And what if I can't repent of my sins?

[Nord Christian]

Dear Nord Christian. You had good advice, may I give you one more?
In Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells a Lawyer: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself." Jesus also tells us: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and all the Prophets."
God is Love, and Love is very important to God. Matthew 7: 7-10: tells us:
ask and ye shall receive, then thank God and share all Love and Joy with your neighbour: all you know and all you meet, friends and not friends. God will see your sincere efforts, and God will Bless you.
The Bible tells us to "Repent" and to " Be Born Again." Change from being selfish and unloving, to become Loving and Caring. Love is very catching, and
God wants us to love and care freely, and NO TAGS ATTACHED. Jesus will help and guide us, JESUS IS THE WAY. Remember, keep asking for Love and Joy, then thank God and share all with your neighbour. You may stumble and forget at times, but then ask God to forgive you and carry on Loving and Caring. It is what God wants from us, and Love is very catching. You will find that gradually you will change from thinking all about yourself, and become loving and caring. People around you will treat you the same as you
treat people, and life will be filled with joy. I say this with love, Nord Christian.
Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

Thanks so much, Emmy!

I really have no problem with being friendly, or giving to my neighbor.
I was actually doing work at the local Salvation army mission, but hadn't
been back for about three months, after getting sick in the winter. I did enjoy it, and can't see what it is inside myself, that keeps me from going back.

I'm also learning the Christian way of life. By watching Dr. Charles Stanley and this forum, I've learned quite a bit. And of course, by reading my Bible.

I grew up harboring anger, resentment, hate and bitterness from the way I was treated growing up. I'd learned that forgiveness is essential, and the negative feelings had to go.

I try not be be selfish and unloving. I do have some sin problems holding me back. I find that if I'm doing a good job of repenting of one, I give in easier to another. Not sure why that is.

Thanks again, Emmy! God bless you!

 

[OzSpen]

I think there should be, Oz. There's a Baptist church I attend, near my home on Sunday mornings. I could ask.

Also want to get baptized. Haven't gotten around to getting it done yet.
Really want to get it done, and real soon!

I'm pleased that you are considering action in these 2 areas. However, I urge you to do these things ASAP.

 

[Nord Christian]

I'm pleased that you are considering action in these 2 areas. However, I urge you to do these things ASAP.

I was actually having weekly meetings with a former pastor, when I'd
attended the Salvation Army church, but hadn't seen or heard from him
since I left. I hold myself accountable, as I had moved and just not
bothered to contact him once I did.

I had left that church for two reasons. The first one was that there was no one to pick me up, to take me there on the weekend. Number two was that I didn't believe there was enough emphasis on weekly Bible readings. Mostly singing.

Of course, we had a pastor who has passed on some months, prior to my departure. He was very good. I liked him a lot. He was only in his 50's, and passed away from cancer After that, we had guys who were former pastors who were just interim. And although, even when Mark (original pastor) I felt hadn't preached enough on the Bible weekly, he did moreso than the other men who had filled in for him afterward.

Since then, after leaving, I'd joined Heritage Baptist Church in Barrie, through someone I know. I do enjoy, and find I'm learning more about
religion there.

In regards to baptism, I'd asked a younger pastor about getting baptized. He said he'd ask someone to speak to me about it. If I don't hear from someone soon, I'll get back to him.

It's actually pretty cool, as I'd witnessed a lady in her 70's get baptized last week! The pool is glass enclosed, just right behind the pulpit. Everyone gets to witness the event.

 

[OzSpen]

Nord,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I'm indeed pleased that you are making some movement in the areas you mentioned.

Thanks for mentioning the Salvos and your contact with them. My wife was raised in the Salvos here in Queensland and became a soldier. She was attending the Baptists with me at the time we married. She struggled with their lack of practice of the Lord's Supper and baptism.

In the mid 1970s, I attended Bible College in British Columbia, about an hour up the Fraser River from Vancouver. Then we went to Montreal for the 1976 Olympics and were involved in evangelistic outreach.

