Oldtimer

My favorite verse when water comes up is Revelation 1:5-6.


Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The only way for sins to be covered is through Christ's rich pure blood.

It is a sad and scary thought!!

I don't understand why the thief on the cross isn't used as an example, far more often, with regards to baptism and "works" in general.


Luke 23: (KJV)


42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Sitting here, words fail me with all that is encompassed within these two verses of scripture.

I agree as well.

It's a shame the example of the theif on the cross which felt the conviction of the Holy Ghost, repented and was born again in Christ, being assured of Paradise with Christ by Jesus Himself, without being baptized, is not paid heed.

Meanwhile, mutiple millions over the centuries have followed the doctrine of man, have been "baptized" as a baby or as an adult in some manner and have trusted that to get them to heaven.

One has to wonder just how large the crowd will be that stands before Jesus claiming to be His only to hear Jesus tell them He never knew them before He sends them to an eternity in hell. What a sad and scary thought!

Growning in our spiritual life isn't always easy, regardless of our circumstances. Granted, some surroundings are better than others.

Attending a local church for worship. study, and fellowship are a big help. As is finding your own "closet" for prayer and study. A quiet place to talk to God. Whether it's under a tree in the backyard, in your car (parked) listening to hymns, or at a desk in your bedroom. Find your special place (closet).

If you haven't already read the Bible from cover to cover, now is a good time to do it. Here's the tool that I used to read it on line. This works well because I can choose the Bible version, and read as much as each day will allow. It's not the fixed type study which has a list of what to read each day. This also has a progress report that helps when dealing with some of those long books in the OT that are filled with names & numbers. There's about a 1 page commentary for each day's study . http://www.sbc.net/biblepathway/newuser.asp

Add a daily devotion time to your schedule. Pick a time that works for you and stay with it. Many people use the time before they go to work, as they are fresh and it's a good way to start the day. There are a number of on-line sites with daily devotions. And there are printed ones, too.
The one that I'm currently using is printed. My Utmost for His Highest. (Was given a leather bound copy.) Here's the link to the "classic" version. http://utmost.org/classic/today/ It's been "updated" here. http://utmost.org/
Another available in print for a small donation is Our Daily Bread. Also, on line here: http://odb.org/

During your devotion time, talk to God. This means prayer and praise. I use this term, as prayer shouldn't be, IMHO, a ritual or habit. In your quiet time, pray from your heart, not what you've heard others say. Not what you "think" the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit want to hear. You're simply acknowledging what the Godhead already knows that's in your heart. You're putting it into words, as you give thanks, ask for forgiveness, ask for guidance, asking for wisdom and understanding, lift up other's needs, etc. & etc.

Lastly, be patient, as my pastor told me yesterday. Spiritual growth takes time. It moves at God's pace, not ours. We can't force it or rush it. Here's one of my favorite scriptures.

Proverbs 2:3-6 KJB
3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

I'm sad to say that It took me a while to realize these channels are just as worldly as the news media. They are modern day Horts, Westcotts, and Darwins, promoting their secular views. Views that often challenge the very existance of God, done with as much guile as the serpent in the garden.

No doubt the History Channel isn't an authority on the Gospel or the Bible. They are not even an authority on history!

The History Channel is run by liberals and the ungodly. They put forth all sorts of programs about how God might be an alien from another world, the Bible is a collection of myths stolen from other cultures, most of the stories in the Bible are about encounters with extraterestrials, etc.

One should rely upon the History Channel for nothing. I've noticed MANY errors in their programs on WWI, WWII, American Civil War, Revolutionary War, ancient history and most especially anything dealing with the Bible.

Here's the Calvery Baptist Church's "King James Bible Declaration" which pretty much sums up why independent fundamental Baptist churches use the KJB. http://www.olneycalvarybaptist.com/index.php?p=1_34_King-James-Bible-...
They also have this page, which goes into more depth. Why We use the KJB. http://www.olneycalvarybaptist.com/index.php?p=1_22_Why-We-Use-KJV

This is one of the most detailed sites that I've found for comparisons of the KJB and other versions. http://brandplucked.webs.com/articles.htm

Even more information:
Fighting Back - Scroll down to the 10 reasons: http://www.av1611.org/KJV/fight.html

The Bibles in your list and others, are IMHO, forerunners of the King James Bible. It's an interesting study of the history behind the KJB before and after the initial publication in May of 1611. Here's just one link of many. http://www.av1611.org/KJV/KJVhist.html that dive into this subject.

