Earliest Writing 2

Joy is a deep seated reality that eternal life is existing in my soul. That its not just a physical world. Heavenly beings are all around helping do the will of God. That i am a temple in which the eternal God dwells. All peace, joy ,love, safety, glory ,beauty are His attributes that i can experience when i read His revelation.  A heavenly fortaste of things to come.

Reply Quote Notify

10847  Forums / Theology Forum / Sex And The Sin Scale on: February 18, 2005, 04:24:48 AM But sex inside of marriage is a beautiful thing. A huge responsibility. A clash of two mammoth opposite worlds of unexplainable moments in living color. Reply Quote Notify

10848  Forums / Current Events / Boortz On Freedom on: February 18, 2005, 04:13:25 AM I agree with being under the ten commandments. But as you read in the bible there are those who take 10 and and make them 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000. The Pharisee's were such. They made men slaves  by making laws for themselves and seperate laws for everyon else. Yet they had no concept of Gods law. Think about all the regulation in this country and tell me there is no similarity to that sect.   Reply Quote Notify

10849  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 18, 2005, 03:34:49 AM As to  your statement  that Calvin and Armin in do not adequately explain this. There is a movement within some churches to ignore historical confessions and creeds. I say that there is nothing new under the sun. The reformers dealt with much of the same issues that we are dealing with today and I  think in a better way. You are repeating errors of the past. I say that in love. Embrace history because it will ultimately give us a frame work to explain who we are. Reply Quote Notify

10850  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 18, 2005, 03:22:37 AM Unbelief is the reason for condemnation. Fallen people still have a free will and are able to choose what they desire. But the problem is that they have no desire for God and will not choose Christ until first regenerated. Jn. 3 Faith is a gift that comes out of rebirth. Only those who are elect will ever respond to the gospel. Reply Quote Notify

10851  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 18, 2005, 03:10:54 AM wbennett,  Your view of foreknowledge is the view widely held today but falls short of the biblical definition of foreknowledge. You hold to the prescient view predestination rest on God's foreknowledge of human decisions or acts. I see the ultimate decision for salvation resting with God not us. It does not rest upon the foreseen decisions or responses of human beings. Indeed, it sees those decisions as flowing from the sovereign grace of God. The elect do chose Christ, but only because they were first chosen by God. I had help from R.C. Sprouls book. Reply Quote Notify

10852  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 17, 2005, 01:34:29 PM In order for God to be sovereign He has the right to make a sovereign choice. Any other way of thinking makes God subservient to the whims of lesser wills. God is free within Himself to choose because He is God. Whatever he wills comes to pass because to will is to act. There are no idle thoughts in God. He is eternal and that is the standard by which He acts. We are finite created and it would be our injustice to act out of our purposes. His purposes are contained within Himself because they are eternal. Any acceptance of the presuppositions of our own mind about Him is a god of our own making. So we must all confess that we are idol makers when we distrust Him or we sin. Thank Him for HIS ETERNAL SACRIFICE THAT MEETS HIS ETERNAL PURPOSES TO SAVE FINITE CREATURES LIKE US. Reply Quote Notify

10853  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 17, 2005, 08:53:08 AM i  also ment to address Patrick and everyone Reply Quote Notify

10854  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 17, 2005, 08:05:51 AM Hi Zut, I have read about your struggles and i know that our experiences are not all the same. But God is in control of the good times as well as the bad. As Job says If I accept the good shall not i accept the bad from Him also. I have had times of utter despair in my life. Times where i could not feel anything. I thought God had abandoned me. I wondered if i was saved. I spent 3 yrs groping around. I felt like the psalmist when he said You hem me in behind and before. \"You have shut my mouth!\" I was hanging on to any kind of bible promise. I was searching for all the past experiencs of security and love but found nothing. I would meditate day and night pleading with God to hear me. I look back at that time now and thank God for them because He taught me His word in a way that  i would say was burned in my brain. The truth is we all live an up and down lives inside. True rest will never be on this earth. We are all helpless in need of eternal love. Even people will let us down. Our most treasured  things will not satisfy us. Self abandonment hurts. But we have a comforter who knows just the amount of trouble we can take and when to teach us certain truths. I go to scripture first no matter how i feel and work my way into prayer. The hardest thing is not the overcoming of sin but coming to the reality that we live in the presence of God  who is holy. He is other. His power is awesome.We can receive anything we ask for if we believe. Ask and watch and know. Ask and watch and know. Ask, HE is listening, He will answer He is God. His ear is always open,His eye is always upon us.His hand is always working in our lives He even is working prayer in us. It is as natural as breathing. Look if my sin was always the issue then i would have been dead a long time ago. He knows me inside and out. Let your cry come before Him BELIEVING. Reply Quote Notify

