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Hey guys hope you’re all well and may God Bless you and yours for visiting this post, I’ve been searching for a long time for a Christian forum place to talk with others on that would be somewhat secretive, this one seems good. I live in Australia so Christianity isn’t persecuted in fact it’s the major religion here, however I am mandean or supposed to be at least. I’ll tell you my story if you’re keen to read TL;DR: I was 11 years old found Christ till 14 and had a strong connection then I got caught and whooped, became strong athiest and then till 40-50 days ago became Christian again and stronger than ever with a clearer understanding on topics, am 20 and male and Iraqi. So this all starts with an oooldd friend named C--- in school growing up I’d hang out with him and we’d talk eventually he’d mention Christ almighty and I was curious who was this Christ he kept talking about and he said that is God and he is the one and only God. I didn’t really understand back then but one thing I did understand is, how strict my own religion/culture (since mandeanism is mix of both and also a language) is very anti converting to anything else and strict , it had to be secret because I would get whooped. So I started watching these documentaries about Christ in the living room with my parents who were suspicious as to why , and then about Moses was last I saw and then I eventually download a Bible app a year later and a proverbs app or something on my iPad at school and would read bit by bit everyday or most days of the week. Till eventually I got caught, now there’s two things that I cannot explain even as an adult with prestigious marks that’s doing psychology right now and hence why my faith is so unwavering, there’s several more but these are the most profound. Sorry if this is dragged, but one day I was on this Christian website, and mind you I didn’t know what prostration was back then nor did I know what denomination I was getting my information from (probably Protestant), but my dad was gonna abuse me if je caught me and I ran outside in my backyard and was panicking and prayed that God would give me this sign and remove everything and I bowed my mt head and body all the way to the ground when I was 14 and after 2 minutes my dad just called me to get my haircut saying I didn’t catch you now boy but when I do you’ll never forget it. What’s weird is, I had the tabs opened, the history was there everything was out in the open but when I came back my iPad was closed and the website was gone and everything associated with it. At first I thought maybe a glitch but then remembered I did pray and like Matthew 17:20-21 says, I did believe so and it did happen because I trusted in God. Now whilst this one was very quick prayer and was answered also accordingly the next one happened few weeks after this one when I finally got caught with the Bible app on my iPad and by my who,e family including my older brother was abused either emotionally or physically for being a Christian and not mandean, week prior I was walking outside and just conversing naturally with myself and looked at the sky and said to God when I’m 21 or 22 years old Lord make make me more religious and freely too or something along those lines and I had a vivid image of my future say self (my back turned this is just my imagination at the time) holding a Bible in hand. What’s amazing about this prayer is before my Serbian friend talked to me about Christ not too long ago I was heavily athiest and as was he till say 4 months ago, but he is the most if not one of the most religious Christians I’ve met and I love that about him, he started to talk about Jesus randomly out of nowhere when I had another mate over and at the time this Serbian friend and I past 2 years had beef and lowkey hated one another for a long while but in HighSchool were best friends . It’s a long story for another day, anyways we forgave eachother and said sorry and when I heard from another friend he was religious and mocked God I mocked him saying what a delusional idiot, just a week later I started reading the Gospels after having a very long and insightful talk with him, stopped all porn and masturbation (though the temptations are strong, but my love for the Lord is stronger so God willing I’ll prevail as I have) and have become really fascinated in all things Christianity. Especially since I’m now 20, going to turn 21 in but 5 months which is what it prayed to God for which I still can’t get over that. I mocked God, I was lustful as a teenager (still a virgin, in fact besides masturbation haven’t done anything else honestly) and even at some point would mock Christ but again only so my family would leave me, though when they mocked him I don’t know, I felt guilt or guilty even tho I was a strong athiest and even narcissistic at some point. Moving on from all that, I don’t really have a community so I’m trying to build one on this site to have a sense of belonging in that I’m not alone as a secret Christian, and in the future when I’m more independent I’ll definitely worship the Lord more openly but now I can’t risk it, and it’s not just me that’ll get abuse it’s a lot of other things, and some trauma inducing stuff. Regardless my main question is a long one, I used to work with my dad and at his workplace in Blacktown there were a lot of Christians and islanders in that workplace, I would love to attend church and meet like minded people and most importantly worship our Lord, but I fear that if someone from work sees me there since they’re all best mates they may tell my dad “ hey I saw your son at church yesterday!” And we all know where that leads. I guess the question is, is it okay for me to not attend church? And for the fasts (I know orthodoxy generally has the most), since I go gym a loooot and eat lots of dairy and protien and don’t like fish much, what should I cut out or do? I know this is a question for a spiritual advisor of sorts but I don’t have access for now, but if you made it this far then thank you regardless if you don’t have anything to say. This was just my personal journey to our Lord and I was hoping to share it with you fine people. Thanks again for listening and may God Bless you!

