Oklahoma Howdy to All,

Could we please try to stop ripping each other to pieces?

Nobody is listening because of battle noises.

Everyone on all sides of the issue might learn something if the battle noise is reduced.

Thanks in advance for letting each other live.

In Christ,
Tom

OCT 1,  2003 WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT GOD NOW?

Scripture Reading:  Eph 3:20-21; 4:6;  Rom 9:5

We have spent this beautiful Fall month meditating upon the inexhaustible theme of the sovereignty of God.  We have stated nothing new or radical.  We have simply sought to exalt the God of the Scriptures Who is our God as well as "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.."  We asked the question at the very beginning, "What do you think about God?"  We also asked, "Who rules and regulates the affairs on this earth today..God, the Devil, or man?"

We trust that these meditations in His precious Word on this great and glorious theme will have served at least one end, namely that God IS God, and that He is infinitely worthy of all my worship, life, and service!  Once we get such a glimpse of WHO God really is, then it is no problem to gladly yield one's self to this blessed Being, "who loved us, and gave Himself for us."

I close these devotionals citing the great hymn authored by Frederick William Faber in 1849:

     "O God, how wonderful Thou art,
     Thy majesty how bright!
     How beautiful Thy mercy-seat
     In depths of burning light!
     Yet, I may love Thee too, O Lord!
     Almighty as Thou art;
     For Thou has stooped to ask of me
     The love of my poor heart.
     No earthly father loves like Thee,
     No mother e'er so mild
     Bears and forbears as Thou hast done
     With me, Thy sinful child.
     O God, how wonderful Thou art,
     Thou everlasting Friend!
     On Thee I stay my trusting heart
     Till faith and vision end."

"FOR OF HIM, AND THROUGH HIM, AND TO HIM, ARE ALL THINGS:  TO WHOM BE GLORY FOR EVER AMEN."

Pastor Paul Hume

Ephesians 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
being predestinated according to the purpose of him  who
worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

BE WATCHING AND READY HE COULD COME AND CATCH US
UP IN THE CLOUDS AT ANY TIME.
1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18

Web Site:
Grace And The Truth
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Email:
GraceNtheTruth Email Ministry
and
The Grace Prayer Group
GraceNTheTruth@aol.com

Please forward this to a friend or family member. Click the email link above and request a subscription to the "Daily Inspirational". We will be happy to add you to our email list.

Oklahoma Howdy to Selah7777,

Look at the top of the message menu page. There is a command button for "mark as read".

In Christ,
Tom

Subject: Two Minutes With The Bible - Oct 2

THE HIGHEST EXPRESSION OF FAITH

In Rom. 8:26 we read what our hearts must often confess
to be true:

"...We know not what we should pray for as we ought..."

But the Apostle hastens to explain that the Spirit makes
intercession for us according to the will of God, adding:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom.
8:28).

Believers may not receive whatever they ask for in the
darkness of this age, but

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work"
(II Cor. 9:.

We may not receive whatever we ask for, but by His
grace we may have so much more than this, that the Apos-
tle, in contemplating it, breaks forth in a doxology:

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all
that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

"Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all
ages, world without end. Amen" (Eph. 3:20,21).

In the light of all this the highest expression of faith
today is found in the words of Paul in Phil. 4:6,7:

"Be careful [anxious] for nothing -- but in everything -- by prayer and
supplication -- with thanksgiving -- let your requests be made known unto
God -- and..."

"And" what?

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye
shall receive"?

NO!!

"...and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall
keep [garrison] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Written by Pastor Stam

Subscribe at:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email:
berean@execpc.com

Telephone:   262-255-4750

Hackers Tom??? To a Christian site??
Then Admin HAS done a wonderful job!  Praise God!
Well then, we will work with admin!

Love..Tamara

G'day Mate,  

Yes, and we just finished dealing with a herd of trolls who attacked. You will see the remnants of their work here and there. We may even have a few left. I agree completely that ADMIN has done a great job with Christians Unite. He is dedicated to providing a place for Christian fellowship. That is extremely difficult in this day and age when Christians are subject to persecution and attack at just about every turn.

