How'd they treat them?  Did they get a better seed and botch something up for us?  Did they pass our record?  Not seeing the games cause of work's REALLY buggin' me!  Regardless, we'll see who's who on December 16th!    

Tell me, how ya feel about Green Bay?  They're doin' pretty good this year...

[Reality is different for each person, especially Christians.Brother Kevin, I think you know that I'm not talking about "pie in the sky" intellectual philosophies. I'm talking about Spiritual Riches in CHRIST that are just as REAL as anything we can see and touch. Many lost people will be laughing at this, but they won't be laughing one day. For those who are laughing, human beings do have a Spirit, and it's just as real as the body that we can touch and see. CHRIST and the things of GOD are just as REAL, and I'm sad that so many lost people laugh at these ULTIMATE TRUTHS. As Christians, we feed our Spirits with GOD'S WORD in this short life, and the things of GOD do make our joy more full, regardless of the circumstances we face. We WILL be going HOME one day soon, and this world isn't it! GOD has told us some about HOME, but I'm sure that it will be beyond human imagination.]

Hello Brother Kevin,

Nobody likes even the thought of pain, disease, and physical death. This certainly includes Christians, but we have a different REALITY than the lost. I think there would be a certain amount of fear for even the strongest Christian. I would be quick to point out that I'm not anywhere near the strongest Christian, but I can testify to the fact that strength in CHRIST changes everything. Yielding to GOD also changes everything. These are the things that the Bible labels as "That your joy might be more full." These things actually have a positive impact on every facet of this short life. Our personal relationship with CHRIST also changes how we perceive everything around us. I've heard the quote ,"Reality is in the eye of the beholder", many times, and this is a true statement. The resulting question then becomes, "What is reality?" Reality is different for each person, especially Christians.

Brother Kevin, I think you know that I'm not talking about "pie in the sky" intellectual philosophies. I'm talking about Spiritual Riches in CHRIST that are just as REAL as anything we can see and touch. Many lost people will be laughing at this, but they won't be laughing one day. For those who are laughing, human beings do have a Spirit, and it's just as real as the body that we can touch and see. CHRIST and the things of GOD are just as REAL, and I'm sad that so many lost people laugh at these ULTIMATE TRUTHS. As Christians, we feed our Spirits with GOD'S WORD in this short life, and the things of GOD do make our joy more full, regardless of the circumstances we face. We WILL be going HOME one day soon, and this world isn't it! GOD has told us some about HOME, but I'm sure that it will be beyond human imagination.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable GIFT, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour Forever!

   

Thanks for your perspective Tom.  It helps far more than you'll ever really know.   

Lost,

No fair!  Eva stole my passage!     She's right though.    Bro, if you're coming back, you need to realize that God's not standing in the doorway with a list of demands for you before He welcomes you back.  He's on the road, arms open wide, right where He's been waiting.     Want to come back?  Tell Him.  Ask His forgiveness for the reasons you left, then...forget the past and press on to the mark of the high calling Jesus has called you to.  I'll pray for you Bro.   

[AMEN!!]

AMEN!!

LOL  not so bad...I love the look I get from some folks though when I go on visitation.  Nothing like a 6', 300lb, bald man with goatee knocking at your door either.

LOL  I bet you get alot of conversions!  Something about your description and the question, "If you were to die tonight, do you know where you'd spend eternity?", that makes me think you've got a one up others don't!   

Fortunately for the us it's the Holy Spirit's work.   

AMEN TOM!  I'm pumped!  I'm like you though, but for a different reason.  I'd love to see the rapture from the down-side looking up.  Namely because I'm scared of dying!     I mean I'm good with the end destination of Glory, but it's the trip I'm not really looking forward too!  Seriously, like or not, the end is worth the "not."     Really makes you think how linearly we think doesn't it?  We worry so much about the moment, without taking eternity into light.  We've got our financial issues, health issues, relationship issues and a bevy of other woes to be bothered by - ALL of which are no more than a fleeting moment.  Moments we spend worrying, rather than telling others of the eternity we've been blessed with experiencing some day.  Sometimes I think the blessed ones are the ones who have one foot on the doorstep of eternity.  Life I think is far more simple and clear at that point.  Just a thought.   

[Brother, I'll simply say that I BELIEVE more strongly now than ever. I believed before my times of trial, but things DID work out for my good. You're right about many things not being simple - GOD has to show them to us. GOD also gives us each other for prayer, strength, encouragement, and fellowship. Brother, please know that you're still in our prayers. As for the Promises of GOD, just say AMEN! and consider them DONE! If you get a chance, take a look at "The Faithful Promiser". They are quite old, but they are beautiful and TRUE. The Author is one of my favorites, John MacDuff.]

AMEN BROTHER KEVIN!

Brother, I'll simply say that I BELIEVE more strongly now than ever. I believed before my times of trial, but things DID work out for my good. You're right about many things not being simple - GOD has to show them to us. GOD also gives us each other for prayer, strength, encouragement, and fellowship. Brother, please know that you're still in our prayers. As for the Promises of GOD, just say AMEN! and consider them DONE! If you get a chance, take a look at "The Faithful Promiser". They are quite old, but they are beautiful and TRUE. The Author is one of my favorites, John MacDuff.

