Coffee Time!

[nChrist]

GOOD MORNING BROTHER DAVID AND ALL!

YES, it is my morning, and I have my coffee. I also remember that you drink hot tea, and so does my wife. My wife is a schoolteacher and tells me that people who drink hot tea are ones of higher intelligence.      I just say, "Yes, that's completely correct!  (Small Print: I know if I don't that she'll send me to my room. What she doesn't know is MY ROOM is where I want to be.)   

By the way, I don't think that a preference for tea or coffee has anything to do with intelligence, but please don't tell my wife that.   

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

I'm reading some portions of Scripture, and I think this is the most important things Christians can do in these days and times. I strongly believe that we should always pray before we Read and Study GOD'S WORD that GOD will allow HIS HOLY SPIRIT to help us in understanding and applying the Scriptures to our lives.

Our Reading and Study should be SLOW and in the greatest REVERENCE to GOD'S WORD - remembering that it is HIS WORD - knowing that HE gave it to us for the BEST reasons - and GOD Ministering to us in every possible trial or difficulty we could experience in this short life. The final result MUST be that GOD GETS ALL THE GLORY and none for mankind.

Psalms 100:1-5 NRSV  Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.  2  Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.  3  Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.  5  For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

[David_james]

I can't wait for the Millennium Kingdom. It sounds awesome and fun.

I'll get to garden and cook and build and play an instrument. I'll be able to play sports too. I hope there is enough time for everything.

[nChrist]

Brother David,

I also wanted to thank you again for the email the other day drawing attention to Psalms 8. It's such a beautiful portion of Scripture, and it speaks volumes. I'd really like to share a couple of thoughts I've had since you shared with me.

Psalms 8:1-9 NRSV  O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.  2  Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.  3  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;  4  what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?  5  Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.  6  You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,  7  all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,  8  the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.  9  O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

We should stand in awe of ALMIGHTY GOD - OUR CREATOR. We are just a tiny speck in the universe, but GOD made us special and unique - IN HIS IMAGE. GOD did design us for Eternity, and HIS CREATION of us was PERFECT. GOD meant to give us CHOICE to obey or disobey, but HE gave us SO MUCH that there shouldn't have been any need to disobey. Everything man needed was present in abundance, and all man had to do was not eat the fruit of one tree.

We must remember that the surroundings of Adam and Eve were described as a Garden Paradise. There are still beautiful places today in many places, but I'm certain that none of them compare to the Garden of Eden. Man was given dominion over the earth, but man was to be in SUBJECTION TO GOD THE CREATOR. We all know that Adam and Eve chose to DISOBEY, so the curse of sin and death was passed upon all mankind. Troubles of all kinds were released on mankind because of their disobedience, so mankind is NOT YET experiencing what GOD intended for HIS CREATION that HE made in the IMAGE OF GOD. GOD'S WORD uses the words OUR IMAGE - indicating GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT - ALL THE CREATOR - YET ONE!

I'll try not to be long-winded, but I did want to share a few of my thoughts when reading and studying this beautiful portion of Scripture. ALMIGHTY GOD is an eternal, immortal, supernatural being, so what was man originally designed to be by THE CREATOR - ALMIGHTY GOD? How would things have been different WITHOUT the original SIN of Adam and Eve? I'll just say that the difference is so great that the comparisons are on opposite ends of the spectrum. I could say more because I enjoyed this study greatly, but I'll end with saying that GOD has given us a way to be rescued from the curse of sin and death. We can choose to BELIEVE GOD, pray for forgiveness, and ask JESUS CHRIST to be the LORD over our lives. Our short life here won't change into a Garden of Eden, BUT MUCH BETTER has been prepared for us. We were crucified with CHRIST - CHRIST arose from the dead - GOD will raise us from the dead also for a GLORIOUS INHERITANCE IN CHRIST. We have NOTHING without CHRIST except sin and death. We have NO righteousness EXCEPT IN CHRIST. We have no REDEMPTION, ATONEMENT, OR ACCEPTANCE EXCEPT IN CHRIST! CHRIST IS OUR ALL IN ALL!

Ephesians 1:17-23 NRSV  I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,  18  so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,  19  and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.  20  God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,  21  far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.  22  And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,  23  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

[nChrist]

I can't wait for the Millennium Kingdom. It sounds awesome and fun.

I'll get to garden and cook and build and play an instrument. I'll be able to play sports too. I hope there is enough time for everything.

