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E-mail: mylordwon@yahoo.com
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Age: 45
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Hi. I've seen your advice column, so I thought you could help me. I'm 16.
First of all, I'm a very fragile, fretful, sensitive person. I always question everything and worry about everything, and lately I've been worrying about and questioning my faith. I've always considered myself a Christian, but I asked myself if I truly believe that Jesus is God's son. Let me explain.
It's like if someone asks me "Are leaves green?" I would instantly reply yes, without feeling or thought. That's how I feel about Jesus. If someone asks me "Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins?", I would say yes without thought or feeling. This made me think that I don't truly believe in him, and now I'm doubting everything I once believed, and going back to believing completely 100% in Jesus is hard.
I know for certain that Moses turned a river into blood through God, but I don't know for certain about Jesus. It makes me cry because I want to believe in him very badly, but believing in something isn't a decision, it just comes to you. I know about the miracles Jesus did. I know he was born of the virgin Mary. I know he was crucified and rose from the dead. But I don't know if I BELIEVE all of this with my HEART, and that he's God. I REALLY want to, though!
Please help me out. I want to believe in Jesus so bad. I guess my fretfulness and fragileness get the best of me. :[ (link)
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Your heart seems full of desire to know the Lord Jesus and that is good; it is the will of the Father. There has to be some belief in your heart or you wouldn't want Jesus at all. But the worry causes doubting which is crippling your faith.
The Bible says in James 1:5&6 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."
You are being tossed. Keeping with the water example, it's like you're trying to run to Jesus as fast as you can through the water of fear and mistrust. Just like physically running in a swimming pool, where you get nowhere and are left tired, Spiritually running in the muck of fear and mistrust will leave you spiritually drained.
The Bible says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) And in 2Timothy 1:7 it says, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." In Psalm 27:14 it says, "Trust the LORD! Be brave and strong and trust the LORD."
So the core issues are fear, mistrust, and lack of faith, resulting in what you are experiencing.
How do you overcome these issues? You mentioned that you question everything. It's good that you question things, but you must trust the truth. The Bible is truth. It's the Word of God and you need to base everything you question on that. You may say, "It's impossible." God says, "All things are possible." (Luke 16:27) You may say, "Nobody loves me." God says, "I love you." (John 3:16 and John 13:34) You may say, "I can't do it." God says, "You can do all things through Christ." (Philippians 4:13) You may say, "It's not worth it." God says, "It will be worth it." (Romans 8:28) You may say, "I'm always worried and afraid." God says, "Cast all you cares on Me." (1 Peter 5:7) You may say, "I feel alone." God says, "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
Belief is a decision. You can choose to believe what God says or you can choose to doubt. You can choose to stop running in the sea of fear and mistrust and accept the life preserver Jesus want to through to you or you can choose to keep running. Jesus will meet you right where you are. Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God..."
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This morning my grandma passed away. The news pretty much made me cry for hours, and right now I still feel a bit distraught.
But last night, I had a dream about her, where I was visiting her at the nursing home (where she lives) and she was alive, happy, and glad to see me. We were surrounded by a big room filled with lights and it was just white. She was wearing brightly-colored clothing, and all she did was smile at me.
When I woke up this morning from that dream, I found out she passed away.
As a christian, I deeply believe that was God telling me that she is happy where she is right now (in heaven), and smiling down on me, feeling happy she is at peace.
Do you think God was really trying to give me a sign? Or is it coincidence? (link)
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I personally don't believe in coincidences. I call things like you have described "Godincidences".
I'm sorry to hear about your grandma. Losing someone we love is never easy, but thank the Lord He knows what we need. It sounds to me like God was giving you the peace and comfort He knew you would need for your grieving process. Grab hold of that comfort and trust Him through this. Praying for you.
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This question is for Christians, please.
I consider myself a Christian. I pray and whenever I do, I feel a sense of joy and I feel like I'm talking to the best person ever. But I always sin and I hate myself for it. Everyday, I judge people and I am vein and I get angry.
Whenever I do my hair or put on makeup, I feel like I'm being vein and I feel ugly in God's eyes. I also judge EVERYONE. Like, if I pass by an overweight person, I instantly think "That person is fat". This also makes me feel ugly to Him. I also gossip, lie..I do basically every sin except kill, steal, commit adultery, and worship idols. I repent though.
