Northstar,

Mt 9:16  No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. {new: or, raw, or, unwrought}
Mt 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. {bottles: or, sacks of skin, or, leather}

Old - Laws, rituals, etc...
New - Jesus and His work for us..in place of all laws etc....
Garment , Bottle - You and I

1.  When you try obeying all the laws and its implications it is - as pointed out clearly, impossible.  Suppose you do (or you think you did) obey all the laws, you would definitely become self righteous (aka Pharisee) and get puffed up.

There are laws given in the scriptures of other religions too.  Every person tries to fulfill them and fails.  Many think they do fulfill the laws by their own might and reject when presented Jesus.

2 . Instead when we obey the Holy Spirit (beleive in Jesus and His work on the cross) given to us that covers everything.

You cannot have both as master of your life, you will love one and hate the other.  If you still try to mix then  "the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish"

Hello Tina,

Welcome to CU!  Have a good time here!

Rajesh

Hi Jim!

Welcome to CU!! Testing waters eh?!  That is what I did too in the beginning 
Start your own topic and post in others.  Have a good time here!

Rajesh

Hi Calsgal!

Welcome! and I can see that you are already settled (read hooked )!! Have a blessed and nourishing time!

[Jesus? Give UP? I don't think so. If that were the case, He wouldn't have died for us.]

Jesus?  Give UP?  I don't think so.  If that were the case, He wouldn't have died for us.

=^..^=

I fully hope too!  But when man continually eludes or is bipolar to gospel then...?

Hi brohank!

Welcome back
Show your old self to us newbies

Rajesh

I will fight the good fight, I will finish the race, I will keep and defend the faith with every last ounce of my strength.

Amen! Crusader, The Lord who called you by name is a true God and He is right with you till the end.  Halleluia

Welcome!

RKJ

Hi Sherylc

Welcome to CU   Find the topic that interests you and post on!!

RKJ

Hello and Welcome to the Forums!

I pray that God will provide you with computer and internet connection right at your home! just because you feel so sad  being infrequent!!

RKJ

Hello Saint!

Praise the Lord for the 20 youth!! I assist a church that is smaller..and growing of course!

Welcome to CU .  Browse through as many topics and it will be useful to you whenever there is a confrontation of issues in the ministry!

Enjoy your time here!!

Sincereheart!

I praise God for giving you strong fingers (and a sturdy keyboard, of course!).  Man, you guys just type away!

To be honest I did not go through all the posts but did get a hang of the thread.

There is a growing (very rapid) group of people who say they hate 'churchianity' and stop attending worship in a 'church building'. There are various reasons behind this - including Satans plan.  Let me explain....

To be the true church of Jesus, they ought to find like-minded or true believers in God and gather to worship Him.  Which never happens!  They say we worship our Lord right here at our home with family members!
They stay right where they are and stop growing.  Slowly we begin to see the family disintegrating.

My opinion is that, in a church there will be a sincere believer or two who love the Lord with all their heart.  And that is more than a reason for Him to be present in the 'church building'.  What more can one expect in a worship?  Just because the rest of the congregation is 'corrupt' or .have their own program for coming to church', does not mean that the two believers should come out of the Church and stay home (repeat, this happens always).

I totally relate to your angst.  i have felt it too.  But I strongly believe that when I go to church, Jesus will be their during the corporate worship.  in fact there are many - even hundreds who come that way.  If I think I am the only one, there is no self righteous fool other than me.

My point is that there should be no sedition.  All that is required is a revival withing the congregation, for then everyone will worship the Lord with all the heart, and spirit and strength.  By getting away, revival will not happen.  It will happen when you and I stand amidst the congregation and sing (not mumble) songs of praises and listen to the message without shifting, without shaking the leg. and without looking at the watch and without yawning.  This will surely prepare the heart of the man who sits next to us- in the 'church building'. And this is enough.  This may sound like a long term plan,  but sure works sister!

All we need is to 'transform churchianity and not condemn'

One man, said he got to go swimming on Sunday and that is the only time he gets in a week!  This verse was quoted to him.  I totally agree.  Nothing can come above God and His worship/service.

But I see a lot of Christians/preachers who have taken this so deep into their hearts and just balloon out at places ! Keeping fit or in shape do not figure in the list of priorities!  I don't let this affect me when I am all ears to hear the Word of God. 

People sure can make some effort (not necessarily long working out), like airIam2worship says
" Physical exercise is not the only way to take care of our body, but also how we eat, what we eat, and what we put in it in general, that includes smoking, drugs, alcohol, etc."

Showing discipline in this area would also glorify God in the eyes of those who are 'yet to come'/

Me working out 6 hours !

1Ti 4:8
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

I agree it is written in a relative sense of flesh and Spirit.

Does this verse suggest - if taken literally, that exercising is not good?
If not, what degree of exercise is accepted?

Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,

Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?

Yet I was wounded by the archers, spend,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:

Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?

Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far

Who has no wounds nor scar?

by Amy Carmichael, a lady who lived and died for Christ in India

I would rather learn to love and support people than (s)laying people
I would also pray the hardest to God to teach me to love, to persevere, to shine and make me more like Jesus!  I do not know if it can be called a 'gift'...but I would certainly not pursue it but I would surely follow the 'gifter' with all might and strength