annabelfwlr

These two seemingly different creation stories could possibly be an outcome the "Documentary Hypothesis". Take a look, if you want: Documentary Hypothesis Wikipedia's Version For a simple rundown, the Documentary Hypothesis shows that the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, was written and pulled from different sources. For instance, one source was being taken from oral/written traditions of Judah (J source) (southern Israel), while another was being collected as well from Israel (E source) (northern). These two different sources, the J (Jahwist/Jerusalem) source is noted for the writing of the book of Genesis, the E (Elohist) source is also considered in the writing of Genesis as well, respectively. For me, the first link was easier to understand its diagram than the Wiki one.

Jack Black and several other semi-celebrities made an advertisment for Proposition 8, where Jack Black actually dresses up as Jesus. Let's just say Jack says a few non-Christ like things. If you want to watch it, I'm sure you can find it on YouTube.

At the college I attend, I find that this is the main message given by other students, and faculty teaching the classes I take. I find my self very conflicted. Not in the sense that I doubt my Christian faith, but conflicted as to whether or not that the school I attend is the one intended for me by God (which that is a completely different tpic). yeah that must be very hard on you-i will pray for you lv yr sis in christ manie Thank you so much!

At the college I attend, I find that this is the main message given by other students, and faculty teaching the classes I take. I find my self very conflicted. Not in the sense that I doubt my Christian faith, but conflicted as to whether or not that the school I attend is the one intended for me by God (which that is a completely different tpic).

This is a great idea! Why I've never thought of it, I don't know. I'm going to do that this year!

Hi Anna--I'm John. I don't know if this answers your question or not, but I just started reading the Word one day and haven't stopped since. God never asked me to understand what I read, just to read it. But I found that as I did read, my memory started working something like on "auto-pilot" (for lack of a better term). He says in there that He will bring to mind the things He teaches us (John 14:26) and it was uncanny how that started happening even before I read that far (and I started with the Gospel of John). I've read the entire New Testament, but only once. I've read parts of the Old Testament, and I concerned myself with the order in which I was studying until it was as if the Holy Spirit was saying for me not to worry about that. I asked Him then in prayer, "Yeah, but what if I run out of time in my life before I get everything read--there's so much." He replied, "You will never 'run out of time in your life' because you are already alive forever. And you don't need to concern yourself with hurrying to read it all--you have all of eternity. The patience you must exercise in order to read and think on the things you do read is in your best interest to have." To this day, then, I read and then meditate--here a little, there a little, back and forth. Usually one chapter a day in all the different versions of Scripture I have (I rely mostly on KJV, but like to see how it's said in other translations). Sometimes, in the course of my life, I have to read maybe only part of the day's chapter and get back to it later--even the next day at times. But that's just the Holy Spirit's way of letting me know I need to think on what I've last read some more (He's in charge of what "interruptions" are allowed to come into my life). One thing I would tell you--don't worry about stuff you don't immediately understand. It will come to you when it's time for you TO understand it--the Holy Spirit will see to that. Just start somewhere and be determined that you're gonna keep going and leave it to the Lord to bring forth the understanding to you. He will. There's more I could add, but I don't want to be too wordy. Someone else may have a better take on things that would suit your inquiry than this, or they may have a better way of saying it. Nice to meet you, John! Actually, what you wrote was pretty insightful and helpful (I may even print it out to keep as a reminder, if you don't mind.) Like you, I "skip" around because I have found that I get lost if I try to read it consecutively. A lot of times, when reading it "in order" I feel as if I get so caught up in reading I block out the Holy Spirit (or whatever I'm reading doesn't pertain to me). Before I read, I open my Bible to any page, and ask for the Holy Spirit to guide me in the Book where He wants me to go. Then, when I do read and I'm called to a certain scripture and I write the book and verses down. Now, I'm glad I've done that so I can go back and put my memory to work!!

That's really impressive! I think it would be helpful to begin by memorizing the books of the Bible first. Plus, that trains your mind, or allows it to be able to memorize easier.

I've been experiencing God's calling through scriptures more abundantly, lately. It's at those time where I wondered if I should memorize those scriptures to have in my heart, to always remember God's word. However, I wasn't sure if there was a "special" way of doing it..or rather, if that was what I was supposed to do. Did you follow a set way of memorizing?

Can anyone tell me the importance, or significance of memorizing scripture? Is there more to it than just knowing the Word my memory? I've been wondering about this lately, and I've also been wondering what scriptures are good for memorization. I met a man once who could recite whole portions of chapters. It floored me! Besides these questions, what are some good "beginner" scriptures to start memorizing? Of course, the 23rd Psalm, but what else? Thanks so much!!!

I'm kind of scared now. I just read a book by Kenneth Hagin, "The Believer's Authority", and although there were some points that didn't sit well with me, others do. Of course I don't believe that I am a god, or that I release Jesus' power on earth by speaking it, but I do believe that in Jesus' name I can rebuke (for instance, rebuking the devil). Is that correct or am I believing in something that is considered unbiblical? I suppose I'm scared because I feel as if I may have been believing in something that isn't right, that's sinful, something I thought was good. Honestly, I've been working so hard on building my relationship with Christ that this really tears me apart. Opinions, ideas...something, please.

