kittylover0991

Hey OneLight Um... well? I often just "rate" things under the idea of "hey, they is an awesome thread, people should come and see it" becuase people are often more drawn tot he ones with stars on it... well at least.. I know I am... stars and shiny things I do'nt really care too much abotu the ratings and I only "rate" if I think that it's something that most people won't look at... if there isa theological debate, peopel are goign to go to it and post.. but if it's something like a bible study or somethign like that, there might be a lot of people that look at it and just don't post, but it seems no one ever does... I enjoy it to be able to say "hey, come look at this thread you guys!!" if it's one that many people aren't posting on That's just my thoughts Hope this helps, Crys

All I could find was a site called "Youtheology". hey man, may I send you the link via pm?

Hey Andy That was an interesting site, though obvious limited in what could be done since it's merely sharing thoughts (and I didnt' realize till after I went through everything that it could possibly later be put in a book or something), but I must say that there was one particular aspect of it that I didn't like. It is the fact that it asks about your "perception" of God or a higher power. As I stated on there, I'm in a program right now where we are taught to speak in terms of how we "percieve" somethign to be since "there are no absolutely truths", though that statement it in self is a self-proclaimed absolute truth. Also, we are taught to say "In my opinion.....(etc)" when in actuality, it should be, "This is what the BIble says" and "Here, let me show you what God says about this..." and then open the Bible adn show what GOd really says about an issue. It's not MY theology, it's GOD'S Word. That's the only thing I have against the site, but it's based on the world's philosophy anyway so what more can be said? yeah, it was interseting and I took it as a chance to present the gospel through that questionare. Why not, right? It's a chance for another person to hear the gospel so yeah, I'd recommend that site for a Christian to go to and "have some fun" lol Thank you for the site

I would agree this to be very wise, but I do have one question to ask. What if say a young man (say teen or younger) feels more comfortable talking to a woman, or a young lady (say, again, teen or younger) feels more comfortable talking to a guy? I understand the possibly problems here and things that should be watched out for, but should the one being asked for advice/counsel/biblical answers, push the person away and find someone off their same gender to talk to them? In a sense, could that not hinder the ministry? For instance, what I mean is, if a woman in the congregation has a question about something in the church or something of that nature, and if they went to the pastor for an answer on it, shoudl the pastor push them away and say "let me find my wife" or "No, women should talk with women. Go talk to my wife instead". I completely agree with the idea of men mentoring the men and the women to the women to a certain extent, but what about this particular situation? Just as a side note, I do'nt mean anything of a sexual nature of any of the sorts. Any thoughts?

Hey Everyone, Well, I have a bit of an odd question to ask, and it may have no relevence whatsoever. I've seemed to notice that I always have a hard time spiritually especially around a certain time of the year, say the first half which may or may not be related to the fact that that is the last half of the school year. I'm just wondering if anyone else ever has like a certain point where for whatever reason, they always seems to be "up" or they always seem to be "down". I know that I'm normally pretty "up" during the summer because there is no school and my summer is jammed pack with church camp, Vacation Bible School, Missiosn Conference, Evangelistic Meetings, etc but at the end of the winter time, maybe it's because there are little to no special events, and it's looking to the end of the year where there is a lot of stress and oh I do'nt nkow. I'm just wondering if anyone else has ever had this issue/problem/whatever you want to call it. Thanks

As independent Baptist missionaries, we signed on to a statemet of Faith with our mission board and by it we knew who they were and they know who we are. We work together with one purpose, leading as many to Christ as we can in the time we have here on earth. This is good but remember the statement really is a statement written in your heart between God and you and a signed paper is just that, Paper. Not knocking your agreement but always be open to change because the holy spirit guides us not man. I love your work as missionaries please don't take this wrong my precious brother! I have to be honest sis, Island Rose, that I have an issue with Missions Boards becuase they often try and control what a missoinary can and can not do now a days, but if you have a good way (which I'm sure there are some left), then praise the Lord. However, backontrack, I think what IslandRose is saying is not that she's giving her life to this contract/statement of faith, but rather that she is able to saying her and the mission board agree on certain doctrines/areas of faith in the Bible and thus can work towards the common goal of planting churches and leading others to the Lord.

