Leaderboard

Before I became a Baptist, I was part of three different Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches (cannot remember if I was a member of them or not, it was so long ago). Right now I am attending the second IFB church that I have been a member of. I found out a few months ago that in January of this year that the one I was part of in Kelowna, BC, since 1998 is now not assembling together. The families have moved on or are attending an IFB church in Vernon, BC. With Covid fallout, we don't have that many people at our church in Abbotsford - but at least it's still solid in preaching, IFB, KJVonly - better than any other alternatives in my city.

We have some friends who have been hit with covid. The wife recovered, but it still recuperating and tires very easily. Her husband got pneumonia from it and is now in the hospital on oxygen. It looks like he is improving as they've lowered his oxygen, but please pray for healing. She would like him to come home, believing that he would rest better (we all know that's likely true), but not while his oxygen is iffy. Please pray for recovery. They are missionaries, home on furlough. Their country of service is very harsh about covid, and they have had a lot to deal with. They come home and after just a few weeks get sick. The advantage is they will now be immune, but it wouldn't surprise me if they weren't required to get the jab to get back in country. She has not shared this on social media, just privately. So I'm not going to give names. God knows, and I do appreciate your prayers.

Todays' update: My friend is home from the hospital! He still has to be on oxygen a bit, but it doing much better. Recuperation is now the goal for both of them. Thank you so much for praying!

I have been a member of two Independent Baptist churches. 1. Two Rivers Baptist in Fairbanks Alaska from 1977 to 2003. 2. Country Baptist in Yreka California from 2007 to 2021.

It was a generic god that loves everybody. No truth or Gospel presented in the show at all. No one could have gotten saved from its worldly, religious influence.

Actually, the primary definition and context is that he be a man/husband who is Biblically and relationally committed and devoted to only one woman/wife, which encompasses BOTH the polygamy issue and the divorce/remarriage issue, as well as wife abuse or neglect issues (dealing treacherously with her as per Malachi 2:13-14). Indeed, the Biblical elder/overseer (bishop) "MUST be BLAMELESS," especially in his marriage relationship with his wife (considering that in both of the qualification passages of 1 Timothy 3 & Titus 1, the responsibility of his marriage relationship follows immediately after the necessity to be "blameless"). As such, the qualification to be "the husband of one wife" (to be "a one woman/wife man/husband") would encompass ALL of the Biblical truth concerning a godly marriage relationship. (Note: I would contend that viewing the phrase, "the husband of one wife," only as being contrary to divorce/remarriage is a narrowing of the Biblical intention for the qualification.)

And what they did was in direct disobedience to God's Word as per the Law of Moses: Deuteronomy 17:14-20 - "When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel."

Oh yeah, silly me. I forgot that these scientists were there, so they ought to know.

They have answered the question though. They say it's because the species of ape humans descended from are not the same species of ape that exist now. There was a split way back when and one species evolved into what are now humans and the others evolved into the apes that are still apes. The other answer is because during the evolutionary process any ape species that began to evolve higher intelligence were killed by the evolving humans so we alone became the superior ones. The other ape species could only survive by not evolving higher intelligence.

No Deacon or Deacons should ever be given that much authority. Decision making is under the authority of the whole church membership. They are in that position as HELPERS to the pastor, not rulers, not a board of Deacons.

