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!

[survivornikki]

Kim, you and your family are in my prayers constantly. Just want to remind you that we have the guest room if any of your family need housing for the wedding. It is full until the 28th, but I still have a very comfy couch and two inflatable beds that can be used. Don't worry during this really busy time about posting. Praying the bride has a beautiful wedding day, full of joy.

Andrew--very nice to see you. Hope all the traveling is for nice reasons, and it all goes smoothly. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Lisa--thank you for your post. Kind of gives me hope. I was on the phone with my bank (I lost my purse and canceled my cards) and at the end of the call the person at the bank call center said, "Merry Christmas" and I was astonished. I realized that I didn't remember the last time I had heard that.

DD works at a large law firm in Manhattan. The senior partners are a different faith. One of the partners' wives recently gave birth and the birth was very premature. When the partner came back to work DD asked how the baby was and he said, "Not good". DD told me she wanted to say she would pray for him, but didn't know if that was something that would be welcomed or offensive so she asked "Is there anything I can do?" meaning that she would be glad to take some of the work off his desk so he had more time. He answered, "We are asking everyone to pray for us."

It seems everyone is trying so hard to walk politically correctly that what is joyful, comforting and good is being shunted aside. It gives me hope that those who celebrate Christmas were able to share that at the school.

[mazyvr]

Have problems with my computer and am at work on my one day a week. So at least I can say MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone !!!

Marion

[glimwinkle]

Merry Christmas!

[survivornikki]

Merry Christmas Marion, glimwinkle, those on the other site and all!

[valve37]

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL! I want to share the latest Falwell timely letter.

From: Jonathan Falwell
Date: December 21, 2007

Five Facts about Christmas

With Christmas in America becoming heedlessly commercialized, secularized or even outright banned, I want to share five key facts about Christmas and the One whose very name is incorporated in this blessed day.

1. Jesus was God “manifest in the flesh” (I Timothy 3:16).

His birth was the realization of Old Testament prophecies which told of the coming of God to earth in human form. Jesus stated this Himself in Matthew 5:17 (“… I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill”).

Jesus came to earth in the most humble of circumstances, being literally born in a manger, linking Himself with the most common of peoples, indicating that His love is available to all.

2. Jesus was born of a virgin.

In fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 (“Behold, a virgin shall conceive …”) God came in the personhood of Jesus. This prophecy was fulfilled when Mary “found favor with God” (Luke 1:30), and she conceived in her womb “the Son of the Highest.”

This is important because Jesus was the God-Man. He could not have retained His heavenly claim if he had been born of man, or born into sin with the nature of a mere man. Throughout His life, Jesus remained blameless so that He could fulfill His purpose.

3. Jesus came to earth with the sole purpose of dying for our sins.

The name of Jesus (Hebrew: Yehoshua) means “Jehovah Saves,” signifying that, as the Tim LaHaye Study Bible notes, “by His very name and nature” Jesus is “the Savior.”

Listen to Jesus describing His purpose: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Sin alienates us from God; and we all have sinned. But Jesus’ death and resurrection bridged the gap between heaven and hell for us. This is the beauty of the Christmas story. The King of Kings willingly came to earth as a humble servant to save you and me.

4. Jesus was real.

Jesus’ life is not a fable or an allegory. The New Testament accounts of Jesus’ life are written by four eye witnesses to His earthly ministry. Josh McDowell states, “The New Testament has more manuscript authority than any piece of literature from antiquity.” So we have reliable historic evidence of the fact of Jesus’ life. Further, He was seen by hundreds of people (I Corinthians 15: 5-8) following His death on the cross, meaning that His resurrection, his conquering of the tomb, was indeed factual.

He lived. He willingly died. And He lives again! And through faith in Him, we too are freed from the awful power of death.

5. Jesus is reaching out to you.

This is the most important message of Christmas. No matter your race, creed, heritage, background or station in life, His love is available to you. Just as Jesus was born in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago, if you don’t know Him, He can be born into your heart and life.

The most well known verse in the Bible, John 3:16, tells us the way to know Jesus Christ as your Savior: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I would like to invite any reader who would like to know more about Jesus to visit the Thomas Road Baptist Church website (trbc.org) and click on “Who is Christ?” to learn more about God’s plan of salvation for you.

In the meantime, I love the words of Charles Dickens, who said, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

May the love of Jesus Christ be real in your life this Christmas and throughout the year.

[ecoseeds]

Fascinating science and religious news! (well, to me anyway)...

Israeli scientists etch Bible on pinhead
Dec 23, 2007 12:48 PM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JERUSALEM – Israeli scientists have inscribed the entire Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible onto a space less than half the size of grain of sugar.

The nanotechnology experts at the Technion institute in Haifa say the text measures less than 0.5 square millimetre surface. They chose the Jewish Bible to highlight how vast quantities of information can be stored in minimum amounts of space.

"It took us about an hour to etch the 300,000 words of the Bible onto a tiny silicon surface," Ohad Zohar, the university's scientific adviser for educational programs, told the Associated Press.

The Technion's microscopic Bible was created by blasting tiny particles called gallium ions at an object that then rebounded, causing an etching affect.

"When a particle beam is directed toward a point on the surface, the gold atoms bounce off and expose the silicon layer underneath just like a hammer and chisel," Zohar said.