Amen sis! Absolutely right!!! There is a common goal is worked towards and "without having to constantly clarify positions". It means not havening to worry about things such as "Is baptism for salvation or not" and "What about tongues? I speak in tongues. It has to be of God". We have the chance to work together for the Lord without those major divisions (though there will be some who still haev differing views on some areas). Honestly, what good is it to be in a "church" where there are some who claim baptism is for salvaiton and some say it's for after? What is good is it to be a in a "church" where there are some who believe in speaking in tongues for today, and some who don't, and even the "pastor" will say "Oh, well, we shoudl all just get along. Let's all love the Lord" There is a unity in a church that isn't divided by various doctrines. Becuase there isn't such a division, there can be a real focus on missions, there can be a focus on really discipling and training men and women for the ministries, there can preaching that can truly be based on the Word of God instead of "These divisions don't matter". Finally, there can be growth. Paul told the church of Corinth that they were "carnal", that they couldnt take of hte real meat of the word, that they could only drink milk! Paul told them that they had divisions among them, that they didn't have communion right, etc. With those divisions in a church in areas that there shoudln't be division, it holds a church's growth back as a whole.

Hey Honeybee, I wish I coudl even begin to share with you just how personal this exact question is to me right now because I just gave up watching TV at this point but still waffling on whether or not to say no to movies all together. The truth is, what you put before your eyes, what you put in your heart and what you allow your eyes to see, which eventually come out of your mouth. I'm sure there may be a few good shows on a TV, but most shows are filled with cursing, nudity, sexual immoralities, and even something like using the Lord's name in vain. I dont' think you'd be asking this question if the Holy Spirit wasn't laying this on your heart, but you shouldn't take man's word for anything. What I mean is, do'nt make a decision in your life becuase someone else says "This is right" or "this is wrong". Go to God's Word and ask God to show you clearly from His Word, or ask him to increase or decrease your desire for the TV (as He sees fit) to show you what HIS Will is on the matter. There is so much immorality on the TV and it's like turning the world on a screen with the click of just one button. I can't believe how much time I have wasted and how much junk I have allowed in my life (through sight, hearing, and thoughts) just by turning on the TV and I dont' regret making a decision to turn it off all together. It's a decision that you have to make between you and God. Not only does Christ see what you see, but what you watch goes straight to your heart. I hope this helps and will be praying for you. Just do what you konw is right- do what the Lord is laying on your heart. In Christ, Crystal 2 Cor 12:9-10

No, it was a good thing... but instrumental music can be used for bad. This is not meant against you, I just have only about to minutes before I need to leave for work, but anyone who really looks at music, and is honest with themselves, will see that music (lyrical or NOT) can have a drastic impact on someone, either for the good or for the bad. Agapple has said some of the ways that certain music can be soothing- is it so absurd to say that music can be otherwise? How much money do you thuink is spent in movies on music to create a particular effect, wehtehr it be eeirie walking into a haunted house, danger as someone is about die, or soothing like in a romantic type film? Music without lyrics can have a major impact on someone and music shoudl conform to that of Christ, not Christ to the music. How is classical music *good* in the spiritual sense?

David, I disagree. If you look in Psalms, David used the playing of a harp to sooth Saul physically, mentally, AND spiritually. That means that even instrumental music has an affect. Agapplem, you're absolutely right. Here's my question though, how does it help to point you to God though? Oh yeah, Shostacovich is a personal favorite of mine Symphony number 9 is amazing