All of this sin that I do makes me feel like God won't accept me into Heaven when I die. I know that Jesus forgives us when we repent, but I sin so much that it seems like he would never let someone so sinful into his kingdom. When I ask to be forgiven, I always think "You've asked God to forgive you for doing that sin a million times. He won't give you another chance"
What do you suggest I do? (link)
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You're not alone. Just because you are a Christian (which means you are claiming to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ) doesn't make you perfect. It means you are redeemed by the the blood of Christ and Jesus' perfect sacrifice is what God sees when He looks at you. I suggest you read the following Bible verses. These verses will show you that even the Apostle Paul struggled.
Rom 7:15 In fact, I don't understand why I act the way I do. I don't do what I know is right. I do the things I hate.
Rom 7:16 Although I don't do what I know is right, I agree that the Law is good.
Rom 7:17 So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
Rom 7:18 I know that my selfish desires won't let me do anything that is good. Even when I want to do right, I cannot.
Rom 7:19 Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong.
Rom 7:20 And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
Rom 7:21 The Law has shown me that something in me keeps me from doing what I know is right.
Rom 7:22 With my whole heart I agree with the Law of God.
Rom 7:23 But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do.
Rom 7:24 What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die?
Rom 7:25 Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me. So with my mind I serve the Law of God, although my selfish desires make me serve the law of sin.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:2 The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death.
Rom 8:3 The Law of Moses cannot do this, because our selfish desires make the Law weak. But God set you free when he sent his own Son to be like us sinners and to be a sacrifice for our sin. God used Christ's body to condemn sin.
Rom 8:4 He did this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit instead of our own desires.
Rom 8:5 People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things.
Rom 8:6 If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace.
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First off im 15 F. And I know alot of people aren't going to like this but whatever. All of my life i have never gone to church or anything, and I want to, like I want to have a church family and everything and I really would like a place to talk about my spirituality. But I cant find a church that I like. As for my religion, I basically have christian based values, but anyways here are my beleifs.
1. I beleive in god as a force and not a being.
(basically I believe in god as love in general.)
2. I dont believe in the devil. I think that was a
a story made up to scare people that if you sin
you will go to hell.
3. I don't believe in hell. I believe there is
heaven and thats all.
4. I know there was a man named Jesus and he taught great lessons, but I dont believe he rose from the dead and all that.
5. God is Love and Sin is Evil.
6. And last, people should be entitled to their own religion without anyone giving them a hard time.
Anyways, there is just a basis of whatI believe. So my question is, do you know of a church or religion that is basically all of those?
Also, I had this idea, maybe I could start a website forum where people could talk about this, sort of like starting my own religion,(hehe that sounds weird). Do you think many people would join me on that? Do you think anyone believes the way I do?
Any way, sorry its so long. I just really want to talk about what I believe and where I'm from, you would get beat up because everyone is very conservative baptist around here. Like I am the only democrat at my school. : ). soo, if you have any views on this, please tell me. Just keep them nice. Thanks in advance!! (link)
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What you have here is a religious buffet. It doesn't work that way. What do you base your "religion" on?
I high-five GodRox123 on the witness and want to add this. The book of Revelation will give you the info on the end times, but you may want to start in the book of John which lays out the basics. And, if you chose truth, the prayer needs to be heart-felt to be real. Consider it. I am sincerely scared for your soul.
In Addition: I would have sent this directly to you, but I got a note that your column is not receiving questions, so I'll comment here. First of all, God is perfect. He is CREATOR. We are His CREATION. He created people to be His friends, but He gave people a free will to choose that relationship for themselves. Adam and Eve were perfect until they sinned. That created a separation in the relationship with God. Not only with Adam and Eve, but with every person since then. But God loves all of us so much that He sent His son Jesus to take the penalty for that sin. Jesus brought something new. Not a patch for the old stuff. God does not SEND people to hell. They choose that destiny when they reject Him. This is what you are doing; you are rejecting His gift of Grace. Without that grace you will be in hell. Loving my neighbor is what I am doing; I'm telling you that accepting Jesus, God's gift of grace, is your only hope. Hence...I am scared for your soul.