I was working on my Bible study lesson, and saw a lot in it today. I first go through the passage, this week it is Psalm 119:105-112 with the heading NUN, and define words, then I read the corresponding chapter from Spurgeon's The Golden Alphabet. After that I work through the workbook lesson. All three usually bring things to mind that I can interconnect. In relation to verse 105, which states, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Spurgeon explains, "Having no fixed lamps in eastern towns, in old time each passenger carried a lantern with him, that he might not fall into the open sewer, or stumble over the heaps of ordure which defiled the road." I found it interesting, and more relatable, knowing that individuals had to possess their own light sources in order to get around. This is exactly where we are at. Each person on earth needs their own light source to survive and make their way in the world. Some choose inferior sources (nature, humanist philosophy, etc.) which leaves them stumbling and lost. The Christian has the Word of God. But how well it lights our way and keeps us from stumbling is directly related to how much of it we hide in our heart and turn to for guidance. Just having it is enough to light the way to keep from stumbling, the more we know, though, the brighter the path gets and the more detail we can see. This also reminded me of the parable of the Ten Virgins and their lamps in Matthew 25. Five had tended their lamps and kept them ready, five had not. The wise virgins had light to draw upon when they needed it, and the other five were left in the dark. Staying in the Word keeps the oil level in our heart where it needs to be, so it can be used at a moment's notice. In verse 106 David says, "I have sworn...." The Hebrew word for sworn is 'shaba' and means seven. When making a legally binding oath, the person swore, or stated, his declaration seven times to indicate his sincerity and obligation to abide by what he was stating. So this is a serious promise, basically a covenant, that he is entering into with the Lord, that he will keep God's righteous judgments. Verse 107 says, "I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word." The Hebrew word is 'chayah' and means to live or revive. For the unsaved it would mean to be made alive, and for the Christian is means to be stirred up or brought back to life. I immediately thought of Psalm 51:12, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." Spurgeon made an interesting comment, "Frequently the affliction is made the means of the quickening, even as the stirring of a fire promotes the heat of the flame." My husband has been doing an informal study on worship. People talk about worship, but from what we have seen what they call a 'worship service' is actually just a 'feel-good' service' because the focus is on them and not God. Hubby asked a group of preachers what worship was. One gave a definition he liked, I don't remember it exactly, but basically it was when someone is suddenly so moved by the truth and reality of God and his presence that you are moved to praise. In verse 108 is says, "Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings or my mouth...." The Hebrew word for 'freewill offerings' is 'nedabah' and means 'spontaneity.' Spurgeon says, "He pleads that the homage of his mouth was cheerfully and spontaneously rendered: all is utterances were freewill offerings." This all is sounding a lot like what the one preacher told hubby. So is a freewill offering worship? He will be looking into that. Spurgeon goes on to say, "There can be no value in extorted confessions, God's revenues are not derived from forced taxation, but from freewill donations." It struck me that 'forced taxation' would equate with the sacrifices under the Law, and that 'freewill offerings' would equate to the cheerful giving of those who are now under Grace. I particularly liked this quote from Spurgeon, "there is no work of free grace where there is no fruit of freewill." Verse 110 says, "The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts." The enemy is cunning, crafty and deceitful. There is always an element of truth in what he presents us, and that is what captures our attention, but then he subtily and cunningly twists it slowly but surely until it is no where close to the truth and we have been drawn away. My husband was a trapper as a teenager. In order to be successful at trapping he had to understand the animals he was trying to catch. He had to know what their food sources were, where those food sources could be found, what the animal did when it was hunting and stalking it's food, the movement habits of the animal when it was moving from area to area looking for food. He had to basically get inside the mind of the animal, know how it would react to new things in it's environment, etc. Spurgeon says, "Hunters set their traps in the animals' usual runs, and our worst snares are laid in our own ways." A person who abhors drunkenness will not be led to a bar or a party in an attempt to ensnare him. No, the enemy will take something that you like, something you are already inclined to, and will put it right in the paths you are always on. For the Christian, this will involve, most frequently, family or even church. Not every good thing is the right thing. This is why we need to weigh carefully what is presented to us and above all seek God's leading in all matters. Spurgeon also said, "From this verse let us learn to be on our guard, for we, too, have enemies both crafty and wicked." It reminded me of the verse in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." My husband was at a field training exercise one year, and they were working on convoying and recognizing improvised explosive devices, or booby traps. The commander had set up some booby traps along the route they had to take. Hubby was the only one to spot every one, including the one the commander was very proud of and sure no one would see. But hubby was on alert and he knew what subtle clues to look for. Because of this trapping experience he was familiar with what forest terrain would like like, what was natural and what was man made. Because he had spend years placing and camouflaging traps for animals he knew how to apply this to the situation he was now in -- the hunted. He even spotted a potential ambush point, and alerted the others in the vehicle and urged them to treat it as such, but was chastised and ignored because they were not told that an ambush would be part of the exercise. They continued along the route and ran right into an ambush. We are being hunted by someone who wants to take us down. Being familiar with God's word and living according to his precepts will help us be alert and identify the traps that have been laid for us in our path. A couple weeks ago I posted what I had learned about "for ever." The word comes up again in verse 111. This word will "for ever" stand out to me, lol. In the second half of verse 111 it speaks of the rejoicing of the heart. Spurgeon says, "It is not the head knowledge but the heart experience which brings joy." There are a good many Christians that know a lot about the Bible, they may have a lot of the Bible committed to memory, but it hasn't touched their hearts, they haven't truly experienced the truth of God's Word, and they live joyless lives. "That which rejoices the heart is sure to be chosen and treasured." -- Spurgeon. This brought to mind these verses: Matthew 5.8 Matthew 6.12 Matthew 12.35 Matthew 22.37 Matthew 12.33 Mark 12.33 Verse 112, "I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end." The word 'have' is an action word, David has done it to himself. This implies proactive, determined and disciplined action in his life to achieve this state. What came to my mind was a bonsai tree or fancy topiaries in gardens. These things must be trained, wires and guides are used to lock limbs in place to grow the direction that is desired. The person doing this work has to inspect it regularly and make adjustments. It takes time, diligence and dedication. The same is required of us if we want to make the Word such a part of our lives that we live according to God's statutes.

