DISQUS

@carol - Getting all mushy on my hubby, are you Carol? I'm just teasing, I know you didn't mean it in that way...He makes me smile too... But for this reason and so many more... (Just in case you don't know, I truly AM teasing and I truly AM NOT upset or jealous or anything else. I just wanted to give you a hard time..) Love you sister...

Isaiah, I too am really getting into Paul Washer... that sermon "Examine Yourself" made me cry....talk about conviction!!! You know we all go around justifying our sins, to some extent, and we think we're all just hunky-dorie, but that just isn't so... That's not to say that we aren't (many of us, anyway) "good people" but simply being a "good person" isn't good enough.... I've missed you guys... I'll have to try to visit again soon.

Blessings to both of you, and all our other Siblings in Christ, reading this as well.

I just had this same type of occurence over at my blog, and I started out specifically NOT mentioning homosexuality... :) I guess the absence of this was the precise reason I got "targeted" by the reader, but I think I handled it ok. Thankfully, it is not yet illegal to speak out against homosexuality in California- even if they have decided it's legal for them to marry. Blessings to you!

To Chee,
Everyone else has said everything else by way of comments, but I just want to share Scripture verses. They are as follows:
Besides 1 Timothy 6:5-7, I'd also like to add 2 Timothy 3:2-5 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! , Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such thing as you have, James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world, James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren; has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?, James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there, James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures, and finally in regards to those that teach the "Prosperity Gospel": Titus 1:11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain and lastly, Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Now, Chee, I've given you 9 different Scripture references that clearly teach that faith in God, specifically for gain is not the Truth, nor is it ithe Way. I shall be praying for you.

Isaiah, Do NOT lie! You know the reasons why we are NOT to lie, so I don't need to quote verse and Scripture to you, to make my point. I'm positive that the Holy Spirit has already been convicting you on this issue. The fact of the matter is, is that it does not matter whether or not your MIL likes that you won't do it. She'll either have to get over it, or get someone else to do it. If we won't stand on the same principals that God commands, then how can we expect Him to be glorified by our lives? Amen? Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. (I'm not for one moment saying that I'm perfect in this respect, but I, and you, both know the correct and right thing to do.) Blessings and Shalom!

Hi Isaiah, Bobby and I were perusing some blogs, and he suggested I come see this post. I cannot believe that there are actually professing Christians that think this is ok!!! :-# As one of the other comments stated, the Bible clearly states that we are to keep the marriage bed pure! The marriage bed is not pure, when we allow anyone else into it, whether by video, or in person. And even if there were an acceptable thing as "Christian Pornography" where in the world do these people get the idea that a 3rd person should EVER be allowed into the bed with them- with or without the other woman's husband's permission! The thought of this just absolutely disgusts me. Having said that then, there are books that are not pornographic at all, that help couples that are having difficulties in the area of their sex life, or are just starting out in their marriages, and have not yet reached a place where they feel free enough to tell each other what they need. They are written by Christian Psychologists and Doctors. One such book is entitled "Created for Intimacy" and it addresses medical issues that effect the bedroom as well. I have no problem with Christian couples getting help for sexual issues from qualified Christian professionals, but I cannot for one moment condone anything remotely resembling "Christian Porn." I'd like to know too...just how is a Christian couple supposed to show coming home from church functions and then jumping into bed??!! Yes God created us all for intimacy and it's a gift from Him, but to go straight from prayer to sex...there just doesn't seem to be any reverence in that thought. Ok enough for now. Blessings to you!

