I would gander a guess that you believe baptism is essential for salvation as well. You are from the Church of Christ theology which teaches works to gain salvation.

Too bad you dont have patience for there have been some great posts along the way.....

Yes, God could make everyone saved. He could also make everyone worship only Him.  However, then it wouldnt be a choice anymore would it. To allow for us to choose, God had to allow for us not to choose. He provides a means for all to be saved, however, there will be those who rebel and not repent.

I believe that God is speaking about all people when He states He desires for all to be saved.

Not all will be saved however, because He has made allowance for this. He has allowed us to choose Him or not.

Those as in 2Thessalonians 2:10refused to love the truth
and they will experience the consequences

But doesnt Scripture tell us that God desires for all to be saved? (1Tim 2:4) Not that He has chosen some to be saved.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace which we now stand." Romans 5:1-2

I agree Ebia. Those who hold that women should be used as called and gifted as pastor, leader and such come to this realization through biblical insight.

It is just as easy to claim that those who hold to the hierarchial position of male "leadership" over women are holding onto cultural and traditional mindset that progressed as a result of our sinful state.

Both positions however, hold to the authority of Scripture as their source for determining their position of women in ministry.  Only by continuing deeper study of Biblical evidence and weighing the merits of divergent insights can we come to understand the facets of this issue.

It was not that far away that Christians clutching thier Bibles held that slavery was not only to be condoned, but divinely mandated by God.  

I didnt vote in your choices because I am going to heaven not based on any of those things you posted.  I am going to heaven because I have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life. I now live for Him and He has sealed me to eternal life through the Holy Spirit.....

wren-

I dont believe in "bad" or "good" luck.  Instead, it seems to me that you arent getting work that you need or want, and so mentally are seeing things in a "negative" light that happen to many of us on a daily basis and are just happenings. I know I can get into that mentality at times when it seems like everything is out of whack. In actuality, however, I am distracted by a bigger problem and allow smaller things to attach to it.

What I do about it is to begin with praise and thankfulness.  Praise God for all that you have and all the blessings that He is and has bestowed unto you. You will find more than you think.  God allows us to work "on our own power" when we choose to, instead of under His guidance. This can bring someone to their knees quite readily. We on our own devices manage to make things usually quite a mess. God also sometimes allows us to go through some tough times in order to fully allow Him to work. Even those who are faithful are not immune from disaster from time to time. But the faithful never lose heart or trust that God will see them through.

So, keep your eyes on Him and in all ways acknowledge Him and He will guide your path.  Instead of seeing this time as "look what is happening to me" try seeing it as "How is God speaking to me through this"....it may help.  blessings to you!

Peaches-

I think we can all relate to times we want things and our spouses dont agree, or are not ready. Why dont you and your husband commit to prayer about it? What does God want for you both? Sometimes our needs are clouded by what we want.  A baby is surely a blessing, but it also brings much with it that isnt so "wonderful".  There is stress from lack of sleep, increased financial needs, shifting of priorities to involve the infant (many times coming before our own needs), limits on freedoms enjoyed previously, and I could go on.

Of course, most of us hands down would say that those stressors are very much worth the joy of having a new life and nurturing this infant into a wonderful person. I could compile a list of blessings just as long, if not longer.  

However, I believe there are times in our lives when a baby can complete it or complicate it.  We, as humans also can be fearful of the unknown. Sometimes what we envision in our heads is not what plays out in reality at all.  

The important thing is that when making such decisions, you both be on the same page so to speak. If my husband is uneasy about something, we wait and pray it out. The same goes for him when I am uneasy about a decision. But when we pray about it, then God changes hearts, situations, allays fears, speaks in many ways.  Dont lose heart. God wants only what is the very best for His children.  

Ephesians 2:9-10 says it all.  

We are saved by grace through faith. In Christ we do good works which God has prepared for us to do.

Our works come out of our salvation. Our desire is no longer for self but to do God's will, our works are done because we are His not to become His. We will be known by the fruit we bear.

I believe Angelicman is United Pentecostal or  United Apostolic.  These groups deny the doctrine of the Trinity and  believe there is one person in the Godhead who took three consecutive forms or modes. First there was the Father who then became the Son who then became the Holy Spirit. I believe it is called Modal Monarchianism or something along that line.....I dont know a whole lot about them though. Anyone else know?

Good answer pnotc.   The elephant man was known because his face took on a type of tusked appearance due to tumors that develop that are called cutaneous or neurofibromas.   This condition was known as Neurofibromatosis. However more recently it has been shown that he had a rare condition instead known as Proteus Syndrome. Either way, it was not due to intermixing of species, but a medical condition.

Shiro-

You were once a JW? How did you come to realize the false teaching?  

