i hate water and I don't really like being a slow moving target or a target at all really lol

would punching through a concrete wall suffice? Besides, i'd much rather be known for my intelligence than knowing how to grunt, growl and be a bulletcatcher as they're so fondly called...lol

lol i know.... yea yea

Took me a little while to get back, just been exceptionally busy. i'm still in processing for the Air Force believe it or not because the Chief Medical Officer did not want to make the call so he sent it to the Surgeon General of the Air Force, so we're waiting on that one now. It's hard to believe that i've been in processing for 6 going on 7 months already for the AF, i spent 3 in processing for the Marines. So ten months lol. If they didn't want me, they should just say so...hee hee. Oh wwell, i'm stubborn so i'll keep trying to get in, and hope i don't get disqualified. If I do, it's God's will and His providence will keep me. Well time to browse around the web some more maybe cuddle with the wife in a few min who knows. Laterz.

Joshua

I just caught up on reading this thread and I must sayy that I still stand by my original conviction of the eternal security of the Believer.  I recently slid backwards a bit because I took my focus off of God and it went on things of the world. In order for me to juggle everything, i thought I could do it on my own. I did it very well for a while but i have come to realize that without God, my marriage is mediocre at best. Don't get me wrong I love my wife dearly, but i've realized that with God at the helm, that things are alot better off. I'm starting to get back into listening to christian music now, and am making a conscious effort to get back in church. With my recent move, and my work schedule, i've been too busy to get to church either on shift or not. Well things have calmed down and now we're getting back into church. I reckon the reason I told everyone all of this, is because, you know, yes, I backslid...does that make me a bad person...some may think so, some may not. However, I know that during that time, my salvation wasn't lost...I still have it and I never lost it. I just made the decision to quit running away from God...see the salvation wasn't lost, however the daily precense of the Holy Spirit was gone because other things became my priority. Well no more. The best thing a person can do, is to take inventory and make sure that they have their priorities straight. Because God will get their attention just like He got mine. God will only allow us to stray so far away before He calls us back to attention. He love is still there, and His grace is ever so sufficient for us. Figured i'd share....God Bless

Joshua

I for one love those shift hours...lol. I work 3:30 pm to 2:00 AM on monday thru thursday....so i know EXACTLY how crazy hours can be. Plus taking care of my wife, my home, and bills takes up the rest of my time, but i wouldn't have it any other way, because I can take care of my wife . Anyways, hey to all who have been missing me or wondering where i've been at, just been working like crazy and I wanted to drop in and wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Cya.

Coram Deo,
Joshua

good i hope he gets lamblasted. There's only one way people can take that kind of comment. His attack against the war failed and backfired big time. As for me, if it means that Americans can have freedom i'll fight for it, regardless of what a Senator on capitol hill says. I for one hope i never meet the guy...cause i have a cousin and alot of friends who are fighting for his freedom as well as others...and I am soon to join them. Regardless of what war we're in, or what battle, i'll defend this country as will hundreds of thousands of other americans who are already and getting ready to serve. Shame on you John Kerry, shame on you. We fight for your freedom and this is how you repay...very considerate of you. Sorry i'm done now lol...laterz.

Joshua

makes me wanna go punch him in the teeth cause of his comment...lol. We who are going into the military aren't dumb, we just choose to serve our country. I'd best shut up before i get into trouble lol.

Joshua

Amen...christianity without practicallity is dead as i like to say it. If we don't apply God's truths to our daily lives, we continue walking in darkness...thus against what God says in His holy Word.

Joshua

You're right in a generic sort of way. In any case it's a bad thing any way you go about it lol.

Joshua

he's a dad gum nut as we like to call it over here in TN. I can't put it more simply. I have more qualifications than kerry ever did...lol Yea i'm still alive and kicking, just staying busy and working all the time when I actually have a job. hee hee.

