.........   plus 2.

Sorry BEP but I couldn't bet a coconut cake hope you like the lollypop one. DW can have a lollipop I made sure they're sugar free just for him.  

Even the sugar free ones can taste pretty good.

fine, you eat it then.

OK, I do already. They have to be the good ones because some of them taste like cardboard.

 We better start breaking out those paper party hats and the cherry kloolaid for our Brother BEP he's only 15 posts away from 10k  

Well I have the hats.

I have the baloons.

*snickering* Do you mean balloons?

At least I didn't say baboons.

 

Sure looks like it, to me.....

Those look kinda angry ....  not good party animals.

Baboons??
speaking of when my daughter was 7 I took her to the zoo, she had never seen a baboon in her life,  well she saw his bottom and of course in her loudest voice she said "oh my that baboon must have been very bad and got a whooping, his buttocks are really red" everyone just burst out laughing she is so funny.

     

I like the idea of baboons at the party, and maybe some silly string. Now, we're talkin'.

Are those Darwinian baboons or the real thing??

Thank you, Brother that is great news. I just got the same email and was getting ready to post it until I saw that you had already beat me to it.

This is no different than alcohol on bases. The Military does provide assistance, counciling and even budget classes making it mandantory for those that have financial problems. When the person gets put out of the Military it is because they have not properly cooperated with these programs, already have had family problems and started into such things as writing bad checks and conning other Miltary personell.

There is no program that will be effective if the person does not want the help. These people get to that point they are a definite security risk in a job that requires a great deal of security.

Take such things off the Military bases and they will still seek them out and still have these problems. Don't get me wrong. I am all for shutting such activities down period. All I am saying is that it is not the solution.

God is!!

[And forgive us our sins]

There are those that say the sinners prayer is not Biblical therfore not a part of Salvation and even going to say it is a dangerous practice. It is said this is true because God does not hear sinners quoting John 9:31. This was the argument of the Pharisees. This portion of scriptures is saying that God will not answer the prayers of an imposter, a false prophet, this was in reference to Jesus opening the eyes of a blind man. It has nothing to do with the prayer of Salvation that is truly heart felt. Jesus does hear the repentant sinner.

Jesus taught:

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

If God does not hear the sinners prayer then Jesus would not have taught the following and if Christians were perfect, without sin, then there would be no need for them to say the following prayer:

Luk 11:2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luk 11:3  Give us day by day our daily bread.
Luk 11:4  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

The elements of such a prayer are solidly based on the following Scriptures.

    * 1. A confession or agreement with God that we are a sinner. (See Romans 3:23)

    * 2. A request asking God to forgive us our sins. (See Ephesians 2:4)

    * 3. An acceptance of Jesus as our Savior and asking Him to be the Lord of our life. (See Acts 16:31)

    * 4. An acknowledgement that God raised Jesus from the dead. (See Romans 10:9)

    * 5. A request for help to live as Jesus wants us to live. (See Romans 7:18)

    * 6. A close thanking God for the gift of His Wonderful Son and His merciful gift of salvation. (See Romans 6:17)

People are told that such a prayer must be from the heart and not just something that you repeat just to be repeating. It is said by some that this is also a dangerous practice. Yet this is also based on scripture. The reason for this is in the following scripture.

Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.






Now let us look at the verses that you gave on baptism.

1 Peter 3:21
  There is also an antitype which now saves us�baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

antitype = One that is foreshadowed by or identified with an earlier symbol or type, such as a figure in the New Testament who has a counterpart in the Old Testament.

"baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh"  =  baptism in water  (notice the not

"but the answer of a good conscience toward God)"   =  baptism of the Holy Spirit


Titus 3:5
  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
 
regeneration = spiritual renewal or revival

This is done by the blood of Jesus Christ not by water.


Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,





Take notice that the following verses do not say that salvation is temporary. We are sealed, which means to preserve, to keep until when? Until the day of redemption.  Eternal life is not temporary life!


Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Heb 6:17  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.


 2Co 1:17  When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
2Co 1:18  But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
2Co 1:19  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2Co 1:21  Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.





