I came here looking for a decently active place to discuss the Bible with other people. I look forward to discussing it and it's teaching with you all.

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
-Matthew 10:39

I have a hard time trying to understand this verse. to be honest I've had a hard time most of my life understanding if Jesus is ok with us having fun. I've always thought of Jesus as someone who is very serious and watching our every move, to this day I try to live my life according to what I believe Jesus wants, but is it wrong to have fun here and there? Why do I feel like He doesn't want me to have fun. i'm trying to be set free from some lies that i haven't ever made time to wrestle with and i want these weeds that have grown with the good seed to be uprooted out of my life if they are in fact weeds. Let me know your thoughts on this verse. trust me i understand the basics of this question seem obvious or ridiculous, please don't point that out, rather help me break down this verse and digest it as you'd feed an infant as i am truly trying to find the truth without finding what my itching ears want to hear. thank you for your response

Has anyone ever had to quit their job due to stress? How was the stress affecting you and what did you do about it?

Please remove them or give people the option.. not this forced your going to look like "we" want you to look.

Does anyone have experience with feeling a "thump" or some sort of bumb, and then seeing an object in the vincinity move slightly or subtly at the same time or a second later? If you have, was this when you were concencrated in thought or watching something?

I'm trying to figure out this phenomina. If this is something that's generated from my own mind, a micro-intersection with a potential parallel reality interacting with mine for the moment and creating a differential that causes a movement, a pesky ghost that's playing tricks with me to let me know something is there, etc...? This has happened a number of times, but its too infrequent and happens at times I'm too tired or absorbed into something to care and its not done in such a way to inspire any fear. It's just interesting and I want to know if anyone can corroborate with this.

Some of the movements are very subtle in nature. (ie an object that's falling moves bizzarely side-ways in a way that doesn't account for that trajectory to the ground, so almost a horizontal movement while falling before falling down, or any horizontal movements that can't be explained by gravity, hearing something falling down but it was securely positioned unless it was moved horizontally to make it fall, etc...).

I wasn't sure what category to post this in, this category felt like the most appropriate.

I believe no matter what religion somebody may follow, we are all with the same God. I wouldn't say I'm 100% Christian I'd say I'm a bit of everything in terms of religion. My mind is always wide open to things because of stuff I have experienced with the paranormal throughout my life.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be Jewish and before I go any further with this I want want to say I don't want to offend anybody Jewish I respect all religions and I don't judge. I know very little about the Jewish religion. I find them interesting and have become curious for some years. I like the way they dress with top hats and old style clothing.

I live in London so there are many Jewish people around and I'd be interested in knowing more and possibly attending there place of worship but at the same time I feel like I'd be intruding... I would like to learn more.

Any suggestions?

I don’t know if anyone has kept up on the latest coming from this fashion house but it disgusting. I’m afraid to link it but the title above pretty much says it all.

One of the pics from the Balenciaga child photos has Balenciaga spelled on tape spelled BAALenciaga

Interesting...

Got diagnosed with kidney cancer stage 3 and had surgery to have it removed I had leukemia as a child also, suffered from panic attacks and had a nasty load of depression.

Hi my names Daniel, my closest beliefs are inline with the SDA church, hope you are all ok and may god bless you all!

German army without ammunition!

In the news in Business Insider, referring to defense industry and parliamentary sources, it was announced that the German army (Bundeswehr) had enough ammunition for only one or two days of war.
Berlin falls significantly behind NATO’s requirement to keep stocks for at least 30 days, Business Insider reports in Germany.

The problem is said to have been “known for years” as military exercises suffer from insufficient stocks.
After Russia declared war on Ukraine in February, stocks were further depleted as Germany, along with many other Western countries, began to send weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.

Click to expand...

Today I read in my own local paper in Germany, that our Bundeswehr (Federal Army for the Protection etc ) has only got enough ammunition left for one day.
And I fear: Putin knows!

In the 80ies of the last century we had this slogan: "Frieden schaffen - ohne Waffen! = Let us bring peace - without weapons!"

Now the time has come, as it seems ....

The Bible is the Work of God, and in that context it is the WORD of God. The English Standard Version of 2 Timothy 3:16 leaves no doubt when it says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness...” Similarly, other versions says that all Scripture is God-breathed.

Other versions, such as the New Living Translation, starts out by saying “All Scripture is INSPIRED BY God.” Is there really any difference as to whether all Scripture is breathed out by God or inspired by God when the purpose of the Scriptures in God’s name is the same?

