It may surprise you to learn that my faith is not based on Bible reading or other reading smartinez1984.  They are by-products of my faith.  No, my faith is based on the inner workings of the Holy Spirit in my life who came to dwell in me when it pleased God to reveal his truth to me and I repented of my sins.

Yes I was lost but now I'm found; blind but now I see.  Praise the Lord !

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

Click here for the music and words

Hi 2nd Timothy

Hi Allinall,
You won't need to make me dunk.  I love it.  Nothing better than dunked ginger biscuits that break off half in your mouth and go cascading down your chest.  LOL

Well I did say it to get a reaction michael_legna and you kindly obliged.  I was the same as you when I was a young Christian [ah! those were the days] but now when I have learned more sense I realize my error.    I could quote sites that say that all modern translations are the work of the devil and they are prepared to advance arguments to that effect; but in my opinion that is a little extreme.  However the Authorised version is the one that sticks in peoples' minds and that is why I use it.  In an age when there has never been such a preponderance of bibles there has never been such a gross misinterpretation of scripture.

God Bless

If it was good enough for St Paul—it's good enough for me.  Just in case you are tempted to rise to the bait again—that was an old joke.   LOL

   Alice folded her hands, and began: --


              1    "You are old, father William," the young man said,
              2    "And your hair has become very white;
              3    And yet you incessantly stand on your head --
              4    Do you think, at your age, it is right?"


              5    "In my youth," father William replied to his son,
              6    "I feared it would injure the brain;
              7    But now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,
              8    Why, I do it again and again."


              9   "You are old," said the youth, "as I mentioned before,
            10    And have grown most uncommonly fat;
            11    Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door --
            12    Pray, what is the reason of that?"


            13    "In my youth," said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,
            14    "I kept all my limbs very supple
            15    By the use of this ointment -- one shilling the box --
            16    Allow me to sell you a couple."


            17    "You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak
            18    For anything tougher than suet;
            19    Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak --
            20    Pray, how did you manage to do it?"


            21    "In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law,
            22    And argued each case with my wife;
            23    And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw,
            24    Has lasted the rest of my life."


            25    "You are old," said the youth; one would hardly suppose
            26    That your eye was as steady as ever;
            27    Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose --
            28    What made you so awfully clever?"


            29    "I have answered three questions, and that is enough,"
            30    Said his father; "don't give yourself airs!
            31    Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?
            32    Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!"

Well smartinez1984, if its faith you want—pray for it.

 Mr 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Right Raphu,
You sound like a real bowl of cheer.  This is the old chestnut of triers over trusters.  You know Raphu,  God really doesn't need us at all.  It is a nice thought but why should an infinite Holy God put his reliance on unworthy sinful man ?  Well it is because we have to "prove ourselves in the field."  If we can't be compassionate to one another here then I doubt if we would be fit for a life in eternity.  Being kind and considerate shouldn't be a hardship but a pleasure but if dog eats dog, what hope is there for humanity.

Let us put our trust in the one who shed his blood for our sins, Christ Jesus.  If we are worthy for heaven then following Jesus will be a pleasure.  Let us trust in what Jesus has done for us and stop trying to be worthy.

 Ro 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

Amen

Don't be sorry ebia.  It's not your fault if you can't recognize "gold."    

I presume the point ebia is to show the superiority of the Authorised version.

" Ps 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. "
Amen

Whatever could surpass that ?    

It is a very good question smartinez1984..  Do I love God ?

Start with your analogy of your wife and how you have grown to love her after a poor beginning.  Ask yourself why you love her.  Is it because you have grown to love her little ways, her habits, the way she smiles at you and provides little comforts ?

Well God is like that too only infinitely more so.  You probably praise your wife and have noticed how she loves it.  Well praise God too and feel his Holy Spirit at work in your heart, softening it and making it acceptable to him.  Repent of your sins and be willing to change.  Note that I said willing because nobody can change themselves; only God can do it.  You will find youself going from a harsh world into a green meadow full of peace; the peace that passeth all understanding.

God bless.

 Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[I am surprised you even asked the question]

I am surprised you even asked the question seeker since you must have known the answer already but you are NOT lost yet. If we went to hell for sinning there would be nobody in heaven.

YOU NEED TO REPENT of your sin.  Yes I mean truly repent.  Give up your present lifestyle and turn to God for FORGIVENESS.  Put your trust in Jesus and accept his teachings.  Accept a new heart that God will gladly give you and YOU SHALL BE SAVED.

 Eze 36:26-27 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

If you don't wish to do this then don't waste our time asking.  God bless you.

Thanks Reba.  It's nice to know.  I try to be gentle with the fair sex but some are tougher than the men.  LOL

Hi there Tom, nice to meet you.  You have a very interesting web site that I shall explore more fully later on.  I am an "old guy" too.  I have not had too good an experience with our local constabulary, not for breaking the law but for not breaking it, but that is another story.  I am sure that you are not responsible for that.

God bless.

 Pr 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Very good Machinehead.  I love stories of how the devil gets cheated of another soul.  I came to God by praising him; facetiously at first but I felt the Holy Spirit stir in my heart and God did the rest.

God bless.

Well Bible Study is fairly clear to me michael_legna.  It's only the cults that get confused.  You see the Holy Spirit interprets, not man.  It's only when man lends a hand, confusion sets in.

 1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

 Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Lord has spoken.

B.A.I.K. (Boy am I confused).  Reba, are you boy or girl ?

What a nice reply from ollie.  

I do hope I make friends before you all eat me for breakfast.  LOL