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i am 14/f and a Christian.
i am so scared right now. i believe in god and i love going to church and it makes me want to be a much better person, but when i hear people talk about their doubts of god, i get scared. i mean, what if they are right? i cry when i think what if he doesnt exist because i am just so unsure, but i love god and i want to believe that he cares about us all. i am so so scared and i could never be an atheist or whatever.. can someone please give me advice? (link)
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The mean old devil loves to throw seeds of doubt at us. It's a weapon he has used against people for centuries. The devil has no power over those who know God through God's Son Jesus. He likes to try and convince us he does, but he doesn't. The devil gets into our thoughts and tries to convince us he's something when in reality he's just a big coward. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have the power of the Holy Spirit in you. Now that's awesome power! The devil is like a flea to the Holy Spirit. That's how powerful the Holy Spirit is. And you have access to that power through your faith.
The bible says in 2Corinthians 10:5 "...take every thought captive to obey Christ,"
The doubts you have can be destroyed. Every time you have a doubt, say to yourself, " I take this thought captive and make it obedient to Christ." You may have to say it a thousand times, but fight the thoughts with the powerful Word of God and your faith will become strong.
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16/f
Firstly, I am Catholic. In the bible it says it is a sin to sleep with a man that you are not married with. I have a boyfriend, and once in awhile I will sleep over at his house and we will sleep in the same bed. WE DO NOT HAVE SEX, but we "sleep" together. So, is it considered a sin to do this because he is not my husband? I am just really confused. (link)
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You seem to be asking for justification for something you know in your heart you ought not to be doing. Perhaps you haven't had sex, but here is what the Bible has to say about putting yourself in such a position.
James 1:13-16 Don't blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn't use evil to tempt others. We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead. Don't be fooled, my dear friends. (CEV)
Even if YOU are not "tempted" to have sex, your boyfriend is. Check his pulse, if he says otherwise.
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I was raised agnostic, which my family is. My dad was raised a conservative catholic, but now is totally against religion and so is my mom. I was always very distant from religion & actually disliked it. Now, being a senior in highschool I've suddenly become interested. How do I go about furthering this interest and finding information about it? My family already doesn't support this and I wouldn't even know what to do if I stepped inside a church. (link)
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There is a difference between finding religion and finding satisfaction for your soul. I'm guessing you have become interested because something inside of you seems empty, unfulfilled, like there's a hole that you want to fill. "Religion" will never fill it. Religion is repetition of do's and don'ts and forms the mindset of doing things like good deeds, praying while facing a certain direction, church rituals, and etc., will fill that emptiness. It won't. Only a relationship with the living God through His Son Jesus Christ will.
If you are seeking a relationship with God Almighty, I will be glad to tell you all about Jesus; just ask.
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Hi, I have just started to go to church this past year (not real services on Sundays, but rather to youth events on Wednesdays). By the way, my parents don't know that I go and they would definitely not approve.
The thing is, I don't feel that connection although I really want to. When God and Heaven is being discussed, along with all else... I feel like I am acting false because I am not saved. I also don't understand so much.
I listen to testimonies, very emotional ones, yet I cannot bring myself to cry. I see that everyone else just connects with God, while I don't know how. This one girl went to church, listened to a testimony, and was instantly saved. And I wondered, why couln't I do that?
I am afraid of asking for help from the adults in the church, or any other Christians.
I also have no idea how to pray, so I am never able to lead a prayer.
Please help me. How do I become saved? (link)
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The fact that you asked about being saved shows a real desire to know God. God bless you for that.
Don't be afraid to talk about things with the people at this youth group. This kind of fear comes from the evil one...the devil. The devil wants to keep you away from Jesus because he knows he will have lost your soul forever if you get saved. If the people at this church know God like you say, they WANT you to ask questions. They WANT you to know God. They WANT to help you understand what it's all about. I strongly encourage you to step out and ask. Let them love you the way Jesus loves you.