10855  Forums / Current Events / Boortz On Freedom on: February 16, 2005, 08:44:13 PM Government should be small and regulation of business, enviroment,products,entertainment, schools,shall i go on? What do we own any more? When will we stop being \"fee happy\" or \"hidden tax\" happy? When will i be able to put my hand in my pocket and not feel someone elses. What happen to the constitution? When is the size of government going to shrink in actuality? Get these things changed then we can talk in a civilized manner! As for religious freedom, thank God! We deserve worse. Reply Quote Notify

10856  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 16, 2005, 07:59:33 PM I would like to offer a further discussion on assurance. Assurance is also experiential. It can be an immediate inward witness. It is His Spirit witnessing with our Spirit where by we cry abba Father. I think this is the highest form of assurance. It is completely an experience. It is rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory. This assurance does not come easy. You  must seek it in prayer. We are made in such a way that if we dont have the inward witness we dry up spiritually. Historical Christianity has always made way for this assurance. Have you ever sought so hard for Gods presence to be manifested in the church service? You set your heart singly to be  spoken to by God through  the message? Like a deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you oh God. My soul thirst for God for the living God. When can i go and meet my God! I say this is an experience seldom attained today. Most people go and take notes and at the singing of the last hymn are out the door ready for lunch. Have you ever sat in wonder an amazement on the pew and as you sat there you were lost in wonder? Saying i have just had the witness of the Spirit? You walked out and you soul felt refreshed and alive within you. You just felt like rejoicing in God. That witness is a thousand times greater than the bare word of God. It takes you from this world into spiritual heights were heaven is so near.And then it stays with you for hours. Joy trust love Fatherly affection. I crave this experience. Spend time in prayer adoring the Holy Trinity. Praising  them for their holiness. God is truly other. Awesome and powerful. Morning over the sinfulness of my own state that keeps me from experiencing this more. Ask God to send heaven down. Revival amongst the whole congregation. I think this assurance is a sovereign act of God that we must seek. This will make all the worldly pleasure seem unattractive. The mighty one GOD THE LORD speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place were it sets. From Zion perfect and beautiful our God shines forth.He comes and will not be silent. Meditate on that Psalm. He will come! Reply Quote Notify

10857  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 16, 2005, 06:05:17 AM If i want forgiveness of sin and i get forgiveness of sin then i am loved. The cornerstone of my experience in any relationship is to be forgiven and to forgive otherwise there is no relationship. This is why when i say that i am loved by God the Father i am saying i have been forgiven by Him. If His forgiveness was temporary then His love is temporary.And if his love is temporary then it is not love. 1 cor.13. Love is at the heart of the gospel, and this is why forgiveness and love go together. All insecurity stem from a breach in relationships. Pain and suffering follow. Faith in Gods forgiveness is my only hope that He loves me. Take forgiveness away from me and you weaken my faith. Make it temporary then you make me insecure. Thinking like this will shipwreck my faith. My ONLY refuge is that i know that God has forgiven me for ALL my sin and that is why i experience His love. Love is knowing that in the future i am going to sin many times and yet it doesnt end my relationship with Him because i am forgiven.   Ill stand on this rock.   Reply Quote Notify

10858  Forums / Theology Forum / Sex And The Sin Scale on: February 12, 2005, 04:39:55 PM i might like the olive garden thing but i would like the hanging on to the wine rack myself. Reply Quote Notify