Hi Isaiah, I like the new site. I don't know what your vision, inspiration, or reason is for changing, but nevertheless, I like the site. Anyway, with regard to your post, I have been reading a book by John Piper, entitled "Don't Waste Your Life". (Have you heard of it, or read it?) In this book, which is very good, he talks about what truly living a life as a slave/ servant of God really looks like- or should look like. He really does a good job of illustrating just why so few see Christians today, in this Western culture (that I live in) no longer have need to be able to answer the question "What is the reason for your hope?" The answer is that to all outward appearances, unfortunately most Christians look like they hope for the same things that unbelievers hope for. That we don't adequately show an image of God as our hope. We are so much more "of" the world than we ought to be. No wonder so many call themselves Christians, and yet have no actual faith in Jesus as their Savior, and only actually live "good lives." As you well know, living a "good life" and being a "good person" won't get anyone into Heaven. I hate to think of standing in front of the Lord on Judgement Day and having Him tell me that He never knew me, simply because I never truly went about HIS business, with an obedient, loving heart, in this life. It's been an eye opener. If you haven't read the book, you should really see about getting it. Blessings to you, and I'll try to come back again soon. (BTW I added this link to the blogroll.) Talk to you later.
--Your Sister in Christ

Karen, thank you so much for sharing your testimony. Though I never was officially Catholic, I grew up in a household that was "Catholic". My stepfather prayed to all the saints, etc. Though he was a good role model, in that he spent time every morning in the Word, and praying (I didn't realize at the time that he was not praying to the right "person") I've learned since then, that praying to the saints and the Virgin Mary are not prayers that we should be making. Anyway, loved your testimony, and I thank the Lord, that you listened, when He spoke to you. Blessings to you, my sister in Christ!

Very interesting! A guinea pig, huh? So did you happen to be able to read your bible while you were standing around? Blessings to you, and thanks for sharing!

While I do think that Christian Rock CDs, jewelry and T-shirts have their place in witnessing, I agree that the Gospel needs to come first. Wearing a shirt or jewelry just isn't going to cut it, without the very Word of God. Thanks for sharing. I agree wholeheartedly. Blessings and Shalom!

Oops, I meant sometime this week. Not today. :)

First, Hello and Shalom. Now, ACK!!! Another meme??!! Just kidding. I will try to get to it sometime today. Do the blog links have to be on the same topics though? Just curious. I'll check back to get the answer. Blessings to you!

I just wrote a post along these lines today. Check it out if you have time. Blessings and Shalom!

Hi Isaiah, you know it's kind of funny. I was just getting into posting about a series of things we should do in secret, and not expect accolades for it at all. That if we do get accolades, that is all the reward we will get for them- in other words, we will not be blessed by God for them. God is pleased when we give in secret, He is pleased when we fast in secret, and we are told to pray in secret. Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you. (In case you didn't notice, I do agree with everything you've said here.) Like the template change too. :)

Hi Isaiah,
Here are a couple other sites that you might find interesting, that also offer courses you can take online for free. The first is http://www.blbi.org/ and the other is http://cc.christiancourses.com/ Now I haven't read up on all they offer, or everything about them, but so far, everything I've studied is strictly biblical on the blue letter bible site (the first link.) Blessings to you both, and I pray you will find courses that strengthen your faith walk.

Actually, they do print those kind of shirts. As a matter of fact, I have a few of them. But I think that some people's attention needs to be gotten in ways that sometimes don't make sense. As in the "blood" t-shirt, though I agree it was in totally bad taste, a drinker might take a second look at that t-shirt. Just a thought. Anyway, like I said, I think we need to look at the motives behind the t-shirts, and not just the t-shirts themselves. Blessings and Shalom.

Hi Isaiah,
Ok, here's my take on the T-Shirts. While I don't think that the Blood T-shirt is appropriate, I have seen some that while not necessarily tasteful, I think sometimes, they proclaim to the world that while we are Christ followers, we are still human. We still have desires and wants just like everyone else, and being a Christ follower doesn't really make us holier- than- thou. Just forgiven. Does that make any sense? I wouldn't wear these shirts, either, don't get me wrong, but I don't see that they are horrible (at least not some of them.) I think God gave us a sense of humor to be used. Though I don't think it should be used to mock Him. I also don't think that piercings and colored hair have anything to do with how much of a Christ follower a person is. I think someone with those can be as much of a Christ follower as I am. It's only when we use those as a means of worshipping something other than God that it becomes a bad thing. I just think we need to remember that none of us is perfect, and we don't all make great choices all the time. I think we need to have a spirit of humility when we see people with these T-shirts and body alterations. And we can say to ourselved, but for the grace of God, go I. But we should not be passing judgement, only by what a person wears. I do know of some that have seen those same T-shirts that we see as blasphemous, bring others to at least want to know God, whereas, they may not have before. Again, let me say that I do NOT approve of these shirts, but who am I to judge??? Perhaps the next time we see one of these, we should be asking ourselves if the person is a Christian already and if they are, privately and gently, informing them of the possibility of defaming God, by their appearance. Blessings and Shalom.

