Wayfarer122

The note that they won't be witnessing in the coffee shop gave me a twinge. The comments below the news stories bring up some related issues as well. Is it a church or is it a business? Other related questions: What is the mission of the church? Does the coffee shop really fit the mission? The article mentioned that they were promoting local businesses by promoting their products. Isn't this mission better suited for the local economic development consortium? Last question: What message are you sending to the community? I suggest that the coffee be supplied for free with donations accepted. Christian music that carries the message of the gospel should be a regular affair and volunteers should be free to share the good news with visitors.

((((Kross)))) I hope you have a great day!

I found it interesting that on an NPR radio story I heard today they interviewed several people on the Egyptian border. One Egyptian man emphatically stated that Israel isn't the real problem. It's Iran and its intrument, Hamas. It's going to get worse before it gets better.

I've heard the 100 years estimate before, but no one can really substantiate that. The issue is that we're using limited resources as if they're unlimited.

Kross, remember that the wheat and tares grow together. The perpetrators are not necessarily Christians at all. I know that some people hate us for other reasons, but my recent experience is similar to the one that Kross stated. This is my personal experience that illustrates why the 'Christians' in this town are hated so much: My daughter attended a small, ultra-conservative Christian school from K-8. As the kids got older, the girls in the class began to form cliques that were based on economic standing as well as their parent's status in the church that is associated with the school. Ostracism and cruelty followed and by the 8th grade she felt quite unwelcome in the class of students that she had been with since kindergarten. She transferred to the public high school while all but three of her classmates transferred to an Academy that is associated with a local Bible College. Most of them have already expressed an interest in attending the college and becoming ministers and ministers' wives. I have no doubt that this is the next generation of tares to lead the church further down the path of isolationism and destruction. My daughter is much happier at the public high school where there are gangsters, drug addicts, thieves, and just a handful of real Christians. (God answered my prayers asking that he put real Christians her age in her life. The Christians there have been a constant blessing and encouragement to her.) I believe that people who say they're Christians and aren't are becoming more plentiful and the true church is getting smaller and smaller. Because of this, people just see the rotten eggs and they hate the hypocracy. When real Christians make mistakes, the world is that much more ready to pounce on them and expose their 'hypocracy.' I don't like Pres. Bush because he left Rumsfeld loose in Iraq. I don't know if he's a true Christian, but I think his mismanagement of the war is more important to people right now than his personal beliefs. The gay-rights crowd along with everyone who wants to promote sinful behavior of every kind hates us because we dare to tell them that they are wrong. I'm rambling again, so I guess I'll shut up here, but I really wanted to weigh in on this since you asked and it's been a subject that's weighed heavily on my heart for awhile.

Their billboard makes them look really hateful and stupid. Then again....if the shoe fits....

Prayers for our brothers and sisters in China...

I enjoyed wearing a headcovering when the verse was pointed out to me. There is a group in town of "do-it-yourself" church people that really pushed this. (They had seen Pearl's book.) They were shown to be real hypocrites and DH actually asked us to stop wearing the headcoverings so that we were not associated with them. That's when I took a closer look at this passage and did what my DH asked me to do. I miss the headcovering since it was a nice reminder of the true meaning, not to mention the practicality, but I don't want to be a stumbling block.

We (some of us) know who holds the purse strings. I'm sure everyone here knows, but many Americans are not so well informed. During the last 25 years or so I've heard Christians state time and again that Christians are not to be involved in politics/government. We are now seeing some of the results of this misguided idea. As a result, we're very short on quality candidates for government office. (The last several presidential elections are good examples of this.) Many of us know where we're headed, but many more are only aware of their own present struggles. I believe that God has allowed this to happen to us to pull us back, just as he had done for Israel and Judah so many times in the Bible. We need to stop being enamoured with stuff, status, and wealth and remember that our real treasure comes from repentance and righteousness. The other day I heard Pres. E. Obama speak the strength and greatness of the American people that got us out of the Great Depression. I was sick to my stomach when I listened to him tell how our strenth and "sticktuativeness" will get us out of this one, too. Ugh, please! Repentance will put us where we need to go and nothing else. It's too early in the downturn for most people to wake up and figure this out just yet.

Christians need to get involved in government. In our town, and I suspect in many others as well, most council seats are unchallanged. Very few people even know who's on the school board. Also, the same two mayors have been serving alternately for over 15 years. Everyone else is too busy to care or is tied up in the 'christians shoulcn't be involved in government' bit. We NEED become engaged in our communities or our freedoms will dwindle to nothing.

It sounds like the Albuquerque city council is a bit full of themselves. I personally prefer a good meal in Canutillo, so Albuquerque won't be getting any revenue from the sale of their prepackaged Menudo from us next summer.

Why are they the only people who still perform passover sacrifices? If Israel is still waiting for the Messiah, then would they not continue to be required to perform the sacrifices?

In this world we will have troubles. Jesus told us that. Of course we have abundant eternal life, but I've found that it applies to life on this earth as well. The life we have isn't something the world values. We trust Jesus for our every need. We no longer have to go it alone. God is with us. We have the joy and peace that comes from knowing that our sins have been forgiven and we have been redeemed and are being transformed.

I agree that if someone is unfamiliar with a concept, they should be unafraid to ask for a reference to a scripture referenced by a poster, but I too have been wearied by people who try to draw me into an arguement where more than ten snippets of scripture are thrown at me dodge-ball-style in an attempt to get me to reciprocate. I refuse to participate in such an unproductive pastime.

Good post, Danny.