Romans 1:18-23 may be the answer to my question...

I follow along the same lines as Floatingaxe. I understand the gap between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis1:2 to be more than the actual seven days. A day to God could be a thousand years for humans. This may be elementary, so forgive me if so, but the illustration I produce in my mind is that God created the earth, however he had "test rounds" before he created Adam and Eve, before he created the beginning we know of. This "gap" that I picture also is home to the dinosaurs. By the way, when I say "test rounds" I don't mean that God was creating while all the while "getting it wrong". He knew what He was doing for the children He was about to create. Now you've got me started thinking... Since God created everything, which would include Neanderthals, did He love them the same as He loves us?

Amen, Brother Ted!!

That brightened my day! Thanks for posting it!

Wow oh wow! I guess the first one gave him some practice for the second.

I wanted to thank everyone who has posted so far, and whoever may still post. Each and every response has helped me, and I feel truly blessed to have read them. I know God led me to this forum, and I'm so grateful He did. Thanks, again!

I'm unsure of where this post will go, or even if it will be read and commented on. Honestly, I just need to vent. If this isn't the right sub-forum, then go ahead and delete it, atleast I will have typed my frustration out...hopefully. Naturally, lets begin at the beginning. I'm in college, and have now recently moved back home, or what used to be my home, for the summer. (I realize this already sounds immature, and pointless.) Recently, I've noticed, and with the help of a close source, that I've been complaining a lot. I've become super pessimistic, down on myself and everything else, I cry a lot, and I've more or less become a slob. This person that I've transformed into is completely different from the girl who I used to know as myself. Though my old friend still exists, she's just buried beneath all the worry, unneccesary crying, screaming, self pity, and babyness. It's become so terrible that I'm afraid its starting to effect the people I'm closest to; my family, boyfriend, and the Lord. Another part of this new me is an extreme sense of attachment. Now, I've always had a hard time of letting go of things (and who doesn't), but lately it's become out of control. I've place very unneccesary attachment to my boyfriend. We've been dating a year and a half, and I go to school relatively close to our home town so its easy for either of us to see each other everyday. Yet, I'm able to see him everyday, and almost anytime I want, I still feel I have to call him every chance I have a free moment-while I'm walking to class, in between classes, if the teacher steps out for a moment, during lunch, after lunch...and so on and so on. I used to not be like this. He's amazing for not running off before now, and though I'm not afraid he'll leave our relationship, I'm not making anything easier. So, the question I keep asking myself is: how do I grow up? I have a sense of frustration and confusion stronger than anything ever that leaves me in such despair I 1)don't want to be around my family 2)I'm too busy crying to be with anyone and 3)am starting to get on my own nerves. Does anyone here have any advice? I haven't been praying about it as I should have, I realize that is a problem, but could all this be just the effect of not praying?

I'm studying to be a highschool literature teacher, and some of these books are on my college reading list. The books I would suggest for a 10th grade literature class are: Oedipus Rex (I actually read that this year in college), Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Night (I did read this when I was 10th grade), Antigone, The Hunchback. Some of the books I haven't read so I can't give much advice on them. However, I don't think Like Water For Chocolate would be decent. I just read this in one of my classes and even to me it was a tad bit risque. Don't get me wrong, it's a fabulous piece of literature, I don't think some of the book is age appropriate for 10th graders. The books I did pick I feel give a well rounded world look into literature and its authors. Hope I helped!

Thank you, my dear friend.

Thanks everyone for all the responses! Each of them means a lot to me, and have helped me understand some things. You guys are great! I praise the Lord for finding this forum! -Annabel

Hi all! Something has been bringing itself up in my mind recently. It does deal with college, so I feel as if I should have posted this in the college forum, however, I wanted broader insight. I'm in the last week of my Freshman year. I attend an all women's liberal arts school that is affilliated with the Methodist denomination. While sitting in my Gender and Philosophy (go figure) class one day something hit me...what's the point of all of this when in actuality my education, my knowledge is nothing but a worldly possession. I realize that in today's world a college degree would bring in more money, but that conflicts me. Being smarter than anyone else won't get me into the Heavenly gates. Am I getting my education to better myself? Other people? To simply get a degree so I can put food on the table? Then, while also in the same class I realize that many of the courses I'm taking aren't adding to my spiritual needs, in fact, they disregard the Lord and his Holiness altogether and on purpose. What's a girl to do? Has anyone else run into these same problems or am I over analyzing? I appreciate any comments, in advance!

That is a very enlightening article! Thanks for sharing! We shouldn't look down upon sect's sin, we should pray that the Lord can enter thier heart and show them the light.

Amen, Fresno!!

I'm not a new believer, in a sense...I've been with the Lord my entire life. However, now that I'm able to understand things on my own terms I run into things that I haven't neccesarily thought about before in my journey with God. That article sounds like a joke, crazy, unreal, and not right. I am wondering if there is someone who would take the time to explain to me what the Christian belief is toward allegations such as this? From earlier posts I see there is nothing in the Bible mentioned about outside life, but are things like that considered sinful? I would suppose it isn't Godly in most cases. I would appreciate any insight on this. Thanks in advance!