I didn't know they yodeled in Oklahoma, I thought they said YEEE HAAA!!   LOL

                                                          Paul2

Brother Paul2,

It is a "YEEE HAAA!!", but that's before the possum gravy.  

Oklahoma is the number one attraction in the world for the Swiss. They come here to learn how to yodel.  They learn real quick. I think it has something to do with wanting to get away from the possum gravy.  

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Saved_4ever and Paul2,

I see two believers who will spend eternity together in heaven. Jesus is in your hearts, so God will take you both, faults and all. If God will accept you, you should accept each other.

If you do, I'll cook up a big mess of fresh Oklahoma road-kill smothered in possum gravy and teach you how to yodel, Oklahoma style.  

In Christ,
Tom

[not to be saved]

This is exactly the point, the person that is saved, will produce good works for God, but not to be saved; but becuase that person is saved

Petro

Oklahoma Howdy to Brother Petro,

Exactly! If you think about this from several perspectives, good works can become a more beautiful thing. If good works were required for Salvation, how many people would do them grudgingly or half-hearted? However, a truly saved person does good works from a grateful heart because of the Grace, Love, and GIFT of God. There is obviously a big difference between doing something because you feel who have to as opposed to doing it because you want to out of a heart of love. All good that results is to the Glory of Almighty God alone.

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Tamara,

The majority of the officers on my department are Christian. Some are more active than others. It's hard to imagine the suffering many people go through, and a police officer is many times there for the worst of it.

In Christ,
Tom

Then you haven't been paying attention.

I think by now you have noticed that every Christian in this forum disagrees with 90% of what you say.  In fact, ebia, you yourself said that non-Christians agree with you.  Surely you're not taking the stance that everybody is wrong but you.

This forum is not representative of Christianity.

Ebia,

I would be the first to admit my frequent failures in Christian love. I think that most Christians would have to admit the same and say they are asking God for forgiveness and guidance in seeking HIS WILL in our daily lives.

You claim to be a Christian, but you appear to stand in opposition to just about all teaching from HIS HOLY WORD. Are you representative of Christianity?

In Christ,
Tom

[Thanks be unto God for HIS unspeakable GIFT!]

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

Yes, I give thanks that I'm saved. I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart as my personal Lord and Saviour almost 50 year ago. My life was changed forever, and I was "Born Again" and made a new creature in Christ. I have been adopted as a child of God and given an inheritance that I didn't deserve and haven't earned. The Holy Spirit is in my heart as a seal of the PROMISE of eternal life in Glory with my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

All Glory and thanks goes to Almighty God, his Love and MATCHLESS GRACE. Any goodness or righteousness I might have is imputed to me ONLY THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. Apart from the Blood of Jesus, I have NO goodness or righteousness.

Thanks be unto God for HIS unspeakable GIFT!

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

I was a Christian police officer for 25 years, and I saw people at their very worst an uncountable number of times. I feel blessed that God gave me the opportunity to witness to these people on and off duty. I firmly believe that God gives opportunities to all of his children to witness, and it's up to us what we do with that opportunity.

In Christ,
Tom

[GOD SAID IT! - IT'S DONE!]

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

I sincerely believe that Salvation is Eternal and can't be lost.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins in our stead. This was Love and Grace from Almighty God, a GIFT for those who will believe and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.

This is the GOOD NEWS!, the Gospel of the Grace of God. Grace is undeserved and unearned. Salvation is a PROMISE from Almighty God to those who believe, and ALMIGHTY GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES.

GOD SAID IT! - IT'S DONE!

In Christ,
Tom

Hoekstra Devotional - October 3

Contrasting Results for Self-Exaltation and Humility:

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men" . . . everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.  (Luk_18:11, Luk_18:14)

The importance of Jesus' teaching in our present verse can be seen in its being repeated on various occasions (Mat_23:12 and Luk_14:11). The instruction sets forth the universal inevitability of contrasting results for self-exaltation and humility. "Everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

This particular proclamation of the message was given in a parable that warns against self-righteousness and encourages humility. "He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others" (Luk_18:9). The contrasting examples in the parable are the prayers of a self-assured religious leader and a repentant publican. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector" (Luke 18:10). When the self-righteous Pharisee prayed, he was actually having a personal dialogue with himself, even though he vainly addressed his prayer to God?! "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself" (Luk_18:11). He then appears to begin his prayer in a biblical manner, with an expression of thanksgiving. "In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Phi_4:6). However, his gratitude was based upon the ungodly assumption that he was innately better than others, particularly, this nearby publican. "God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector" (Luk_18:11). Then, he proceeded to elaborate upon his own virtues by reviewing his religious performance, which obviously seemed very impressive to him. "I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess" (Luk_18:12).

This self-righteous Pharisee was so assured of his good standing with God. Yet, he was measuring himself by his own eyes and in comparison to others. The scriptures that he would claim as his guide condemned such self-righteousness. "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness" (Pro_30:12). Although man may have been impressed with his external behavior, God saw the abomination of his godless heart. "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luk_16:15).

Dear Lord, I am so grateful that the blood of Christ washes away the times when I have talked or thought — or, even prayed — like this self-righteousness Pharisee. Help me to humbly embrace Your perspective, not man's, in Jesus name, Amen.

THUR OCT 2,  2003 - TIME TO GROW!

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" (Psalms 37:7).

