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Well if you believe in predestination....it doesn't matter if you think your saved....can even life the very best life you can, but if not chosen then you not gonna make it....Predestination is very widely taught in churches...soooo sad.....People always want to know if they've committed the "Unpardonable Sin"....Yet no one can really say what that sin is....
Drunk guy staggers up because of all the people.....stands in line...Pastor says "you want to find Jesus"....yes, says the drunk....pastor dunks him....Did you find him?....NO! says the drunk...OK says the pastor and dunks him again......Did you find Jesus yet? NO, says the drunk.....Are you sure he's in that lake?
Hmm.... after a life of hatred and violence, i came to this. I sat on my comode at 17 years of age and told God He had 2 choices. Either prove to me He is real or I kill myself and see. I had and still have the knife that was pressing on my veins in my wrist, ready to go. I felt like someone was speaking to me, and the (not really a voice, but like one) words were "wait. " so I did. that weekend my friend Brian took me out to a youth retreat with him, and I sat around friday and saturday and most of sunday arrogant and ignoring my heart. Sunday evening, at a church, they did as I had expected an altar call, so I went. I stood there and thought to God, " Here I am, where are YOU?". I stood for a bit and then felt that voice tell me to whisper to God. So I did. A few more minutes went by, and it hit me again. "Speak to God". So I started talking to God, telling Him how dissappointed I was in Him, and laying it all out. Where was He, and why did I have to suffer so much? I went to my knees, and the voice said "Now, scream to me." That was pretty much where my memory blanks out, beyond I remember feeling like this intense pain shooting out of my chest and away, and up through my mouth as I laid back on my heels, screaming. After I stopped screaming and crying, I felt alive, for the first time in my existence. I was vibrant, and full of energy, even though I should have been exhausted. The following days I did a 180 on life, and began living for others, not for myself. Still screw up now and again, but I know now that I have a real Dad in heaven, and that He loves and forgives me. Albeit, He wants me to do my best and be the best I can. Ha... Great guy, God. Good sense of Humor.
Originally posted by DreamingWarriorvery well said. i remember when i had a feeling like that. a may be young but that dosn't mean anything. i'm still learning alot though so i still make a whole bunch of mistakes. thats ok though, as long as i don't do it on purpose or just to be a smart a**, i know he can forgive
Hmm.... after a life of hatred and violence, i came to this. I sat on my comode at 17 years of age and told God He had 2 choices. Either prove to me He is real or I kill myself and see. I had and still have the knife that was pressing on my veins in my wrist, ready to go. I felt like someone was speaking to me, and the (not really a voice, but like one) words were "wait. " so I did. that weekend my friend Brian took me out to a youth retreat with him, and I sat around friday and saturday and most of sunday arrogant and ignoring my heart. Sunday evening, at a church, they did as I had expected an altar call, so I went. I stood there and thought to God, " Here I am, where are YOU?". I stood for a bit and then felt that voice tell me to whisper to God. So I did. A few more minutes went by, and it hit me again. "Speak to God". So I started talking to God, telling Him how dissappointed I was in Him, and laying it all out. Where was He, and why did I have to suffer so much? I went to my knees, and the voice said "Now, scream to me." That was pretty much where my memory blanks out, beyond I remember feeling like this intense pain shooting out of my chest and away, and up through my mouth as I laid back on my heels, screaming. After I stopped screaming and crying, I felt alive, for the first time in my existence. I was vibrant, and full of energy, even though I should have been exhausted. The following days I did a 180 on life, and began living for others, not for myself. Still screw up now and again, but I know now that I have a real Dad in heaven, and that He loves and forgives me. Albeit, He wants me to do my best and be the best I can. Ha... Great guy, God. Good sense of Humor.
Originally posted by DreamingWarrior
Hmm.... after a life of hatred and violence, i came to this. I sat on my comode at 17 years of age and told God He had 2 choices. Either prove to me He is real or I kill myself and see. I had and still have the knife that was pressing on my veins in my wrist, ready to go. I felt like someone was speaking to me, and the (not really a voice, but like one) words were "wait. " so I did. that weekend my friend Brian took me out to a youth retreat with him, and I sat around friday and saturday and most of sunday arrogant and ignoring my heart. Sunday evening, at a church, they did as I had expected an altar call, so I went. I stood there and thought to God, " Here I am, where are YOU?". I stood for a bit and then felt that voice tell me to whisper to God. So I did. A few more minutes went by, and it hit me again. "Speak to God". So I started talking to God, telling Him how dissappointed I was in Him, and laying it all out. Where was He, and why did I have to suffer so much? I went to my knees, and the voice said "Now, scream to me." That was pretty much where my memory blanks out, beyond I remember feeling like this intense pain shooting out of my chest and away, and up through my mouth as I laid back on my heels, screaming. After I stopped screaming and crying, I felt alive, for the first time in my existence. I was vibrant, and full of energy, even though I should have been exhausted. The following days I did a 180 on life, and began living for others, not for myself. Still screw up now and again, but I know now that I have a real Dad in heaven, and that He loves and forgives me. Albeit, He wants me to do my best and be the best I can. Ha... Great guy, God. Good sense of Humor.
I understand what you have gone through, although I understand it differently than you do. Here is a truth that we can both share, listen to that voice, it is always there, and it knows the correct thing to do in your life at all times. I am a Buddhist and even I have that voice, I have learned how to hear it, it is a still and quiet voice. God is common for all people.
Ok.
Deb, ha! cool for alotta folks. I was a piece of crap before that day. You would never have talked to me here, or irl, if you knew me before then. I scared the christians I knew.
Jlee, Yeah. Just gotta do your best, and let God handle your worst.
Shaky, Ha. yup. hey, I may not agree with the religions out there, but I see it like this: Jesus said go and tell folks about him, not bean 'em with a bible and say they're gonna burn in hell. You respect my beliefs, I will most definitely respect yours. Within reason, of course. (sorry cannibals... 😂 )
Occultus, Very true in a sense. I will NOT debate calvinism here, but suffice to say that yes, as a man of God, I do have to watch what I do. Granted I WANT to do His will now, He doesn't force me to. Still a foolish human, and as you may see from my past postings I still need to gain some control over my temper and tongue, but I talk to the Father day and night, and ask for forgiveness when I act silly. And then I ask for the ones wronged to forgive me.
I really enjoy this place. heh. don't have many folks near me to talk to about this stuff.
Originally posted by DreamingWarrior
Ok.Deb, ha! cool for alotta folks. I was a piece of crap before that day. You would never have talked to me here, or irl, if you knew me before then. I scared the christians I knew.
Jlee, Yeah. Just gotta do your best, and let God handle your worst.
Shaky, Ha. yup. hey, I may not agree with the religions out there, but I see it like this: Jesus said go and tell folks about him, not bean 'em with a bible and say they're gonna burn in hell. You respect my beliefs, I will most definitely respect yours. Within reason, of course. (sorry cannibals... 😂 )
Occultus, Very true in a sense. I will NOT debate calvinism here, but suffice to say that yes, as a man of God, I do have to watch what I do. Granted I WANT to do His will now, He doesn't force me to. Still a foolish human, and as you may see from my past postings I still need to gain some control over my temper and tongue, but I talk to the Father day and night, and ask for forgiveness when I act silly. And then I ask for the ones wronged to forgive me.
I really enjoy this place. heh. don't have many folks near me to talk to about this stuff.
You know I feel that we have the same God. Just a different view. There are some thing that are the same; I have to be careful of what I do and say, and I listen to God inside of me. 😄