Hello, I am new here

[Soldier4Christ]

It's great to see you back. That does sound like a really great time that you had.

[nChrist]

Welcome Home! - We missed you! - Here's a BIG HELLO back at you from me.

I am glad to hear that you had such a good time. I've only gotten to see the beautiful fall colors in the North once - West Virginia, Maryland, New York, and especially far North New York. I said especially far North New York because I spent a couple of days in a cabin about 60 miles South of Canada. It was in the mountains and heavily wooded. I'll just say that turning every corner was like a gorgeous picture post card.

We did visit my son in Florida one year, and we thought that was beautiful country also. His home is at Port St. Lucie. Everywhere we went during that visit was gorgeous. We really enjoy looking at God's handywork, including the rugged Wichita Mountains where we live in SW. Oklahoma. We think it's pretty here - just a different kind of pretty.

My wife retired since I talked with you last. We are much like you in that we don't need much entertainment. We plan to enjoy doing many things together that are free or almost free.

I know that I've talked your arm off, so I'll stop.     It's very nice to have you back with us.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[islandboy]

Thanks for the warm welcome it is nice to be missed. 

Got a question for you. I met a person while I was away that is a Jehovah's Witnesses. She popped a question at me about when Jesus died that he supposely went to hell. Her idea was that the grave is where hell is. At the time I told her I do not debate verses of the Bible without having my Bible in hand. However, since I have been home I have not seen the verse written as such. Some studies speak of Jesus going down under for 3 days, but none I have read say he was in Hell. Perhapes this is the way it is mentioned in their Bible, but how can I address this subject with her?  I don't want to offend her only help point her in the right direction.
I can never understand why people or groups that claim to be "Christians", approach other Christians in a attempt to confuse the issues or win them over to there way of thinking.  I have no desire to become a JW, but I do not wish to hurt her feelings either. What's your take on this?

[nChrist]

No, Jesus Christ did not go to hell, but it's easy to see how many could be confused on this subject. The Jews used several words related to the "place for the dead", grave, sepulchre, etc. One must also make a distinction between the body and the spirit. The spirits of the Old Testament saints didn't go to Hell, and neither did the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Back to the subject of the body for a moment:  1) The bodies of Abraham, David, and other Old Testament saints saw corruption (spoil, decay);  2) The body of Jesus Christ did not see corruption, as it was raised from the place of the dead on the third day before spoil and decay began.

This can be a long and difficult study, but I've only covered some highlights. Big changes took place after the Cross - including where the departed spirits of the saints go. Before the Cross, there were two chambers in the earth for the spirits of the departed - one for the lost and one for the saved. The one for the saved was known as "Abraham's Bosom" (a place of joy and rest). As we know, the bodies of both the lost and the saved go to the grave - the earth - awaiting resurrection for either judgment or glorification. I hope this helped some. The Jehovah's Witnesses have many extremely strange beliefs that aren't Biblical at all, especially on the subject of Jesus Christ.

If you would like to do a further study on this subject, you might start with Matthew 12:40, Luke 16:23, and John 19:42. If you want to do a word study from Hebrew and Greek roots, you might start my looking at "hades" and "sheol". Please keep in mind the big distinction between body and soul/spirit and know there are various meanings for the "place of the dead".

Love In Christ,
Tom

2 Timothy 2:8-10 ASV  8  Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel:  9  wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound.  10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

 

[Hawk]

Hey, ya'll! I am new here too, well, I been logged on as a member for a little while, but I was reading the many wonderful studies you have here. Man 'o man! I got lost! LOL That hallway on the second floor gets a bit slickery at times, don't you agree? 

Everyone just calls me Hawk....My great Aunt Rose christened me that when I was just a hatchling. I am a "Believer", in Jesus Christ, GOD the Father and the Holy Spirit. I am 64% blind so forgive me if I misspell something. LOL, I like to con the phrase, "I was blinded, that I might see...."

Ya'll take care now, ya hear? I'll be poppin in and out from time to time. I really like the "feel" of this place.

You're Blessed!

[nChrist]

Hello Hawk,

WELCOME!

We're happy to have you with us, and I look forward to having fellowship with you. We have quite a few here with disabilities of one type or another, including me.

I'm sorry that I don't understand what you mean by slick hallway on the second floor. I'll think about that and might get it later. I hope you enjoy Christians Unite.