Hello Brother David,

We are still in this short life, but we are ALREADY members of the BODY OF CHRIST - a HEAVENLY KINGDOM. Brother, this distinction is hard for many people to understand, and it's also hard to explain, especially considering that we are still in this short life and in these corruptible bodies. I do want to share some thoughts with you and try to explain why what we have is much better.

Israel rejected their anointed KING, JESUS CHRIST about 2,000 years ago - SO Israel is still waiting for their Promised King and Messiah. Brother, all Christians already have JESUS CHRIST as KING and are inheritors in a HEAVENLY KINGDOM that's already REALITY. It's so REAL that we are ALREADY members of CHRIST'S OWN BODY, and the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD ALREADY LIVES IN OUR HEARTS - SEALING OUR HEARTS AS A PURCHASED POSSESSION OF JESUS CHRIST.

Brother David, Israel is waiting for their Messiah - their rescuer - their KING - who has promised them a KINGDOM with JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF ruling and reigning over the world. Brother, JESUS CHRIST has already rescued us, and the PROMISES GOD gave us are better than the PROMISES given to Israel. Even though we are physically still in this short life, we are IN CHRIST. We have already been quickened (translated) INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. This is hard to imagine since we are still here in this short life and suffer in these corruptible bodies, but it's still TRUE. We are NOT YET where GOD intends us to be for Eternity. Further, we have not received our Glorified bodies yet or done much more than dream about our Inheritance GOD has Promised.

GOD'S WORD describes the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD sealing our hearts and living within us RIGHT NOW - even in this short life as Christians. An analogy could be drawn of this as a non-refundable down payment or EARNEST of the PROMISED INHERITANCE. These PROMISES are better than the Promises given to Israel.

Colossians 1:11-20 NRSV  11  May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully  12  giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.  13  He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,  14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;  16  for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers--all things have been created through him and for him.  17  He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  18  He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.  19  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,  20  and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

[Shammu]

The coffee thread hasn't been real busy, and I don't have my coffee yet - BUT I'll fix that in a few minutes. I'm also on the forum by myself for right now, but GOD is with me also - SO I'm never alone, and neither is any other Christian.

AMEN!!

I know that we have some regulars with illness and various other problems they are going through. I was just listening to a few news spots and thought that many Christians might also be in SHOCK over all of the things happening right now. There are currently many examples of the vile to the obscene, and it appears that these things are going to be celebrated by many.

Brother, I have been expecting this to happen, though it is moving faster then I thought.

In reality, Christians should be thinking: we're just closer to being CAUGHT UP FOR A GLORIOUS HOMECOMING! WE NEED TO CONTINUALLY GIVE THANKS THAT THIS WORLD ISN'T OUR HOME!

AMEN, and what a wonderful day it will be!! Giving PRAISE to GOD each day, is a labor of love.

[Shammu]

I can't wait for the Millennium Kingdom. It sounds awesome and fun.

I'll get to garden and cook and build and play an instrument. I'll be able to play sports too. I hope there is enough time for everything.

AMEN brother!!

No pain, no tears, will we have.

[nChrist]

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

I have my coffee - plain and black - and it smells great!

I've been wondering about what Christians talk about in a social setting. I know that we talk about CHRIST and the things of GOD, but what else do we talk about when we're relaxing with Christian friends?

I think that we have a lot to talk about these days, and much of it isn't very pleasant unless we put it in a Biblical Perspective - in connection with the Promises of GOD.

As an example, is there an obvious and GREAT EFFORT to brainwash people with all kinds of media? I think that the obvious answer is YES! The natural question that follows is WHY? How about trying to answer this question with the agenda of the powers of darkness? NEXT, what is the powers of darkness and who works on that side? I think this would make for a great thread if anyone is interested. If not, make a few comments here.

Brothers and Sisters, I like to have fun, laugh, and have a good time just like anyone else - BUT, foremost, I'm a Christian - AND, the perspective of a Christian in a Biblical way must come first. I would hope that all Christians realize this is more important than having fun, being nice, or being popular. I say this because I think that one of the biggest problems today is compromise and Christians being too much like the world. Which is more important for a Christian:  popularity or the TRUTH? I realize there can be some mixing, but I honestly think that most Christians go WAY TOO FAR in trying to be popular. If it waters down the GOSPEL or results in withholding the BLUNT TRUTH, it's WRONG AND TOO FAR. Don't we see all kinds of examples that are WRONG AND TOO FAR around us every day? YES WE DO!