In Christ,
Tom

???How do I show that I have read the replies to my emails? How do I mark on the forum board that message was read? Thanks

Oklahoma Howdy to Selah7777,

This is the beauty of the email notification system. It's all automatic as long as you keep clicking the return line in your notification.

Clicking the return line in the notification email takes you to the right spot in the forum automatically. Now, delete the notification you clicked on. Things stop working automatically if you let those notifications stack up and don't click the notification line.

Each time you reply in a thread and want notice, make sure you check the box requesting notice. If you keep having problems, let me know and I'll try to help.

In Christ,
Tom

I like some fun and games in Christian forums.  But, I've searched & searched & can't find any! HELPPP!  Tom???

Do you read me?? Over and out!

Love ... Tamara

10-4, I copy 10-2, G'day mate,  

I'm not sure if ADMIN has any plans to add something like that or not. The system was completely taken down by hackers not too long ago. Since then, ADMIN has upgraded the system, but I don't know what the capabilities are. ADMIN has done an unbelievable job in getting the system back up to where it is now. If you look at the home menu, you will see that Christians Unite provides many services to the Christian Online Community. CU also helps tons of other web sites with dynamic content, devotionals, and a big list of other services.

I'll see what I can find out during a slower moment.

HQ, Sierra-34 10-6, 10-10 basis  

In Christ,
Tom

Yes, many times

1. My girlfriend, who is now my wife (27 years November 13th)
Saved three months after me.
2. My Mother- Saved six months after me.
3. My Grand Mother- Saved two months after me.
4. Many of my friends- 40 saved months, and years after
5. Many of my co-workers- Ten that I know of.
6. Thirty of our relatives got saved in October 1990.

Thank You Jesus

Oklahoma Howdy to Ambassador4Christ,

AMEN BROTHER! - God has truly blessed you and your family. Brother, I give thanks for you and what you mean to the Christian fellowship here. You and Brother Love have provided links to devotionals and other Bible study material that has really been a blessing to me. I am also still studying many of your posts you made earlier.

Thank you Brother for sharing.

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Tamara,

or

G'day Mate,  

As an individual, I think it is more difficult to witness to friends and family members than it is to witness to complete strangers. You called yourself a "religious nut and crackpot", but I would call you a blessing to your family. What would the world be like if most homes didn't have someone to share God's Word with the rest of the family? I am of the opinion this is a Christian's duty, ESPECIALLY with their children in bringing them up with the teachings of the Lord. If we are "crackpots" for obeying God, I'll be proud to be a fellow crackpot.  

In Christ,
Tom

I already have, he agree's with me.

Oklahoma Howdy to Saved_4ever,

Again, nothing personal, but I think there had to be a problem with semantics or the way you asked the question. Ask him "What is the Church which is THE BODY OF CHRIST"? The Holy Bible is very clear on this matter, and I'll be happy to share it with you.

Your local assembly or my local assembly (brick and mortar or people) are not THE CHURCH. The saved people from both of our assemblies are members of THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. It would be pretty sad if your pastor told you that your only brethren in existence attended a single physical building. This is the significance of claiming a brother or sister "IN CHRIST" or closing a letter or post like below:

In Christ,
Tom

Subject: Two Minutes With The Bible - Oct 1

FAITH IN THE RIGHT PERSON

Abraham’s faith in God was strong. When God called him
to forsake his family, friends and country, he obeyed and
"went forth, not knowing whither he went." When God
promised to multiply his seed as the stars of heaven, he
believed it, though childless. When, in his old age, God
promised that he would still have a son by ninety-year-old
Sarah, he believed it even though he had waited so long,
seemingly in vain. When God promised to give his seed the
land in which he had sojourned, he believed it, though all
reason argued against it. When God asked him to offer in
sacrifice the son born so late in life, the son upon whom all
the promises depended, he obeyed, concluding that it must
be God’s plan to raise him from the dead!