I pray that the Lord will help you to find a solid Christian counsellor. And yes, the Baptist style is to have your baptism in public. For me it happened in the baptismal font that was under the pulpit of the Bundaberg Baptist Church. But you need to remember that I live in the sub-tropics (Florida kind of weather) and the cold water is rarely cold. Some baptisms are conducted in the open ocean at beaches here in Qld.

In Christ,
Oz

I was actually having weekly meetings with a former pastor, when I'd
attended the Salvation Army church, but hadn't seen or heard from him
since I left. I hold myself accountable, as I had moved and just not
bothered to contact him once I did.

I had left that church for two reasons. The first one was that there was no one to pick me up, to take me there on the weekend. Number two was that I didn't believe there was enough emphasis on weekly Bible readings. Mostly singing.

Of course, we had a pastor who has passed on some months, prior to my departure. He was very good. I liked him a lot. He was only in his 50's, and passed away from cancer After that, we had guys who were former pastors who were just interim. And although, even when Mark (original pastor) I felt hadn't preached enough on the Bible weekly, he did moreso than the other men who had filled in for him afterward.

Since then, after leaving, I'd joined Heritage Baptist Church in Barrie, through someone I know. I do enjoy, and find I'm learning more about
religion there.

In regards to baptism, I'd asked a younger pastor about getting baptized. He said he'd ask someone to speak to me about it. If I don't hear from someone soon, I'll get back to him.

It's actually pretty cool, as I'd witnessed a lady in her 70's get baptized last week! The pool is glass enclosed, just right behind the pulpit. Everyone gets to witness the event.

 

[lismore]

Some baptisms are conducted in the open ocean at beaches here in Qld.

In Christ,
Oz

My baptism was in a small river that came down from the Mountains. I'm glad it was a warm summer.

 

[OzSpen]

My baptism was in a small river that came down from the Mountains. I'm glad it was a warm summer.

Brother,

In your part of the world (Scotland), 'warm summer', I think, has a different meaning for me than for you. 'Warm summer' here is hot, steamy, muggy humidity with lots of thunderstorms, possible monsoon rains (becoming less and less these days), and floods.

It's a long while since I visited Glasgow in the summer, but it was nothing quite like SE Queensland.

I'm encouraged that you were obedient to the Lord in becoming baptised.

In Christ,
Oz

 

[lismore]

Brother,

In your part of the world (Scotland), 'warm summer', I think, has a different meaning for me than for you. 'Warm summer' here is hot, steamy, muggy humidity with lots of thunderstorms, possible monsoon rains (becoming less and less these days), and floods.

It's a long while since I visited Glasgow in the summer, but it was nothing quite like SE Queensland.

I'm encouraged that you were obedient to the Lord in becoming baptised.

In Christ,
Oz

I can guess!

Glasgow is wet and warm by Scottish standards. Where I live is cooler and dryer. So yes, it was a memorable baptism day!

God Bless You

 

[StephenJSheridan]

I understand where you are coming from as I struggled with the same thing since I was 16 until ten weeks ago. On sunday I will be 26 so it's been about a decade of this. But ten weeks ago I recommitted my life to the Lord after having been backslidden for a few years because of the porn addiction/homosexual thoughts and lust. But ten weeks ago I began relying and praying to the Lord to help me overcome this addiction/lusts/feelings and I haven't been back to the stuff for over 10 weeks now. I repented and put all my trust in the Lord to give me the strength to overcome it and the desire for all that junk has literally vanished from my life. daily prayer and time in the Word also helps immensely when you are struggling with these things.

 

[Nord Christian]

Nord,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I'm indeed pleased that you are making some movement in the areas you mentioned.

Thanks for mentioning the Salvos and your contact with them. My wife was raised in the Salvos here in Queensland and became a soldier. She was attending the Baptists with me at the time we married. She struggled with their lack of practice of the Lord's Supper and baptism.