Hey David, What an awesome question! The "Hall of Faith", Hebrews chapter 11, is really a chapter filled with people whom God used in such mighty ways because of their faith in Christ. However, if we look at each of those men/women, they each had various problems in their lives. Abraham was a liar with the best of them, always telling the Pharoahs that Sarah was his sister- yes, she was technically his sister, but a half truth is still a lie, and had any men slept with her, it would have been adultery, right? Noah, following the flood and getting off the ark, was lying drunk naked, wasn't he? Even Enoch, who had a testimony that pleased God, he was a still a man and thus had sinned at one point. There is a story in the book of Judges about a woman named Jael who was on the right side, but she housed Sisera, a man who was on the opposing side of Israel. The Bible says that Sisera knew that he would be safe in the tent of Jael despite that she was the "enemy": Sisera asked for water, Jael gave him milk. However, weren't we all lost in sin at one point? We're we all on the loosing side at some point in our lives- i.e. lost and on our way to hell? We've read the book, we know the end. God wins! However, we each had to take that step and accept Christ didn't we? The bible says in Judges that when Sisera was asleep, Jael took a stake and drove it through his temples into the ground and killed him. She chose the "winning" side. God used Jael for the victory that he had promised at the beginning of this very chapter in Judges. Rahab, on the other hand, is known even today as "Rahab the harlot", but yet, she chose to do the right thing. Not even speaking of lost vs. saved, even as Chrisitans we get off the right path, or growing from baby Christians we need to grow and the Lord shapes and molds our lives. God can use us for so many things if we'd just allow us to work, but does that doesn't give us the right to say "God's doing this, so I can go back to my old ways"? No. However, what we can say is "Look, this is what I used to be, but this is waht God has done. Look what CHrist has done in my life." People say "Oh, Rahab the harlot" "prostitute". Yet, look what she still did for Christ. God isn't looking for the perfect, he is lokoing for those who are willing and he uses us despite our sin. There is no right justification of a lie, though we can be "justified" in Christ in the sense of "Just as if Id never sinned", he cleanses us when we repent, but isn't that an amazing picture? Forgive me repeating myself, but this is amazing story of someone whose entire lifestyle was that of the world, prostitutes at that time, and even today, are often considered low lifes... the bottom of the barrel. It's not a profession that is a looked highly upon (though studies seem to show that she had to in order to provide for herself), but despite her sin, God still looked down on her and loved her, didn't He? Hasnt' he looked down on so many of our lives and loved us enough and cared for us enough, to pick us up and lead us by the hand? Rahab was "a harlot", and I don't know how much that changed throughout her life, but I know that she married and is now and forever in the line of Christ. I think it's an amazing picture of what God can do once someone allow Him to get ahold of their lives. We may look at someone, or even ourselves and say "Man, I don't see how God can use them. What a horrible person!" or even "Man, I don't see how God can use me... I'm this dirty rotten sinner, and i've done such and such, and this and that", but that's the exact kind fo person that God wants to use, and He can. Lying is never right, no, it's always a sin and it's a sin to attempt to justify it as being right. However, Rahab is one of the many pictures of what God can do in someone's life. Hope this helps, Crystal

Hey everyone, Well, I've been taking a class in Bible Institute about "Church Music" for about three weeks now, and so far we have covered about Contemporary music as to whether or not it's "Christian", but that discussion/argument is for another thread, maybe. However, a question came up- is "Classical" (i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic Period, etc) for the believer? My teacher and I see to disagree on this becuase he said that it doesn't hurt one spiritually, like the songs of the world. Music is affects emotion, and some emotions are not right for the Christian, thus music is not amoral, as has already been discussed in the class. However, when I asked this question, I was asked how it was wrong and if it affected a believer negatively (as anyone who actually listens and/or studies music would say that music has an affect on a person). I couldnt' say no, but if one things about it, like a soccer game, unless there is some form of immorality that someone woudl be exposed to (for example, professional cheerleaders at a basketball game), then the game is, in a sense, neutral. Supposedly, "classical" music, for the most part (though certainly not all inclusive), such as the music if Bach (who claimed to be a Christian), and possibly Beethoven, is music that is sounds technically (i.e. musicality), but wouldn't really have a negative impact. So, here's the question I have to ask: Is Classical music for the Christian? It may not have a negative impact, but does it have a good one?