Love In Christ,
Tom

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[Soldier4Christ]

Hello Hawk, Welcome to the forum. You are not alone with having physical problems. There are others here that have problems of one sort or another, including myself. Spelling can be a problem even for those that have perfect vision so no need to apologize for that. We overlook all that and if it causes misunderstandings then we work around it.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of your posts and having some wonderful Christian fellowship with you.

[Hawk]

Thank you for the warmest of welcomes, there. If I should say anything that anyone don't exactly understand, just ask. My mama always told me that you will never know if you don't ask and that the only stupid question is one that has not been asked yet.

I use a lot of "my mama says" things as well as my own wordage in phrasing what I see or experience such as, "slickery on the second floor", LOL, all was meant was that this place is so big that I slip around posts and get lost in the threads. As a newbie, I am up against thousands of posts on just about as many threads. To be exact:

244520 Posts in 21572 Topics by 3814 Members

That is a lot of slippin' and slidin' around a message board, I tell you the truth! LOL. I am used to message boards that are fairly new or have a few threads at a time with only a few posters. This place is amazing.

I guess my posts will be limited to this one thread for the time being, until I get a little more familiarized with the area. I fear not, am of good courage and have an adventuresome spirit when it comes to, well, anything Biblical.

I am into studying Noah and the Flood, Paul's conversionary experiences and his ministries, since he was the only one that did not actually know Jesus in person and only after Jesus's resurrection. Some say he was....what is the word, agnostic, I believe, but I don't think that for a second. Nope. He was hooked into a direct communication resource with the resurrected Jesus Christ. I can relate as he was also blinded that he might see.

I hope I don't get too bold for ya'll nor outspoken as my speech tends to lean heavily toward the "Mountain woman" sort, hehehe. I am a simple person and definitely not a theologian or any other high fall-ooo-tin wordage of that sort of nature. I don't read anything into Scripture except for that which I am led by the Holy Spirit. I try not to "interpret" either. I feel this is where a lot of Christianity is falling way behind and short, interpreting through what they see written and not what the Spirit explains to them.

Hope I didn't step on any toes here and if I did, sorry 'bout that, truly was not meant for that. I too, look forward to fellowship here among others of like minds. I have found so many places that call themselves "Christian" really not. I was "led" to this forum several months ago and have found some wonderful studies, so I decided to "flutter" down from the rafters and introduce myself, LOL, you may want me to "flutter" back up before too long, and that will be fine and dandy with me, as long as I can stick around and read! 

Ya'll take care, now, ya hear!

[Soldier4Christ]

Good Morning Hawk. We have folks from all around on here. One of my grandmas was a "Mountain woman" sort from the Appalachians. Of course I'm partial but I think she was a wonderful person.

The studies you are in at the moment are some of the most wonderful portions of scripture and there are many threads on here in those areas.

[nChrist]

Hello Hawk,

I'll second the GOOD MORNING to you.

The Apostle Paul is one of my favorite Bible writers. I have no doubt that he had a beautiful and very personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I also agree with Pastor Roger that Paul's Epistles are some of the most wonderful studies in God's Word. After all, God gave Paul the honor of explaining the greatest event in the history of mankind:  Jesus Christ and the Cross - God's Greatest Gift - The Heart of the Gospel of God's Grace and Love.

We're happy to have you with us.

Love In Christ,
Tom

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[islandboy]

Welcome to the forum Hawk. I am sure you will enjoy taking part in discussions all over the boards in the many different topic's. I have been here awhile and there are a lot of good solid Christian folks here who like me will enjoy seeing your posts.

[islandboy]

Hear my cry O God;
Listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
I call as my heart grows faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been my refuge,
A strong tower against the foe.
I long to abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.
                        PSALM  61: 1-4

[nChrist]

Hear my cry O God;
Listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
I call as my heart grows faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been my refuge,
A strong tower against the foe.
I long to abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.
                        PSALM  61: 1-4

Amen! - Beautiful!

[islandboy]

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

I have seen you in the santuary
and beheld your power and glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richer of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings
I stay close to you;
your right hand upholds me.

They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down into the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.

But the King will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
                         Psalms  63: 1-11

[islandboy]

HEAR ME, O God, as I voice my complaint,
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the noisy crowd of evildoers,
who sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim their words like deadly arrows.
They shoot from ambush at the innocent men,
they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.

They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, "Who will see them?"
They plot injustice and say,
"We have devised a perfect plan!"
surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.

But God will shoot them with arrows;
suddenly they will be struck down.
He will turn their tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
All mankind will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.

Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord
and take refuge in him;
let all the upright in heart praise him!

                        PSALMS  64: 1-10