In the mid 1970s, I attended Bible College in British Columbia, about an hour up the Fraser River from Vancouver. Then we went to Montreal for the 1976 Olympics and were involved in evangelistic outreach.

I pray that the Lord will help you to find a solid Christian counsellor. And yes, the Baptist style is to have your baptism in public. For me it happened in the baptismal font that was under the pulpit of the Bundaberg Baptist Church. But you need to remember that I live in the sub-tropics (Florida kind of weather) and the cold water is rarely cold. Some baptisms are conducted in the open ocean at beaches here in Qld.

In Christ,
Oz

Well Oz, last Sunday I got up, showered and dressed for church, only to have the young Pastor who drives the bus not give me a call to see if I was coming or not. He usually does every Sunday. He picks me up by bus.

Wonder if maybe he is upset, because of my inconsistency of going to church. I have had trouble with insomnia for a long time, so I hadn't been
attending church every week. I also only get to see my parent's one time a week, and that's Sunday.

Interesting story, Oz! So, you're wife became a soldier. Cool! And you attended Bible college in BC. Nice out there I hear. I'm much further east in Ontario. Canada is a huge country. I'm much closer to Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, that I am to British Columbia. Even going
westward, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are a a lot closer to Ontario than BC.

Yeah, you guys get the hot weather. Here in Ontario, Canada, we get nice hot weather for maybe four months out of the whole year! Hehe! Luckily, the church I've been attending has like a glass inclosed pool type thing, right behind the pulpit. People can witness the baptism from beyond the pulpit.

I had actually talked with the Pastor who drives the bus about getting baptized, and he mentioned to me that he would talk to a senior pastor to set something up. The next week he told me he forgot, as he was busy. Think he has another job.

 

[Nord Christian]

I understand where you are coming from as I struggled with the same thing since I was 16 until ten weeks ago. On sunday I will be 26 so it's been about a decade of this. But ten weeks ago I recommitted my life to the Lord after having been backslidden for a few years because of the porn addiction/homosexual thoughts and lust. But ten weeks ago I began relying and praying to the Lord to help me overcome this addiction/lusts/feelings and I haven't been back to the stuff for over 10 weeks now. I repented and put all my trust in the Lord to give me the strength to overcome it and the desire for all that junk has literally vanished from my life. daily prayer and time in the Word also helps immensely when you are struggling with these things.

My congratulations to you, Stephen! Although, I'd never fallen into
homosexuality, I had fallen into the porn trap, which kept a hold on
me for years. I'll pray for you, and hope that you can stay on the right
path. Please pray for me too, Brother!

Sin is sin, and I'm still having a hard time with my sin problems. You're doing much better than myself.

 

[th1bill]

My congratulations to you, Stephen! Although, I'd never fallen into
homosexuality, I had fallen into the porn trap, which kept a hold on
me for years. I'll pray for you, and hope that you can stay on the right
path. Please pray for me too, Brother!

Sin is sin, and I'm still having a hard time with my sin problems. You're doing much better than myself.

Hello Nord Christian,
Like Stephen, in my youth I was into everything as I was introduced to homosexuality at the age of eight and being a guitar playing lead singer that loved both C&W and the Blues there was, absolutely, no limit to the forms of sin I was offered and engaged in.

I was saved and married my first Christian Wife at 45 (there were three from the clubs before my salvation) and I had been running from God for over 23 years. I will not lie to anyone, the Porn and the scenes that filled my life, killings, friends blown into pieces, women doing some, absolutely, insane things to and for me and others in my band and the groupies will not be driven from my memory until the day I receive my Glorified Body, the temptation is there every day and the killings return every night.

