Fri, Aug 31st - 9:36AM

Another Truth that is important...

²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV)

Some are willing to lie and use trickery to get someone to listen to God's Word.  This speaks clearly to the subject.  If you, like some seasoned politician, use deceit in order to 'Spread God's Word', thinking that 'the ends justfy the means' you have not understood the Gospel of Christ, and are therefore incapable of doing this in a way pleasing to the Lord.  Humble yourself.  Ask for His Grace, and do it His way.  You may not brag of success as often, but I am afraid that sometimes the 'success' we brag of is a hollow, worldly, and totally untrue victory.  What we <i>may</i> be bragging of is Satan's victory.  Remember Christ lashing out and saying that someone was making a convert twice the son of hell that they were?  I don't want to make son's of hell.  I want Sons of My Living God.

Tell it Truthfully.  Share it openly.  Don't use tricks to try and open doors.  Opening hearts is the job of God.  Leave that part to him, and don't go stabbing a person's heart to try and open it.

In Christ,

Mel

Tue, Aug 28th - 11:16PM

Turn the world on it's ear, and someone is not going to be happy...

¹⁶To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? [Who is able for such a ministry? We?]

2 Corinthians 2:16 (AMP)

So...

Who remembers what Christ said about the world just loving us?

I think we get hung up on this one now and again.  I know I do...

In Truth,

Mel

Tue, Aug 28th - 1:57AM

This is just a big Hmm to me so far...

Hey,

Ross sideswiped some of my thoughts with the weirdness of the Catholic Church praying to Mary.  This is another weirdness along those lines:

²⁹Otherwise, what do people mean by being [themselves] baptized in behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?

1 Corinthians 15:29 (AMP)

HUH???

OK.  I go to sleep now with this one rattling around.  If something pops out, you'll hear about it...

In Christ,

Mel

Thu, Aug 16th - 2:04PM

Paul the 'Redneck' Apostle

For those of you who think going through the one-year bible reading will not bring them any good studying, this all comes from what I read the last couple of days or so.  The idea came before I was done, and the rest of the scripture just popped at me as I got to it.  Don't seek to understand this part, it is a mystery of God's way of working in us.  There is a really great message in these passages.  I want to share it!

I am just going to get the scriptures down for now.  I'll come back with my comments that explain this strange little title later.  If you want to think about it, ask yourself what you would do to reach those who you need/desire to reach...

In Truth,

Mel

Tue, Aug 14th - 2:35AM

1 Corinthians 7:20 (NLT)

²⁰ Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.

Yep. Be not of the world, but be right there in the thick of it still. Where we still can wallow in sin very easily. All the more reason we need each other, I guess.  Kinda stinks sometimes.  Sometimes the perfume of Christ.  Other times, well, you know, not so good.  Thats when we need HELP!!!

Speaking of which...

Hey! Someone (hint, hint) drop in and HELP me. "Iron sharpens iron" and I need someone to ensure I am sharp! The "Rhetoric" area of my Forum is what I am currently working on. (you will not even see that area until you are invited in as a member)  It is the place to quote scriptures and speak freely in that manner. I think it will be harder for me to guide that area than the general area, to be honest.  Right now it is the only place a person can post anything besides me.

More voices means more chances for me to pick up wisdom.  All are welcome, no matter how infrequent they plan to visit.

http://forums.games-port.com/

I am JCKahuna there.  (you think you know what JC stands for, but most will think wrong here -- still, it is amusing the first time I was recall being refered to as JC)

Forums are rough places, I hate to admit, and usually not for the faint of heart. But if you just come in and read what I am trying to lay down as the rules and just give me a Private Message on the Forum, you don't have to expose yourself to the heavy stuff.  Then again, you might read something that troubles you and forces an answer out of you. Then off we go...

In Truth,

Mel

Thu, Aug 9th - 1:53PM

Blame it on Smokey the Dog...

13When we are slandered and defamed, we [try to] answer softly and bring comfort. We have been made and are now the rubbish and filth of the world [the offscouring of all things, the scum of the earth].

1 Corinthians 4:13 (AMP)

11But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.

1 Corinthians 5:11 (AMP)

5You are to deliver this man over to Satan for physical discipline [to destroy carnal lusts which prompted him to incest], that [his] spirit may [yet] be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:5 (AMP)

9Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, 10Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (AMP)

12Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.

1 Corinthians 6:12 (AMP)

First of all, it does not just say we 'just sit there and take it.'  Actually, it says something that is harder to do, namely, speak truth in gentleness and compassion.  You have the breath of life that they need, even though they do not know or believe it!

Ok, if someone calls themselves a Christian, hold them to the standard that they are what they claim to be.  Am I to make a judgment there?  Nope.  Not needed.  This idea of disassociation has a purpose.  What it is is this:  To let those trapped in sin see the trap they are in and repent!  Going back a couple of verses, that is the whole intent!