Such was Abraham’s faith in God! Three times this is
emphasized in Romans 4 alone: He was "not weak in faith"
(Ver. 19); he "staggered not at the promise of God through
unbelief," but was "strong in faith" (Ver. 20).

But it was not the strength of Abraham’s faith that saved
him; it was the fact that the object of his faith was God (See
again Gen. 15:6). He had placed his faith in the right Per-
son. His faith became "strong" only because he had heard
and believed God in the first place.

"For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God,
and it was counted unto him for righteousness," and thus
"to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justi-
fieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness"
(Rom. 4:3,5).

The simplest, humblest believer, who ever so feebly com-
mits himself to God and His Word, is "justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom.
3:24).

Written by Pastor Stam

Subscribe at:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email:
berean@execpc.com

Telephone:   262-255-4750

SEPT.30, 2003 - GOD-CENTERED OR SELF-CENTERED

Scripture Reading:  Ezek. 44:15-31;  2Cor. 5:14-17

For centuries men believed that the sun was not the center of our solar system. They thought that the sun revolved about our planet, and the Earth was the center of our universe.  Since the 16th century and the discoveries of Copernicus, men have recognized that the sun, not the Earth,  is the true center of our solar system.  The Earth, as everyone now knows, evolves once a year about the sun.  We have a system which is "sun-centered."

By nature, we are intensely self-centered.  Even after becoming saved, we still tend to be self-centered.  Only as we "grow in grace," and experience the working of the Lord in breaking us from our innate selfishness do we gradually move from being self-centered to being Son-centered!  This is why the ministry of the sons of Zadok in Ezek. 44:15ff is so unique.  Did you notice it?  "They shall enter into My sanctuary, and thy shall come near to My table, to minister UNTO ME, and they shall keep My charge."

The Apostle Paul therefore declares that as the result of the "new Creation" (2 Cor. 5:17), "they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but UNTO HIM which died for them, and rose again."  This is God-centered living:  living to please HIM; living to know more of HIM; living to make HIM known to others;  living to  do HIS will.   Is this your heart's desire?  Or are you still in "prison"--the prison of self?

          "O the bitter pain and sorrow,
                That the time could ever be,
          When I proudly said to Jesus,
                All of Self and none of Thee.
          But He sought me, I beheld Him,
                Dying on the accursed tree,
          And my feeble heart said faintly,
                Some of self and some of Thee.
          Higher than the highest mountain,
                Deeper than the deepest sea,
          Lord, Thy love at last has conquered,
                None of self and ALL OF THEE."

Pastor Paul Hume

Ephesians 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
being predestinated according to the purpose of him  who
worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

Web Site:
Grace And The Truth
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Email:
GraceNtheTruth Email Ministry
and
The Grace Prayer Group
GraceNTheTruth@aol.com

Please forward this to a friend or family member. Click the email link above and request a subscription to the "Daily Inspirational". We will be happy to add you to our email list.

To BEP, I don't recall making any mention of brick and mortar.  The church is the people not the building.  We can just continue to disagree on other things though.

Oklahoma Howdy to Saved_4ever,

The analogy is the same (neither are THE CHURCH) - some belong to the CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, and some don't. You might ask your pastor or check your Bible about the Body of Christ. Holler if you want me to provide the information. Regardless, disagreement is fine - nothing personal I hope.

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Romans8_1 & Allinall,

AMEN! - Your thoughts and posts were beautiful. Thanks!, I enjoyed them.

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Romans8_1,

You made some extremely valid points. I certainly understand the importance of all in the Body of Christ. I certainly didn't intend the poll to be a type of a contest. I think that God gives all of HIS children an opportunity to witness. It's obviously true that the pastor will have more opportunities in the example you gave. However, God will give the man washing the dishes an opportunity to witness sooner or later to friends, family, or anyone God guides to him. God does everything on purpose, so all Christians will be forced to make many choices, regardless of whether they are a pastor or a person who washes dishes. By the way, I agree completely about the importance of all work done for God. The poll wasn't intended for pastors.

I love the quote from Allinall above, "Did I do anything?  Yes!  I obeyed and witnessed...".

In Christ,
Tom