In closing, I'm just a layman who's also being studing this subject over the last 18 months or so. Hope this helps, a bit.

Uhmmm.....

Old Fashioned
Old Regular
Oldtimer

Is it a conincidence that all us "old" folks are posting in a row?

Nope!

Just 2 or 3 gathering in His name.

It makes it so much more difficult speaking the truth and living the truth when so many take the watered down way and play the game as the enemy wants to play.

How can Christian leaders call for companies to be or become "neutral" on issues such as homosexual "marriage"? By their very policies the company will either be promoting or standing against such sin. There is no neutral.

Why, when speaking out against pornography do so many call it "adult entertainment"? If it's simply "adult entertainment", then what real complaint is there to make against adutls who find entertainment in the garbage? How effective is it to tell teens and younger that pornography is wicked sin, damaging to them, if we call it "adult entertainment", which implies that perhaps it's not for those their age, but once they are 18 it suddenly becomes just "entertianment"?

Why do Christians go about talking so much about "luck", a pagan concept, rather than the blessings of God in their lives? I find it so refreshing when I hear on the news as they speak with folks who have been through something like a major storm and someone finally says "God blessed us" or "God saved us", rather than saying how "lucky" they are like most the others say.

I've found many opportunities over the years to speak with folks about God simply because they heard me reference Him, such as saying something like, "Thanks to God", or "only because of God's blessing", rather than referring to pagan "luck".

As Jerry said, this sort of thing extends to churches now naming and having events based upon that which the lost world indulges in. Does it really serve the Lord to cancel church services in order to hold a Superbowl Party at church?

John, it's because we're slowly, but surely, being taught to be politically correct, at satan's direction.

We shouldn't upset anyone by stating loudly and clearly that abortion is murder. We should be tolerant of other's beliefs. Tolerate is a code word for condone. If we don't condone, we are cast as hate mongers, racists, and a host of other negative labels that the "world" is applying to us. And the most frightening label to many is some form of committing "hate crimes". Even by verbally rejecting the actions of others. Thus, the freedom to speak out is being erroded on all fronts.

TV preachers are telling us that we should love everybody. Love is a code word for "condone" their behavior. Local church pastors often don't want to offend anyone dropping money into the collection plate by not "condoning" their lifestyles.

Christian symbols of faith are offensive to some others, so we shouldn't display them. Season's Greetings is the preferred way of acknowledging the birth of Christ. We're politically correct if we spend Sunday, April 8th, hunting eggs and eating chocolate rabbits.

IMHO, far too few want to don the armour of God, as it's easier to stroll around in a T and shorts while being politically correct and fitting into today's society. Sadly, one day they are going to wake up and wonder what happened. How did we end up with a one world religion and one world government, just by being politically correct?

John, it's because we're slowly, but surely, being taught to be politically correct, at satan's direction.

We shouldn't upset anyone by stating loudly and clearly that abortion is murder. We should be tolerant of other's beliefs. Tolerate is a code word for condone. If we don't condone, we are cast as hate mongers, racists, and a host of other negative labels that the "world" is applying to us. And the most frightening label to many is some form of committing "hate crimes". Even by verbally rejecting the actions of others. Thus, the freedom to speak out is being erroded on all fronts.

TV preachers are telling us that we should love everybody. Love is a code word for "condone" their behavior. Local church pastors often don't want to offend anyone dropping money into the collection plate by not "condoning" their lifestyles.

Christian symbols of faith are offensive to some others, so we shouldn't display them. Season's Greetings is the preferred way of acknowledging the birth of Christ. We're politically correct if we spend Sunday, April 8th, hunting eggs and eating chocolate rabbits.

IMHO, far too few want to don the armour of God, as it's easier to stroll around in a T and shorts while being politically correct and fitting into today's society. Sadly, one day they are going to wake up and wonder what happened. How did we end up with a one world religion and one world government, just by being politically correct?

John, it's because we're slowly, but surely, being taught to be politically correct, at satan's direction.

We shouldn't upset anyone by stating loudly and clearly that abortion is murder. We should be tolerant of other's beliefs. Tolerate is a code word for condone. If we don't condone, we are cast as hate mongers, racists, and a host of other negative labels that the "world" is applying to us. And the most frightening label to many is some form of committing "hate crimes". Even by verbally rejecting the actions of others. Thus, the freedom to speak out is being erroded on all fronts.

