Would be thankful

GraceAnn2 said:

Thanks again for explaining. Which church do you suggest? There is a JW church just down the street from me.

Click to expand...

That would be a start, but I do not think even they refer to their places of worship (amongst themselves) as a Church. I would look for a Christ center Church. Not just one with his name in it.

Could you explain "parade grounds" please?

Click to expand...

It is a metaphor. I am not suggesting that churches are required to have an actual ceremonial parade grounds. What I mean to say that worship service is a place where "we" tend to make our best efforts. We build the biggest buildings, put on our best songs, we wear our best cloths, we adhere to all of the protocol and formalities you seem to be urning for. Just like if "we" were in a parade.

I have not heard of any church with them.

Click to expand...

Our church located down town was located on a parade route.

I will get out of the trenches here as you suggested, but I don't want to jump from the frying pan into the fire either.

Click to expand...

Then may I ask what you are looking for?

So sorry you feel the need to look over your shoulders with everyone, especially since I am totally harmless.

Click to expand...

I pointed out several hurtful or even spiteful behaviors when your requests were not met with the haste or "respect" you were expecting.

If you can point out a church affiliation, I will be delighted to go away and relieve you of that awful feeling.

Click to expand...

Their isn't one particular denomination I am pointing to. Really any Jesus Christ centered church that you feel you can connect with, will do.

It must be terribly hard to live like that.

Click to expand...

Like in real estate. It's all depends on location, location, location. When we are here, we are prepared to go under fire for the Lord. Looking at people's "best efforts" and discerning their intentions from the thoughts or their words (Good, bad or indifferent) is all apart of that process.

I am truly sorry that I unintentionally caused you such distress.

Click to expand...

Helping you discern the reason no one has spoken to you besides non seq or myself did not cause me any distress. Thank you for your concern though.

Now that the pleasantries are out of the way is their anything else i can do for you?

GraceAnn2 said:

Do you really see me as swine unworthy of your wisdom?

Click to expand...

If you take a quick survey, you will note that I am currently the only one talking to you. Whether you are a "swine" or not has yet to be determined in my minds eye. I only pointed out you are affiliating yourself with a person with less than honorable intentions in all of his threads. This in of itself does not make you a swine, but for some it put them off to even answering your questions. If you want an honest effort from everyone here then all i did is suggest that you watch the company you keep and show a little patiences and humility.

Oh my, these posts get more shocking by the min. Is this christianity at its best?

Click to expand...

It truly depends on what you are looking for in Christianity.

Everyone representing God has reserved comment because they thought about me like you did?

Click to expand...

My original reservation was all due to the fact that I was answering several other active posts. (All you had to do is wait your turn) once you started in with seq about how christianity has let you down here, I wanted to see how far you were willing to go to illicit a response the group.

When I had enough to start with your first lesson in "seeking" I posted my first response.

I now have concerns that I am a target of a Christian conspiracy. Why?

Click to expand...

No one is conspiring against you. Your efforts simply do not reflect your claims. You seem rehearsed and disingenuous. This is off putting to most people in any social situation, let alone a community who has been commanded to avoid foolish arguments.

Read my posts and then explain that all are feeling threatened by me???

Click to expand...

Not sure what you are asking.

I am dumbfounded--just totally dumbfounded.

Click to expand...

Why?

GraceAnn2 said:

Are there staff available here? At almost 70, true, I am not as patient as I was at 30 yrs of age but "swine"? This is so undeserved. The worst I did was be impatient and I did NOT term anyone a "bad believer" as was quoted above.
Doesn't forum staff step in when a newcomer is being trashed like this for no reason?

Click to expand...

No one has called you a name. It is a reference to a bible verse:
Mat 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

The comment was to encourage one truly seeking God to keep better company and to be patient, and to show a little humility.

GraceAnn2 said:

Then may I ask what you are looking for?
Certainly not a parade. I am not sure where any of my posts indicated such.

Click to expand...

It was made apparent to me when I came as I was, and present my best effort to you, and you pointed to how you thought a "christian" should act. I identified this "best behavior" and likened it to a war hero on parade, and said:
If you want to see "christians" on their best behavior visit them in a place where they are not always on the defense. At Church or "on Parade."