Joshua

Don't ya think it kinda gives creedance to that old three words you always hear pastors say "buffet style christianity" There's a difference in accepting what He did on the cross and being repentant about their sins. There are some who say "yea i accept that Jesus died on a cross, but I don't believe that he can forgive me of my sins" It's the forgiveness of sins through the shedding of blood that is the core to salvation...the death was the act that lead to the shedding of blood. And JW's are a very works oriented group...works don't get a person to heaven. Just a few thoughts

Joshua

Shoot, i got an 85 on the ASVAB did one year of college, have two certifications dealing with industrial tech and CISCO Networking technology. Ole kerry better stick his foot in his mouth. Alot of our military are smart and have ALOT of common sense. Otherwise they wouldn't have passed the MEPS process...geesh. Kerry cracks me up sometimes.

Joshua

IF saved always saved should be the real saying. In Hebrews the author uses what are the eequivalent to a hypothetical situation in Hebrews 6:4-6. I think i have a thread running somewhere around here talkign about Hebrews 6:4-6, not sure, but to summerize. Whoever said that the author was writing to the Hebrews was right. However what many people forget is that there is what is called an immediate audience and a universal audience. When interpreting scripture we must keep in mind that those things written to an immediate audience were written specifically for an immediate audience, however, as a universal audience, we have to take that truth and apply it to our lives as well. Hence Hebrews. Looking at the language in Hebrews, the author ingeniusly places words in a pretty clear order.

4For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

The author says "It is impossible to restore again to repentance to those who have once been enlightened" the word enlightened means "to be made brighter" "to be allowed to see" As it says that it's impossible that if you fall away that there's no coming back pretty much because we are "crucifying once again the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt"  basically saying when a person falls away, there is no coming back because they would be crucifying Christ all over again which has already been done once. Why would we need to do it again? One time is all we need to save us. Not save over and over. Granted i need saving from my wife when she comes after me with a broom from time to time, but it's not the same thing lol. Our salvation is final once we accept our Lord's death in atonement for our sin and we are reconciled, justified, redeemed, and sanctified (which the sanctification process of our souls is over with, however the sanctification process of our flesh continues until we're given a glorified body) So yea...i'd say that IF we're truely saved, we're not going to want to do anything to screw up that "enlightenment, sharing of the Holy Spirit, and spiritual gifts that God gives through manifestation of the Holy Spirit."  I've screwed up alot in my life. And i've fallen back on my back even recently. And it's a struggle to get back up, but with GOD"S help I can get through my day. Even if it's just a little prayer that I mutter as I'm getting out of the bed, I know God is with me and I know God hears me and my heart. Now am I lost because I've "backslid". NO. I know that my God still loves me no matter what and He isn't going to give me up. But as Romans says "Let every man be persuaded in his own mind" I know what my God has given me and I know where I stand...even sometimes when I begin to doubt where I stand (due to growing up and living in the real world...i'm 19 and married so i'm learning what the real world is all about lol) Anyways, that's just my thoughts...my wife's at work so I get out of chores until she gets home this evening lol. Think on what i've said, take it to heart if you like, do with it what you wish, but it's out there for all to see. God Bless

Coram Deo,
Joshua

the greek that Paul used is the equivalent to our third person point of view. Kinda like a flashback of something someone has experienced. Buddhism and Taoism as well as Hinduism all talk about transcendance to a higher plane of existance. Paul was speaking about himself in 2 Cor. My old prof and I had a nice discussion about this passage when I was in bible college. He explained to me that the evidence in the syntax of the greek suggested that paul was in fact speaking of himself. When humans undergo periods of extreme trauma or infliction of pain, things happen in the mind that could cause a human to see a vision or something of that nature. Paul could have had one of these visions (induced by God) or he could very well have been dead for a short period of time. It's hard to say with 100% accuracy which is the case seeing as this point in Paul's ministry he was nearing the end of his life in prison...so i don't think we'll ever get a straight 110% answer as to what Paul was going through unless we have historical documents or a written account of Paul's day by day sufferings from another source. Paul did suffer alot, however, we don't know th exact thoughts and we can't really see exactly verbatum what Paul saw since we don't have Paul's eyes. But no, Buddism isn't in the Bible. The only religions that are mentioned in the bible are that of the occult (witchcraft), hedonism, the greek form of idol worship, and nature worship..i could be forgetting a few, but i'm pretty sure those are the major ones. Anyways, just a few thoughts.

Joshua