TV preachers are telling us that we should love everybody. Love is a code word for "condone" their behavior. Local church pastors often don't want to offend anyone dropping money into the collection plate by not "condoning" their lifestyles.

Christian symbols of faith are offensive to some others, so we shouldn't display them. Season's Greetings is the preferred way of acknowledging the birth of Christ. We're politically correct if we spend Sunday, April 8th, hunting eggs and eating chocolate rabbits.

IMHO, far too few want to don the armour of God, as it's easier to stroll around in a T and shorts while being politically correct and fitting into today's society. Sadly, one day they are going to wake up and wonder what happened. How did we end up with a one world religion and one world government, just by being politically correct?

John, it's because we're slowly, but surely, being taught to be politically correct, at satan's direction.

We shouldn't upset anyone by stating loudly and clearly that abortion is murder. We should be tolerant of other's beliefs. Tolerate is a code word for condone. If we don't condone, we are cast as hate mongers, racists, and a host of other negative labels that the "world" is applying to us. And the most frightening label to many is some form of committing "hate crimes". Even by verbally rejecting the actions of others. Thus, the freedom to speak out is being erroded on all fronts.

TV preachers are telling us that we should love everybody. Love is a code word for "condone" their behavior. Local church pastors often don't want to offend anyone dropping money into the collection plate by not "condoning" their lifestyles.

Christian symbols of faith are offensive to some others, so we shouldn't display them. Season's Greetings is the preferred way of acknowledging the birth of Christ. We're politically correct if we spend Sunday, April 8th, hunting eggs and eating chocolate rabbits.

IMHO, far too few want to don the armour of God, as it's easier to stroll around in a T and shorts while being politically correct and fitting into today's society. Sadly, one day they are going to wake up and wonder what happened. How did we end up with a one world religion and one world government, just by being politically correct?

Carring a bible in the open where people can see you can be a character builder for a Christian. People will know exactly what it is and who you are (i.e a "bible thumper") and it's one of the easiest ways to find out who among your group who loves the bible and who doesn't. It will also embolden other Christians who may be to afraid to profess their faith for fear of being picked on or ostracized. If I see a person carry a bible, say to work, I'll be more likely to strike up a conversation about the things of God than if he/she didn't. And you'll be surprised how much courage others Christians who may work with you will start to show. You can't get this with an electronic device. Not that I'm against having these things. I have an bible app on my phone that I highly recommend. But they shouldn't replace the book itself.

And as in church I want to go to a church where everyone has the bible out. There's nothing like that in the world.

Born of depression era parents, grew up on a small share-cropper farm, without modern conveniences. When I married at age 21, my parents still didn't have running water or an indoor toilet. Remember well when electricity came to our farm. Prior to that Mama cooked on a wood cookstove and we ate supper by oil lamp light. That was back in the early 50's. Remember that specifically because to hear the news, we'd go outside and listen to the radio in Dad's 1950 model car.

Since I've been old enough to be "aware", I've watched the change in society with the implementation of "social programs". IMHO, the "Great Society" did its part to ruin society. Plus, looking back into history, the New Deal and "a chicken in every pot" has brought us to ruin. Yes, ruin. We (society) just aren't admitting it, yet. The stats posted earlier are just some of the indicators of what our "entitled" and "me" society has brought us to this point.

Often, when reading the Bible, I see parallels between what's happening today and what brought down God's wrath on the Hebrews. Often, too, wonder if we're in the end times. Naturally, there's no way of knowing if this is indeed the end times or we're simply going to experience a fall similar to those in the past suffered by others who turned from our Creator.

The other day I was thinking about how few people around me can truely count their blessings. If they've never lived without air conditioning or a flushing toilet, those aren't blessings to them. If they've never had to split firewood for a kitchen stove, a microwave isn't a blessing. One more... If they've never had to grow, dig, and peel their own potatoes, it isn't a blessing to pick up French fries at a drive through window. Today, instead of being thankful for the conveniences of this age, so many demand them as a right. Society must ensure that no one has to go without _________ that didn't exist 50-100 years ago.

In closing, when society provides, the recepients must conform to what society dictates, not what God expects from each one. Anyone want a bite from an apple?