Dating has changed so much just since I was in high school in the 1970s. I never truly liked having to pursue someone I was interested in getting know, but it is something that had to be done, for God made it plain that Adam should not be alone and thus made Eve.
In the ‘70s you had schools to get to meet someone or events. Now we have internet dating sites or even matchmaking services. You have a profile that someone reads, your picture for him or her to look at. Then the courage needed to type a message saying, “Hey you want to chat” or something like that.
Then you chat, through either e-mails or instant messaging, or texting each other on your phones. You get a feeling on how that person thinks feels and believes. Then you talk on the phone and see how each other sounds responds in a one on one conversation and see if they hold up.
Then you meet in person for the first time. Is this a first date? I mean really. Think on that. What if you felt really comfortable with the person you had been chatting with? What if to you they were beautiful or handsome in the picture they had presented for the world to see?
You meet them in person and they are looking great to you. You enjoy a drink, or a meal, or a walk in park or mall. Is this really the first date? You feel you know them. You enjoy their company. You see nothing negative. You see they have been honest with you and they see you have been honest with them. Is this really the first date?
In the movie “The Quiet Man” with John Wayne. He is an Americanized Irishman that is confronted with the dating practices of rural Ireland at the time the movie is made in the 1930s. In the movie they list different events that will take place a month at a time, but it all boiled down to seeing if you were compatible. Meaning shared the same likes, enjoyed the company of the other person, and mainly if you see God’s hand was present in the match between you.
Now days all that should truly matter is God’s approval. I can honestly say that was not present in my previous long-term relationships. The first time due to both being too young. The second due to deception taking place from the other side.
I guess it really does not matter what you call a first date, but I can say it is best not to rush. Why? To avoid the chance of deception. It is also important to be very honest. However, this brings up a point. How can you check the honestly of someone? I do not even have an idea how to answer that question myself. Go with your gut, which is where you know God will lead you from.
Be sure how you feel. Be sure how they feel. See if being with that other person makes you feel right. What is more important is making sure that it is a type of relationship God supports. If God calls it a sin in the Bible, it is a sin. This means it is wrong. The Bible also said to those that have been married before, that it would be best to stay single, but if you could not go without those actions that are called blessed within a marriage, but a sin outside of marriage it would be better for you to remarry so you would not live in sin.
So do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Pray and ask for His support and favor, and it will be a blessed relationship.
God
5 Things You Should Know Before Becoming A Christian
This is really worth reblogging
1) Christ is perfect but “Christianity” is not. Don’t mistake Christian Culture as God, they aren’t the same thing. Churches, pastors, theologians, and other believers will inevitably fail you, but Jesus never will.
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Confession of a screwed up middle ages man: True confusion
I have been having a hard time writing lately. Partly due to living as life upon a confusing and ever changing, ever more threatening world, partly due to going down the road so many already travel. That is not what I am meant to write. I am meant to write what comes to me. Is it from God? Only He can answer that, but what I can say is that it is what is true through what I have learned from the teachings of the Bible.
I thought of going through the sermon on the mount and yes I learned more with the reading as it should be. It has been years since I truly studied it. This is not where I was to go. That is for others to go.
I am to show my heart, my feeling, my believes. Yes inspired by the Bible and then ultimately by God.
I see the world coming ever closer to what the Bible says to watch for, and I see it and I write, but it falls upon deaf ears. It passes them by as they go through their live thinking only of themselves and their little world in their little homes. Nevertheless, it must be said. Some may listen. Some may learn and prepare themselves for what is soon to come.
Read the Bible. Follow the teaching and turn from true sin. Sin that is become “acceptable.” Sin that should never be is now welcome. On one hand we have those that say only peace is the way, but other the hand of the same people they spew out hatred against God and the children of God. Showing their true colors as they do, but those in their little worlds say nothing and do nothing.
Will they be made to walk through the death camps when this is done? Will they be made to realize that because they did not speak the horrors they will then see were all caused because they would rather turn their heads and say “others will fix it if it is wrong, I am too busy.”
I have written down my post rapture dream. It is something I fear will take place. I see things happening about us that bring us closer to them placing chips into your flesh to monitor our transaction and our very movements. I see something that I thought gone into the past of barbarity become welcome and watched and accepted. Yet those that can truly stop it say much and do nothing for they do not wish to offend. But their very actions are an offense to all that is good and right.