First things first, one thing that I must say which has been dealt with otherwise, I don't mean to sound harsh against any of the posters on this thread, and I don't mean to offend anyone whatsoever by the way of which I am saying something. The Lord has been working on my heart about something in this area and I fear it's coming across the wrong way. For that I am sorry. I mean any sort of offense neccessary in the area of doctrine/beliefs/opinion/etc, but in how it is coming across, I mean in no way to attack anyone, and if it has come across in such a fashion, I am deeply sorry. On the other hand, with that in mind, Yahsway, what you are saying is right, but it is also wrong at the same time. There will forever be a division in doctrine even if there are no denominations, but the denominations are NECESSARY because of the divisions in doctrine already in place, and even those soon to come. Tell me how a church that believes in baptism for babies and a church that believes that that is not biblical can possibly coexist in perfect fellowship as shown in the bible? Tell me how a church that believe that tongues or works or baptism is necessary for salvaiton and another church believes that only Jesus' blood is what is required can POSSIBLY coexist and have a perfect union of doctrine... The denominational barriers are there and are necessary because of the divisions of doctrine. A lack of denominational barriers will not have any real impact on the divisions, unless you mean a sort of mixed indifference to believing that certain doctrine are extremely important and unchanging. See, this is exactly what I'm takling about. Yahswey, how can you and I POSSIBLY sit down and talk, for say, a few hours, abot religion, and in actuality, about LIFE when we differ on something like denominational barriers? What are we going to do, avoid the topic??? I don't mean things like "I do'nt like you and can't to you because your bible has a white cover while mine has a black" or "I don't like the maps inside your bible", but come on, seriously?? (Yahswey, just using you as an example) Going into chat for me is almost torture by this point becuase when I go in there, I know that I am not among other folks who are like minded. Who cares if the chat believes in certain things that salvation is by grace through faith, there are many who do not.... who cares if this board holds that baptism is not necessary for salvaiton, we must constantly be careful not to OFFEND someone who is supposedly a BROTHER or SISTER in Christ. Does no one else see this????? I'm so sick and tired of trying to help someone who is going through a problem, and then someone saying that we can just pray and God will heal that person... or someone saying that they are a prophet. Someone then starts to trust them, what am I supposed do??? Embarass them in front of everyone and say "This person is not really a prophet". And you know what else? Speaking in tongues?? It's not for today. It says that in 1 Corinthians that it's not for today, so if it's not of God, then who? I'm so tired of being asked that question only to keep my mouth shut for fearing offending someone who is supposedly of a like faith. I'm trying of havening to be "P.C."... politically correct. To "fellow Christians" to "fellow brothers and sisters in Christ". I'm told "lets just all get along. Let's agree to disagree". Can no one see that agreeing to disagree is agreeing to the possibily that they may actually be right when the bible is CLEAR on so many issues? How can there be a true fellowship, not just a friendship or aquaintence, etc, but how can there be *true* bible fellowship when we can't even agree on what bible... when we can't even agree on how to be saved.. when we can't even agree on how God answers prayer... when we can't agree on what God calls "his church". You tell me you're a prophet, I'll tell you're not. You'd be offended and then I'd be told to be kinder or nicer, or more loving. right??????? I love these boards... oh how I love them... for goodness sakes, look, I have nearly 3000 posts!!! lol I have so many "brothers and sisters" in Christ here... I really do.... so many that I have come to love so dearly in Christ.. I've asked questions and answered questions... I've had people lift me up and I've had the chance to do the same for others... boy, we've had discussions and food fights, and bible studies.... I've gotten some people mad and they've gotten me mad.. I know there have been times when we've cried... I can't say that this place hasn't been such a huge blessing to me and I'd recommend talking to a lot of people on here who know what they're talking about, they can help you grow in the Lord together... but there is too much agreeing to disagree... there is too much fear of offending someone.... there are too many chasms... too many splits in doctrine amongst the members here... I'm not naming names becuase I love this person to death, but I got someone angry saying that the KJV is the pure word of God and used the Book of Mormon as an example when I was told to "just give it a try". That's what the mormons say... Does no one else see this or is it just me?? Am I really the only one??....... Crystal

Someone forgot to tell Jesus... someone forgot to tell Jesus... "what would Jesus do".. Jesus ate with publicans and sinners, he ate with the least of society... he even ate with the drunkers, but notice he never drank. As for Corinth, there were divisions among them and that was a major problem becuase there were division in doctrine. It was a carnal church had great need of instruction in the area already listed, along with communion, marraige, spiritual gifts, etc. Can we really use what Corinth was doing an example as to what *should* be done? There were great divisions in doctrine at Corinth and that was was Paul was addressing, not to say "there are divisions among you, which is okay". How close can you really be with a "Christian" who is not like-minded? You can tell me it's possible to have such a sweet fellowship, and it just might be, but is it really possible to have such a sweet fellowship with somoene who doesn't believe the same in certain areas?? I'm sure we all agree that such woudl be the case in areas such as baptism, what is "the church" and maybe even music (possibly, doubt it), but what about areas like dress? What about areas like that a wife is to be submissive to her husband? Can anyone HONESTLY say that this doesn't make the slightest difference if you have a particular BIBLICAL standard in your life and you are trying to have fellowship with someone who is dear to your heart, but they don't see eye to eye on something that is so very clear in the bible? Everything I've mentioned above already is very clear in the Bible... does not that division make a hinderance in that fellowship? Did Jesus reveal the secrets of heaven to the common people, to the drunkards and the publicans and the lowest of society, or did he reveal them to the disciples, those of "like faith" to a great extent, even though they often doubted as we even do? He spoke in parables to the people and gave the understanding to the disciples. I'll ask the question that was asked of me in this... what would Jesus do?

