I just went to look in the mirror, and I'm still me - just with a different user name on the forum. Yes, Shammu is also a name change, but we're the same crew. This should give you a hint:

 

This must be the house of mirrors, cause that cop is much taller and thinner than I remember...

"He hoped sensibly . . .
  to grow in holiness,
  to feel his corruptions subdued, and
  to enjoy the presence of his God without interruption.

But instead..."

I love this!  It is exactly like that....the more tall and beautiful the Lily grows within its soil, the more keenly the clay feels its own unworthiness in comparison...

More grace for today...

Clay pottery remains nothing more than clay no matter what is done with it...the only thing that matters is what is planted in the clay...God chose to plant His most precious Lilly of the Valley in you....and He stays with you...continually nurturing the life He placed in you...thats treasure enough...thats joy enough...thats strength enough...thats life enough...all glory to God!

2Co 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Thats hysterical and rather genius when you think about it!   One (not me  )  could use the pharmacy as a gift registry for Anniversary and Retirement parties too ...


Now all the old miserly geezers reading this will turn to their wives and croon 'Ya know honey I love you so much I want to celebrate with the world..lets throw a party!'   

["Wish you were here"]

Someone asked : What do you want written on your tomb stone?

Veracity answered: Well...since this is the joke thread...

"Wish you were here"  


Now thats FUNNY!  I`m seriously considering it...

Hey Shylynne, long time no see. I hope and pray everything is going good for you sister.

Tom I know,  but who are you lol ...

Shammu must be a name change?


God is wonderful and He`s still living in me, thanks! 

What do you get when you play New Age music backwards?

New Age music. 



Its no joke, and  I could`nt resist 

If the song lyrics are intelligible and moral, and the instrumental does`nt sound like my cat when I step on his tail, or the grandbaby has climbed into the cupboard with the pots and pans, then I`m cool... otherwise my parimeters scream shut that noise off!

One for all the guys who made me laugh here...


Little Tommy: "Mommy! Mommy! When I grow up I want to be a man!"

"Now Tommy, you can't do both!" 

I have`nt even got half way through and I`m crying, these messages are some of the most wonderful I`ve ever read, thank you for sharing Tom!

Now, my friend, you say to me: "It is quite true, sir; my life is marred. But I am getting to be an old man. Do you think there is any hope for me?" My text says: "He made it again."

Who ever heard of a dying believer exclaiming, "I have been deceived—I trusted in the Savior, and I have found his promises vain?" No true believer, however afflicted, has spoken thus. All dying Christians have said by their looks, and many by their words, "He is a faithful God."

awesome truth Brother!

Shylynne!  

You lurker you!     Nice to see you.



OK now i'm  again!  

Thank you 2T...but I was not really lurking...
I have been busy doing our Fathers work elsewhere  

P.s. That was me putting me to rest!  

Oh suuuuuureeee!  Make it sound all spiritual.  You're lurkin' and you know it!  Admit it!  Thou...lurker..er.er.er!!!!!  *Strikes a pious pose*

Ahem.  WB!  

That pose does nothing for the manly-man look  

 

Shylynne!  

You lurker you!     Nice to see you.



OK now i'm  again!  

Thank you 2T...but I was not really lurking...
I have been busy doing our Fathers work elsewhere  

P.s. That was me putting me to rest!  

Bronze you really should`nt make assumptions
about what people are feeling. I am not in the
least bit upset,  or angry,  and I don`t see
any self righteousness in anything I said.
I am merely stating the facts concerning our
disagreement as I see them. You brought up a subject
that involves me, and so I have a right to respond yes?
Why do I still get the feeling that any response at all, even
none, would be viewed by you as some sort of lack of forgiveness on my part.
As you enjoy the freedom to state your opinion and beliefs, please allow the rest of us this freedom as well.

 No, you're right - your responses to me don't have even the slightest hint of anger. I don't know what I was thinking.  

 God bless you my sister. I guess we'll just stay away from each other - sad really.

 Bronzesnake

I don`t know what you were thinking either.  
But you seem to be trying awfully hard to make me appear
as irrational and emotional, even in my absense, tho
I`m confident most people here know I am neither.
 I stand by my admonishment to you as well, what
you consider foolish may well be another man`s gift from God,
and we are not the judge of such things.

Bronze you really should`nt make assumptions
about what people are feeling. I am not in the
least bit upset,  or angry,  and I don`t see
any self righteousness in anything I said.
I am merely stating the facts concerning our
disagreement as I see them. You brought up a subject
that involves me, and so I have a right to respond yes?
Why do I still get the feeling that any response at all, even
none, would be viewed by you as some sort of lack of forgiveness on my part.
As you enjoy the freedom to state your opinion and beliefs, please allow the rest of us this freedom as well.

As far as Shylynne - She got extremely angry with me because I (admittedly) mishandled a "moderator" situation. It was my first day as moderator, and I didn't realize that I was going to have to be more strategic with my admonishments of other posters when they said something...well...foolish.
So she left me a blistering admonishment of her own and vowed never to return.  

I also had the same effect on Reba - I really like Reba, and I’m sorry she took things so personal.  

I have learned from these experiences.