>>Their isn't one particular denomination I am pointing to. Really any Jesus Christ centered church that you feel you can connect with, will do.

No kidding? Isn't their one true church someplace?

Click to expand...

What makes you think "we" get to name or identify with that church by our own proclamation?
"We" are the one true church it is not a building or a rehearsed set of rules. There are members of this church that belong to all denominations and non denominations alike. That is why I said pick a Christ centered church you feel you can connect with and go there.

Our Greatest command it to love our Lord and God with all of our being. (Heart, Mind, Spirit, and Strength.) Because we are all different this will look somewhat different from person to person. A brother who has been gifted with a heart for discipline and academic study, needs to worship in a church with structure and lots of study for him to meet the requirements of our greatest command.

In turn a sister who has been gifted with a big heart and lots of energy would most likely wilt and die in a place where the "brother" flourishes. So she need a different way to express the fullness of her Heart Mind Spirit and Strength.

That is why we have been given the freedom of worship, subsequently this is one of the reasons why we have so many different denominations.

>> When we are here, we are prepared to go under fire for the Lord.
Sad, not everyone comes to a forum with a weapon in hand, do they?

Click to expand...

A sharp tongue and a hard heart will slay a spirit more quickly than anything, one can strike at you from his hand.

So others actually spoke to you behind my back and told you why they would not post to me? Do you have a private "gossip" folder here?

Click to expand...

No one said anything. As I pointed out in my opening post. Your behavior mirrors those with less than honorable intentions. Meaning even if your intentions are honorable there have been many many people who have come here claiming the things you have claimed, but have used this "innocents" as a way to strike at the heart of a well meaning believer. And just as you have retreated behind your age and "innocents" when ever openly challenged, so do the "swine."

This is a popular tactic with JW's or Muslims. Because your efforts can be so easily misidentified I took it upon myself to try and help you see, what "we" see. So if you are indeed seeking God, you can make some very minor humble changes and get what you are looking for.

As of yet though you seem to be what I thought you to be.

GraceAnn2 said:

It is great verse to humiliate me--
You have accomplished your goal.
Not very good encouragement for a seeker, however.

Click to expand...

Humility is the first big step in seeking God on His terms. Humble yourself before the Lord and allow Him to lift you up. (another verse.)

Do you wish to continue?

GraceAnn2 said:

Excuse me but I started this thread myself and have no control over who responds to it. Do you see me posting in any other of his threads?

Click to expand...

You might want to go back to the first couple of pages and reread some of the things you yourself said in an effort to elicit a response.

Talk about unfounded judgments--wow!! They answered his questions did they not? But won't talk to me???

Click to expand...

As I have pointed out over and over now. Your efforts seem rehearsed, or designed to entrap. At least with Seq we know what we are getting into. He is honest about what he feels or he just really bad about hiding his "hidden" agenda.

I started my own thread only and went to no other. Is that keeping bad company?

Click to expand...

Reread what you wrote in the first two pages of this thread and you tell be again who's company you are keeping.

You need to stop making me out as a criminal here.

Click to expand...

I am not. I am just showing you your own red flags you are leaving in your wake. Do with them what you will.

Excuse me again. But what could be rehearsed or disingenuous about my posts, since I have never been in a Christian forum before and had no idea what to expect.

Click to expand...

I'll offer again. do you want to go line by line on the posts I did not go line by over?

I had hoped it would resemble Christ because that was what my daughter told me, but

Click to expand...

Who's words did you think i quoted in Mt 7?
Christ was not the fluffy push over you think Him to be. Christ was a man of standards and had a way of offering what a person needed even when they did not want or expect what He offered.

GraceAnn2 said:

]>>"We" are the one true church it is not a building or a rehearsed set of rules.

Then why did you refer me to a Christ-centered church?

Click to expand...

A church is a fellowship of believers. It is not a building. I referred you to a Christ centered fellowship of believers, in hopes that you may find a place that you can learn to worship with all of your being.

>>Our Greatest command it to love our Lord and God with all of our being

So there is no command to love one another? Isn't this half of the command?

Click to expand...

Mark 12: 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

That would make the greatest command to Love God.