Getting saved is opening your heart up to Jesus and making the decision to let Him come in to your heart and take over. It's not about conjuring up emotions. You become saved by faith in Jesus. You need to seek Him. I'll bet the girl who got saved "instantly" went through the same things you are before that happened. It just appeared instant. And when it happens to you (if you are in a public setting), it may appear instant to someone else, but the point is, when you are ready, it will happen.
Praying is simply talking to your friend...Jesus. Tell Him how you feel. Ask Him to help you understand. You can pray out loud, you can talk to Him in your thoughts. He knows your thoughts. You can talk to him while you're in the shower, in school, doing your chores...It doesn't matter. He is wherever you are. Be patient. And remember to listen. If you have a Bible, start with the Gospel of John. (third book in the New Testament) This part of the Bible will give you a picture of what Jesus really did for you.
One more thing. Romans 8:16 states that; "The spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
The Spirit of God is the one who will testify to you that you are saved. It is not for people (like the answer below) to give assurance of salvation, nor can you simply convince yourself that you are saved. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that speaks to your spirit that you are saved.
If you want to ask me anything, I would be honored to help you in any way I can.
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I'm a teenage girl (raised catholic) who has been atheist/agnostic/unsure since the summer. I have encountered several recent events in my life that have lead me to believe that there really is a God after all. All of my friends are really strong christians- but I just don't think that God is real.
I don't know if Christianity is right- or even real... but I'm feeling compelled to recommit my life to Christ. What does that mean anyway? How can you "commit your life" to someone who isn't even real? Who IS Jesus? I mean this whole thing makes no sense. How can there be a God when there are so many other religions like islam and such? My prayers never came true as a Christian.
Oh, by the way- I hate going to church and i don't see the point in doing it. It never even brought me closer to this so-called God. To be a true Christian (not a poser) do you HAVE to attend mass? What if I just want to have my OWN faith? I also don't believe in Bible verses and stuff- like I don't think that the people in it were real. Why can't we just have faith in GOD and not all the crap that goes along with it? (link)
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That compelling is coming from the Spirit of God. Inside every person there is a longing to know God. Many people squelch this longing and turn to things that offer temporary satisfaction. God is reaching out to you and it's your choice to embrace Him or walk away. It will take faith to embrace Him, but once you do, understanding will start to unfold. Committing your life to God means believing His grace is the death and resurrection of His son Jesus.
You say it makes no sense, that's because you are trying to intellectualize faith. The Bible says in 1Corinthians 1:21 "God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him. Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach." (CEV)
There are numerous people who call themselves Christian who have no clue what it really means. Christian literally means follower of Christ. It's something a person is. Following Christ means believing the Word of God, the Bible.
It sounds like you were attending a church that has no life. I encourage you to search for a church that follows the ways of God without compromise. Those are the churches (most non catholic) that have life. Ask questions. Discover truth.
I'm not sure what your definition is of "own faith". But as a Christian I have my own faith in Christ as my Savior and Lord of my life. I have a personal relationship with Jesus. I know Him as my best friend. Prayer and the Bible are the communication that makes that relationship grow. There are many of those people who call themselves Christians who know Jesus like they know Abraham Lincoln; just a figure in history. As a result, they don't understand the Bible or prayer. That's not to say a non-Christian's prayers aren't answered, but the heart of that person needs to be bent on wanting God and only God knows the heart.
As far as other religions: Christianity is the only faith that requires faith alone for salvation. Christians then do good deeds BECAUSE we are saved. We go to church BECAUSE we desire to be near our brothers and sisters in Christ, to learn, to be encouraged, and most of all, to worship the God we love. This is all a heart issue. All the others require good deeds,or rituals, or some other outward gesture to be close to the god of that particular religion. They are deceived. These things will never save.
You may ask, "How do I know that Christianity is the true path?" Here's an illustration:
The government trains people to catch counterfeiters by having them study our paper money. These people are not given hundreds of counterfeits to study, they are given a real bill. They know the real bill intimately so when the counterfeit comes along, they recognize it. When you know the God of the Bible, the one true God, through His son Jesus, you will recognize that the others are counterfeits.
God did not create us to sit around and just do what we want. He has a purpose for every person, but not every person lays hold of their individual purpose. God gave us the free will to choose Him. Those who do are changed forever. Those who don't are doomed to carry the weight of their own sin forever. I pray you choose to embrace the God who loves you.