Zohar said the technology will in the future be used as a way to store vast amounts of data on bio-molecules and DNA.

The tiny Bible appears to be the world's smallest.

The previous smallest known copy of the Bible measured 2.8 x 3.4 x 1 centimetres, weighing 11.75 grams and containing 1,514 pages, according to Guinness World Records spokeswoman Amarilis Espinoza. The tiny text, obtained by an Indian professor in November 2001, is believed to have originated in Australia.

http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/288297

[cleanpartshere]

Hey Trupster, that IS cool, however I do hate to use a microscope when I read my bible book.!!]:)
Father Bob.

.

[survivornikki]

Hi Trupti!

[*fallen**angel***.2007]

Merry Christmas Nikki:-x

[survivornikki]

Thanks April:-x--bet it is fun at your house Christmas morning!

Hope it is a Christmas full of joy for you and your family.

Merry Christmas to all!

[survivornikki]

Ralph--thank you for the update. Ebay is not letting my reply to you go through so I hope you see this.

Just wanted to say that I am so very glad all is well. Enjoy these precious days with your wife and daughter.

Have a wonderful Christmas, hope it is very special.


Merry Christmas to all!!

[tough_old_bird]

Just a fly by to wish one and all a very Merry CHRISTmas...God has blessed us with an overabundance once more. (...and even my nightshift last night wasn't so bad. Let's hope the next two are equally as smooth).:-x

My sister and family leave with my Mum today for points west....and then off to Victoria on the 28th for my neices wedding on the 29th. Mum is receiving narcotics for pain control on a very regular basis (there is massive bone mets). Prayers being requested that the entire trip goes smoothly....that my Mum thoroughly enjoys the wedding of the first grandbaby....and that my sister doesn't end up totally overwhelmed by the amount of care Mum is now needing, especially seeing as they are away from home and out of their ' comfort zones'. This wedding is what is keeping my Mum going and she is very ready for whatever journey she may take once the wedding is over. Prayers also requested that we as a family are prepared for that journey too. :-x

[cats1953]

Nikki, Tough, Christine, Ralph & All,

Merry Christmas to you. You are in my prayers.

Nancy

[*fallen**angel***.2007]

Merry Christmas Everyone:-x

[survivornikki]

TOB, prayers for your family.

((((Nancy))))

Hi April!

Hope everyone had a good Christmas!

[thetickletrunk]

Merry Christmas All! Hope you have all had lovely days with your family and friends.

[survivornikki]

Hi Christine! Hope your Christmas was perfect and you are enjoying the time with your family.:-x

[valve37]

I thought the latest Falwell newsletter is relevant in lieu of current events.

From: Jonathan Falwell
Date: December 28, 2007

The New Year Brings Similar Challenges

G.K. Chesterton once stated, “When learned men begin to use their reason, then I generally discover that they haven’t got any.”

I believe that sentiment defines the way many people — including me, on occasion — look at our world today.

As we prepare to enter the year 2008, our world is encountering widespread turmoil and confusion.

The shocking assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto rekindles the fears we have of militant terrorists who will recklessly sacrifice their own lives to carry on their reign of terror.

And while the experts and pundits and politicians continue to weigh in on this tragic event, one often gets the sense that they have no real solutions for dealing with modern terrorists and that the world is spiraling out of control.

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson was correct when he stated yesterday that “al-Qaida wants to bring Western civilization to its knees.”

Gary Bauer, chairman of the Campaign for Working Families, reminded, “Like the Hitler Youth of Nazi Germany, many Muslim children today are routinely indoctrinated to hate Christians and Jews. Like the SS soldiers who swore to die for their fuehrer, Palestinian children are told that killing the infidel and dying while doing so is the ultimate form of service to Allah.”

Indeed, America continues to be seen as “the Great Satan” by Islamic fundamentalists who would like nothing more than to author another 9/11.

There is little doubt that our national security is tenuous and that we are in the crosshairs of terrorists who despise America.

And so, as 2008 dawns, there is little hope of a more peaceful tomorrow.

As Christians, when troubling times plague us or when the events of the world weigh heavily on our hearts, we can be confident that our “life is hid with Christ in God,” as Colossians 3:3 reminds us.

This means that there is no hardship, no challenge, no tragedy in life that we will face that can separate us from Christ, who knows our every need.

There is no greater comfort than knowing that the Creator of the universe resides in our hearts, assuring us and guiding us through all of life’s trials.

In Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul affirms that believers must not allow tragedy to disrupt our focus on living for Christ. He states, “…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

As the world continues to be rocked by disaster and the threat of terror and war, I pray that this nation’s true Christians will follow the example of Paul, confidently proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only solution for man’s dissension and conflict.

I pray that the peace that passes all understanding through Jesus Christ will become real in the lives of all of my readers and friends across this nation.

We must not grow weary in well doing. We must press on, fully believing that Jesus will one day soon return to this earth to claim His own and deliver us from our troubles.

As John 9:4 states, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

[tough_old_bird]

Today is my nieces wedding day.....and my Mum is going to be at the wedding. 😄

Thanks be to God for allowing her to be there. :-x

[spendmama]

(((((TOB & family)))) . . . Praise the Lord!!!

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~Charles Dickens