!

as i thot bibs, great advice!! a support thread is a great idea ... it is an area of the church that has been 'vacuumed' and left empty.

How comfortable and accepted is an unchurched biker with leathers and tattoos going to feel walking into a church of "Mr. Roger's" types... I think this is what you mean isn't it GymRose?

I agree. Something that I do like about the Emergent Church is that it appeals to those who would normally not feel comfortable in a traditional church, such as Punks and other sub-cultures. AMEN to both of you!!!

what a fabulous question david!!! what system do you use for studying? like what is your process. i just finished studying romans. i used a guide for this one. 2 months ago i started a subject study on joy -- i've learned so much about joy in the last 2 months!! when you go thru scripture and write out everyone of God's ideas on joy you get a very clear picture of what He gave it to us for oh, also i have found that people sometimes judge you when you are very joyful; the most wonderful thing i learned is that joy REALLY DOES give you strength, especially when you apply it to a sorrow/trial or tribulation. and then i have various other subjects that i've been studying for about 2-3 years (prayer, praise, and submission) ... what God showed me about these particular subjects is that "My people spend so much time and money at colleges and universities, but they don't seek My Word that way" i sensed that the Lord wanted me to approach my study of His Word this way, so thats what i'm doing; it would appear that i'm getting my 'doctorate' in prayer, praise, and submission because i've been attending for 3 years now and it doesn't appear to be coming to end anytime soon; i've noticed that some courses can take up to 10 years to complete i would like to hear whatever anyone else does for studying also; i'm always looking for fresh "out of the box" ideas to study God's Word ... or would that change the thread??

well, said Leonard ... I'm not a democrat either (i'm not even american ... does it count if you are an american "at heart") but if i was an american i would be a republican. as a canadian living in ontario, i find that i would definitely move toward the west to live in a much more conservative district ... say alberta. ontario is very liberal minded. the liberal views in my province feel more like "chains" around my freedoms and choices go figure eh.