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i guess this goes under this category but i dont really know ok so recently we had some people come to our school and do this like play thing and it had to do with school shootings and this girl and her mom is an alchohalic and this guy who is always made fun of and he's the one who brings the gun and they had a second part of the play at this church so i went to it and all of the cast memebers are in college and very into god i dont really know another way to say it but one of the cast memebers was talking to a bunch of people and i was listening to him and he was talking about how when he was younger he got into drugs and used to sell them aat Raves and that finaly he got mono and was sober and realized he wanted to make alot of changes in his life and so he did he sobered up and stopped doing and selling drugs and then he found God and so while he was talking i was thinking that i want to make changes in my life and i would like to find God too so now i'm praying every night and trying my hardest not to get in trouble but i was wondering if you want to believe in god do you have to go to church and do you not get to have any fun or like what is it cause i know i want to do what the people from the pla do cause they travel from school to school doing the play and teaching them that if you make fun of someone in could ruin their life and if you stand up for someone it could makeyour life and that persons life so much better and make them feel loved i know this is really long but yeah please HELP i'm so confused on all of this (link)
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This is so wonderful! The Lord can change any heart. Finding God means accepting His Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father." (CEV)
Faith in Jesus is what saves you. Going to church is a place to gather with others who have that same faith. You will discover that fun is loving Jesus and being free from the weight of sin in your life. "Fun" takes on a whole new meaning when you repent and follow the ways of God. I have no doubt that the boy you mentioned is having fun telling people about the freedom he has and it sounds like your desire to be a part of that means you think it would be exciting.
I suggest reading the Bible and the best place for a seeking heart like yours to start is with the gospel of John in the New Testament. Read it expecting Jesus to meet you there. If you have questions, my column is always open. Ask away.
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I grew up in an Episcopal Church and my husband of almost 2 years grew up in Church of Christ. We are both Christians, but why does there have to be many forms of baptism? I was poured upon as a small child and my husband was emerged when he was a young teenager. He accepts my beliefs but does not accept the way I was baptized. This is a big issue for me. Why would I want to be married to a man that does not accept fully me? Why would I want my children to grow up(when or if we have any) questioning me, "mommy why weren't you baptized?" Does this make sense to anyone? Has anyone went through this to know what I am talking about? If so, please give me advice or a way to show my husband that either way can be right.
Thanks! (link)
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It sounds like there is more to this than just the issue of baptism if you're questioning the stableness of your marriage, but since baptism is what you mentioned, this is what I will address.
I understand where you're coming from; I was there myself at one time. But I have to tell you, only one way is right.
I was baptized as a baby and for years was under the illusion that the act of baptism is what would get me to heaven. I don't know if that is what you're banking on, but salvation is by faith in Christ alone. We are not made Christians in being baptized with water. A person becomes a Christian when he/she chooses Jesus as Lord and Savior of his/her life. The Holy Spirit enters the person and goes to work in that person's life. I am going to assume that you know being a Christian means a person has a personal relationship with Jesus and I will address the baptism issue from there.
Baptism is a command from God as an outward EXPRESSION of the inward faith a person has in Jesus. It says in Mark 16:16 Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned. (CEV) This passage does NOT say "get baptized then believe sometime later". Belief comes first.
In Mark 1:5 it says, "From all Judea and Jerusalem crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River." (CEV) In order to truly know Christ, there needs to be repentance. So this is how it goes...belief (understanding the need for Jesus), repentance (turning from sin), baptism (the outward expression of this inward change).
I got baptized as a young adult after I understood this concept, but it was something that the Lord had to work out in me. If you look through the bible, there were no babies or small children baptized; they were blessed, but not baptized. My prayer for you is to truly seek the Lord on this issue and find peace.
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I became a Christian two years ago, but I was baptized Catholic as an infant. I really get into the Christian faith more than the Catholic faith.
However I also heard that Catholic is very similar to Christian, except that Christian is more of a general faith than Catholic? I really don't know.. I mean I would hate to leave the Catholic faith. I am asking what is the difference between being Catholic and Christian? Would it matter if I was baptized Catholic and being more Christian? What am I supposed to do??