10859  Forums / Theology Forum / Sex And The Sin Scale on: February 12, 2005, 02:27:03 PM I have learned about sex on the healthy side that means no much insecurity in the sex relationship. Like the woman wondering weither the guy loves her in the sex relationship out of marriage and the guy always depending on the thought that if this dosent work out then he will find another. I think that is a very rough life to live.   Reply Quote Notify

10860	Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer	on: February 12, 2005, 02:14:59 PM
Patrick, That is exactly what freedom is in loving your son. Being able to communicate your love in his world is deep. i am encouraged because some times i lecture my son and i need to find out whats going on inside his mind. Its great that the Father knows what we are going to think before we think it and that He has given us His word and Spirit to answer our inmost thoughts. We can have peace in an instant to combat the anxiety by His working prayer in our hearts as an outlet for the emotional turmoil we experience. Then listening to the Spirit assure us of the Fathers love creates greater faith to go on to greater faith and taking bigger steps and having greater trials until we reach His throne and rest for eternity. What a God.     Not to sound sarcastic but i think you put one foot in front of the other. Wherever God has placed you  is your calling. Don't turn to the right or to the left. Pursue it with all your might. Dont always try to make up for you wrongs. Dont try to please people as priority. Focus on the fact that no matter what you will move foward whether everyone around you works against you. You will always feel that it is better to sit and watch. When you take the inititutive you will always feel like you are doing 90% wrong. Dont dwell on your feelings. Seek to do the impossible because you have a big God. And remember if your prayer life is cold your desires will be also. Reply Quote Notify 10834  Forums / Politics Forum / Fcc Sucks! on: February 18, 2005, 11:11:35 PM Shoot don't kidd yourself the little league teams are more dirty than the NFL teams. Like son lets share the first beer together ok dad gulp ,gulp,gulp,gulp....... Reply Quote Notify 10835  Forums / Break Room / Love Poetry on: February 18, 2005, 10:47:14 PM Please keep writing Glory and Roses that was great. Remove Reply Quote Notify 10836  Forums / Main Forum / Your Opinion Please. on: February 18, 2005, 10:40:38 PM You know there  is a place for poetry now everyone. Who knows you might be a poet but you dont know it.So try it we might like it. Reply Quote Notify 10837  Forums / Main Forum / Your Opinion Please. on: February 18, 2005, 10:37:32 PM Glory and Roses , Let me encourage you to keep writing. That poem was wonderful. I think you should have started the forum. Reply Quote Notify 10838  Forums / Break Room / Love Poetry on: February 18, 2005, 10:04:47 PM Most men seek salvation through all the wrong things My conscience cried out, “You’re guilty you know!” I thought to find relief if to others I would go. I worked with fervor both day and night To rid this guilty soul of it’s powerless flight. The law with its threatening burned deep in my soul, But the works I pursued only brought me more woe. I thought this work was not so bad. If I persevered, I would someday be glad. Christ and the law were my constant plea, But His grace and mercy I could not see. My accuser grew bolder, my conscience you see. Not realizing the devil was working in me. It was not the law that was my principle fight, But sin deep within that was causing this plight. The law with its threat powerfully worked with my sin. My body grew weak and my will would not bend. I lay in my bed unable to speak; I thought I’d try to fall fast asleep. If I could stop thinking I might find a way, But thinking and eating are my only stay. I thought sin and law were my greatest foe, But work for salvation was a greater woe. I went so far down, I had nothing to plea. Only Christ is the answer to set my soul free. He died in my place to free me from sin. Grace and the law are now my best friends. The law with its threatening is gracious you see. I see my precious Savior punished for me. Most men seek salvation through all the wrong things, But Christ is the Savior on which you can cling. O Sovereign God, O Gracious Father! Your salvation is free, you are the potter! O precious blood, O love divine Come Holy Spirit and show me He’s mine!                 