I scored as Anselm. I don't have a clue about him, so I guess I'll have to read up on it. The questions were worded strangely, though, I do agree. They almost didn't make sense, some of them. So anyway, just thought I'd share. Blessings and Shalom!

I realized I needed to clarify something. What I meant by "not of God" is that it is not necessary for our salvation, and that though it was prophesied and it is part of God's plan, it is not what He wants of us or Israel. Hope that makes sense. Again, Shalom.

Hi Isaiah, You know, I find it interesting that in the articles I read about the lampstand that has now been finished for the third Temple that it did not seem to me that the details as recorded in Exodus for how it was to be made were followed. In Exodus, it tells us that the lampstand was to be made from one piece of gold, hammered and fashioned into the lampstand, and that the demensions of it were not given (for who can measure the Light of God.) Since this is so, how then, I wonder, could they have made an accurate "copy" of it? Just one more reason to be aware that this third temple will not be of God. Blessings to you, and Shalom.

Hi Isaiah, Once again, I stand by what I've said before on this subject. Secular music is just no good! For the brief time that I went back to listening to secular music after I became a believer, it was amazing to me how easy it was for me to back slide. I won't make that mistake again. Thanks for this post. I haven't watched the entire series yet, but I'll come back and keep watching. Blessings to you, and Shalom!

Hi Isaiah, Glad you're feeling better. Though this was a great post, created out of your pain, I'm wishing now that I had shared my wisdom tooth story with you. I had to have both my wisdom teeth removed at the same time- on the upper jaw, because they were impacted (meaning they were trying to come in sideways.) I too had very little pain afterward. And the procedure wasn't too bad either. I actually went out with a friend of mine to help her look for an apartment, with the post- surgical gauze still in my mouth! So all that to say, wisdom tooth surgery is not so bad. Now, don't get me started on root canals, though! Those things are seriously painful, not to mention the hours of surgery that one has to endure for that. Let's pray you never have to go through one of those! Blessings and Shalom!

Hi Isaiah, Very interesting. Of course, I have heard this parable, but I too had never given a second thought to the shoes, ring or robe. Thanks for the lesson. Blessings and Shalom!

Sorry Martin, the earth is only about 6000 years old. We're creationists here. We don't believe in evolution. Call us old fashioned if you like, or you can look up the science yourself: http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/re1/c... This link shows all about how the "dating" that scientists use to date the earth is all wrong. It even gives links to non-religious sources, so it's not just something that we know to be true from the bible, though that's all I personally need. Blessings to you!

Amen, Isaiah, I have thought the same thing myself, many times: "This just proves that nobody’s really as good at making fools out of evolutionists as much as they are fully capable of doing it to themselves, I guess." Blessings and Shalom!

Merry Christmas Isaiah! Check this out! It's a site that explains where the date Dec 25th may have come from, besides being a pagan observance, and actually makes some sense. bethlehemstar.net Just a thought: Here's a copied bit from the site:
Perhaps you have already anticipated the key to this final mystery: retrograde motion. An astronomer tracking the movement of planets through the star field watches not so much on the scale of minutes, but on the longer scale of days, weeks and months. On this scale of time, Jupiter did stop. On December 25 of 2 BC as it entered retrograde, Jupiter reached full stop in its travel through the fixed stars. Magi viewing from Jerusalem would have seen it stopped in the sky above the little town of Bethlehem.