I know it is to happen, but if even to delay it by one day, by hour, by one minute, even by one second, just so someone will see the truth, accept what the truth is, and in so accept Jesus as his or her savior would be worth the added pain that may happen in the last second. Only God knows the answer to that; and may He receive all praise and Glory.
Chaos is not the way
How is it possible to go through life in a world that is always in chaos? Each day is something different. Each encounter is always different. Someone that is friendly today is mean to you the next. To me not having something solid to stand upon leaves you vulnerable and weak. You are pulled with the latest fad. In today’s world it spirals ever faster. Not giving you time to think. You are exposed to others that are going through the same thing. How has the human race lasted so long?
I know the answer, but most either do not want to hear it, have turned away from it or downright hate it. They live in their little worlds. In some cases, they let the world overwhelm them. They ask over and over is there more, but due to other in the world, the “more” is being torn away so they do not see it. Places where the “more” could easily be found is void of the “more” even being there. All because they think they know more than the “more” does.
The “more” is the only true constant in reality of the world about us all. Many say the only true constant is chaos, even I have said that, but there is something that is truly constant. It is so constant that it stays in one place, just waiting for you to find it.
What is this constant? It is God, and you can find Him through His Son Jesus Christ who took your sins, your sorrows, your pains upon Himself Just so you can have something that is constant, true, and unyielding. THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. The creator of the universe and of you.
Should Christianity change?
Many ask that question. What is to follow is my opinion on the matter.
My answer to this question. NO. It should not change. Christianity has had its difficulties ever since Jesus. Even in the early days, many of the things that are present in the church today were present in the church when Paul was teaching unto the Gentiles.
If you are willing to go with what is popular today than your heart is not where it should be. We are not to be a part of the world but separate from it as an example of what is good in the eyes of God. If you go about saying that it is okay to sin then you are turning your back on God. This goes for any sin. If the Bible states it is a sin it cannot change. It is still the same sin it was when it is called a sin when God on Mount Sinai gave Moses the laws. It was a sin when Jesus walked upon the earth. It was a sin when our ancestors came to America so they could worship God as the Bible taught, not as a King said it was to be done. It is a sin today.
I will help and befriend someone who chooses to live in sin, but I will still try to get him or her to realize that they are living in sin. It is not my place to force them to change. It is my place to be the light of God upon the world and expose those acts as sin.
If that person rejects God that is their choice as it should be, but I will still let them know that “if” there is a God then they are destine to an eternal life that is more hideous then what ISIS (ISIL) is doing to my fellow Christians in the Middle East. An ETERNAL LIVE of pain and suffering by their own choice.
As Christians, we are meant to be an example of what is true, right and clean. If your church allows those that sin within it. Then that church has turned it back on God and is no longer a church. A prime example is the Presbyterian Church, which first stated it would no longer acknowledge Israel, but then said it would accept homosexuality. That organization is no longer Christian and so if you call yourself Christian you must leave this group and find a place that is still Christian and follow the teaching of the Bible. We are told that Israel is the promised nation of God so to deny Israel is to deny God. We are told in the Bible that homosexuality is a sin. Therefore, if you allow sin into your buildings you allow Satan to have dominion and not God.
The basic principles of Christianity have lasted since 33 A.D. until now. That is one thousand nine hundred and eight plus years. Not counting the years from Mount Sinai. Nearly two thousand years that these rules, laws and teachings have endured yet now they are wrong? Sorry, but those that say they are wrong are the ones that are in the wrong.
People are dying more than ever for calling themselves Christian. Are you willing to have someone saw off your head as they did or are you a hypocrite? I already now the answer. I am willing to die a martyr for God. Are you?
God is a wimp
This is how most people treat God. Be they Atheist, Agnostic, and especially if they are Christian.
It may be because people cannot wrap their minds about truly how great God is. What is the first thing God is known to have done? He created. He created the universe.
Within the universe is billions of galaxies. Within a galaxy is millions of solar systems. Within these solar systems are planets. This has all been scientifically confirmed and yet people limit God.
We are told we turn over our problems unto God through His Son Jesus. He will address these problems, which He does. The thing is people want one outcome, but God’s plans for you may require a different outcome.