And why did he drink the sour wine vinegar before his death on the cross? This part of the gospels has been confusing me lately and I have been struggling to understand what he meant Matthew 26:29- 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. Mark 14:25- 25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Luke 22:18- 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

With what sort of love? Omegaman 3.0 6/5/2019 I recently posted in a thread at Worthy Christian Forums, where there seemed to be some disagreement about the nature of the kind of love that Christians are supposed to have. There also seemed to be some disagreement and even questions about whether or not some to the Bible’s statements contradict each other on this topic. I felt compelled to chime in. Not to toot my own horn, but as I developed my reply, I thought some of my comments were worth making a note of here, since they represent my thoughts (which is what a blog is, after all) and some of them arose out of my analysis of what people were disputing, so here it goes: I do not have two cents, but I have a nickel: I certainly see no contradiction between what Jesus said, and what John said, but I will offer my thoughts or opinions, as a sort of unsolicited, under-qualified commentary: First observation: 34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” My comment on that passage is that Jesus said that loving others is a commandment, and He is referring to the Law, so THAT is not new! What was the standard? Love others as you love yourself. Second observation: 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13 My comment on this one is that Jesus said it is new. If He said it is new, then it IS new. What is new about it? Jesus upped the standard. The standard here is not love each other as you love yourself, but love each other has Jesus Himself loved them. How was that? Self-sacrificially, Jesus DIED for them, that is real love. John tells us that when he reports that Jesus also said: Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 So, the NEW commandment you will note, is not to the general public, it was to His disciples. John also noted that Jesus gave his disciples a purpose, the positive side effect: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:25 So, the new command so far is that disciples are to love other disciples, with the same sort of love, the greatest love, self-sacrificial love, as Jesus demonstrated on the cross, not that we must die, but that is the supreme example of that kind of love. Tradition has it, that all the apostles except Judas and John, died as martyrs, and John was willing. They tried to boil him in oil, it just did not work, so he was banished to Patmos, where he penned the book of Revelation. As a side note, when Peter was told he was to be crucified, Peter asked Jesus about John - well, what about him (John)? Jesus basic answer was, that is none of your business Peter! From what we think we know, John died of "natural" causes, in his old age. So, for the most part, the disciples lived out their mission the obey the commandment, the loved us, all disciples enough to die in their efforts to see that we got Jesus message. At this juncture, I would like to point out something else, from Matthew 28: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. So, Jesus disciples were told to make other disciples. If you are a believer, you are one of the disciples of disciples of disciples, etc. The disciples were to teach others to obey Jesus. If you are a TRUE disciple, you will seek to, want to, obey Jesus. After all, that is what a disciple is, one who follows their teacher. Our ultimate Teacher then, is Jesus. What is it then, that we are taught to obey then? Among other things: Make more disciples and teach them to obey Jesus, and that includes loving other believers with the unique love that Jesus lavished upon them. So, for the most part, the disciples lived out their mission they obeyed the commandment, the loved us, all disciples enough to die in their efforts to see that we got Jesus message. They practices what they preached, and the preached what Jesus told them to. So many of the quotes I supplied ARE from John, how then is that a contradiction? John knew that there was an Old Testament command, to love others as ourselves. He also was quick to point out that those in the Jesus' church, were to go beyond that sort of love, the easy love that even pagans so. Toward each other, they were to with a supernatural love that is not given to everyone, but believers are given that ability, and are told to exercise it. Love is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, the Paul describes in Gal 5:22 and Eph 5:19. (Those are links, by the way) Paul also describes love in 1 Cor 13: 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. With all of this great information in the Bible (not in my post), the real question is: HOW WELL DO WE ALL MEASURE UP? I also ask, that you consider praying about this in your own lives, that you pray for others also, and not the least, for me also, as we all need it at times. Go forth and love, to the Glory of God!

Here is a link to my music that I hope will bring peace and healing to people. www.laurenlehman.com or you can listen on Spotify, Itunes, etc. Below is a link to my song, "Peace Be Still" from my new album, "Peace Be Still." "Peace Be Still, and know that He is God... Come on into His place to seek His face, Peace, Peace, Be Still." Peace Be Still - on Youtube

