Welcome to a place where Christ should be exalted and "Self" should be abased!!
Welcome to a place where the BIBLE can be discussed rationally, intelligently, and positively without unnecessary argument!!
Welcome to a place where prayer can be requested and encouraged!!
Welcome to a place where positive and encouraging thoughts from scripture can be shared in a caring and loving way!!
Welcome to a place away from all the arguments, recriminations, and negativity of the outside world!!
Welcome to a place of rest and safety!!
Welcome to a place where Philippians 2:3 is practiced: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
Welcome to this Christian thread.
(Please leave all aggression, bitterness, and philosophy outside the door and please wipe your feet before coming inside!!)
I live in my own little world. But it's OK... They know me Here!
Welcome to a place where the BIBLE can be discussed rationally, intelligently, and positively without unnecessary argument!!
Welcome to a place where prayer can be requested and encouraged!!
Welcome to a place where positive and encouraging thoughts from scripture can be shared in a caring and loving way!!
Welcome to a place away from all the arguments, recriminations, and negativity of the outside world!!
Welcome to a place of rest and safety!!
Welcome to a place where Philippians 2:3 is practiced: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
Welcome to this Christian thread.
(Please leave all aggression, bitterness, and philosophy outside the door and please wipe your feet before coming inside!!)
I live in my own little world. But it's OK... They know me Here!
Everything stated by saturday is for all purposes correct. The only thing that could be added is that other Christian churches (Anglican etc etc etc) consider themselves as part of the ‘HOLY’ Catholic Church just not the ‘Roman’ Catholic church. Needless to say Protestant is derived from the original Latin word meaning protest.
If I had found a church that spoke of God's love and peace I'd be there every Sunday with bells on too but that hasn't been the case yet. So do my personal thing and appreciate God's creations in the trees, flowers birds and fur creatures every day.
One man, one woman, one family for a lifetime, that's the message.
Pope restates gay marriage ban after California vote
VATICAN CITY, -- Pope Benedict, speaking a day after a California court ruled in favour of same-sex marriage, firmly restated on Friday the Roman Catholic Church's position that only unions between a man and a woman are moral.
Benedict made no mention of the California decision in his speech to family groups from throughout Europe, but stressed the Church's position several times.
"The union of love, based on matrimony between a man and a woman, which makes up the family, represents a good for all society that can not be substituted by, confused with, or compared to other types of unions," he said.
The pope also spoke of the inalienable rights of the traditional family, "founded on matrimony between a man and a woman, to be the natural cradle of human life".
On Thursday, the California Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriages in a major victory for gay rights advocates that will allow homosexual couples to marry in the most populous U.S. state.
Last year, Italy's powerful Catholic Church successfully campaigned against a law proposed by the previous centre-left government that would have given more rights to gay and unmarried couples.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that homosexuality is not sinful but homosexual acts are, and is opposed to gays being allowed to adopt children.
The California court found laws limiting marriage to heterosexual couples are at odds with rights guaranteed by the state's constitution.
U.S. President George W. Bush, who is opposed to gay marriage, prayed "for the family" with the pope at the White House last month during the pontiff's visit there.
Last year, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the head of the Italian Bishops Conference, made headlines with comments that critics said equated homosexuality with incest and paedophilia.
After he made the comments - which Bagnasco said were misunderstood -- graffiti reading "Shame" and "Watch Out Bagnasco" appeared on the door of the cathedral in northern Genoa, where Bagnasco is archbishop.
The pope, who backed Bagnasco, will visit Genoa his weekend.
Opponents of gay marriage in the United States vowed to contest the ruling with a state-wide ballot measure for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=520749 .
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Pope restates gay marriage ban after California vote
VATICAN CITY, -- Pope Benedict, speaking a day after a California court ruled in favour of same-sex marriage, firmly restated on Friday the Roman Catholic Church's position that only unions between a man and a woman are moral.
Benedict made no mention of the California decision in his speech to family groups from throughout Europe, but stressed the Church's position several times.
"The union of love, based on matrimony between a man and a woman, which makes up the family, represents a good for all society that can not be substituted by, confused with, or compared to other types of unions," he said.
The pope also spoke of the inalienable rights of the traditional family, "founded on matrimony between a man and a woman, to be the natural cradle of human life".
On Thursday, the California Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriages in a major victory for gay rights advocates that will allow homosexual couples to marry in the most populous U.S. state.
Last year, Italy's powerful Catholic Church successfully campaigned against a law proposed by the previous centre-left government that would have given more rights to gay and unmarried couples.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that homosexuality is not sinful but homosexual acts are, and is opposed to gays being allowed to adopt children.
The California court found laws limiting marriage to heterosexual couples are at odds with rights guaranteed by the state's constitution.
U.S. President George W. Bush, who is opposed to gay marriage, prayed "for the family" with the pope at the White House last month during the pontiff's visit there.