My childhood church, the church I attended college, church after college, church upon being married, church hubby co-pastored, 4 churches after moving out of state. We've been at our current church about 8 years. Every church we went to we intended to stay at, but different incidents and circumstances made it necessary to move.

Growing up: Faith Baptist Church - Dad was Pastor Then Liberty Baptist From High School to college - Dad went into Evangelism Fairhaven Baptist College for 4 years (College) Lighthouse Baptist Church for 20 years Now Highpoint Baptist Church- Last 6 years

I usually put bacon in my hallf. I make a large one and put veggies alp over and then add bacon to my half. Yesterday I intended to add some ham but I forgot. I used a frozen pizza dough this time but I sometimes make a dough in my breadmaker, other times we buy a simple pizza like tomato and cheese and add other things that we like. I usually add plenty of onions, red preferred, mushrooms for my wife, red pepper (bell pepper, tomato, ) yesterday I added courgette (zucchini), then spikle with dried oregano and garlic, yesterday I added dried Basil and then we sprinkle olive oil over. This evening I am planning salad. Ham and perhaps egg for me and cheeses for my wife. She likes Feta marinated in olive oil and herbes de Provence.

There's no way you can love God and hate Him at the same time. If you hate God in any sense, you are dead wrong and backslidden - if you indeed are saved. Also, Biblical love is obedience to Jesus and His Word. If you are not obeying what is revealed in the Word of God - especially what is stated in the New Testament (for simplicity's sake - the instructions to the NT believers, to the churches), then you do not love Him. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Where did you get connection with LGBTQ from that article. If it was in there I must have overlooked it. I don't think this is coming to us soon as you're predicting. Some of the things sound famiiar, but I'm not sure as they'd be classified as fully here....

I have a pastor friend in Illinois who knocked on every door in town (about 5K) several years back, just after he had taken the church he now pastors. They have had many members leave because of the economy in Illinois, and so his church attendance is down. There are other pastors in town who have gained some of his people, but these churches preach little or no gospel. The other Baptist church in town is SBC and it is very worldly in it's standing. The people who went there from his church had very "itchy ears." They didn't want the Gospel and sound preaching, but an excuse for their sinful lifestyles.