(I'm quoting words from a man who wrote this about 1,800 years ago! This man's teacher was Polycarp who was taught by John the disciple of Christ. Please hear his call to compare things.) If any one, therefore, reads the Scriptures with attention, he will find in them an account of Christ, and a foreshadowing of the new calling. For Christ is the treasure which was hid in the field, that is, in this world; but the treasure hid in the Scriptures is Christ, since He was pointed out by means of types and parables. Hence His human nature could not be understood, prior to the consummation of these things which had been predicted, that is, the advent of Christ. And therefore it was said to Daniel the prophet: "Shut up the words, and seal the book even to the time of consummation, until many learn, and knowledge be completed. For at that time, when the dispersion shall be accomplished, they shall know all these things." But Jeremiah also says, "In the last days they shall understand these things." For every prophecy, before its fulfilment, is to men [full of] enigmas and ambiguities. But when the time has arrived, and the prediction has come to pass, then the prophecies have a clear and certain exposition. And for this reason, indeed, when at this present time the law is read to the Jews, it is like a fable; for they do not possess the explanation of all things pertaining to the advent of the Son of God, which took place in human nature; but when it is read by the Christians, it is a treasure, hid indeed in a field, but brought to light by the cross of Christ, and explained, both enriching the understanding of men, and showing forth the wisdom of God and declaring His dispensations with regard to man, and forming the kingdom of Christ beforehand, and preaching by anticipation the inheritance of the holy Jerusalem, and proclaiming beforehand that the man who loves God shall arrive at such excellency as even to see God, and hear His word, and from the hearing of His discourse be glorified to such an extent, that others cannot behold the glory of his countenance, as was said by Daniel: "Those who do understand, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and many of the righteous as the stars for ever and ever." Thus, then, I have shown it to be, if any one read the Scriptures. For thus it was that the Lord discoursed with the disciples after His resurrection from the dead, proving to them from the Scriptures themselves "that Christ must suffer, and enter into His glory, and that remission of sins should be preached in His name throughout all the world." And the disciple will be perfected, and [rendered] like the householder, "who bringeth forth from his treasure things new and old."

I thought we can post here stuffs for all who are seeking facts, truths and Christ! So feel free to share things that could help any seeker out there! Sources I know to be very good that are runned by new born Christians: At Youtube: Steven Bancarz, The Vigilant Christian, James & Lea D http://reasonsforjesus.com/ ******* Removed YouTube Links ... YouTube Links Are Not Allowed *******

1 Kings 19:10 - And he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, torn down Thine altars and Killed Thy prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." MUCH OF ELIJAH'S DISCOURAGEMENT CAME FROM THE FALSE EXPECTATIONS HE HAD PLACED UPON HIMSELF. IN HIS DEJECTION, ALONE AND HURTING, ELIJAH WITHDREW INTO A CAVE. FOR US, SELF-PITY CAN ALSO BE A "CAVE," A DARK HOLE OF LONELINESS AND PAIN, WHERE ALL WE REALLY HEAR IS THE ECHO OF OUR OWN VOICE MAGNIFYING AND DISTORTING OUR PROBLEMS. WHEN WE BECOME SICK WITH DISCOURAGEMENT, IT IS EASY TO LOSE OUR PERSPECTIVE. FOR ELIJAH, MIGHTY MANIFESTATIONS HAD BEEN SIGNS OF GOD'S APPROVAL. BUT SOMETHING "NEW" WAS COMING THAT REQUIRED A FRESH SUBMISSION TO THE LIVING GOD. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE LORD MUST EXPAND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HIS WILL, ACTUALLY LIBERATING US FROM THE CONTAINER OF OUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES. THE CRY FOR A FRESH EXPERIENCE OF GOD IS AT THE CORE OF BEING OPEN TO BELIEVE FOR SOMETHING "NEW." NEWNESS IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE. Things on Which to Meditate: I MUST BELIEVE GOD IS WORKING A NEW WORK IN ME. NEW THINGS REQUIRE A NEW LANGUAGE. MY SELF-TALK DRAWS ME CLOSER OR DRIVES ME FURTHER FROM EXPERIENCING NEW THINGS. THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN THE WAY THEY ARE GOING TO BE BECAUSE BECAUSE GOD IS DOING A NEW THING IN ME. In Joshua's day, before crossing the Jordan River and moving into their inheritance, God said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you" (Joshua 3:5). This is an exhortation for us today! If you rearrange your busy schedule over the next few weeks to pray and fast and spend more time in worship and the Word, your life will radically change. No matter what level of relationship you currently enjoy with the Lord, He wants to transform you into a more passionate and zealous Believer. As you draw into His depths, His cleansing stream will prepare you to advance in His PURPOSE for your life. "For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land." - Song of Solomon 2:11-12 ESV The Lord takes us gently by the hand to lead us into a deeper place, into the very garden of the Lord where He dwells. In that place His fragrance lingers and saturates the hungry hearts that search for Him. In that place the barren see a new season of the flowers blooming and flourishing. It's in that place where the Lord longs to look our way and consume all our dross in His love. As we experience a new desperation birthed in our heart for more of Him, the time we spend in His presence makes the singing of the birds to come forth, producing a new sound of heavenly worship that transforms regions and cities with its powerful, prophetic flow. This leads to an abiding prophetic anointing that rests upon us so we can speak a message in season and become an expression of His very life. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

Isaiah 11:6 Remember "and the lion shall lie down with the Lamb?" It has changed to "and the wolf will dwell with the lamb." The lion isn't with the lamb anymore.