the location of hell?

[Catsmeow]

I wish we were more inclined to see the Christian walk realistically.

When we're born, we're utterly dependent ...giving our parents nothing but sleepless nights.

We grow and develop basic skills, from crawling to rudimentary communication.

We take our first steps as toddlers and become "free thinkers" ...and a pain in the neck to our parents.

Our Heavenly Father probably feels the same parental blues as His children develop an inclination toward making bad choices in life.

You never find two children exactly the same. Each child has his or her own special skills, talents and handicaps and disabilities. Each child has his own unique needs and requirements.

A child who's unable to walk will require a wheelchair; while a child who's blind will need a cane. In any case, we make provisions for those in need of special interventions.

Is is any different for Christians?

We need to respond to others with the same level of compassion we would toward our own children.

We often speak with such authority while forgetting that religious authorities challenged Jesus because He refused to comply with protocol. Jesus chose to ignore the protocol of the Sabbath when the moral high ground to serve others surpassed simple obedience.

We should just all just follow the same rules....no work on the Sabbath..PERIOD! Does that sound right?

No......Jesus chose the hard road because He sought the right result... by focusing on the heart of the Law rather than strict obedience to it.

He blew His "image" because He didn't go with the flow of the religious proper, allowing Himself to take pity on the suffering masses. He went so far as to "defile" himself by having contact with a weeping and repentent prostitute.

How are we any different from the Pharisees?

Don't we cling to the letter of law, even today? Or are we considering the moral high ground?

Do we separate ourselves from those who are tainted by their past? Do we have the front of the bus verses the back of the bus...when it comes to Christian fellowship?

How often do people distant themselves from drug addicts, prostitutes, alcoholics, homosexuals and the like because we wouldn't want to defile ourselves.

After all, we are admonished to take care of the company we keep, avoid the appearance of evil and touch not the unclean thing...

Furthermore, when people DO become Christians, do we mark them for life because they had been previously married? Had an abortion? Been a drug addict or alcholic?

Do we erect more hurdles for the lost soul to cross?

And while I entrust myself to Him, I discover that most of us really have no room to point fingers at others or find fault with another's "walk"...

Where we are strong, give God alone the praise for it ..and for those who are weak, let us be patient, knowing but for the grace of God...there go I...."

[irishcowboy]

I reject that.

Someone can not be "gung-ho" and still in the Lord's will. Not everyone is a leader. Some people don't think in terms of "doing" stuff in a way that can be seen.

It doesn't mean they are in satan's camp.

That judgement is going a little too far ..

obviously, I must not have made my writing very clear....

and as far as passing judgement, you are mistaken....

a fence walker has not made a choice one way or other, and in not choosing Christ, they are in fact choosing satan......

a baby in Christ is not a fence walker.... there are many levels of being Christian... but a fence walker is not a Christian, for they have not chosen Christ.....

I am not saying some one that is not "gung ho" is a fence walker...... this would or could be part of that peticular persons personallity......

a person that is very outspoken might make a good preacher, or minister that can teach and relate to many people at one time.... one that is reserved ( less out spoken ) might be one that can relate more of a one on one......

please reread what was written, not what you want it to say.... or you think I am trying to say, I did not write any of this to be offensive, or belittling....

something I look for in my pastor, is whether or not he is infiltrating my comfort zone with the Word..... if I find I am getting my toes stepped on.... i ask why.... not throwing blame at anyone or jumping down some one elses throut... but looking at myself and verifing what is being taught..... what I find is that when i feel my toes being stepped on, that I am the one to blame, for my toes should not be where they are being stepped on... in other words, I am at fault... not the Preacher or the Word of God when I feel like i am being affended.....

good day....

[His son]

Right on preaching Irish clan.

I should think the wife would know better than anyone if her husband is a fence rider or no. We need to all of us include the man in our prayers, and turn him over to the hound of heaven.

[Guest yod]

please reread what was written, not what you want it to say.... or you think I am trying to say, I did not write any of this to be offensive, or belittling....

don't sweat it....you weren't either

But are we all blazing fireballs of faith everywhere we go at all times?

Cats husband might just not know how to express what he feels deeply. Not saying that is the case but it doesn't mean he's following satan if he doesn't do spiritual cartwheels.

[JP1]

Well, I was going to say that Hell is actually located in Michigan (go ahead, do a Google search for "Hell Michigan" if you don't believe me!), but the thread seems to have taken a serious turn and I didn't know if it would go over very well! :whistle:

[Catsmeow]

My husband's name is Bill, for those who don't know. He's a "fence-rider".

I can say that because I know him better than anyone and I love him with a love so deep there's no words to describe.

I love him unconditionally and care very deeply for him and continually lift him up in prayer.

He's my joy and delight ....my great reward. I am blessed to be married to him and very proud to have such a wonderful man as my mate. I cherish him.

I love being with him and I am sure to honor him when in the presence of others. I never want to bring him shame or disrespect.

If he does wrongly, I try to quietly and discreetly rebuke him, oftentimes with just a "look".

Why? Well, namely because my husband has some bad fruit on the branches still ...including racial bigotry. If he says a racial slur against someone when we're out, I'll try to get him to "keep quiet"...since I don't want anyone getting hurt, especially my husband at "his age". Secondly I don't want anyone's feelings to get hurt, and I worry about children being present. I don't want little ears hearing bad language.

I love him enough to intervene and tell him he must stop ....I can't remain passive. Bill does things that are very dangerous in many ways...

He has a major problem with "road rage" and has put MY life in peril by "playing chicken" on the road with another driver. That's extremely dangerous and you don't know who's going to "chicken out" and avoid a collision.

I love my husband because I can see his potential. I know what God could do in his life if he'd let Him. Sadly, hubby is a loose cannon who fires off in all directions.

He will use bad language in public sometimes in the presence of women and children.

I really love my husband because I take the good with the bad and pray hard for God to change Bill's hard heart and lead him to repentence.

He needs that: repentence. He has an ego the size of Nebraska and I need all the intercession I can get for him so he'll swallow his pride and ask God to forgive him.

You can love somebody very deeply and cherish and honor them but still feel deeply hurt and angry with them, particularly when they make hateful remarks and racial slurs against people.

Please: pray, pray and pray. He needs it badly! ....so he can be filled with the Holy Spirit rather than the old sin nature.

Edited February 18, 2004 by catsmeow

[nebula]

Amen!

[Guest shiloh357]

I am praying for your husband, Cats.