STATEMENTS AND PROMISES OF GOD THAT WOULD BE NULLIFIED (God would be proved a liar and we know that God does not lie.) IF ONE COULD LOSE THEIR SALVATION.

ERROR vs. TRUTH

1. He is not able to perform what He had promised Romans 4:21
2. He will not present me blameless 1 Thessalonians 5:24
3. He did not predestine me unto the adoption as a child Ephesians 1:5
4. There is condemnation for me even though I am in Christ Jesus Romans 8:1
5. Christ has not risen from the dead Romans 6:8-12
6. The Holy Spirit will take back His deposit Ephesians 1:13-14
7. The Holy Spirit did not seal us 2 Corinthians 1:22
8. He will leave me and He will forsake me Hebrews 13:5
9. He will not keep me from falling Jude 24
10. He will not preserve me forever Psalm 37:28
11. The truth (Jesus Christ) will not be with me forever 2 John 2
12. He did not cleanse me from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9
13. His foundation is not sure 2 Timothy 2:19
14. He does not know them that are His 2 Timothy 2:19
15. He will cast me out John 6:37
16. He did not perfect me Hebrews 10:14
17. His prayer for me was not answered John 17:11-12
18. He is not interceding for me Hebrews 7:25
19. He did not complete the work He began in me Philippians 1:6
20. My life is not hid with Christ in God Colossians 3:3
21. I have not passed from death unto life John 5:24
22. He is not able to keep that which I have committed to Him 2 Timothy 1:12
23. I am not at peace with God Romans 5:1
24. I can be plucked out of His hand John 10:28-29
25. I can be separated from the love of God Romans 8:39
26. His righteousness is not everlasting Psalm 119:142
27. His love is not everlasting Jeremiah 31:3
28. He is not immutable Hebrews 6:18
29. He did not keep His promise Hebrews 6:17
30. He is a liar Titus 1:2

The consequences of believing a person can lose their salvation creates obvious theological problems that contradict scripture.  For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. Romans 3:3-4a



Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.]

Salvation is a gift of God not a reward, freely given.

Rom 5:16  And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
Rom 5:17  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)


Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.




A reward is something that can be earned. As we are told in the Bible we cannot earn salvation. This was something that Jesus admonished the Pharisees on when they said they did many works in the name of the Lord. Those who are saved however will be rewarded according to their works.

Rom 4:4  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.


1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.


1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
1Co 9:18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.


 

Sorry BEP but I couldn't bet a coconut cake hope you like the lollypop one. DW can have a lollipop I made sure they're sugar free just for him.  

Even the sugar free ones can taste pretty good.

Pie or cake, either one, they're both easy to make.  

A little more about this Pastor and his origins.

http://bimi.org/worldMag/201A2.asp#

http://www.fbc-misawa.org/missionaries/Flores.htm

 Oct. 31 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. President George W. Bush, seeking to rebound from a failed Supreme Court nomination, chose conservative appeals court judge Samuel Alito Jr. for the seat and set up what may be a bitter battle with Senate Democrats.

Alito, 55, has a markedly different resume than that of White House Counsel Harriet Miers, whose nomination Bush withdrew last week amid opposition from conservatives. Alito is a former prosecutor and Reagan administration official with 15 years of experience on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Newark, New Jersey, and a developed record of judicial conservatism.

``He has a deep understanding of the proper roles of judges in our society,'' Bush said at the White House in Washington. ``He understands that judges are to interpret the law, not to impose their preferences or priorities on the people.''

The question for Democrats is whether they will try to block a vote on Alito's nomination. Alito would succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a pivotal vote on the court on abortion and affirmative action, and potentially shift the court to the right on social issues.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said in a statement that he is ``disappointed'' in the choice. He said he wants to learn ``why those who want to pack the court with judicial activists are so much more enthusiastic about him than they were about Harriet Miers.''

Scalia Similarities

Bush withdrew Miers's nomination Oct. 27 after a month of criticism, primarily from conservatives, about her qualifications and constitutional philosophy.

Miers had never been a judge. By contrast, Alito ``has more prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in more than 70 years,'' Bush said.