Bronzesnake

It strikes me as very interesting Bronze, how you so quickly made use of an opportunity to state your assumed reason for my absence, and how you also chose to use words like "blistering" and "extreme" in reference to my last post, while playing down your own role in our disagreement to a simple innocent "mishandling" of moderation.
I can not speak for Reba, but  as for me I take it very personal when a brother or sister is assaulted with words like moronic for trying to simply share thier personal testimony, and that by a moderator no less.
No part of Gary Cooks testimony is "foolish", and there was, nor  remains no strategic way for you to have addressed it as so.
Your first day as moderator was preceded by months on this forum,  it`s not only sad to see you making excuses for yourself, it is rather childish.
 It would seem what you have learned is how
to make yourself sound like a better person than the
poster you are so called "admonishing."
Anything that was said by me to you, was said in the forum,
and all were free to read it,  that is until it conveniently got deleted.
I do however have my own reasons for being absent,
and I don`t recall vowing never to return.

2Co 13 :5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

[Any Christian church or ministry which is growing through effective evangelism and maturity will be targeted by the enemy of our souls, and his agents.]

I agree with you M except for your use of the word "paranoid."  Is it paranoia to strive to be fully aware of the truth about any organization that has professing "Christians" as members?  What you refer to as paranoia is what I would call underestimating the enemy, and Freemasonry appears to be a very large and deceitful one!

I have a specific reason for broaching this subject but I`ll bring that up later, here`s a quick side-track to this authors message:

"Any Christian church or ministry which is growing through effective evangelism and maturity will be targeted by the enemy of our souls, and his agents. We at Jubilee have had several failed attempts at infiltration by a member of a coven One person, when exposed, admitted they had wrecked over a dozen churches and ministries.

What we have confirmed, and need to warn others about, is how these people infiltrate churches. More often than not, it may be a single woman who has recently moved into a town (we just heard of a male with the same agenda the other week) and seems to have a very good knowledge of the Bible - better than most Christians. Leaders are always desperate for volunteers, especially those which show some initiative and experience. This person is often given a responsible position because they are available.

We plead with Christian leaders, please pause and do some discerning first. Find out about their previous church. Contact the pastor there. Ask the questions. What was the fruit of their ministry? Did any church member complain about what they did or said, if so, what and why? It used to be you couldn't join a church unless you had a letter of introduction from your previous church - a practise sorely needed today.

Let me give some examples of infiltration we have experienced over recent months.

1. Children's Work - where they were able to lay hands on the children for a spiritual impartation not acceptable in a Christian church. I'm not talking about sexual abuse either, although that can happen too. They may promote Harry Potter, Pokemon and other occultism to the children. Children are both teachable, and very trusting.

2. Prayer or Intercessory Groups - the person concerned was made responsible to coordinate the four differently-focused prayer groups in a medium-sized Evangelical church. This person amalgamated them all, confused the focus of the prayer, and effectively deprived this church of its prayer cover. It then experienced major disruption and a split.

3. Finances - We saw this in a church in Canada recently. The infiltrator was put in charge of the finances. For every plan for evangelism, or training congregation members for prayer ministry etc., the excuse used was "we can't afford it". There was sufficient money, but depriving finance killed many of God's plans at the time. The leaders are now much wiser.

4. Individuals With An Agenda - Sometimes they will infiltrate as a person with many problems - even claiming to have come out of witchcraft. They then fill up the pastor's diary with "Counselling Appointments," but there never seems to be a breakthrough, the fruits of the Holy Spirit are just not present. These are the time-wasters to divert your energy from the work of the Lord.

I am not interested in "Witch-hunts" but am called to expose those sworn to see our defeat, and defend the lambs in the flock of God. We serve a big and powerful God. We need discernment and wisdom. We must not be complacent.

Caution! If you suspect a possible infiltrator in your church, go to the Lord in prayer, asking for discernment, and His wisdom to handle things. Seek to convert them first.

Ray Comfort reads Revelations 20:10 to them, explains that is where their boss is going, and asks if they really want to join him? I personally have found this to be a good way to shake them up prior to conversion, or exposing and removing.

Yes, I know what some of you are thinking - "a curse without a cause cannot alight" (Proverbs 26:2), but which of us is truly holy and without sin? God's grace may protect us more than we realise, supported by the faithful prayers of our people.

Churches which are not doing anything effective for the Kingdom of God will not usually be targeted by covens, because they aren't a threat to their boss. If you want to be a threat, start a prayer group focused on real needs, equip and release your people in evangelism, mercy ministries, praying for healing, deliverance, etc. You'll get noticed, so trust the Lord.

I recall speaking in a large Pentecostal church in a major NZ city a while back. The Eldership had asked me to speak on the occult - not a frequently requested topic to preach on. Following the service I met a woman who had been born into a coven where her mother was a witch. She herself had a baby which was intended to be sacrificed on a high night such as Halloween. The problem for the coven was that she became a Christian through some effective evangelism in a high school. Despite her doubts prior to the service about my grasp of the subject, she listened and then confirmed the accuracy of what I had taught. She then told me the church leadership had dismissed her claim that several covens were targeting that church because it was impacting that community. I told her they would seek to engineer a church split, or they would target the senior pastor's marriage. In fact both had occurred during the previous 12 months, confirmed by local mature Christian leaders the week following my visit there."
It appears in the latter example  the Church leadership dismissed her claim as paranoid.  

Hos 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:

excert from -Assignments from The Enemy Camp
© Selwyn Stevens, M.C.R., Ph.D.