The Faithful Promiser
http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?topic=20300.0

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

Amen!  Thanks for the link Brother Tom.  I'll be reading that today.  And thanks to everyone for your continued prayers.  God is great!   

No, God is Great!!

Amen to that!  I'm driving to work today, and looking at the newly fallen snow that was helping me be late to work...and grumbling.  I decided to reflect on the beauty of God's creation, and I thought: it's Christmas time, and what does God do here for us?  He paints everything white.  Beautiful.  What's more?  Christmas' promise of the gift of life to come from the cross would wash our sins..."whiter than snow."  So on Christmas time, God reminds those of us fortunate enough to be late because of the weather via the weather, to stop and wonder at His gift.  Yup Brother.  God is great.   

["We are saved by faith alone; but not by a faith that stands alone."]

Littleboy,

I heard an old pastor put it this way once:

"We are saved by faith alone; but not by a faith that stands alone."

You mentioned a passage in your first post...

Yes,
IF your talking about the WORKS of Faith and NOT the Works of the Law?
Galatians 2:
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

...but missed the phrasing.  That is, there is no mention of "works of faith."  Only "faith."  The only works mentioned are those of the Law.  It's neat, isn't it?  How Paul was "doing the work of the Lord" by persacuting believers for their faith, when he met Jesus?  Uniquely, Paul wasn't doing good works when he was saved.  And the good works he excelled in afterward were because of his faith and gracious salvation.  Cool!  We love Him because He first loved us.  We serve Him not to gain favor, but because of the gracious gift He has given we who are not worthy.  And He only asks that we believe.  Simple? Hardly.

He says His strength is sufficient.  Try believing that on your hospital bed at 3 in the morning at age 36 suffering from a heart attack.  If I believe, if I have faith, my works will reflect that belief.

He says He will never leave us nor forsake us.  Try believing that when your business is going down the tubes, your bills are rising but your checkbook balance isn't, and the phones keep ringing with calls from the bill collector's - and all you want to know is if He's there to hear you cry.  If I believe, if I have faith, my works will reflect that belief.

We work good works because we have a Father Who works good works.  We take after Him.   

UPDATE: She's in remission!  She's had surgery, and is ready to start radiation.  She's accepted that this will not be healed.  But isn't God good?  This whole thing's had many at our church thinking.  For me, it's been a harsh reminder of the price of sin: not her's personally mind you, but sin in general.  Sin has cursed us all, and as a result, we die.  We wonder why God would allow this in her life.  I'm reminded that sin's curse touches us all, and that God uses that in our lives so often to give Himself glory.  When weak, we are made strong.  When ignorant, we are made wise.  Mankind brought sin on ourselves from Greatest Grandaddy Adam on down.  We as a local body, have learned much from her on going trial.  Isn't God good?  I'm starting to get it.  I've got along way to go, but I'm beginning to see His goodness when what He gives us doesn't seem so "good." 

Sweet!  Ya know, it's funny.  Try as they do to take Him out of it, He still manages to be the focus, doesn't He?   I mean, it's a minority group trying to push Him out of the majorities view point for their comfort and "rights".  Yah?  Well it's my American right to say:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
 

They're my new favorite store!  I'm working a part time job at Target these days to help make ends meet as a cashier.  Yah.  Bald guy with a goatee handling your money.  Weird eh?  Anywho, point was, I had a guy who is in the army, was over in Iraq and "everywhere", who recently shipped into Camp Atterbury(sp?) in Indiana to train troops going out.  I was able to talk with him for a bit, and thank him for his service.  It's nice to get that opportunity to thank those fighting for us.

AMEN Brothers and Sisters!  God is good! 

I'm running low on time, so I voted and will just drop my thoughts here!  I said No.  You can't lose your salvation.  There have been a great many passages listed.  My favorite passage on this matter is the book of Hebrews.  But here's a very basic thought to consider: was my salvation dependent on anything I brought to the table?  Most would agree that none of us brings anything worthy of the gift of life God gives us.  So, if I bring nothing of merit to obtain it...what makes me think I could do anything of merit to maintain it?  Folks, it's God.  You weren't too messed up for Him to save.  What makes you think you'll ever be too messed up for Him to hold you?  Just a thought.   

[Disclaimer: I do not gamble and would not actually put money on anyone. I will, however, bet on the finer things in life, like manna serving, mansion room cleaning, etc.]

Chicago??

     

Disclaimer: I do not gamble and would not actually put money on anyone.  I will, however, bet on the finer things in life, like manna serving, mansion room cleaning, etc. ditto!!

In fact if I remember right, you are already serving me manna brother.

Yah!  That dynamo team from the windy city that went to the Superbowl last year!  Man, are they ever as good and driven as they were last year!  Only problem...they can't score...or stop the other team from scoring...apart from that?  GREAT TEAM!!!   

P.S. Love the 's!