Thanks (link)
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There's really nothing else I can say that DangerWench and Solaris didn't mention, but I wanted to pipe in here in agreement with them. You would be wise to follow their advice.
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The other night me and my friends did a weejee board (not sure how spelt) and it really worked. It was sooo scary. We want to do it again, because these are people like my friends dads and uncles and stuff and they just wanna keep talking to them. Does anyone know if there are any risks of playing this game...or any important things i should know about it? (link)
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You are playing with fire. It may seem harmless, but your own words of wanting to do it again speaks volumes. Doing it again will lead to wanting to do it again, and then again, and before you know it, you will be over your head. It's a manufactured game board that the side of evil uses to suck you in. You will think you have control, but you don't. It's scary because you are opening yourself up to the spiritual realm of evil. Wearing a cross is not going to save you. Thinking it's just a toy or "everyone does it" or it's neat or whatever, is only another trick to pull you in. It's real. It's dangerous. DON'T DO IT!
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My husband and I stopped drinking a year ago. We both like it, but we we're out of control. Plus, we became Christians and thought that it's wrong. However, now we are confused, because for (1) I haven't read anything in the Bible other than 'being drunk' that's wrong. (2) Am I reading Matthew wrong? He tells his disciples that they'll drink wine toghether again once they're reunited in heaven? Is moderation the key? Both Jesus and Paul said that everything is permissable just that everything is not beneficial. (link)
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First of all, confusion comes from the evil one. From reading your question, it sounds like you are being tempted to return to a life style you need to leave behind for good.
Drinking alcohol is not a sin in and of itself. However, being drunk IS sin. Since you stated you and your husband were out of control, that tells me that alcohol is a weakness, a problem, in your lives. For you, one sip of alcohol will quickly lead you back into that place of sin again. Moderation may be the key, but for a person who is or has been out of control, there is no moderation -- EVER.
My husband was out of control, so I know what it's like. He hasn't had a drink since the day he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior because he knows that choosing even a sip, or even entertaining the thoughts will lead him on a path of slavery. Instead, he testifies to others who are out of control and helps them find freedom in Christ. Now, you may or may not be ready to do that yet, but you have been given a gift. The evil one sees the power you hold in Christ to win souls. Don't blow it by becoming a fool...Proverbs 26:11 "Dogs return to eat their vomit, just as fools repeat their foolishness." (CEV)
Instead....Proverbs 11:30 "Live right, and you will eat from the life-giving tree. And if you act wisely, others will follow." (CEV)
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I made a new friend this year. We've became very close but she's a Jahovah's Witness (I hope I'm spelling this right). If y'all don't know, they are Christians but don't *celebrate* christmas. So, would it be inappropriate of me to get her a christmas gift? (link)
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Jehovah Witnesses are not Christians. Their beliefs are not based on salvation by Grace through Christ alone which is the bases for Christianity. They don't celebrate the birth of Christ because they don't believe in the significance of Jesus coming to earth as Savior. Their religion is based on their good works earning them a place in heaven.
That said, I don't see anything wrong with giving this person a gift, but you may not want to call it a Christmas gift. Give her a gift just because you care.
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I don't understand this. Many people are beginning to say X-mas. Well, the whole point of Christmas is because it is the birth of Christ. Isn't calling Christmas X-mas taking the whole point of Christmas away? (link)
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Here is a website that gives the history of the "X" along with Christmas tradition origins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas
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hey i asked you a question a fiew minutes ago. im sorry if im annoying you. i just really need help.
im really upset because i dont know how im doing as a christian. i accept jesus as my savior, i pray, i do all that stuff. but when i looked at your advice column and there were all these things you had to do, i kind of panicced. i pretty much cried a lot today because im worried about my future. i prayed today and didnt feel anything. i just felt like i was talking to a wall. and the things in your column like "leave everything on earth behind to follow me"..it scares me because i have so much on my plate and i always have. i still accept jesus though so i dont know where i fall.
please help..im so scared of not making it. you have no idea how terrifying it is to not know whether youll suffer for eternity or live forever with jesus. (link)
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Oh sweetie, you could never annoy me and I do know how terrifying it is...I've been there.