Hey you guys, Well, just one question that seems to keep coming up over and over again. It's true that we are not supposed to have fellowship with darkness, with unbelievers. Isn't it also true that we are not supposed to do the same with those who are not of "like-faith"? In other words, are we not supposed to even fellowship with those of which we have vast doctrinal differences with?

Hey guys! Well, I have a somewhat simple question this morning to ask... do you go to a church that goes out soul winning and would you go to a church that doesn't have soul winning program? Crystal

Hey you guys I can honestly see that he would be saying that, and you even hinted at the part about safety that someone else had mentioned previously... The area is predominantly white turns out (I didn't pick the town just to say it) and where there are blacks, it is whites vs blacks... for the most part, it seems, the whites hate the blacks and the blacks hate the whites. But I gotta tell you turnderbyrd, when you said that, I was thinking you were from the church and just somehow found this thread and that I was in DEEP trouble I'm not saying that it wasn't obvious that he could have been worried about the safety of that church, and I was wondering when I got off the phone if he thought I was going to come and burn the place down.. hence the reason I actually left a message for the "reverend" to not sound rude and to make sure that it didn't seem even more like a prank call. However, that bothers me greatly... the way he siad it was "Well, We're a black church" and it was as if he was saying "You wouldn't like it here. Get." I've been told in the past that someone was going to slap the white off my face, and I've been called a peice of white trash, and it was the same tone that I heard behind what he said. I'm sure it might be different if I was there, but I think I'll pass Unfortunately, I don't have the "luxoury" of going to a lot of the churches because I live in an entirely different state and can only get up there about twice a year until we actually move up.... and the two churches that the Lord has shown me (the first one that I did attend, and the second one I'm looking at) don't have websites so I'd almost not even really bother and try and check to see if about 50 or so different churches have websites... I'm just calling to see what I can find out, but I'm even wondering now if I should be. As for the choice of churches, I go to an independent fundamental baptist church... the independent meaning that it's not affiliated with any group(s) of churches, and baptist is supposed to mean something. I'm not looking for a perfect church, but I'm looking for a church that definitly stands on bible... things like the type of music (hymns, not contemporary), one of the things is a church that doesn't hold that woman should be able to preach, etc. A big one is dealing with the version of the Bible which many know what I stand on that and why, but I don't want to turn this thread into a "Crystal defending her beliefs" thread lol It'll turn to a big mess if we try and argue everything, but I think we can all agree that we hold certain standards when we go to a church... if I may be hyperbolic for a minute, I'm sure if someone went into a church and they were casting spells, doing magic, etc, that is not a church that most of us would attend right? I'm looking for a good, indepedent Baptist church where I can learn, worship, serve and grow... Maybe I'm a little naive etc but I wasn't expecting to hear such a thing calling around to different churches (this merely being my first time, not including calling about three churches about a year ago for the same reason), but the church I go to is multi-racial. I would not have expected to hear such a thing calling a church.... I understand safety, but what about Christ?