Lincoln said that "a short speech requires great preparation; a long speech can be given anytime on short notice."  Now, are we going to "spend our years as a tale that is told" (Psalms 90:9); or are we going to settle down and grow in the image of our eternal Lord?

"In our spiritual experience we often find that not least of our trials is the fact that God seems so slow to respond; sometimes it would appear that He is careless or indifferent---and  that just  when  our needs are most acute.  Two of the major elements in the spiritual life and experience of His own are the seemingly slow and hidden ways of God, and the demand for persistent faith in His servants."---T.A-S

"The work of God in the lives of His people is designed to make them 'partakers of His holiness.'  He undertakes their training in His school with the intention that, however difficult in practice the course may be, it will yield 'the peaceable fruit of righteousness' in the lives of those who undergo it.

"This evidently represents His norm--no short-cuts and no exceptions.  At least, He did not make an exception of Abraham, or Joseph, or Moses, or any of the great men and women whose names are listed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.  Their training lasted for decades and led them into painful situations and difficult places.  But their lives, as a result, were incomparably fruitful." ---J.P.

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Psalms 62:5).

MILES J. STANFORD

2 Tim 2:15  Study to show thyself approved unto God, a  workman  that needeth  not  to  be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"FOR OF HIM, AND THROUGH HIM, AND TO HIM, ARE ALL THINGS:  TO WHOM BE GLORY FOR EVER AMEN."

Web Site:
Grace And The Truth
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Email:
GraceNtheTruth Email Ministry
and
The Grace Prayer Group
GraceNTheTruth@aol.com

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Subject: Two Minutes With The Bible - Oct 3

FAILING CHRISTIAN LEADERS

Have you been disappointed in your pastor or the officers
of your church or perhaps in Christian leaders in general?
Have you placed great faith in some spiritual leader only to
be disillusioned and to find out that your faith has been
misplaced? Have you observed the growing popularity of
some evangelist or Bible teacher whom you "know" to be
insincere, while noting that another, whose fidelity and
sincerity are beyond question, seems to get nowhere?

How it helps, in such situations, to be able to "rightly
divide the Word of truth," and to enjoy "the full assurance
of understanding" that comes with "the full knowledge
[Gr., epignosis] of the mystery"! (Col. 2:2).

In "this present evil age" we are living under "the dispen-
sation of the grace of God."

God is not saving good people today, nor even people who
will repent and "do works meet for repentance." Rather, He
is saving poor sinners who will come to Him with all their
sin. This is God’s gracious response to man’s rejection of the
King and the kingdom as offered at Pentecost.

Look at the way believers lived together in love and har-
mony during the Pentecostal era and you are apt to ex-
claim: "Why can’t we live that way today? Let’s get back to
Pentecost." But look at the way believers lived together
after the raising up of Paul, even among his beloved Philip-
pians, and you will say: "It is no different today." This is
because the believers at Pentecost were all filled with the
Spirit in fulfillment of a prophetic promise, while today He
has in grace committed His message to failing men and
women, who indeed possess the Spirit, but often grieve
Him.

Written by Pastor Stam

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http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
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P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
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Telephone:   262-255-4750

Oklahoma Howdy to Romans8_1,

I certainly agree with your post, but you may not be aware of the other side of the coin. Christians Unite has recently weathered an organized attack of trolls who went Christian hunting and tried to destroy Christians Unite. If you look through the message threads, you will still see evidence of the hunt. We may still have a few on the board.

There are others on the board that many Christians have been working with for a lengthy period of time. It is many times difficult to determine if they are lost and looking for help or if they are the devil seeking to devour. As time passes, you may see efforts of tough love, and you may also see rebuke.

I sincerely look forward to fellowship with you. I also welcome your approach of calm and Christian love. We have more need of that, regardless of the intentions of the person we are conversing with.

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Psalm 119,

Thanks for the link. I've seen the picture, but I didn't get to read the story. It strengthens my resolve to keep doing everything I can legally do to stop wholesale abortion which is nothing but murder.

In Christ,
Tom  

Oklahoma Howdy to Peachykeen,

Welcome to Christians Unite. I sincerely hope you enjoy the Christian fellowship here. Jump in and have some fun.

In Christ,
Tom

[Could it be that everyone is right and everyone is wrong at the same time?]

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

Could it be that everyone is right and everyone is wrong at the same time?

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 Timothy 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

James 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Questions for mankind:

Can a person falsely profess to be saved? (A - Yes)

If a person claims to be saved and there is no change in their lives, were they saved or do they simply boast of being saved? (A - They were not saved)

If a person claims to be saved and there is no desire for the things of God, were they saved or do they simply boast of being saved? (A - They were not saved)

Is a person saved by Grace and faith alone? (A - Yes)

Is salvation a Gift from God that can't be earned, deserved, or paid for in any way by man? (A - Yes)

Are good works required for Salvation? (A - No)

Do the writings of Paul and James conflict and contradict each other? (A - No)

Does Paul clearly state that Salvation is by Grace alone and faith alone? (A - Yes)

Does James clearly state that faith without works is dead? (A - Yes)

REPEAT: Do the writings of Paul and James conflict and contradict each other? (A - No)

--------------------------
Conclusion: According to Paul, Salvation is by Grace alone and by faith alone. According to James, there is and will be evidence of Salvation if the person was truly saved. So, do the two conflict? No, they perfectly compliment each other.

In Christ,
Tom