Easy believism has a stranglehold on many Baptist churches today. It doesn't produce true converts and give false hope to many. They have to BELIEVE, not just say a prayer. I find that in most of these cases there is no measurable change in people's lives...no fruit for the kingdom.

I know this is a big problem in society today that people after having surgery are getting addicted to Opioids. This can happen to anyone even preachers. So be safe out there and seek help if this applies to you, you are not alone.

Well, if the church is in the OT like many theologians teach, and the Baptist denomination is the true church the rest of Christians being only guests, then Baptist preachers in the OT had plenty of wives. David, an IFBer, had at least 22 wives and Solomon had 700 plus 300 concubines.

Son it’s time to get up, do I have to get up, yes you have to get up, why ? because we’re going to church and you’re the pastor.

This would only be ONE of the many reasons I wouldn't take it. After having covid 2x now, once being the delta variant, I should have natural immunity. I don't want one of Biden's poison darts hitting me!

Yup, I mentioned this before. I don't know how any Christian can take that death jab with a clear conscience but God only knows.

Wonderful news LuAnne. Things like this bolster God's people when they can see first hand that prayer does work. It is reward enough for me. I will continue to pray for his full recovery. Thank you for the timely update.

Bro. Matt, I have heard and read from scientists that give a much longer period of time that this, especially Geologists. Because I am a miner I hear a lot from Geologists and read and hear them talk in terms of billions of years all the time, I mean outrageous billions of years. Our Bile not only speaks to this issue, but it makes fools out of scientists that are foolish enough to state things like this. Hebrews 11:3 (KJV) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. To me, this says very plainly that God made things with the "appearance of age", which puts all of man's guesses to shame, and they don't even realize it.

Brother Tony, This is the first I ever heard of a "head Deacon". The Bible lists the office of Deacon, I don't see anywhere, or justification for a hierarchy of Deacons. This could be and very likely was, the problem with the church you mentioned. No one man should have authority such as this. Even the pastor is to lead, not have authority over the church above pastoral authority. The ultimate authority in matters of church business lies with tis membership, that is the Scriptural way. I should back off of the subject of deacons, it is pulling the thread off topic. I apologize for this. It seems like I just couldn't let the subject of undue power given to Deacons go.

When I was 9, the bus picked me up for Sunday School at Open Door Baptist Church in Lynwood, WA. As a result, the pastor (Ken Blue) visited and helped my Dad with assurance of his salvation. We began attending regularly and were there for 3 years. We moved to WV, and attended a few churches before settling on one (I can't remember the name), although we weren't there long. Moved back to WA and began attending a Baptist Church that closed down shortly after we moved to Oklahoma (by this time I was 17...). In OK, we joined a Baptist church and were there until we moved back to WV. There the effort was made to form a church of which we were an integral part. It didn't happen, and then I went to college. The first college was baptistic, but was not Baptist, as was the second. I graduated from a Baptist college that no longer exists. Oh, summers I attended the camp church at Mount Salem Revival Grounds in WV (VERY Baptist). After graduating, I moved to Belpre, OH, to teach school at First Baptist of Belpre. Then I moved to OH and joined Tri-County Baptist Church (also to teach). I met Randy there, we were married, and then we joined High Street Baptist in Cols, OH (the church where we met was in the process of closing down after some sad issues). From there, we moved to IN for my hubs to go to college. Fairhaven Baptist, where we met PatorMatt and his soon-to-be wife. We were there for 26 years, and then moved out here to WA. We did join a Baptist church upon moving here, but soon there were issues (no pastor...the pastor's wife was virtually the "pastor" - nuff said). So we found and joined Lighthouse Baptist Church in Port Townsend, WA, where my hubs is now the pastor. Whew...just a few churches. LOL But we did move all over the country several times. Before I was 9, I went to other churches, some different denominations, but never joined. There was a Baptist church down the street from our house when I was very young (about 6). I remember my sister and I going once, because of the dresses we wore. They were "granny" dresses and I loved them, so I think that is why it's stuck in my mind. We may have gone more than that, but I have no memory of it.