You see, Jesus wants your heart. You need to know He loves YOU more than anything you could do. It sounds like you have discovered the Holiness of God now that it has entered your sinful heart. Here is the picture that someone gave me many years ago. When I accepted Jesus, like you, I opened my heart. That alone is scary because I, like you, was allowing a Holy Righteous God to enter a place of sin...scum, dirt, and filth. I tried to clean up a bit, but no matter what I did, it wasn't ever going to be clean enough. It's like having a king come to your house and you haven't taken out the garbage in years! But let's say the king that came to your house rolls up his sleeves and goes to work scrubbing the kitchen floor. Would you let him do it? Or would you be to embarrassed that a king was scrubbing your scummy floor and try to stop him. But the whole purpose of letting Jesus in in the first place is to expose your heart to Him so He can go to work. I couldn't clean out my heart any more than you can clean out yours, but Jesus can. As He cleans, you will be able to serve Him. Does this make sense?
Let me ask you this by using the example "leave everything on earth behind to follow me" that you mentioned. What is more important, Jesus or your stuff? If you said Jesus, in your heart you left everything behind on earth and are following Him. He is not saying get rid of all your stuff, He's asking you to love Him more than your stuff.
About your worrying or anxiousness...this is what the Bible says:
Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication (laying out what's on your heart) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In other words, instead of worrying, have faith.
Accepting Jesus by faith, is enough to be saved. The Bible says:
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the GIFT of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
So when you are praying, quiet your spirit and just tell Jesus what's on your mind and heart. Ask for assurance. Prayer is also a time to be listening. He will speak to you, but Jesus doesn't shout. He whispers. So give Him your attention.
I am here to help you through this and then some, so never be afraid to ask me anything. ((Big Hug))
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ok well my friend max is an athiest. he doesnt belive in any kind of god. hes like a science nerd so that probably has something to do with it. well i really want him to belive in God but i dont know how i can talk to him about it. we arent close enough to talk about that stuff. what should i do? (link)
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Max is one blessed person to have you. The way you care about your friend's eternal soul is awesome. First thing you need to do is be praying for him. Only the Holy Spirit can change a person's heart. As you pray, God will open opportunities to speak to him.
This is just a suggestion...But since he's a science nerd and God made science, that may be a place for you to start. You didn't mention any specific science, but atheists usually don't believe in creationism. Below is a site that may help you prompt him with questions of what he believes on the subject of creation/evolution and provide you with direction on what the Bible has to say.
http://answersingenesis.org/home/area/qa.asp
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I am a Christian, and always have been. I pray at LEAST every other day, I occassionally go to church, I repent, I try to limit how much I sin, and I believe that Jesus is God's son.
I used to be very certain that I would end up in Heaven. But recently, I came across a Bible verse that has been on my mind for a while. It's Matthew 7:13-14.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a fiew find it."
Now I'm basically VERY worried about not making it to Heaven. The Bible says that it's hard to get in, but it also says that believing in Jesus is the only thing you need in order to get into Heaven. So I don't know what to do. =[
I'm also kind of starting to wonder about other religions. I think "If Christianity isn't the true religion, then I'll go to Hell forever", so I worry even MORE.
Please help. I don't need reassurance. I need answers. (link)
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God speaks through His Word. The passage you read in Matthew spoke to you. It may not have felt good, but when God is trying to bring someone close to Him, He brings them to a place where they will seek the truth. You have been given the gift to seek out the one true God who gave Jesus to redeem you from sin. Jesus, and ONLY Jesus, IS the answer. It is up to you to choose now. I pray you will lay aside the doubt and delve into the Bible more. Let God speak to you more. He promises in His word:
Matthew 7:8 "For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."
Ask for understanding, seek the pages of His word, and open your heart to Him.
I want to encourage you to go to my column and read the questions from others and answers I gave. I believe it will help direct you. And ask me more questions if you would like.
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I started attending a Methodist church when I was 12. (I'd never been to church before- I'm now 14) I loved it! But when I had no idea what the Pastor or muchless ANYONE was talking about I got discouraged and stopped going.