Hey Everyone, Well, as very few of you know, I'm moving to a new state in a few months with my parents and with that, i have to find a new church. So, I was calling around to different churches to find out where they stand doctrinally, now mind you, i have a list of about 50 churches and most of them don't answer the phone, and those that do keep telling me "It's how you feel". I'm simply looking for a good independent, fundamental, Baptist Church in the general area so I was calling around. Priase the Lord, I can say that I think I know where the Lord is leading me and it was a church that I knew about long before I started calling around, but there was a church that I called, and the man that answered said that the "reverend" wans't there. That's fine, but being new at this, I asked if he had a few minute for some questions or something like that, or maybe I just paused not being sure what to say, but the man said "We're a Black Church". I mean, he was pretty stern, pretty serious about it and i really coudln't believe what I was hearing. I had merely introduced myself, said that my family and I were moving up to the area and I was "looking for a good independent fundamental baptist church". I'm serious, this guy was treating me like I was going to come and blow the church up or come in with guns or something! He kept saying that he wanted to know who I was! I asked, "So the pastor is not available" and he said "Well I want to know you *are* first" and so I stated my name AGAIN, then added what state I was coming from, and again said that my family was moving up to such and such an area, and that I was looking for good independent fundamental baptist church. I tell you, the guy thought about the town that I mentioned and said "C___?? That's a bit of ways isn't it? You don't really want to be driving that great of a distance, do you??" O_O The guy eventually gave me the reverend's number, which was a female so I woudln't be calling back anymore anyway, but I decided to leave a message on the reverend's phone to not seem rude and yeah, she hasn't called me back. Here's the thing... I DON"T CARE what race you are! When someone is looking for a church, I don't care WHAT race you are, or what problems you've had in the past with people calling, finding out what kind of church it was, and then saying never mind. When I'm looking for a church, I'm looking for a place to hear God's Word preached, a place for worship, a place to serve the Lord. I just don't care what race you are and let it be MY business how far I want to drive to go to a church. Yes, I'm venting a little still about this, but my main concern is how much people have called this church, or visited this church, only to be turned off from the gospel (if they even preach it there) because when you call to find out out about the church they say "Well, this a BLACK church". Last I checked, Jesus died for the WORLD. He didn't die just for the whites, he didn't die just for the blacks, he didn't die just for the Jews, or any other race/religion out there (there are many). Christ died for ALL and I still can't believe how someone had actually given me such an answer when I was simply looking for a good bible church. Mind you, the church I've been visiting (and now looking for a new for when I actually move up) had a problem with the "white superiority" complex, and you konw? That's just as bad. I just don't understand why race has to be such a big issue in church's today! I live in an area where segregation ended about 20 years ago (dealing with a particular area maybe five minutes from my house)so I'm used to some strong racial tension, but for goodness sakes, leave it out of the church wall's. I don't think Christ would have said "Oh, you're black. I won't forgive you" or "Oh, you're white. I won't forgive you". I'm just deeply disheartened by what I heard just a few days ago from a place that has the name "Church" written on it's door. How many have been turned away from the Lord Jesus Christ because of this church? How many people have been turned away from Christ becuase of other churches doing the same? How dare someone put the color of someone's skin as a priority over the eternal placement of his or her soul.