Standing alongside Bush today, Alito said judges have a ``limited role'' in the American constitutional system.

``Federal judges have the duty to interpret the Constitution and the laws faithfully and fairly, to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans and to do these things with care and with restraint,'' he said.

He would be the second Italian-American on the high court, joining Justice Antonin Scalia. The similarities between the two men, both judicial conservatives, have earned Alito the nickname ``Scalito'' among some lawyers. Both men were born in Trenton, New Jersey.

One Woman Left

Alito's confirmation would leave the court with only one woman, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Bush was under pressure to name a woman or racial minority, with both first lady Laura Bush and O'Connor, the first female justice, saying they would like to see another woman on the court.

Conservatives, including those who criticized the Miers selection, hailed the nomination.

``Judge Alito has always been one of our top choices for the Supreme Court,'' said Jan LaRue, chief counsel of the conservative Concerned Woman for America in Washington. LaRue had called on the White House to withdraw the Miers nomination.

Alito is a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School. In the Reagan administration, he served as assistant solicitor general, arguing 12 cases before the Supreme Court, and later as deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel, providing constitutional advice for the executive branch.

Appointed to Court

He served as U.S. attorney for New Jersey from 1987 to 1989. George H.W. Bush, the current president's father, appointed Alito to the Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit in 1990.

On the 3rd Circuit, Alito played a role in two high-profile abortion disputes. In 1991, he voted to uphold Pennsylvania spousal-notification requirements that were later struck down by the Supreme Court. In 2000 he joined a three-judge court in voiding a New Jersey prohibition on a late-term procedure that opponents call partial-birth abortion. In that case, Alito said he was bound by a Supreme Court ruling.

In 1996, Alito voted in favor of restricting the power of Congress, dissenting when the 3rd Circuit upheld a federal ban on machine gun possession.

In 1999, he wrote an opinion upholding a city hall holiday display that contained a nativity scene, a menorah and secular items including plastic Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman figures.

Democrats may try to stop the nomination by using a legislative tactic called a filibuster, or unlimited debate. They used that approach to prevent votes on 10 nominees until a bipartisan group of 14 senators crafted an agreement in May to avert a parliamentary showdown.

Under Senate rules, 60 votes -- five more than Republicans possess -- are required to shut off a filibuster. Before the May compromise, Senate Republicans had threatened to change the rules and bar filibusters. That change would require 51 votes to implement.

``It is sad that the president felt he had to pick a nominee likely to divide America instead of choosing a nominee in the mold of Sandra Day O'Connor, who would unify us,'' said Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat.

Step by step procedures for posting images.

Save the picture that you want to post to a folder on your computer. Open a Photobucket account (you said you had one?). Then use the browse button at the top of your photobucket account to find your picture in your folder. Double click on the picture and it will tranfer the location into the picture window. Then click on the submit button. Your picture should then show up in your account. Below the picture are three windows labeled url, tag and img. Right click on the url window then click on select all. It should highlight the url address. Then right click on it again and click on copy.

Now come back to CU's post reply window. Across the top is a bunch of buttons next to tags:  The fourth button over is the img button. Click on it and it will place the img tag in your post windo. Move the cursor over to the center of the img and /img. Right click and click on paste.  Now you're ready to post.   Remember if you are going to post words also that they must be outside of the img brackets.

I hope this is clear enough??

Baboons??
speaking of when my daughter was 7 I took her to the zoo, she had never seen a baboon in her life,  well she saw his bottom and of course in her loudest voice she said "oh my that baboon must have been very bad and got a whooping, his buttocks are really red" everyone just burst out laughing she is so funny.

Kids are so cute and innocent in their ways. My daughter called and wanted me to give her a ride to Arby's normally they always go to McDonald's. When I picked them up my 2 yr old granddaughter said she wanted to go to McDonalds. Her mother said no we are going to Arby's. I could see the tears starting so I told her that Arby's is better sometimes than McDonald's. She answered "I sure hope so." She is at the right age to continually surprise me with such comments.

Hi Struggle,

Welcome to the forum. Yes I will pray for you.