wingnut-

I can see where this rabbit trail leads, blaming the Internet is an excuse to violate people's privacy.

Very sad

Praying for you

I think it's difficult to determine how a church is from just one visit. When I was looking for a church I typically gave it a month before drawing any conclusions.

Lol. Let us know how that works out, I met a chatter once who said he was one of the two witnesses also, maybe you met the same one.

I agree that there has been cheating in baseball for a long time. There has been in other sports as well, but it just appears to be more frequent now, and worse, acceptable. I think sports reflect society to a large degree, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the majority of sports fans approve. I'm glad to see that my brothers and sisters in Christ view it as I do.

James 2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

I honestly don't know what to say.

Ok, thanks for clarifying. As far as reading our bible and praying I agree, a person wouldn't be growing much if they are never fed, nor can you have a relationship with someone you never talk to. What I was alluding to is an attempt to go beyond this, which many do. Personally I think it's ill advised, the bible is full of warnings when it comes to dabbling with spiritists and mediums. Demons are not flesh and blood, yet I have heard people talk about chasing them with knives. We can't destroy them, we can't even harm them, but they can inflict a great deal of harm on us, you really don't want to be in the crosshairs.

No, he won't get it. Disability is a disability, discrimination is a separate issue, and one that must be proven.

I actually feel similarly as you do about capital punishment, but in this scenario your logic is flawed. We all face a death sentence, it is appointed once for man to die. So whether a believer or not, we will die in these earthly bodies, it is the second death salvation keeps us from.

I'm not following you here, nor am I seeing where we disagree, this is what I posted above.

Most of my life I supported the death penalty, I'm not so certain anymore. I think it is justified in some instances, I remember a recent news event where a young man had killed 20 people or so (I think in Illinois), and following his sentencing he taunted the victims families. I don't think anyone capable of such behavior can be rehabilitated, this is pure evil. Another side of me says, he's so young, maybe his heart can change over time. The fact is, if I were sitting on a jury in a capital case, I'm not sure I could bring myself to vote for extinguishing a life.

Only the Father knows the day and hour, not Jesus, not the Holy Spirit, and certainly not any astrologist or wannabe prophet. Every time someone sets a date, it's one more date you can cross off your calendar.

This is something to keep an eye on.

The only offensive weapon Paul mentioned is the Word of God, the other pieces of armor are for defensive purposes. Belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet with the gospel of peace, shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. All of these are rooted in knowledge of scripture as well, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The purpose of any vigil is prayer, and through prayer God intercedes on our behalf, which is why Paul concludes the Ephesians passage regarding the armor with this. Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Spiritual warfare is fought in the spiritual realm, which I think it is best to avoid for a believer unless you have no choice. The battle is satan and his minions versus the angels of heaven led by Michael. They intercede on our behalf according to the Lords will. As for us, the Word of God is our only weapon, through prayer we can ask for Gods protection.

My intention is to reach a common ground based on scripture. I firmly believe that the bible tells us everything we need to reach common ground, if we handle scripture consistently and absent personal biases. Sadly these discussions can and do get ugly at times, I suppose pride plays a role in that. My objective has and will always be, to present my position clearly, with scriptural support. If it cannot be refuted with scripture then I will hold to it. I don't approach these discussions to win an argument, but to challenge anything that is not biblical, I don't have the market cornered on truth, but the bible does.

The Holy Spirit dwells within each believer. We know that there will be believers on earth during the tribulation, they will be persecuted and put to death for their faith. Who has the strength or courage to be beheaded without the power of the Holy Spirit within them? The Holy Spirit isn't going anywhere, Jesus sent the counselor in His stead, He will remain until The Lord returns.

Praying

I believe 20 of the 66 books in the bible address the topic of end times prophecy, roughly a third, so it appears to me an important one. I've heard your sentiment by many folks over the years, and it always leaves me puzzled because of that. We are repeatedly instructed to be prepared, and I find the best way to do that is through study. The bible is truth, and everything we need to know is found within its pages. I think it's important that we challenge any teaching that is contrary to scripture, iron sharpens iron.

I think it's possible, but not a foregone conclusion.

Genesis 3:17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." I always understood this passage to mean that mans curse is to work for survival, all the days of his life. Personally I expect to work as long as I'm alive, much like my dad before me. As far as savings, I think the bible teaches us to be good stewards with our money, it is wise to have a nest egg for emergencies, not to mention death costs. The average funeral today is around 20k, I only have one daughter, I'm not sticking her with a huge debt when I pass on.

It's a bit out of the ordinary, but I'm more bothered by the higher courts decision to be honest.

I'm wondering the same