:'(My own father-in-law passed away in the past year.  My heart goes out to you.  I pray the Lord will bless you with peace that surpasses all understanding.

 :)I hope your interviews went well.  What a great testamony reguarding your faith being built by the fire.  No harder place to be and at the same time no better.  God Bless!

I've been reading in Philippians, and twice Paul states to the church that they should act as he acts.3:17Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern."  And chp4:9 "The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will  be with you."  First I was convicted for myself, there are diffently times I would not wish my children to act as I do.  Second, I started to think-- I wonder how many church leaders today would be bold enough to make such a statement.  And also if we had leaders that could   how different would the church be?  Just a thought.

Symphony,  I studied these verses with your insite and sonofaslan and I relize I've been totally understanding these the wrong way.  No wonder I was confused thanks for your help.

Kathleen

In vs 23 and 24 Paul goes on to say"if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there com in those who are uninformed or unbeliever, will they not say that you are out of your mind.  But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.  In verse 22 he says tongues are for unbelievers and in vs 24 hes says they will think you are out of you mind.

Tibby, I can't speak for the Baptist.  But when I was growing up I was taught the Catholic Church was the first century church and Peter was the first pope.  ha imagine that .  So I guess the Baptist aren't the only ones with this claim.

Pray for him, other then that I'm not sure.

WOW!! Thank you.
Kathleen

  Can anybody help me understand why it seems Paul contradicts himself in these verses.  Is tongues a sign to unbelievers or not, is prophesy for believers or not???

Will do.

 ;)He He,  I actually posted the last one before I had the chance to read your last one.  Thanks for the food for thought.  I still have a hard time understanding how the love of the world could grow cold when I feel the world can't possible have agape love.

I have always looked at these verses to be speaking about what will happen to the christians.  The world has already acted this way to some degree or another.  The vs I am talking about are 10,11,12.  Yes I agree with the earlier vs refering to the world.

If you back up to vs8 Jesus is speaking about the troubles that are to come upon believers, and this thought continues thru vs13.

I agree with you brozesnake,  but I've always looked at Mt24:12 to be speaking of the churches love growing cold.  I believe this vs is speaking of the condition of the church in the end times.  Also the word love is agape, in this vs,the only way we even can have this kind of love is thru Jesus.  That is why I come to this conclusion.

In Christ
Kathleen

Wow!  Great story, thanks for sharing it.

Kathleen