Some may argue it’s not the same thing. They may say that the phrase “inspired by God” suggests that the Bible is the work of man rather than of God. But in terms of true faith, the only works that count are those of God. Those works are either from God himself or they are manifested in others as God’s works. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST. For we are his workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

One good work of God is manifested in those of the Faith who write the Word of God in the Bible. Those of the faith are not writing their own words, they’re writing the Words of God. Every Word of God, from the Ten Commandments to the numerous battles in the Old Testament, to the birth of Jesus, his teachings and his Ascension are the Words of God. So, to risk an analogy, as every word of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is Lincoln himself (but reflecting God’s good works), every Word of God in the Bible is God Himself.

Try to keep the discussion focused on morality and not politics.
For those of us that are older...we remember this term being given to us by Muslim nations decades ago. They implied our moral values would reap a path of destruction and basically we were a tool of the Devil.
Anyway...were they right?
Just curious what you guys think?

The obvious answer is no.
But I suppose that depends on who you ask.

Of course, it would be unusual for someone to state it as bluntly as I have, but the inference is epidemic. IMHO

My favorite example is what Jesus taught us about godly behavior toward our enemies. See Matthew 5:43-48 below.
If we are required to love our enemies, why would God incinerate his enemies? Sounds like a double standard.
And worse than that, a lower standard for God. Which puts pagans and tax collectors (traitors) at a higher level.
That can't be right.

Does God operate at a lower standard of morality/ethics than he requires of us?

Matthew 5:43-48 NIV
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I believe God speaks to us through scripture. He promised me we would have our own home in 3 years. It’s now going into my 4th year. I’m still stuck living at my aunts place.
My scripture was Isaiah 37:29-32
I was brought back to where I grew up, literally on the same road. We escaped Covid, live on a mountain, and are ready plant in our own soil. But 3 years are gone. The promise has not come. I love God and I’m not turning my back on him. But I mourned and cried and asked why. Probably said things I shouldn’t have. Asked for forgiveness. But not fulfilling his promise to me, I need help getting over this!

Hello all, When I studied the 7th day Sabbath one thing I investigated was *WHEN* was the Sabbath observed.
My reasoning was that if it started at Mt Sinai and ended at the cross you would see that reflected in a timeline. I did not find any such of an investigation so I made one.
Here is my study. Shalom

PDF --> https://drive.google.com/file/d/16sE7btIRvdj9l2x5uyZ08AAYC3XmRPRe/view?usp=sharing

YT vid of the PDF w/link below vid -->
Login to view embedded media

In the latest version, companies will get a gold check, governments will get a gray check, and individuals who pay for the service, whether or not they’re celebrities, will get a blue check, Musk said Friday.

I would suggest a forum, where we discuss things from the Bible. Could be Old Testament culture. Original languages, How to memorize, etc...

Smith Wigglesworth, Mother Etter, F.F Bozworth would their ministry be welcomed into the modern day A/G church style?

People so overcome by the Presence of God they would be in a trance like state for hours -
The evangelist stating "When God is not moving, I move Him with my faith"
The itinerating minister filling Madison Square Garden with so many confirmed healings he is charged with practicing medicine without a license.

Christian rap tends to be very cheesy with forced pop culture references to fashion and sports while the lyrics try to remain clean and it can become very cringe (looking at you Andy Mineo), anyone got a list of good, I mean actual good Christian rap artists that are serious?

God gave us free will, but expects us to obey Him in everything and deny ourselves and never follow our hearts because they are evil? Why give us free will at all?

Is it possible to fully remove a post you made in a thread with this new software? I'm not talking about an edit to a post, but a full removal of it so you can't tell it was ever there. Like Post #3 is removed and the next poster is now #3.

Is that possible?

Yeah I guess....

I don't really "bulieve" but it's waht is there I don't think I even know anymore. I don't want it even. Unpray. I can't. I am tired. I want I can't write.

I sound like someone else.

Maybe I don't know.

Many blame guns (many Europeans countries allow access to guns yet none of this happens), many blame the people and mental health, there is always something to blame but we never get to the actual root of the problem. Why does it happen in America at a much larger rate than the rest of the world? Many from other countries have said that the notion of kids having to practice active shooter drills seems like a dystopian horror for them.

When participating on a discussion forum, such as ChristianForums, do you expect to read nothing but comfortable theology? That is to say, do you want to read posts that say things that you already believe or things that are agreeable to the system of theology that you already accept?