I think I would thank her for the cardholders and remember that we need to "do everything as unto the Lord." God is a better boss than she is. It's nice that we work for him.

If this is a "what this verse means to you" question, then I'll answer it this way: I've been waiting a long time for the Lord to act in some things, and other things I find that if I just step back and do what I'm supposed to do and trust Jesus to put everything the way it's supposed to be that I'm strengthened in the way the verse describes. I've found that it's more difficult to wait for "stuff" -a washer and dryer, etc. -things that would make my life easier than it is to wait for him to make things right in, say, a personal relationship or even a difficult problem. God always rescues me when I need rescuing AND I ask, but this sort of thing doesn't seem to apply to my personal 'cross' (for lack of a better term and not to trivialize the real cross) of daily inconveniences that most Americans don't share. I view the ladder as some kind of training where God says "No" but truthfully, I really don't understand it. Any insight on this from fellow siblings in the Lord would be appreciated.

i love the show american idol bless all the youths with a desire for entertainment-amazing to see so many young people come out and try at a chance to live out their interests- and what about other people-i see now american inventor- where so many people try to make something many would use- to try to use their talents in this world- and what about all people- I am sure if there were shows for the best lawyers- beauticians- painters-artists/etc etc etc - it should be apparent there are so many people just like us- no matter what your interests- what about messengers of god- so many people believe in god- they say it casually in theirs words everyday- they say it with vigor during times of stress or peace- many feel the call to be a priest and such- what about those that feel it so strong- they believe they are a messenger- well- thats me- and let me tell you- the welcome is terrible- poor jesus- words of peace and love only to be crucified- look how god shows man how we can be cruel to the innocent- even today with torture in war- whatever your reasons- but more importantly for me- i have uncovered my belief for one whole year as i believed it my time as i uncovered the solution to the energy crisis- symbology of the lightning bolt and water- an experiment never before in science for clean safe nuclear fusion- sounds wonderful on science- well it would be if i ever get noticed- but people kill the messenger still- they ridicule and abuse- people like bill maher and other atheists can say what they want on the media- so i will too- but being the messenger has surely cause many to run away- even at the expense of the energy crisis- one in which our soldiers fight for- but anyway-after so many months of being nice and saying please- i have recently for several months tried to be harsh as many seem lazy and ignorant not to listen as world crumbles under energy- is the behavior of a messenger? i love everyone- especially children- i love my child and family- and all children are way too cool- and WE ARE ALL CHILDREN-thus- i see that inside everyone and love the child within- but you do not act like a child in the body of the cousin of the monkey-0especially in a tough world yet- you are mean and abusive at times- and a time has come to solve our energy crisis-' thus- i am done with pleasantries- uncover my experiment before the world economy crumbles and greater war comes for it- here is your chance followers of god- if you have any faith that is- You have something that works, and everyone is ignoring you, right? (It wouldn't be the first time.) Use it on a small scale and it will get people's attention. If you are interested in protecting the rights to your work and you can afford it, then patent it using the full extent of the resources of the best patent attorney you can find. If you want to give a gift to the world, such as Ben Frankin did with the lightning rod, then use it on a small scale and welcome people to come and see for themselves. This last example really applies to God's greatest gift of life and redemption to us, as well. God demonstrates his life-changing miracle of salvation from our sins and transformation through Jesus in the true Christians you see around you. Sure, there are lots of counterfiets advertising that they've got the real thing, but people need to come and see for themselves. Look into the lives of people that are true to Jesus in what they say and do. You will find a discovery greater than an unlimited, free energy supply.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. I think this attitude is the problem. People act like homosexuality and abortion are such abominations agaist God that they forget the other things that the Lord hates. People commit sins every day, and frequently defend their right to do so. Oh, the examples I could site just from this very board. The examples I could tell you from my very own life. Guess we are all apostate. Proverbs 6 16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. 1 John 1 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. btw ~ apostate - 1.a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc. A born again C hristian knows when he sins because of the Holy Spirit. A person who claims Christ, yet defends and approves of any sin, especially those like homosexuality and abortion, do not know Christ. You cannot approve sin and be saved. Are you saying that the second after a person is saved they will be aware of each and every sin in their lives? Thank you, Eric. That is certainly a valid question.

This is the first news coverage I've seen on this issue. The media (other than the local fair reporting that I see here) is still doing their bit to steer our culture on their own course. I agree that until we have a revival and unglue ourselves and our families from the television set, freedom of speech will slide further away from us.

We need to pray about the abortion restrictions. Our nation is entering an expanded era of death and eugenics via this president. As far as drilling goes, we need to save our reserves and keep our land unspoiled. Even though we think we "need" oil prices lowered right now, what we really need is to learn not to waste energy (among other things) as a nation. We should only drill if the reserves are absolutely necessary for an emergency (in case of war, etc.) Even our Grandparents knew how to conserve their energy resources better than we do even though their energy costs were pennies compared to ours.

I think I have a different perspective here. I once considered myself a Christian (debatable, depending on if you're into the once-saved-always-saved debate) and considered myself "pro-choice." It took years of growth and a child to find out how wrong I was. This would really be a debate about whether a person is saved or not if they're sinful and clueless about it.

Wow. Thanks!

I am curious about one thing. Do you think his kids will get their puppy from the Humane Society?

At this point, how he won isn't important to me. The election is over and we have a black man in the whitehouse. A barrier has been broken that was long overdue to be shattered. I personally have a problem with the content of his character, but there's no point in arguing about it now. It will all come out in the wash.