Wait.. who are you talking about here???? Monny, it feels like you opened the story book of my own life... in particuar, just a few short months ago.... Monny, your pastor speaks highly of you and probably knows that you struggle with a lot of things. PASTORS even struggle with praying and reading their bibles.. my pastor who has been in the ministry for about 20 something years even said that it's hard to get up every morning and read your bible and sometimes you just don't feel like praying.... The key is to take it day by day, and sometimes, moment by moment... When you don't feel like praying, that's when you need it to the most... As for struggling with different things, depending on what it is, have you ever talked to someone about those things? Paul said "I die daily"... Paul called himself the cheif of sinners. We find ourselves asking forgiveness so much becuase we are still carnal (despite our spirit) and we have to literally LEARN to let go of a lot of those things of this world.. it takes time but hang in there... .Read Romans 6 and 7. Those are some verses my old youth pastor gave me a couple of years ago Routine is an interesting thing.... Unfortunately, we get into this habit of getting up to go to church, sitting in the pew, maybe listen to the message, shake the pastor's hand on the way out, pray before bed, get up the next morning, go to work or school, do whateve,r come home, eat, pray, go to bed, and get up the next morning only to do the same thing all over again. Someone asked me not too long ago because I can tell you, I didn't understand praying out of habit, or going to church out of a habit, and the thing is, it's better for someone to go to church and to pray, even if it is "out of habit" than to not be doing it all at. Ask God to give you a stronger desire for those things... ask God that he would help you in your prayers that it would be your heart talking, and not just the repepitition you know so well... ask God to speak directly to you during the messages and that it isn't just the same old creation story anymore... He can renew that fire in you, garunteed. "I'm one of those people that love to wear Christian things like I have some shirts with scriptures on them my car has the "Jesus Fish" which believers used to identify themselves with and all those sorts of things. But I sometimes find it hard to speak about him. Most of the time I don't but with people that I don't know... it's really hard. Sometimes I think like a worldy person and not a Christian. Like I want Christ to be the main thing in my life. For example, On my myspace it's mainly about Christ . . . however in school we had to do a bio poem . . . and we had to talk aobut things we loved wanted to see and those kinds of things... and then I was on my friends myspace (a believer) and she had some of her things where "A lover of God" and In need of "God's patience" when I did this same poem I didn't even THINK of God. I thought wow how could I have not thought about him. " It's a day by day process.... holiness and santification in the sense of seperation from the world? It takes time.... We have this carnal flesh that we can't just seem to shake off and we have to deal with until we die, but the bible talks about bringing the flesh under subjection.... I was actually just struggling a little while ago with not really thinking about Christ for the most part, though a Christian and desiring to.... I started praying about it, and isntead of saying "Oh that's great!" I started saying "Praise the Lord!" and somehow started saying "Amen!" and isntead fo "Good luck!" it became "I'm praying for you!!" and instead of "Hopefully", it became "Prayerfully". The only way to really think about Christ more and more is LITERALLY to just consumed yourself in his word.. spend time first thing in the mornign in his word, and last thing at night... even throughout the day as needed, and just pray even if you don't feel like it.... At church, do you take notes when the pastor is preaching? The more you consume yourself in the things of God, and not the things of the world, the more your heart will be filled with the things of God. My old youth pastor (now a missionary btw) gave me an awesome illustration. When you first buy a TV, and it's still in the box, you can hit it and it won't collapse. However, as soon as you remove the TV from it, and if you put something heavy on top of it, it's going to collapse. In a sense, we are the same way- as we get rid fo the bad things, we HAVE to fill it with good things, otherwise, we'll just "collapse" As for talking to people, I'm sorry, the answer is to pray about it... ask God to see them through HIS eyes.. .to see that they may die five minutes after you talk to them, or after you don't... Ask God to help you to have more than just love, but compassion on them that would make a difference so that you'd get up and DO something about it! It's NEVER easy to talk to someone, especially your friends about Christ. I didn't start witnessing to my friends at school really until freshman year of high school, now I'm a senior and it's still difficult.... but I'm realizing that time is so short and so precious.. I will only see these people another five months at the most before graduating, and then we go our seperate ways.... You may never see these people again- witness to them. If not because you want to, becuase the bible commands it. Also, the thing about when you start praying and then all these other people come to mind, I really think that that is becuase you care about them.... I've had times when I knelt down to pray just meaning to say a small prayer and go to bed, then an "urgent prayer request" came to midn, then another, and then another... I think it ended up being about 30 minutes by the time I got through However, the college I'm going to has these Christian Life Journals and there is something in those journals which I've found to bea blessing... Why not taking a notebook and dividing up prayer requests for different days of the week? For instnace, on Monday, pray for your family.. .on Tuesday, pray for your school, teachers, and you friends at school... Wednesday, pray for your church, maybe on Thursday pray fo ra ministry, etc, and leave a blank for when that prayer is answered... there is also a section of "Special Needs" meaning praying for those every day. This has been a huge blessing to me personally because it's easier to pray more specifically for people isntead of getting tired after so long of all these people coming to mind. It's just an idea Please forgive my long post, but I want to say ONE last thing..... If you haven't noticed, i'm 17. I knew as of last April for sure that the Lord is calling me into full time Christian service, and it turns out that my pastor has known for a few years now... It's scary especially when you know that you aren't quick on your feet, and it sounds like you get nervous talking to people. A small word of warning first, don't do what Moses did in which he basically said that he wasn't able to do it becuae of his speech, and God had to use Aaron as well.. I'm sure Moses missed out on some huge blessings becuase of that. On the other hand, we do needt o remember that arent' able on our owns, but remember that we are able THROUGH Christ. The Lord showed me these verses a little while ago- 2 Cor 12:9-10 "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness... for when I am weak, then am I strong" It's scary looking into the future and wondering what the Lord can hold, especially being young and realizing that the Lord has so much in mind.... in particular, when you feel so unable. I heard a pastor say once that the Lord isnt' looking for people who have talents, but people that are sold out for him. He woudl love to use those talents, but he wants a willing heart oh so much more. I konw you'll probably disagree with me and say "I don't feel like that's true about ME", but it sounds like you have such a heart for people, such compassion.. it shows by your desire to WANT to be able to talk to them more... Trust the Lord... it's easier said than done for sure, but trust him... God can use you so mightily and he has such a plan for your life Dont' get discouraged, just keep going one step at a time God answers prayer. He's in control. Praying for you Crystal

