glorywatch

Yesterday when I got home, there was a letter addressed to me and my husband from a name and address I didn't know. I was puzzled by it but opened it, assuming it would be a distant relative or something like that. It was from a total stranger who got our name off a memorial website. I had posted condolences to the family of a soldier who died in Fallujah back in 2006. They aired the story about this young man (23) on CNN and gave the website where you could post. There are thousands of postings on that site. I gave no thoughts to putting our names and city, even though its a small town and we are easy to find (address and phone number) because we are the only ones with that name in this city. I started my post to the family saying that I had seen the story on CNN. I then told the family that words were never adequate to say to someone who has lost a child, but that our thoughts and prayers were with them and that we prayed God would give them peace that passes all understanding and strength during this difficult time. This stranger writes to me and says she is sorry for the loss of my friend (said I saw it on CNN) and proceeds to tell me that if we ( I guess she means USA) would do something about the wars that these senless deaths would stop. Then she goes on to tell me about God, reading the Bible and that having a relationship with God is the only way I will get over losing my friend. Now for the kicker. She encloses a tract from the Watchtower (Jehovah Witnesses) So here is the question....would you respond or not? I didn't feel anything in my comments would give someone the idea that I didn't know God and that I knew this person. AND, this is nearly three years later. The whole thing sorta puzzles me. Would you respond and if so what would you say??? Not sure how or if I should do anything. What do you think?

I wondered as well, but didn't try to find out the answer....lol. I am sure our wonderful media peeps will fill us in

I have felt that way so many times. Truthfully I feel that when people say that, basically they are just greeting people. It's more rhetorical than a real question about a persons well being. I am not saying everyone is that way, but most really are just being polite. If you feel crummy, just say, "not to good today." If they really want to know how you are they will offer to pray for you or question you further. If not, they will say something like "I hope you feel better.' No one gets hurt in the process. One thing I know for sure is that when we least feel like going to church is when we need it the most!

Something to really think about! Amen! We have a close friend who has been studying the cycles in Scripture. How God does things over and over in cycles. They mean something. Ecclesiastes tells us there is nothing new under the sun. I don't really understand about all the cycles, fesitvals, feasts and all but it is so interesting and I agree that there is something to it.

Prayer is a means of bringing us into conformity with God

The "sinning against our own bodies" means that we are the "temple" for the Holy Spirit so the sins against the "temple" are more grevious. We are defiling the temple so to speak.

Some feel that the tribulation has already begun which would work out mathmatically.

There are so many things that have not be revealed to us that it brings to mind the passage in Deuteronomy 29:29: "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children, that we may follow all the words of this law." The why God chose to not reveal certain things may never be known.

I agree with you! Interesting tidbit: We were created from the earth (dirt) of which there are basically 5 colors of dirt. Of course its no coincidence that there are 5 basic skin colors as well. (Red, yellow, black, brown and white.)

The Devil will be cast into the lake of fire, be turned into ashes and cease to exist. Rev 20:10; Ezek 28:18,19. Revelation 20:10 says the beast and false prophet shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. Seems pretty clear to me. Ezekiel28:18, 19 - Lucifer will be brought "like" ashes, humiliated, brought low. Not turned into ash. Otherwise you have contradictions. The Bible does not contradict itself. Sometimes our understanding, or lack of understanding makes it seem that way.

Alex, are you asking a question or making a statement. You have several different verses, that are addressing different issues. Could you explain further?

Rubi, I read this and left without commenting, but all of I could think of was "My sheep KNOW MY VOICE!" We never have to ask if it is God speaking to us when He speaks, we know it without a shadow of a doubt. I agree with those who say it is Satan, not God. God does not condemn us when the Holy Spirit pricks us because we know we have done or said something we should not have. Praying for you!

Bryan, its been my experience that when you do anything (listen to music, talk, watch tv, movies, etc) and you have to ask or question if its ok, then the answer is NO. Anything we have to "justify" in our minds is most likely something we should not be doing. That's the Holy Spirit pricking you, when you question. If it is something that does not line up with God's Word and instructions, then leave it alone.

In my bible in Genesis 24:12 the term used is "good speed" and not "God speed". The only place that I could find where the term "God Speed" is used is in the new testament as you have said also. But how do you get "God speed" out of "good speed"? The term "Good speed" has too many o's in it. I found that explaination online and in one of my study Bibles they say it means God - Speed, not good, so I guess we just have to decide for ourselves the accuracy of the information.

The Term "God Speed" originated in the Old Testament part of the Bible, in the book of Genesis 24:12 in the King James Version, when Abraham's servant prayed for success when he was sent to find a wife for Abraham's son Isaac. The original Hebrew word for "speed" in this verse is pronounced "caw-raw" and it means "to land upon" or "to bring about": "And he said O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham." (Genesis 24:12 KJV).

It is my understanding that Babylon of Revelation is indeed a metaphor for the evil world power and all that it represents. Babylon in Isaiah was part of the Assyrian empire and the rallying point of rebellion against God, which is why John used the name Babylon as the name of the world powers that will oppose God in the end.

That tidal wave happened right after the "something came out of nothing" ...right ...lol good grief the stuff people will believe.

God has proven His existance in all of creation. There is no need for us to try to prove something that has already been done. If a creation exists there must be a creator. Something does not come from nothing. If someone believes that, they have more faith than I do in my belief that God exists. It really comes down to what one chooses to believe or not believe. When you accept the existance of a Creator, then you have a moral delima, which from my experience, most who say they don't believe in God, do so in order to continue living their lives as they see fit without any guilt or consequences.

Could you give me the page number on those (or at least the chapter). I would like to read them in context Eric, I don't remember the page numbers but here is what I read about that quote and posted on another discussion about this book. I think the section this is in is Here comes Da Judge...but not positive. I would have to look it up again. This is my posting: The quote you posted is taken out of context. When taken out of context of the whole paragraph it does seem misleading. Jesus told the central character, that he (Jesus) was not a Christian and then went on to explain that those who love him come from all beliefs. He says in the next sentence "they were" which implies they at one time were from those beliefs but are now followers of Jesus. He then explains further that it DOES NOT mean the all roads lead to Jesus, but "Jesus" says in the book that it means HE will travel all roads to find you. Christ is interested in us being transformed into sons and daugheters of God. Nothing wrong with that. If you disagree that's ok, but I just felt the need to post clarification because of lot of pretexts come from text taken out of context.

Awwww, no problem

Major confusion? Goodness there are dozens of threads on the same subjects, like prayer, the rapture and so on. It happens. I posted this when I first heard about the book, not realizing others had posted on this subject.

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5) That may not answer the "why" but for me it settles the question. GOD did it when HE deemed it was the right time.

When you least feel like praying is when you probably need to do it the most, no matter if it is for a meal. Usually there is something else going on and how like Satan to want to defeat us in what we would consider a small matter, praying over our food. If we can't be faithful in the "small" things, will we be faithful in the really big ones? Just a thought!

I can see valid points for both sides. The problem as I see it is when someone who doesn't know Scripture (perhaps a lost person) who is following a post and someone throws out a statement such as "God helps those who helps themselves", the person not knowing Scripture make think that is biblical. I have had people say that to me and are so POSITIVE it's in Scripture. I guess where I am going with this, is you have to consider who is asking for you to support what you say with Scripture. If a non-believer, perhaps you should supply it to support your post. For another Christian, maybe they need the challenge of looking it up for themselves. Just my thoughts on it. ( I hope this makes sense, I felt like I was sort a rambling)