Without my complete surrender to the Master, God, I could never withstand Satan's pull for me to return into his service and to deny God, it is not an easy thing and I am now 69, 24 years of service and persevering. Having, literately, walked off the stage and into Church, I am well trained at recognizing those that will sin the lustful sins and because God awarded me a super baritone voice many young ladies and a number of what I called Cougars are in attendance any given Sunday but I made a covenant with my first wife as a Christian and I made another with my eyes and my LORD.

I feel the reason for my success in living these past 24 years lies in those two covenants. A contract can be made between me and anyone else but a covenant involves a third person, God. There is Spiritual power in a covenant that can be found nowhere else and it just ripples with the power of God, as long as I remember the terms of the covenants and the awful penalty for not surrendering everything to God.

It is a popular movement, in the modern Church, to never preach certain passages, ripping the power and the Judgment of God away from our lives and it is killing the Church Family at a rather quick rate today. It is so popular today I am banned from most Christian Forums on the web today because I stand flat footed on the Word of God and will not compromise it to be popular.

You and Stephen have my prayer because I do know the trials you are facing and dealing with from moment to moment. But pray and submit and God will see you through this mess.

God bless.

 

[Nord Christian]

Hello Nord Christian,
Like Stephen, in my youth I was into everything as I was introduced to homosexuality at the age of eight and being a guitar playing lead singer that loved both C&W and the Blues there was, absolutely, no limit to the forms of sin I was offered and engaged in.

I was saved and married my first Christian Wife at 45 (there were three from the clubs before my salvation) and I had been running from God for over 23 years. I will not lie to anyone, the Porn and the scenes that filled my life, killings, friends blown into pieces, women doing some, absolutely, insane things to and for me and others in my band and the groupies will not be driven from my memory until the day I receive my Glorified Body, the temptation is there every day and the killings return every night.

Without my complete surrender to the Master, God, I could never withstand Satan's pull for me to return into his service and to deny God, it is not an easy thing and I am now 69, 24 years of service and persevering. Having, literately, walked off the stage and into Church, I am well trained at recognizing those that will sin the lustful sins and because God awarded me a super baritone voice many young ladies and a number of what I called Cougars are in attendance any given Sunday but I made a covenant with my first wife as a Christian and I made another with my eyes and my LORD.

I feel the reason for my success in living these past 24 years lies in those two covenants. A contract can be made between me and anyone else but a covenant involves a third person, God. There is Spiritual power in a covenant that can be found nowhere else and it just ripples with the power of God, as long as I remember the terms of the covenants and the awful penalty for not surrendering everything to God.

It is a popular movement, in the modern Church, to never preach certain passages, ripping the power and the Judgment of God away from our lives and it is killing the Church Family at a rather quick rate today. It is so popular today I am banned from most Christian Forums on the web today because I stand flat footed on the Word of God and will not compromise it to be popular.

You and Stephen have my prayer because I do know the trials you are facing and dealing with from moment to moment. But pray and submit and God will see you through this mess.

God bless.

Very interesting story, Bill. BTW, my Dad's name is Bill as well.

I heard the band scene is/ and has been a crazy life for several years, for the ones who do and don't make the big time. I had the talent, but was way too anxious and shy to use my talents.

Although, I had not done as much, or have seen as much as you have, I can certainly related to the lust and porn issue. I'd stopped going to strip clubs about ten years ago, but the porn addiction never ended. I was pretty much a loner, and in my own world. I blamed my own problems on everyone else, including my parent's for the way I was treated as a kid.

In a sense, the hormones of youth, not too many friends and no gf, made my porn addiction control me. I was socially awkward and had acne. Not an ugly kid, and there may have been girls who did like me?

As I've learned more about religion, which I almost knew nothing about growing up, I know I was being used as a puppet by satan and his fallen ones to lure me into a trap. If I would have passed on three years ago, I would have gone to hell. "I'm a nice guy. I never hurt anyone intentionally".
was my thinking. Now I know better.

After 27 years of porn addiction, it has to, at some point go. I could die tomorrow, but thanks to Lord Jesus Christ I am saved!