So you say this (name something dear to you that others seem to not understand) is right in the Church or that is right in the Church.  What does God's Word say?  So if it is on this laundry list of sorts, is it Ok or Not Ok?  (am I too heavy with the hints, here?)

If you are doing something and cannot help doing it, you are a slave to it.  Most of us are slaves to something we are in denial of.  That is why it is so important to bring everything to the light to examine it.  Your first clue should be that you want to hide something.  But bringing it to light is not enough.  Once there, discernment, even from others, needs to be applied.  Some things you can be proud of.  Others should not be that way.  Let us only be Slaves to Christ!

What Smokey was talking about, it seems to me, is that we are not just in the world, but becoming as part of the world.  The world is evil!  Pornography even walks the streets in the literal sense!  Immorality lives and breathes in the workplace!  Wickedness, and there is no sense in calling it by pretty names to spare embarrassment, is everywhere!  Do you suppose because it is everywhere, we are free to partake?

NO!

Look up statistics about how often people change churches.  There are some good reasons for doing so.  I don't, however, deceive myself into believing that it is for these valid reasons that most people change.  Some are not great, but innocent enough.  Others are so that we can wallow in our sin and not be confronted.  Wrong answer!  In some cases, we stay when we should not.  Specifically this:  If the church (which is not Christ's Church as evidenced by their hate for their own in doing this) is officially condoning what God's Word does not, you deny the sovereignty of that self same Word of God.  Can you do that and call yourself Christian?

Be careful here.  People will say that this or that is doctrine and it just is not so.  They may sncerely think so, but it is not!  So, this is not something done lightly.

A while back, Jon was considering going to another church.  (not another Church, in my mind)  He talked about having the right music and what not.  Nothing wrong with that.  Everything wrong about why.  He asked for prayers.  Mine was for him to find a new Church -- in his old Church!  Mine was for him to have strength to stay where I felt God had placed him.  And I have very little idea about the whole of the situation he was and still is in.  I pray very little in faith that others ask me to do so.  My faith does not always give me the lattitude to do so.  Call me weak, for it is a truth!  But, as I have faith, I can and will pray!

Meghan on her blog said this in part:

After reading about what the Lutherans believe, and where they stand on many social/political issues, I'm 99% sure that the Lutheran church is exactly where I fit in.
 and

I was baptized presbyterian and attended that church for a while, then I attended a methodist church with my family, then a catholic one with my fiance, and one set of my grandparents are episcopalian, but they are looking for a new church because of the division of beliefs in social issues that are dividing that church.

Her heart seems right, but her emphasis on the Church fitting in with her social/political beliefs means to me that they are more of a God to her than God himself.  I was hoping for her to come back around for me to say this.  It is a burden to know that I may not have said strongly enough what she needs to hear!  Her choice of Churches may work out for the best.  I have to hope and Trust God at his word in this.  If she is seeking to please him, she truely will find what she needs to do.

I need to go,

In Christ,

Mel

Wed, Aug 8th - 2:14PM

Words

37For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.

Matthew 12:37 (AMP)

2For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.

James 3:2 (AMP)

The words of another sent me here.  That was a good thing.  They didn't send me here because I wanted to rebuke someone and was not sure that my authority to do so was intact. If I do it (rebuke someone) in love and guided by the Spirit, it is not only right, but something that should be done.  This is something takes incredible strength to do right.  It is easy to rebuke and admonish.  It is hard to know when it is needed and when you are the one who is free to do it!  At times this is the best reason to keep oneself 'Holy and Pure' in all things, for only when you are on the right track do you have complete freedom to talk to someone about a failing.  Sounds silly, I know, but compassion for others is motivation I think that is beyond reproach.  If you do something for this reason, you are probably moving in the right direction...

I am not there often enough.  I am not sure what kind of lump of clay I am yet and what God has planned for me.  Let me hope that I will take it with all the Grace he can pour out on me...

In Truth,

Mel

Mon, Aug 6th - 12:36AM

Jew Greek or Christ?

22For while Jews [demandingly] ask for signs and miracles and Greeks pursue philosophy and wisdom,

23We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense.

1 Corinthians 1:22-23 (AMP)

Thu, Aug 2nd - 2:23PM

What a Ruckus!!!

4Those who were standing near Paul said, "You dare to insult God's high priest?"

5Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'"

6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)

9There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" 10The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Acts 23:4-10 (NIV)

Makes one wonder about the recent goings on.  Could it be that even in this, God's purpose is served, even when it is well beyond our mediocre ken?

I am sorry.  I have to smile and say, "Yes.  Even this is to give Glory to God!"

Ok.  I hope recess is over for a while.  I want to get back to school and studying at the feet of one with all the answers...

In Truth,

Mel

Wed, Aug 1st - 12:40AM

Romans 13:14, 14:8 (AMP)

¹⁴But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).

⁸If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord.

Covering the spectrum from living to dying is about as broad as one can get.  You might be called upon to do either.  Can you do this?  It is something to think about...

In Christ,

Mel

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