I come from a broken home. My parents had me and divorced 10 months later. My father moved away from our hometown a year or so later and remarried. My mother remarried 18 months after the divorce. My step-father raised me as his own because my own father wasn't there. My father, not wanting me to experince what he had experienced in his childhood years, being shipped off from mother to father, and later to other relatives because the kids had all been removed by the state, decided that he would let my step-father adopt me. It was the best thing he could have done. He was divorced from his second wife by that time, and was almost ready to marry his third wife. So, my stepdad adopted me. Shortly afterwards we moved out of state to Illinois. My life was good, as I only knew my stepfather as my father. He was the only one I had ever known. He had been married when he was 15, divorced by 18. He had two children from his marriage before he married my mother...a girl and a boy. He allowed them to be adopted, as his ex-wife wouldn't let him see them. Her father was wealthy and didn't like my adoptive father. My birth father was divorced and remarried for a fourth time. He remarried my stepmother, and they had three kids...two boys and one girl. They have all turned out on the "wrong side of the tracks," all of them having been in jail, and one in prison for home invasion and attempted murder. These brothers and sister of mine have ALL said that my birth father NEVER showed any sense of responsible behavior. They saw him blaming everyone else for things going wrong in their lives. This was my stepmothers first marriage and only marriage. She's the only one who has never been divorced. However, my two brothers and sisters have been divorced. I have not. My adoptive father and mother had many children after they were married, and only two of them have been divorced. I have to say that I'm thankful that the Lord was guiding what would occur in my life, even back then. Through all of these divorces and complications in relationships, the Lord kept me out of jail, out of trouble, and kept me on somewhat of a straight road. If I would have been raised by my birth father, I doubt it would have been this way. Even he has acknowledged that my being raised by my adoptive father and my mom was the best thing he ever did. I would probably never have come to know the Lord if I had been raised by my birth father. I'm thankful I wasn't. Don't get me wrong, I do love my family on that side. I have been witnessing to them for years, and many of them have come close to being saved several times. But, all in the Lords timing. My birth father stated the other day the he was very proud that Vivian and I had stuck it out, and kept fighting for our marriage even when times got tough and we face almost certain divorce. The Lord used many people to help keep us together, and I'm SO thankful for the guidance my older, wiser friends gave us on marriage and divorce. Sorry for the long explanation...but, I thought it relevant. Divorce has effects on the family that many don't seem to recognize. In the case of my mother and birth father, it led to many years of challenges and distrust of my birth father after I met him at the age of 15 when his father had requested to see me before he passed away from cancer. It led to many hard feelings towards my adoptive father because of the lies in letting me believe he was my birth father. He had wanted to make me think that my life had been normal, that he was my birth father, and I believe his heart was in the right place. Still, it built a distrust in me, and it took many years to regain that trust. It also damaged my relationship with my mother for several years. Because I wasn't saved at the time, I was closed to most things Biblical. I was in church, but I was rebellious against the things of God. Divorce is very seldom the answer to problems between people, and ALL of my parents have stated that very thing. It never accomplished anything for any of them. My brothers and sister on that side of the family have all lamented about the cost of divorce. It's painful and destructive. It drives wedges into families and sometimes there is no way to recover relationships lost. But, the Lord can work miracles and put relationships back together as much as possible. Again, I apologize for the long diatribe. Sometimes it just seems like the Lord is opening the door for me to write about things that are on my heart. If any of you are considering divorce...please, reconsider and see what God can do in your life and the life of your spouse. It will be worth it. My wife and I have been married nearly 38 years now, and I'm so thankful that I sought what God wanted. Blessings.