>>A sharp tongue and a hard heart will slay a spirit more quickly than anything

You have certainly slain my spirit with it.

Click to expand...

How does this relate to your original comment?

Not with you as the spokesperson for God.

Click to expand...

As you wish. If you do change your mind, all you have to do is ask a question. Be patient, and I will do my best to get to it in a timely fashion.

GraceAnn2 said:

I believe that I have already indicated that I am done talking to you here!

Click to expand...

Hi GraceAnn2, I would appreciate if you will allow me to speak with you following your discussion with drich, and I will be completely honest because that is what we as Christians are called for. I am quite shocked to view this thread today, last time I checked was when Non-seq had replied on #7. I didn't expect it to fly out of balance like it has, but it has. I want to see if we can pick up the pieces because I too was curious to know which foundation courses are available, I too would have liked to see more Christian suggestions for the OP but obviously the Lord has planned otherwise, His ways are so wise we struggle to understand them.

I was brought up in a Christian environment, I heard many of the Christian stories while I was a child and when Jesus came into my life last year the penny dropped and I now believe it is 100% true. Everything that the Bible says is true! Well then why do so many Christians run off the rails and end up bent out of shape? Because it isn't how much you know about the faith that matters so much as what you know and when. The synchronization of information to life circumstances can make the difference of life and death to a suicide victim who needs to hear God's message (I know because I once helped Jesus deliver a girl who was suicidal and simply by asking Jesus into her heart and reading the Bible once she was saved from her demons).

So there certainly is something seriously real to this religion and it would be a huge shame if even one person came searching and went away discontent simply because they didn't receive the correct information at the right time. So I really feel sorry for you to be in the situation you are, and want to show you some scripture that might help to shine light on your path.

First, whenever you are participating in theology, be aware of this verse:

Matthew 12
36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

Last, I want to show you this poem, very cleverly demonstrates the true nature of God and is completely scriptural. So many people get the wrong idea of who God is because the information they receive (such as a quote out of context) is lacking completeness or coherency, it causes them to draw false conclusions sort of like kids imagine spooky monsters from seeing shapes of light at night. Here it is:

Father's Love Letter Text

I am in a new flat where we have a few Christian flatmates, I would like to get a weekly Bible study going, so I am going to do some searching for good Bible courses and I will keep you in mind as I look. Can you describe to me what do you already know about Jesus or Christianity? What are you hoping to achieve with your studies? Also, you should sign up for daily devotionals where a verse is selected daily and sent to your email with some commentary, these can help you to gain insight to the faith too and it's nice to keep hearing from God every day

Well, I hope we can diffuse this bomb and get back on track. Any Christians who can address the OP - I think this is obliged!

Thank you a thousand times. Jesus shines in your every word.
I really want to know Jesus and give my heart to Him but that was sidetracked here.

Click to expand...

Hello and welcome to CF. I would read thru the Gospel of John Chapts 14-17.
It is perhaps the longest discourse by Jesus in the NT, the first 3 chapts show Jesus comforting His Disciples before His arrest and crucifixion, and chap 17 which is Jesus talking to His Father.
I read thru them often. I like the NKJV or YoungLT bible versions because I view them as more accurate, but you can view a lot of them at the link below.
Hope this helps

Search for 'Genesis 1:1' in the version

Young) John 14:1 `Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, also in Me believe;
2 in the house of my Father are many mansions; and if not, I would have told you; I go on to prepare a place for you;..............

GraceAnn2 said:

>>Hello and welcome to CF. I would read thru the Gospel of John Chapts 14-17.

Thanks very much for the blessings and I will follow this Gospel of John. Yesterday, I booked-marked BibleGateway. Since I don't know what phrases to type in for a search, just reading a chapter of John at a time should do the trick.

Click to expand...

I like this lexicon/concordance site.
Or you can type a bible phrase into google search and it will generally bring up links to where it is used in the Bible.

Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

My my my. How ugly was this thread. GraceAnn, always remember that a Christian is a follower of Christ and not a follower of Christians. There are some "Christians" who act more like Satan than Christ, but you have to emulate Christ and not them. Always keep your eyes on Jesus and learn of him and his character everyday and try to be his ambassador.