As example, I give you my life. I had unwillingly been divorced for ten years. I got tired of waiting for God to guide me to a new wife or back to my first. So I met a woman and literally said to myself “She’s a keeper.”
This started me down a path that took me around the United States then ultimately it took me to a new city to live in. As time went on events deteriorated in my marriage and after several devastating events, which led to the loss of all my personal property. I turned full back to where my eyes should have been towards….. God.
I turned it over to Him, even though I have still slipped in the endeavor. However when I keep God center of my life things improve. Not with personal possessions or money, but with my existence within this life. It is through this that I fully realize that God made everything about all of us. He controls everything, but allows us the free-will to choose how we to either follow Him or even deny He even exists, but how can you when every day you are surrounded by all that He made. A tree, the atmosphere you breathe and through which clouds float by above you as the sunlight of the very sun He made. A bird, a spider, a deer, all created by the all powerful, all knowing, GOD.
Even on rough days, you must praise Him
I was abruptly reminded to day on how hard it can be to sing praises unto God during the hard times that occur in this life. I was writing to someone about the wonders hidden within the Book of Revelation, but at the same time working through depression due to events within this temporal life.
It took me back to my year of Job when Satan threw boulders upon my narrow road to God. I feel as I prayed and thought and re-thought and prayed again that I focused on God once again and was able to convey His Glory to the person I was writing too.
This world we live in. Filled with all others truly identical to us, the corruption is a challenge to strife through at times. It is something we must prevail through. God knows our spiritual strength. He knows what we can handle and so we must struggle on to take that next step. To see though the next hour. To make it to the next day, then the next week, month and year. Till the day God says your work is done in this life and He calls us unto Him and His Son.
Why is the Bible so big?
First, it must be said that it is not as big as it could be. When King James made his commission to make the Bible we now use today, several books were not included. What is left per the commission was deemed to be the core elements required to teach Christianity.
Two verses need to be stated.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The commission found that not only the New Testament, but as well the Old Testament was and is required to teach someone in the faith of Christianity. There are those that feel that calling themselves Christian makes them exempt to follow the teaching found within the older books of the Bible. Now one must understand one important fact about the second book of Timothy. The letter of what is now called the book of Timothy were letters written in the first century of Christianity, many scholars say by a follower or followers of Paul. So what scriptures are being referred to within this letter? None other than what is now called the Old Testament.
Then the commission of King James came to the same conclusion. Therefore, those that are ignoring these books of the Bible are in violation of these two verses in second Timothy. Especially since Jesus stated very clearly that, He is in fact fulfillment of the Old Testament.
It is also important to realize something else. To be a disciple of Christ he must be chosen by Jesus’ Himself. All recognize that those twelve that walked with Jesus before His crucifixion are in fact disciples. Well there was one other that was called by Jesus. His name was Saul, which became Paul, and he was tasked by Christ to preach and welcome all gentiles into the fold. This is the full creation of Christianity and also the making of the thirteenth disciple of Jesus.
Since each disciple represent each of the twelve tribes of Israel that then makes Christians, as I call it, the thirteenth tribe of Israel. This comparison, to me, magnifies statements directed at Israel to also include Christians. This is simplistic I admit, but at the same time logical. Anyway, no matter my suggestion here, being Christian and accepting that we must use the Old Testament as a guide then we should read it. Understand and where fitting in a Christian aspect follow what it teaches for that is its purpose. To deny its teaching is to deny what we have been told to do and in so doing deny God.
Now back on the main topic. There are those that call themselves Christian that seem to display an attitude that they are better than those that do not accept Christianity. They feel they must direct all their attention only to those in their little click of purity. That is against the teaching of Jesus and the entire Bible.
Matthew 28:19 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
We are also to be humble.
Philippians Chapter 2: 3-5 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
This means to all not just fellow Christians. For you cannot convince someone you are sincere if you have an attitude of superiority, which we should never have, because there is only one being worthy of such a placement and adoration, and He is God. And not to desire to share God with any willing to follow and worship Him is the ultimate act of selfishness there would ever be.
Am I fear mongering?