I want to start going again but I do not understand alot of things about God which makes me VERY lost during the sermons. Why do we get baptised? What IS baptism? What IS confirmation? How do you know when a prayer has been answered? How do you know when you've been saved. What IS being Saved? When you read the Bible, do you read it straight thru or random chapters at a time? What are Diciples? Whose Abraham, whose Lot? At my church you can only take Confirmation classes in middle school and I'm now going to start high school (I missed the class session) does this mean I can't get into Heaven if I've never been baptised or confirmed?!
I stopped going to church when I got too frustrated and after six months I've decided I've hit rock bottom and want to get closer to God so I'm going to attend church tomorrow. Answers to my questions and advice to better accepting God and understanding him would be great! (link)
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Stillbreaking's answer was very good. However, there are a few things that I would like to expand on or clarify.
Stillbreaking said, "In baptism we are made Christians, but we are not very strong until we receive the Holy Ghost in Confirmation." ---We are not made Christians in being baptized with water. A person becomes a Christian when he/she chooses Jesus as Lord and Savior of his/her life. The Holy Spirit enters the person and goes to work in that person's life. Baptism is a command from God as an outward EXPRESSION of that inward faith. As far as confirmation classes and the other outward activities of confirmation, that is simply church tradition; it is not a requirement to be saved nor does it make us stronger. It's what goes on in the heart that matters. God ALWAYS looks at the heart.
Stillbreaking said, "The Apostles were very fearful, hiding out, until the Holy Ghost came to them at Pentecost. Then they went out to preach the gospel boldly, and suffered martyrdom bravely. In lamen's terms, it's like a completion of baptism." ---This takes place when a person is ready to go beyond just a salvation experience and is ready to completely step into service for God. This could take place immediately or years later; the timing is different for each person. First things first; you need to know Jesus before you can serve Him.
Stillbreaking said, "When a prayer is answered, you will know because basically, you got what you want." ---God is not a Santa Claus. Prayer goes way beyond just asking for things. Prayer is conversation with the God who loves you so much He sent Jesus so by accepting Him you can be saved. Prayer is simply talking to your friend Jesus. Does that include asking for stuff? Yes, but know this; God's thoughts and God's understanding are as big as all the beaches in the world. Our thoughts and our understanding are as big as ONE grain of sand. So ask then leave it to Him.
Stillbreaking said, "...put your sinful nature to death and transform your life. This can only happen when you are willing to give up ALL sin. When even a little of your sin nature is left alive, the new life cannot come." ---Stillbreaking goes on to explain this in the answer, but I want to clarify this particular statement by saying the sin nature is what everyone has from the moment they are born. Just watch a naughty little kid. Also, every person has an emptiness that can only be filled by our Creator. When a person is WILLING to let Jesus take over their life, they become equipped with what they need to grow in a life with Jesus. It's the willingness that is the heart part of it. The new life comes when the prayer of repentance is sincere in the heart. It may take awhile for ALL the outward behaviors to change and everyone still makes mistakes, but the heart is what makes the difference and that is what God is most concerned with.
Stillbreaking said, "At the church I went to, my pastor saved me. Your's should do the same." ---I think Stillbreaking meant to say the pastor helped in the process of getting saved, but absolutely no person (including pastors) can save; only Jesus saves.
Stillbreaking said, "As for reading the bible, you can read it however you want. The first time would probably be easiest done reading from first chapter to last. It goes in order, and you'll understand it better. After reading it thoroughly, you can start reading certain chapters at certain times depending on how you feel." ---Yes, this is one way, but I suggest to start by reading the book of John (the forth book in the New Testament). The book of John will help you understand the basics of who Jesus is and what salvation is all about.
Also, you may want to read the questions and answers in my column. They will help answer more questions that you may have. Post any other questions you may have to my column or email me if you'd like. I'm here to help.
One more thing, Stillbreaking defiantly has the head knowledge and the influence from family, but the fact that Stillbreaking has all this knowledge and yet outright claims not to be a Christian shows that Stillbreaking lacks a true heart of friendship for Jesus. Don't let that happen to you. Get to know Jesus as your best friend and don't let go, no matter what.
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