A CHRISTIAN THREAD

[tom_no.1]

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!

[weaversofspeech]

I has to

[weaversofspeech]

snipes

[survivornikki]

For any dear friends flying by that are keeping count, there is a very funny one--I am laughing too hard to assign it a number, but go to the other site--I have identified it there.

[spyguy101]

The story is told of a man who got a permit to open the first tavern in a small town. The members of a local church were strongly opposed to the bar, so they began to pray that God would intervene.

A few days before the tavern was scheduled to open, lightning hit the structure and it burned to the ground. The people of the church were surprised but pleased - until they received notice that the would-be tavern owner was suing them.

He contended that their prayers were responsible for the burning of the building. They denied the charge.

At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, the judge wryly remarked, “At this point I don’t know what my decision will be, but it seems that the tavern owner believes in the power of prayer and these church people don’t.”

[survivornikki]

😄

[themagicoftime]

Received this in an email this morning and enjoyed it. Thought I would pass it along. Hope everyone enjoys the holiday. Take care all.

Being Sure and Certain of Things We Cannot See

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

The world cannot understand "true believers" or conceive of the life of devotion and commitment to God that characterize their walk. Paul made this very clear when he wrote, "But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." We have been given a privileged position, a glorious heritage, a blessed hope, and a supernatural faith to be activated, so that we may live a vibrant, fruitful life for the glory of God. With all of this, God has given us a free will to accept or reject His abounding grace. Liberating faith breaks through the strongholds of self and sin.

Spiritual faith is implanted into our hearts by God, and is activated by a committed confidence in God through a surrendered will. Our confidence is not in the power of faith but in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the origin, the source, and the resting place for all our faith. It is the character of God that gives faith validity and to us this confidence. It takes us into another realm, which is beyond ourselves and is infinitely beyond the reason of man. Those who have been reconciled to God can only understand spiritual truth and principles. When one receives Christ as Savior, the Spirit of God comes and dwells within him. It is the Holy Spirit that gives us understanding of the things of God.

Man seeks to reason by his own finite mind. He looks at facts and evidence, and deals with what he can perceive and understand. The man of faith enters into a confidence with God, an assurance and boldness that believes God's infallible Word, and takes God at His Word. Faith ignores reason, as man sees it, and rises above it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if people, who watch the way we live and the things we do, would say of us as they did Jesus, "They wondered at Him, and they marveled." Faith forges ahead full steam, while reason follows wide-eyed and amazed. This is the way it should be. Our lives should be a miracle of His grace, with people in utter wonder and amazement. The commitment and devotion of our lives before them cannot be explained by human reasoning. They must admit that this is of God, the result of unwavering, confident faith in an Almighty God.

When Peter and John stood before the rulers in Jerusalem, they asked how the impotent man was healed. Perceiving that Peter and John were "unlearned and ignorant men," the rulers marveled. They couldn't understand the boldness, confidence, and power with which they spoke. Beholding the man that was healed, evidence of the power of God, they could say nothing. Would to God that we had such a holy life reflecting His love and the might of His power. Some people say, "What great faith. I wish I had that kind of faith." It is not "our great faith" that gets the job done. It is SIMPLE CHILDLIKE FAITH IN OUR ALMIGHTY GOD! True faith places its confidence in the holy character of God. He never changes; he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This is the confidence we have in Him! "He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think."

[survivornikki]

Good morning everyone.

Another beautiful day on the Island. At last!

Wonderful email Andrew. Thank you for passing it on.

For all my brothers and sisters, I have a question--I know it is kind of odd and something I should know, but I don't. DH & I and our DDNY are going to be baptized later this month. Two couples in our church are going to be our sponsors. We feel very grateful that they have agreed to do this, they haven't known us long, and will meet DD just before the baptism. I feel overwhelmed at their kindness. Is there a traditional way of thanking sponsors? If there is not, does anyone have any suggestions of what we could give or do to thank these couples?

Hope everyone is having a great day.

[technotigercat]

Customs vary from religion to religion. Some people will give a gift of a piece of jewellery like a cross necklace or some will give a religious figurine of some kind. Go with what your heart tells you to give. It won't steer you wrong. <>
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[sir*edward*ross]

Good Afternoon/Evening (depending where you are)

Just heard some disturbing news from tom_no.1 which made me sit up and take notice .... First Phil and now we almost lost Tom ...