Let's think about something that should be important for all Christians:  how CRUEL is it to withhold the FULL-STRENGTH GOSPEL AND THE TRUTH FROM THE LOST? These folks are lost and on their way to the eternal fires of HELL, so what are they facing if they die in their sins without accepting JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOUR? They are facing EVERLASTING TORMENT AND PUNISHMENT! These facts bring up a series of questions that most Christians should think about:

1 - How much TIME do we have left on this earth to try helping the lost? This is a critical question - one that we can't answer. We could physically die in any number of ways today, OR we could become ill to the extent that our capabilities to help would be greatly reduced. Christians have all kinds of debilitating illnesses, just like everyone else. SO, TIME IS A PRECIOUS COMMODITY, AND WE REALLY ONLY HAVE IT RIGHT NOW! We might not have it tomorrow, and the same is true for the lost person.

2 - How much time, consideration, and effort should a Christian use to be nice, worry about feelings, or be POLITICALLY CORRECT? This, alone, is another worthy discussion topic - AND the TIME FACTOR above is a critical part of this question. I'll just say that many Churches are eaten up with these problems - to the extent that they are ineffective with much of their time. In many horrible examples we see today, they are really working for the devil instead of GOD. Being nice and politically correct is popular with the world, but I'm CERTAIN that GOD doesn't appreciate it. We can be nice, but only up to a point where TRUTH and WORK FOR GOD ARE NOT COMPROMISED! In other words, the TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL AND GOD'S WORD should NEVER be COMPROMISED!

3 - The powers of darkness are at work right now in many ways that Christians should be able to recognize. However, many Christians are WEAK, too much like the world, and pay more attention to men and the world than they do GOD and GOD'S WORD. In fact, many self-professing Christians aren't Christians at all. Maybe they call themselves Christians because their parents were Christians or they go to church 1 hour a week. Many do need to evaluate themselves and try to honestly determine whether they belong to CHRIST or not.

4 - This day and time is eaten alive with FALSE RELIGIONS, FALSE TEACHERS, FALSE PROPHETS, FALSE MESSIAHS, AND THE LIES OF THE DEVIL. All of these things are at work AGAINST CHRISTIANS also to weaken them and create doubt. The devil hates strong Christians who are able to testify for CHRIST, so the world is full of DOUBT-MAKERS. These DOUBT-MAKERS question everything, and they are very good at their job. That is their agenda, and they're not interested in anything else. These DOUBT-MAKERS have been invited in to Churches and even our homes by way of the media. It's a myriad of LIES - from there is no GOD to their are many gods - from no SALVATION to many ways of salvation - all the way to man being god. These DOUBT-MAKERS have already DESTROYED many churches and DIVIDED many more. Many people - including weak Christians are ripe for the DECEPTION OF THE DOUBT-MAKERS. Are your children or grandchildren RIPE FOR THE DOUBT-MAKERS? Do you take it for granted that they are Christians because you brought them up in the ways of the LORD? Aren't these questions important enough for you to answer?

5 - If you are a self-professing Christian, how interested are you in the things of GOD? What kind of Christian are you? I'm not talking about denomination, tags, and labels of man. Let's talk about basic descriptions. Are you a baby Christian, a toddler Christian, a juvenile Christian, a young adult Christian, an adult Christian, or a mature Christian? PLEASE - I'm not talking about your age - rather your STRENGTH, MATURITY, AND RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. Isn't this a topic Christians should talk about often? YES, but I'm not talking about bragging, PRIDE, elevating self, or anything other than giving all GLORY to GOD.

Brothers and Sisters, I think these topics are all worthy for their own thread. If you agree and want to start one, please do.

Love In Christ,
Tom

1 Peter 1:23-25 KJV  23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  24  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  25  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

[David_james]

Some of those interest me.

I am going to start a topic about being blunt.

[Soldier4Christ]

I have my coffee for the morning and I'm ready to join in. I do have one of those head colds right now that I'm dealing with but so far it doesn't have me down.

I can see this subject going in many different directions but yet they all are ones that can honor God. David has a wonderful thread that he has started that does apply quite well to this subject. I also saw and responded to one in the Political area that you posted that I also think applies to this and I am sure that there are others on the forum as well.