This is not JW teaching for they revive the ancient heresy put forward by Arius in the fourth century...Jesus is not fully God but "a god" They identify him as Michael the archangel, believing he was God's first creation, thus a creature rather than Creator.

I have been attempting to somehow respond to your last posting Jason, however, I dont think comment is needed.   I think you are wise to step away, for it seems to have upset you.

Saved-

I really dont know where to begin,so I will start with answering your "accusations" one at a time. First of all, you are speaking about Deborah and dismissing her relevance (as well as the other judges God rose up). All the Judges were raised up as deliverers and leaders for God's purpose. Since the song of praise she authored is the fifth chapter of Judges, she was one of the people moved by the Holy Spirit to speak God's Word, the sacred text of the Bible.

Deborah was both judge and prophet. She was the highest leader of Israel.  Is the fact that none of the priests were women any more significant than the fact that all were free Jewish men?  To say that women  cannot fill certain roles in the church is akin to saying that Jewish Christians cannot fill certain roles. These are cultural (sinful) tendancies, not Christian ideals. Galatians 3:28 makes it clear that distinctions between genders are not significant in the body of Christ.

Miriam was also prophetess and called leader by God. God said, "I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam." One-third of the peoples national leadership was female.

What is a prophet? There are at least two roles in the Scriptures: A prophet can mean the same as a preacher-one who speaks on God's behalf concerning the present-or one who foretells the future. Teaching is also involved in prophecy for if you are speak on God's behalf, you will have to teach those who hear you.  

Now for Phoebe--  Paul began by saying he "commended" Phoebe. The Greek word for  commend means "to stand with" In other words, Paul was endorsing Phoebe. This commendation was extremely significant. The Corinthian church was obsessed with status.  Paul rebuked those who "commend themselves" Paul wouldnt seek for himself letters of recommendation so coveted by those who desired spiritual leadership in the church. Paul said that the Corinthian believers should have commended him and didnt. He wanted to make sure this didnt happen to Phoebe.  After endorsing her, Paul used two key words. He called her a "diakonos" Many translations render this Greek word as "servant" which is not incorrect, however it might be better translated as "deacon" or "minister" as is done in other NT passages. Paul used this word 21 times in his letters. The NIV translates it as deacon 3 times (2Cor3:6; Col4:7; 1Tim3: as minister 3 times (2Cor3:6; Col4:7; 1Tim4:6) as servant 14 times (Romans 13:4a; 15:8;16:1; 1Cor4:1; 2Cor6:4; 11:15a;15b;23; Ephesians 3:7;6:21; Col1:7;23;25). This is the same word Paul used for his male coworkers. In other words, Paul used the term servant to persons clearly understood to be ministers of the gospel, including himself. No distinction between minister and deacon existed in the NT. Paul went on to modify the noun diakonos by the phrase "of the church".   This would enforce the message she was a minister of the Gospel who served the church in a public way. The Romans were to "receive her" Paul used this word on one other occasion when he praised an esteemed coworker named Epaphroditus. She was to be received "in a way worthy of the saints" Similar to his teaching in 1Timothy 5:17. Paul went on to say Phoebe was a "prostatis" This Greek word takes on the meaning of servant-leader; or one who governs. Emporers, kings, governors, partiarchs, captains and other figures of authority were referred to by this term. This term was used to describe only one person in the NT...Phoebe.

The 12 were apostles, but there were other apostles such as Paul, James the less, Barnabas, Andronicus and Junias. The Greek apostle means "to send forth; send out" To merit the title apostle,  one had to have been divinely commissioned to preach. When Paul identifies Junias as "outstanding among the Apostles" this expression includes them  within the apostolic circle.  John Crysostom, a church father and commentator on Pual in the 4th century, understood the refernce to be a woman and an apostle. He states, "To be an apostle is great. But to be outstanding among the apostles--just think what a wonderful song of praise that is! They were outstanding on the basis of their works and virtuous actions. Indeed, how great the wisdom of this woman must have been that she was deemed worthy of the title of apostle."

Remember, we are a priesthood of believers, with Jesus as our high priest. We need no human to intercede on our behalf, we, each of us as believers go directly to God. We will each be accountable for what we do and fail to do as God gifts and directs.  We are all gifted as imparted by the Holy Spirit to meet the needs of individuals or groups. These are  wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracle worker, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation.  We also are gifted with ministry gifts, which has to do with the function of the body of Christ. The gifts of ministry or function are ...apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, one who serves, exhorter, giver, leader, mercy, helper, administrator, preacher, giftings. One Body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

Yes women and men have great parts that God has given for us. Each of us God has a plan. Unfortunately yours is about power and placement of a hierarchy. Mine is about mutuality and submission to build up the body of Christ.