Hey Monny I can't help but agree with what everyone has said already and neither can I say it any better than that you seem to have a gentle spirit, and such character, and if I had a teenager daughter, yeah, I would probably be falling head over heals for you two to go out or something like that However, what you mentioned the thing about not being strong like the people in the bible, the thought came to mind about David. Yeah, we always here the story that God chose a shephard boy, etc, but think about it, he was a SHEPHARD BOY, not a soldier! He had never been trained yet how to fight, and he was a skrawny little boy who couldn't fit in the uniform which Saul tried to give him. At this point, you dont' need the uniform the world has to offer- in God's eyes, you're really perfect It's such a blessing that you are looking for a real relationship and not trying to get a girl based off of your strength or your abilities.... As someoneelse already said, you seem to have such character!!! Most do not have HALF of what you have at 16 Praise the Lord Keep pressing on and pray about it God will show who it is that he'd have you to marry, he has a plan for your life! Most importantly, don't care what other people think... it really do not matter.... People can waste so many years standing still becuase they are afraid to take one step, terrified of what someone will think about them or what someone will say... who cares if you aren't all that interested in cars, etc.... You obviously care about the things of God and that's SO much more important! Praying for you and hope this helps In Christ, Crystal

Hey Bro Well, I'm 17 and I can say that it was may be two years ago now when I had to make that decision about whether or not to wait until I got married. This is an awesome thing to do, to wait until you get married, seriously... I like how someone pointed out "You may NOW kiss the bride" and think how much sweeter your relationship as a married couple can be if you just wait. I'm not saying that for many who have not waited, it isn't, but I've heard so many stories of people who did whatever they wanted before getting married, and once they get married, they only thing new was the bills... Two years, actually, right around this time, I was with my first boyfriend and had my first "kiss". Yeah, I liked him, and yeah, I was really curious, really nervous, wanted to know what it was like, etc, but it wasn't worth it. That's WONDERFUL if it works out for both of you, but for that small chance that if it doesn't, just think that you're going to have to tell your future wife everyone you kissed before her. I know I'm going to have to tell my future husband about my first (and last) boyfriend and that's something I'd rather be able to say "I kept my everything pure for you"... that means not only abstaining from fornication, but my hands, my lips, my thoughts and feelings even and I can't say that I haven't kissed before that day of marraige. Trust me, it's worth it to wait, and not worth it to give up that commitment... Now I can say from there on out, never again, but you can't take that first time back, you'll have one chance at a first... What would you think if you were getting married and your future wife-to-be was telling you how many people she had kissed before you? Just a thought. I hope this helps, I really do. Stand strong and this is an AWESOME committment that you are making- not easy, but it will bea sure-fire blessing in the end Crystal

Ghosty is banned? WHY????? Bring him back!!!! Hey Kari, Ghosty told me the day he was banned and I've talked to an admin or two (of course, due to privacy could'nt tell me much) but there were obviously some good reasons for it even though I don't know what they were.... I miss him too, but I think the admins know what they are doing.... I liked Ghostie enormously. But the mods deemed it necessary to ban him. I wish (and hope), that there may be some way round this. If he can maybe come back and apologize, and if all can be forgiven and forgotten. But, at the end of the day, the mods did what they are here to do. And I trust them. DEFINITLY agreed.. I miss him SO much and he used to be one of my main people to have food fights with, my bro in Christ... but I think we all can attest to that we know that the admins have done what they deemed best....

How about we make a deal.. don't tell Ted I still have his cookies

Marnie, you hit on the main thing that I'm trying to get at... that "opening of the heart"... I guess I did'nt have the right wording for it and used fellowship in the mean time, but I think that that can be a huge part of fellowship is whether or not you can actually open your heart to that person...