I believe tithing is applicable to believers today. One of the big arguments against tithing is that it is part of the Law - however, Genesis 14 predates the Law by over 430 years. I have personally claimed all the tithing promises and have seen God do His part by fulfilling the tithing promises. Would He do that if it was not for us today? We don't see Him consuming our sacrifices with fire from Heaven every time we lay them on the altar (hypothetical - I have not actually sacrificed any sheep in my backyard lately). Malachi 3:8-11 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. Notice it says "bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse" (not just some or part of the tithes). Also: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Seems to be applying the OT storehouse to the NT church. Paul also refers to eating from the altar, using OT laws and principles to support taking care of the NT leaders of the church. 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. Proverbs 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. I have always applied this to seeking God on the FIRST day of the week, FIRST part of the day, giving Him my FIRSTFRUITS, as well as of course giving Him FIRST priority (not always successful, but that is what I believe I should be doing). Yes, there were both freewill offerings and tithing under the Law, and we can see both referred to in the NT for the NT believer. For example, 2 Corinthians 8-9; Philippians 4. One other thing worth considering for those who are not sure if the tithing applies today: Here is a challenge for you. Read all the way through the book of Proverbs, and make a list of things that don't apply to you today (ie. don't apply to the NT believer). There is nothing that does not directly apply to us. Yes, there are references to sacrifices - but it is in reference to the sacrifices of the wicked, nothing about the righteous needing to offer animal sacrifices, nothing else ceremonial in that book - and nothing else that has been done away with or fulfilled in Christ - except for tithing (for the sake of this argument). However, if every other Proverb in the whole book applies to every believer today, perhaps tithing does too!

That's where we are at the moment. Kind of in a "holding pattern." Doing what we can and waiting to see where the Lord leads.

I can totally relate. We truly wanted to stay in a church about 17 years ago, but the church split. After the split, I took on the roll of temporary pulpit filler...after several weeks of being attacked by the deacon who had caused the split in the first place, my wife and I decided to leave the church "Martin Luther" style! I put a notice on the front door after leaving my key on the pulpit. I knew that certain deacon would find it that Wednesday night. He had been attacking me because I was trying to be the peacemaker between the two factions, and I had nearly convinced the side that left to come back. But, this deacon wouldn't allow it. I spoke to the other deacons, and they agreed that he shouldn't be holding the people from coming back, but in such a small church, the deacons all had to agree or there wouldn't be any reconciliation. After being stalked by phone and in person for a week, we left and joined the split. We had been gone when the initial battle started. My wife's mother had passed away and we were in Augusta, GA at the funeral. We walked back into church on Sunday to a raging battle. It was horrible. We've been through at least 27 splits...most of which were somewhat minor. We stayed with most of those churches. In the church we're in now, we've had at least four minor splits in six years, and we're still there. There's no doctrinal reason to leave, and the Lord still wants us there.

Only been a member of one Independent Baptist Church.

PastorMatt, I sent him a copy of your reply because he said he couldn't access it. I don't have his email address for you, but I believe he'll be sending it soon.

If you know what their email address is (If they send it to you) you can update it in their profile. Thank you. I can update his email address if you have it. That will allow him to log back in.

Oh my, how is it possible to forget the meat? In the future it might help to wipe the pan with a bit of olive oil, just lightly mind you. As for me, I like what some call a "meat lovers" pizza, four or five different kinds of meat. And I always like lots of onions on mine, it imparts a bit of a sweet taste to the sauce. Do you make your own pizza crust, or buy one already made?

Morales, why do you keep calling her the Virgin Mary? She was only a virgin until the birth of her first child. She was a virgin - but is never called the Virgin Mary in the Bible. You are referring to her in a Catholic sense that is not right or appropriate.

I think that once again you are using the term "most" incorrectly against Baptists. I've not found this to be the case in either the Baptist churches or the Pentecostal churches. I've heard many sermons on Mary in the 50 + years I've been in the Baptist churches, and when visiting in the churches of my cousins that are Pentecostal.