Hi Ross.

I definitely haven't been doing any sniping lately.

Just arrived back in the land of the living.

Visited death's door, spent a week in ICU and another in isolation (Google: septic shock).

Got back home just a couple of days ago.

Going to be here awhile in recuperation mode.

Not really up to the forums yet.

Tom.

Maybe if you spare a kind thought or two it might speed up his recovery ....

Thanks

[survivornikki]

Thanks for your answer TTC. I appreciate it.

Thank you Sir Edward for your update on Tom. Prayers offered for a successful recuperation. Hope you feel better soon and are able to take on your full life again soon.

[technotigercat]

Prayers sent out for Tom's complete recovery....

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[gennalove]

Happy Monday, everyone!!

[*christmasangel*]

For Tom...

[themagicoftime]

Thinking of you Tom..... take care ....

[apollosplace]

OMG Prayers and best wishes out to you Sir Tom

Glad to hear it was just a visit rather than a cross over.

[valve37]

A timely message for these times:

When the Bible Becomes Reviled

In Matthew 10:22, Jesus, while giving instructions to the twelve disciples who would lead the church following His ascension, said, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake ….”

Jesus knew that His followers would be routinely criticized for furthering the gospel and adhering to the tenets of God’s Word. His words are certainly relevant today, as Christians are increasingly disparaged and mocked for living faithfully according to the Bible.

This week, WorldNetDaily.com reported that a homosexual man has brought suit against two Christian publishers, Zondervan and Thomas Nelson, alleging that the Bibles they publish violate his constitutional rights and cause him emotional pain because they say homosexuality is a sin.

And while a U.S. district judge in Michigan has said he has “some very genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of these claims” made by Bradley LaShawn Fowler’s lawsuit, it is still disconcerting that we have reached a point in time when Bible publishing or publicly honoring the Ten Commandments or mentioning God in the Pledge of Allegiance have become the focus of lawsuits.

Are we too blind as a nation to see that as we have increasingly discounted and ignored God’s Word our society has correspondingly disintegrated?

WorldNetDaily.com reports that Mr. Fowler is seeking $60 million from Zondervan and $10 million from Thomas Nelson. Sure, it sounds frivolous, but so did the idea of two men marrying a few years ago.

Recall that celebrated actor Ian McKellen told London’s Telegraph that he rips verses from Leviticus out of Bibles in hotel rooms. He told Salon.com that he has determined this passage prohibiting homosexuality to be “pornographic.”

There was no media outcry over news of this. Imagine twenty or thirty years ago an actor admitting to destroying a portion of the Bible because he believed it “pornographic.” The phrase “you’ll never work in this city again” would have held true.

Today, our nation yawns.

Because this apathy exists regarding matters that were once deemed sacred it is possible for the Bible to be progressively more denigrated within our society. Look no further than today’s typical depiction of Jesus Christ in Hollywood to see that we have, as a nation, accepted His vilification.

I believe that our present moral climate — in which all truths are embraced — will eventually lead to severe persecution of those who choose to live their lives by adhering to God’s Word.

So what shall we do? Panic?

No, we must keep speaking the truth of God’s Word in love and kindness even as the temperature rises. As Paul noted in I Corinthians 9:22, we must reach out to all so that some will believe.

Also remember this: “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). We must never waver in the defense of the Bible or attempt to modify the “sound” truth of God’s Word in order to accommodate an ever-changing society.

As the Bible warns, “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines ….” (Hebrews 13:9).

I pray that as our times become ever more desperate that God’s people will humble themselves and reach out, as never before, to our lost and dying world, even when that world increasingly rejects us. May the grace of God sustain us and strengthen us as we work for Him.

[survivornikki]

Good evening all.

Valve, it is always nice to "see" you.

[gennalove]

hi to everyone:)

[survivornikki]

Hi April! Hope all is going well for you.

[tom_no.1]

From the OP....

Welcome to a place where prayer can be requested and encouraged!!

"Thank you" to all who had thoughts and wishes for me and a special "thank you" to those who offered a believing prayer to the Great Physician on my behalf!!

...and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)