ASongOfDegrees

It happens occasionally. I don't believe it's a hack, though.

I think in America it would be change for the better. America hasn't fallen that far away from her roots yet, IMO.

I'm not sure about this. It can swing either way. I think persecution and rejection can be ratcheted up too. Depends on how wicked the nation is those Christians reside in.

Any man like Osteen with a perpetual smile on his face I don't trust. Reminds me of the "Smile Mask Syndrome".

I really don't care about the different camps. Believe you me, I really don't. Sometimes I'll go on the defense of a preacherchurchbible college because I know for a fact that they are being misrepresented or I try to give them the benefit of the doubt (like in the case of Caner). I tend to root for the underdogs anyway and anyone being piled on is an underdog in my eyes. I also sometimes will defend someone who's writings or ministry has helped me personally but it's purely on that basis that I do that. Not because I'm joined up with any camp. I admit in the past I've knocked on Dr. Cloud without really knowing all what he stands for. Most of this was because I know he misrepresented other ministries and pastors but I have since stop doing this and remain silent about him. Also, I think tearing down a fallen preacher or church is not productive unless they are unrepentant. But even then I try to avoid it because the unsaved and backsliders take joy in seeing this. They love seeing Christians devour each other in a time of need instead of restoring. I really mean this but it hurts me deeply when I hear of a IFB preacher falling into sin and even more when I read some of the gleeful posts produced by Christians when this happens. It should be a time of humility and mercy not a time of mockery and cheering.

I'm glad I really don't care about what goes on in different circles of the IFB movement. I guess that makes me a true independent.

Despite the denial you are correct. I know of one who used to moderate on this site who would shot down every pastor who wasn't him. My policy is that you can get something good from just about every man of God. Even bible correctors. Just toss out the bad and use the good. This will help you avoid joining any "camps".

I'll go with Dr. James Ach.

Anyone who posts after me thinks the New Living Translation is awesome and Rick Warren is spot on.

Time for them to get rid of the TV and internet.

Anyone who posts after me hates their mother, loves Hitler, denies the Holocaust, loves blood pudding, kicks their dog daily, thinks the Living Bible is the original manuscripts and believes Obama is a US citizen.

I don't think she did. This is why she seemed surprised when Samuel showed up.

40 day fasts?! Wow, I think you end up dying around 50 days without food. Other than Jesus and Moses, I believe the longest you read of in the bible three days. Interesting tid-bit: God never commanded anyone to fast.

Not necessarily because I didn't know what to really pray for but a lot of events happened quickly after fasting that made my life better.

Some Baptists fast. I've fasted. Just after I was saved I fasted for 10 straight days (it might have been more but I'm sure of 10) only drinking water. I'm not bragging and I wouldn't recommend that to anyone. In fact it was crazy. Not sure why I did it. It wasn't too long after I was saved so some of it was out of ignorance. But I was also going through a terrible time in my life. I dropped out of school, I was kicked out of the house by my parents, I was depressed and suffering from Pure OCD. The Pure OCD may have played into why I fasted so long. After the third day of fasting it actually got easier and even became hard to eat when I stop fasting. Kind of like how when you are so tired that you can't sleep. I'll tell you one thing, a lot of things happened in my life with God after that. It was bam, bam, bam. Maybe I should start fasting again. I won't be doing no 10 day fast though that's for sure. One thing I noticed is that the early Christians fasted and prayed before they sent out missionaries (Acts 13:2,3). I know from the churches I've attended there was usually a big church supper before someone left for the mission field.