Last year, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the head of the Italian Bishops Conference, made headlines with comments that critics said equated homosexuality with incest and paedophilia.
After he made the comments - which Bagnasco said were misunderstood -- graffiti reading "Shame" and "Watch Out Bagnasco" appeared on the door of the cathedral in northern Genoa, where Bagnasco is archbishop.
The pope, who backed Bagnasco, will visit Genoa his weekend.
Opponents of gay marriage in the United States vowed to contest the ruling with a state-wide ballot measure for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=520749 .
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Talk aobut the pot calling the kettle black ..... :_| The Pope needs to clean up his own backyard before he tells everybody else what theirs should look like.
Good evening everyone. I do hope each and every reader is found well and at complete peace.
I feel urged to share a little something.
He said to them, “For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain. Move hence to yonder place,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” (St. Matthew 7:20)
Many would know that this form of faith is described as the smallest and is likened to the smallest seed grain and that is the mustard seed. This verse has comforted and sometimes preplexed people for generations. Scholars and teachers can help us understand it and even to have us understand how it will be full filled in a coming day literally.
And then there are those who understand it from a living practical sense. We know it is not the smallness of the seed but the greatness of the object and source of faith.
The honest living and absolute trust of the smallest child in the one who is their father. Daddy says so then it is true. No questions asked , just the complete knowledge of that thought.
As a living witness to the power of that tiniest of faith's ability to split the universe - all 15 billion light years of it before one's eyes I offer the following little thought I received in an email from a dear friend. I hope that some one out there in ebay lurkland will enjoy it. Take care.
THE TRIP HOME
A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences.
The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on
the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts.
Then, after a while, a calm voice said, 'We shall not be
serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little
turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened.'
As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many
of the passengers were becoming apprehensive.
Later, the voice on the intercom said, 'We are so sorry that we
are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still
ahead of us.'
And then the storm broke . . .
The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of
the engines. Lightning! Lit up the darkening skies, and within
moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial
ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of
air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.
The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those
around him. He said, 'As I looked around the plane, I could see that
nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying.
The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make
it through the storm.
'Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant
nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her
seat; she was reading a book and every- thing within her small world
was calm and orderly.
'Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she
would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world.
When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it
lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening
Severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that
marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid.' The minister
could hardly believe his eyes.
It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached
its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our
pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a
long time.
Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane,
he asked why she had not been afraid.
The child replied, 'Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home.'
There are many kinds of storms that buffet us. Physical, mental,
financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly
darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable
movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and
confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the
ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.
Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking
us home. Don't worry!
I feel urged to share a little something.
He said to them, “For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain. Move hence to yonder place,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” (St. Matthew 7:20)
Many would know that this form of faith is described as the smallest and is likened to the smallest seed grain and that is the mustard seed. This verse has comforted and sometimes preplexed people for generations. Scholars and teachers can help us understand it and even to have us understand how it will be full filled in a coming day literally.
And then there are those who understand it from a living practical sense. We know it is not the smallness of the seed but the greatness of the object and source of faith.
The honest living and absolute trust of the smallest child in the one who is their father. Daddy says so then it is true. No questions asked , just the complete knowledge of that thought.
As a living witness to the power of that tiniest of faith's ability to split the universe - all 15 billion light years of it before one's eyes I offer the following little thought I received in an email from a dear friend. I hope that some one out there in ebay lurkland will enjoy it. Take care.
THE TRIP HOME
A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences.
The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on
the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts.
Then, after a while, a calm voice said, 'We shall not be
serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little
turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened.'
As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many
of the passengers were becoming apprehensive.
Later, the voice on the intercom said, 'We are so sorry that we
are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still
ahead of us.'
And then the storm broke . . .
The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of
the engines. Lightning! Lit up the darkening skies, and within
moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial
ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of
air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.
The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those
around him. He said, 'As I looked around the plane, I could see that
nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying.
The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make
it through the storm.
'Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant
nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her
seat; she was reading a book and every- thing within her small world
was calm and orderly.
'Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she
would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world.
When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it
lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening
Severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that
marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid.' The minister
could hardly believe his eyes.
It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached
its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our
pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a
long time.
Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane,
he asked why she had not been afraid.
The child replied, 'Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home.'
There are many kinds of storms that buffet us. Physical, mental,
financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly
darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable
movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and
confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the
ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.
Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking
us home. Don't worry!
A very timely post in my life too, as I'm currently riding through such a storm at the moment. Thank you so much for posting that wonderful story. I will no doubt be back to read it frequently, as I'm expecting my "storm" to get a lot worse in about 3 to 4 weeks' time.
Thank you so much TOB, I can use all the prayers possible right now, and especially between June 7th & 14th. Sending you big hugs from Ottawa. :-x