I think the title comes straight out of Catholicism - and most Protestants that use it (unless they are heretics) use it without thinking about it; however, it is a title that is idolatrous and should be avoided. On another note, there is enough on the actual Biblical Mary that someone can do an excellent, Biblical, character study on her, her life, her faith and response to Gabriel (ie. response to God's message), her reactions to seeing Jesus in the temple at 12, her words at the wedding, seeing how Jesus accepted His brethren (ie. those saved) over His physical family, watching the events of the crucifixion afar off (and relating it to her song in Luke 1, about the sword piercing her own soul), comparing her song with Hannah's, her gathering with the 120 believers praying in the upper room). I think some avoid preaching about her because of the many falsehoods told about her - but we should learn from what the Bible says about her as we would any other Bible character. You could preach on motherhood, on the events around Jesus' birth, on seeing those you love suffer, on how important following and obeying Jesus is - even use the passages about her to preach against false teachings on her.

Just to clarify: Mary is not the mother of God. She is the mother of Jesus, of His human nature. I have heard various messages through the years about Mary's faith, about how the Lord used Mary, her as an example to us, her words "whatsoever He saith to you, do it"). She was only a virgin until after the birth of Jesus. She had at least 6 other children (four sons, and at least two daughters, because the passages say "sisters"). She certainly was a godly woman, a woman of faith. Of course, we should teach about her as much as any other Bible character - but not exalt her or focus on her more exclusively than anyone else (not saying you are trying to do that - just want to clarify, as I came from a nominal Catholic background).

Leading the flock as an undershepherd should take on more importance in the lives of those who are called to such a service. I do believe that a person attending a church should be following their pastors teaching, as long as it is in line with Scripture. Those of us who have been lay-preachers, deacons or SS teachers in the church should be trying to help our pastors in any way that we can, serving the Lord with gladness. There are things within EVERY denomination that are bringing shame to Christ and the church, and followers of Christ should be on their guard against such things.

I love the Psalms; my wife and I are going through some Psalms together these days.

The earth is 4.54 billion years old

I've tried to document and verify some of the accusations against this particular church/group of churches, to make sure that Winfrey, Osteen and Warren were indeed involved...The preacher who gave the information told me that it is well documented, but has yet to give any of that documentation. I called a couple of the churches bearing the name and got an overall picture of what was going on, but not any confirmation of who were some of the backers. Yet, some of the people who attend say that the people mentioned above are indeed the backers of this group, if not wholely, in part. This would not surprise me. I know the doctrine taught in the church, after speaking with several people who attend, is deceptive at best, basically expounding the same garbage, false gospel that Osteen speaks. It's frightening to know that they have grown so quickly here in our area and others throughout the country. It just goes to further prove to me that the love of many indeed is waxing cold and that they are searching with itching ears for something that will appease their lifestyle choices and lack of love for God.

1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. ==========. King David, from a child, realized that the testimonies, the statutes, the commandments, the law of God, the judgments of God, the word of God as written and as spoken by the prophets, were good and just. Therefore, King David delighted, from a child, in the word of God more than he did in riches and the things of this life. It seems to me that we need to meditate, to love, to delight, and to follow the scriptures with all of our heart. ============ no iniquity ==========. no masks mandates, no pharmakeia, no oppression, no making sick. ==========. no profit-mongering, no greed, no raising rents, or prices, no polluting. ==========. no need left unmet "... on earth <just> as it is in heaven..."

King David, from a child, realized that the testimonies, the statutes, the commandments, the law of God, the judgments of God, the word of God as written and as spoken by the prophets, were good and just. Therefore, King David delighted, from a child, in the word of God more than he did in riches and the things of this life. It seems to me that we need to meditate, to love, to delight, and to follow the scriptures with all of our heart.

Yep, 123 follow me, say this prayer, now you're saved.

I really think although I love God, yet I also hate Him for giving such a strong desire to me yet saying NO to it, every time I plead for an answer in Jesus’ Name. Because this request mean so much to me I now don’t know if I can ask of God anything as for intercession for others stopped about 10 days ago because I feel if I pray for others God will punish them. I think now I even hate God more than I love Him. I once was a Theophilus, but now am quickly becoming a misotheism. Perhaps I happen to be one of the three bad ground the seed/word fell on.