I don't about others but when I sit down with other Christians we usually talk about what is going on at our local church. I don't mean gossip as some tend to do but rather projects, what the church is trying to accomplish and what can be done to meet those goals. What we as a group and as individuals can do to help out. We also talk about the things that are going on in the world around us and what our responses should be to those things and to others in regards to those situations.

Christians need to be informed and they need to be in active in putting out God's word, His truth. If we are not aware of what is happening around us and we don't get the word out then how will people learn the truth?

As scripture tells us we need to have Jesus Christ in the center of all that we do and say.

[nChrist]

Hello Everyone!

I still haven't been to bed yet, but I'm going to at least try an old guy nap in a bit.

I've been thinking about many of these things recently and simply wanted to share them. Some of them were reflections on my own failures and occasional triumphs for GOD. I get 100% credit for every failure, and GOD gets 100% credit for every triumph. GOD never fails, but men fail frequently.

I think it would be fair to say that there's a lot of different ideas and quite a bit of confusion about how to serve GOD the best in these days and times of CHAOS. Most Christians know this is a matter of prayer, asking GOD to lead and guide us, and yielding to HIS Will for us. This is the Biblical answer, but it doesn't eliminate the confusion and chaos that surrounds us. We also see many different types of people that GOD used before and after the CROSS. What they had in common was their faith in GOD and loving GOD, but they were quite different in many other ways. Each one also had various reactions to circumstances - from violence to prayer, but NONE of them were known for tip-toeing through the tulips. Each of them also had failures because they were men, but GOD used them for HIS Purposes. I think it would be fair to say that ALL of them were BOLD with the TRUTH, even if it meant dying for the TRUTH. If you think about this, there is a fascinating assortment of people who have served GOD WELL over these thousands of years. We can see the fascinating assortment to this day, and other than FAITH and LOVE of GOD, they are people with almost countless differences. We could mention wealth, education, manners, bearing, royalty, and a host of other factors - but GOD used all of them. The same would be true for the occupation of the person - how they provided for their families. These are just interesting things to think about. Another thing that is common for all Christians is their more frequent realization of failure and wrong-doing as they grow stronger and closer to CHRIST. I think that the Apostle Paul explained this the best - the fight he described against the old man - and it was to the end of his days.

Just thoughts and another 2 cents worth. I'm looking forward to Brother David's thread and others.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ezekiel 39:17-22  And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.  18  Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.  19  And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.  20  Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.  21  And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.  22  So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.

[nChrist]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!

I did get my coffee late this morning, but I have it now and just noticed that it's 11 A.M. Time passes fast.

I did get to read and study some beautiful material this morning, and I give thanks for another wonderful day in the LORD.

I've listened to a few news spots in the background this morning that indicate everyone should take a look at the Official White House web site pretty often. News spots indicate there are some pretty wild things going on at a rapid pace. I don't have the URL address yet, but I doubt it will be hard to find. I do think that we should all stay informed about what's happening. To say that most Christians won't like it is probably an understatement. Regardless of what happens, Christians should keep praying for our President. YES - he is our President whether we agree with him or not. Prayer for him every day should be considered part of our Christian duties, regardless of whether he does lists of evil things or not. GOD still does as HE pleases in Heaven and On Earth. Obama is NOT outside the REACH, POWER, AND INFLUENCE OF GOD, and neither is the devil.

[Soldier4Christ]

The new White House web site is easy to find.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

It takes a little deciphering to understand what some of the articles are about. For example the "Mexico City Policy" that is mentioned there is touted as "family planning" and improving "the health of women and children." Those familiar with the terminology used by Planned Parenthood will recognize this as speaking about providing abortions for women. This is the policy that previously prevented federal funding for abortions in other countries.

[nChrist]

Hello Pastor Roger,

I just did a Google Search for White House News Releases and came up with:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/

I'm sure this is the same site, and it was pretty easy to navigate to recent news. I just started a new thread under Politics called "The White House Blog - Official White House News". I posted three articles, one being the "Mexico City Policy". You're 100% correct about the Mexico City Policy. It does mean that we're going to help pay for abortions in other countries. The other two were pretty interesting also, especially considering that our country is in a huge CRISIS. One would think there should be much larger and more pressing needs to address. One dealt with various LGBT issues. "STATES' RIGHTS" might have something to say about this, and so MIGHT the VOTERS if this is still a FREE country.

[Soldier4Christ]

We can already see what this government thinks of voters rights (just as it was displayed in Calif) and the importance of the economy. Another display of this arrogance is in their giving billions of dollars to the vote fraud group of ACORN.