Remove Reply Quote Notify 10839  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 18, 2005, 09:41:29 PM Look at his mighty climaxes; look at the way in which he rises to the heavens and is lost in wonder,love,and praise. Of course the pedantic scholars criticize him for his anacola. He starts a sentence and never finishes it. He starts saying a thing and then gets carried off, and forgets to come back to it.\" Martin L.J. the Puritians Nothing so promotes prayer as Calvinism. Calvinist who do not pray are  not Calvinist. These things follow the one the other as night follows day. He is concerned  about the world etc. This dominates all the thinking of the Calvinist. So he is waiting,and longing, and pleading with God to show His glory, to show His power,to rise and scatter His enemies,and to make them like dust,and to show the might of His mighty arm. This is Calvinism. They want this. They are zealous, and they are jealous,for His name.MLJ Reply Quote Notify 10840  Forums / Theology Forum / Assurance Of The Believer on: February 18, 2005, 09:22:56 PM ccurtis that is right we are born in sin and have no desire to seek Him. We run from Him. He comes to us an drags us to Himself. wbennet i kinda am treading on thin ice here so i need to be careful but i kinda think you are playing a bait and switch with me. You know how i am going to respond to the 'ALL'' those passages. So im going to take a little different angle. Although i dont think it is wrong to discuss these things. We today are sort of like a wind meter. We go round and round on between Gods will and mans will. Reformers  say Gods sovereignty and mans responsibility. or the use of means. Let me discuss the things we agree on. When we pray we acknowledge our utter dependence on God and that unless  He comes to our aid there is no hope. Not worrying implies that we roll the problem on to Him. That is Calvinism. So when i get up off my knees i live like i pray.Now if you are honest you would agree. Experiencing God in prayer is Calvinistic. Any other forms of Calvinism is depressing and cold. \"It is a caricature; something has gone wrong somewhere. It is mere intellectualism and philosophy. Calvinism leads to feeling,to passion,to warmth,to praise,to thanksgiving. Look at Paul,the greatest of them all. Would not talk about 'Calvinism'; its Pauls teaching. He tells us that he wept. He preached with tears. Do we? when did we last weep over these matters?When did we last shed tears?Paul could not control himself, he got carried away.   Reply Quote Notify 10841  Forums / Theology Forum / Sex And The Sin Scale on: February 18, 2005, 08:45:54 PM I've stop trying to figure out what my wife wants. I just listen it keeps me out of trouble.   Reply Quote Notify 10842  Forums / Break Room / Love Poetry on: February 18, 2005, 08:38:20 PM to see what the commotion was.. strange ghosts in curlers, with their teeth out, in blowing nightgowns and white Tshirts and tighty whities...  OK, a world wind of a poem. What be this ye poet. Holloween? Children? Remove Reply Quote Notify 10843  Forums / Break Room / Love Poetry on: February 18, 2005, 05:56:46 AM Take Up Your Cross I’m down in this dungeon of sin and shame. Shouting, I am the one! I am the one! The Spirit is near, His presence I feel, he whispers softly, Be still my son. Be still my son. My soul with its sin has lingered in shame, I say O, how long? O, how long? My heart is hard, I search for His face. Don’t make me wait! Don’t make me wait! His look pierces my soul with His glory so bright, Beaming, I took your place! I took your place! It’s late at night here on my bed. With tears in my eyes I cry, Have mercy on me! Have mercy on me! His Spirit is sweet, He’s speaking to me.. Jesus you need! Jesus you need! O, wonderful love! O, priceless blood! I say to myself, Just cling to the cross! Just cling to the cross! My Savior draws near. His two natures are there .With His word in my heart. He whispers to me. You’ll suffer loss. You’ll suffer loss. So take up your cross. Just take up your cross.   Remove Reply Quote Notify 10844  Forums / Break Room / Love Poetry on: February 18, 2005, 05:52:28 AM Enter your poetry in this forum. Lets encourage one another. Reply Quote Notify 10845  Forums / Main Forum / Your Opinion Please. on: February 18, 2005, 05:39:22 AM I like cyber comunication. I think cyber people are interesting. There are  some good cyber personalities on the forums. I often wonder if i have ever met any of these cyber people . We need to have a forum for poetry.