“I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” – Isoroku Yamamoto
Admiral Yamamoto called the USA a sleeping giant. Why make such a comparison? Because the US is separated by oceans that keeps us away from those countries that are going through turmoil. Then we have a news media that no longer gives us all the news but selective views that that contain more commentary then news. It is also not the news.
The fourth estate’s intent was to give unvarnished and complete news about all issues and allow those that read the news to make their own conclusion. Now they give us their conclusions and expect us to take them at their word.
As a result, the United States of America is not fully aware of many things going on outside the door of their own home.
I asked a good friend if she had heard what was going on in the middle-east as the news of beheadings was stating to finally make its way into this nation. She is a good Christian and God-fearing woman. Her response: “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
I look about me and see Christians stating they should only care for those within their church and their own family. This is not what we were command by God to do. We are to spread the Word of God throughout the entire world. The world does not begin at the boarder of this nation. This nation is part of the world as well. Therefore, the Bible is to be taught not just in our homes, and churches. It is to be taught everywhere.
It is this mentality that we are to cage up God inside a building that has allowed those that oppose God to gain in power and strength within this nation that was originally founded to worship God.
There is no such thing as “Politically Correct” there is only “Biblically Correct”
If they choose not to listen that is their choice, but if they do not hear of the Bible or its views then they cannot make a true decision without all the facts given to them.
As Christians sit in their home and churches, those that oppose Christian views and principles sit in the colleges and universities teaching that there is no God and the Bible and those that follow the Bible are stupid. This is what happens when Christians disobey God.
It is not fear mongering. It is a wake-up call to those within the Christian community that sit around, do, and say nothing. For as they do this nation falls deeper and deeper into crisis. Christians are to be active in all aspects of this nation. They are to not only just go to church, but also go to the town hall, state capital and national capitol and make their views heard. Let those that are in office know how you think and if they do not support your views. You vote them out of office and if need be run yourself and take their place. That is the duty of all Christians not just a handful.
Stop saying “Oh someone else is going to do.” That is what everyone is saying. Stand up and be heard. PERIOD.
Jesus
Why in the Christian believe is Jesus the way to God?
From the days when Abraham was first instructed to give sacrifice of a lamb unto the worship of God the foundation was laid for Him to be the way. The lamb was to be pure and unblemished, and believe it or not so was Jesus. No matter what you have been told, he never sinned, nor did he know a woman. For He must needed to be a virgin sacrifice like those thousands of lambs that were given unto to God from the very first one Abraham gave unto our Father in heaven.
That is one of the things that makes Jesus different, and then there is another. But what is it? The one thing most have the biggest problem accepting. The fact that He rose from the dead, that fact that He is alive this very moment. Here is something pastor and priest don’t say, but since I am a laymen I have no trouble saying since it requires the ability to think using science. There are those that believe that there is multiple dimensions. It is actually something that has been taught for centuries without many putting two and two together. What is heaven? It is a place beyond this place of existence that we now exist within. If so then Heaven is a different dimension.
God is real, and so is His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. What they ask us to do and not do is needed to be done for a reason. There is an ultimate plan. God wants us to live forever, but we are to be tested due to the sins of those before us. We are to be tested due to the actions of Kane. We are to be test due to those that walked the earth before the flood that required the arc that Noah used to allow creation to continue.
Jesus is our redemption, for He become the human sacrifice, replacing the lamb, to allow us to be welcome before God. Clean of all our sins no matter how great they were, but we must ask Christ into our hearts. If you honestly ask him into your heart those sins that are told us is wrong within the Bible become something we have no want to do. It becomes something that upsets us if we slip back into them and we beg once again for God to forgive, which He does through His Son. Why? Because He knows we are not perfect yet.
Nevertheless, there will be a time when we will be perfect, and on that day all will praise the Lord our God upon His throne, next to which His Son Jesus sits on His right hand. What will be amazing to many is that they will realize that it took imperfection to make them worthy through Christ to stand before the creator of the universe.
Jesus is the only way to God for He is the Messiah. The Bible is the only tool that truly teaches of Christ, and what is required for us to be able to know what we need to do to reach God.
Do not believe those that say you can live in sin and still go to heaven. You cannot. If you truly believe you are saved you will know it. You will not want to live in any type of sin, for within this sin you will know you are corrupting that which is pure and holy and special unto to God, through His son Jesus Christ