Rebecca

What a beautiful field of flowers! I have had a few cactus plants for about six-ish years now, usually they have a few blooms on them once in awhile. However, this month one of them has the most blooms I've ever seen! Eight flowers, one is smaller and beneath the larger ones. Interestingly, the blooms close up at night and open during the day.

For a Christian, the phrase, "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" is a simple answer: the chicken of course! Genesis 1:21 - "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good." For an evolutionist, the answer is .... complicated. I saw this video on youtube and thought they did a good job describing how a chick can breathe inside it's egg. The entire process of a chick forming is very intricate, but looking at just the shell of the egg and how it was created to protect the forming chick inside as well as provide it oxygen is so complex, that it couldn't have come about by happy coincidence. Everything about it points to a designer and creator. *note: I do not know the man (probably not Christian, I don't know) presenting the information in the video, but it's in an easy to understand format and interesting to watch and as far as I could tell, presented only facts and not theory* https://www.icr.org/article/3

Those objects weren't the Holy Word of God. God never promised to preserve cars or washing machines. The KJV is in "our" English, just because some words aren't used much anymore doesn't mean we don't/can't understand them. I learned Shakespeare in school. My ESL learners read unedited versions of Shakespeare in their English classes, he is not gospel so why do we not just learn only the versions edited into modern English?

I'm not going to get involved in the debate, I just wanted to say a couple of things: 1. I read the KJV as a child, yes I asked questions - but those questions were answered and my vocabulary and understanding of scripture grew. 2. I teach bilingual Bible classes to ESL learners and when reading English scripture we use the KJV. My ESL learners are not only learning the Bible, they are also broadening their vocabulary, so using the KJV isn't a deterrent, it's an asset.

I was speaking broadly concerning movies/books only. Excessive worrying is another topic. I'm not a medical doctor or a psychologist, so I'm not even going to try to touch on the OCD side of things. I'm just an average Christian answering questions and giving opinions on how the average Christian should approach things -in this case fictional stories- they come across in the light of the Bible. 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Even Paul struggled with his flesh, knowing what was right but not doing it or knowing something was wrong and doing it anyway. Everyone has these struggles. Romans 7:19-25 "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." If you are struggling to know whether something is wrong or not, you're going to get all sorts of answers from people. Some answers are very simple but others, such as this topic, can be complicated or controversial. You need to pray and ask God to guide you and show you what you should/should not read or watch. James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Philippians 4:8- "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." If you're struggling with whether or not something is sinful, stop doing it until you have peace about continuing or stopping for good. There are some people that are convicted to never watch any TV of any kind . There are some people who are convicted just about certain types of shows or books and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to know if the movie/tv show/book/magazine is sinful and should be avoided. Neither viewpoint is wrong, both have convictions about not setting sinful sights in front of their eyes, they just have gone about this in different ways. I Corinthians 2:12-14 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

I disagree that reading or writing fictional stories is a waste of time. I enjoy a variety of genres: non-fiction, fiction, historical, Christian, humor, etc...Many fictional stories are based on real life accounts as well. I'm in the process of writing a Christian fiction novel based on biblical people, so it's based on real people but the story is fictional. Even if the fictional stories are not based off real life, the stories can still be very compelling, especially if the hero/heroine is a good up-standing character who encourages others to do good/make morally correct decisions or has a mentor that does the same for the hero/heroine.

This site is old enough to have a drivers license. They grow up so fast.

Fictional stories and writing fiction is not a sin in of itself. What would make it sinful is the content. Is the story glorifying something God has declared to be wicked or abominable? Is the story encouraging people to engage in sinful acts? Is the story following a hero/heroine who mocks God/Christianity and this mockery is seen as a positive thing? Are any of the characters morally reprehensible but held up as examples of good role models? These are the types of questions you should be asking yourself to see if the book is sinful or not, and this includes some 'Christian' fiction.

It's tomorrow here already so I'm too late! haha!

Welcome back!

I'm a woman, but figure I'll throw my two cents in. You're younger than I am, and I've been single, never dated, my whole life. My situation is different than yours, I lived in a highly Christian/Baptist saturated area, went to a Baptist Bible college and never met "the one". Now I'm dedicated to be a missionary to a country where it's very rare to bump into single Christian, Baptist, missionary men. I decided a long time ago that I would only be interested in a man who is also dedicated to being a missionary to the same country God called me to, knowing I'd probably never marry because of this. God has given me peace concerning this situation. Are there times where I feel lonely or sad that I may never marry? Yes, those feelings are only natural. But, again, God gives me peace of heart and I feel satisfied that God's will for my life, whether I marry or not, is the best way to live my life. For your situation, would you really rather marry someone who will probably physically abuse you and cheat on you with another woman? Is that security? Is that love? Will your life have any peace? Is it so bad to be a single woman that you would rather be abused? I just don't understand. Is there any way you could move to a less depraved city or country? Is something preventing you from moving? How did you become a Christian? Are there no other Christians or churches in the area who can help you? I beg you to turn to Christ for peace and security and not a man with empty promises. Please trust Christ. To answer your question: It is unacceptable for a believer to marry an unbeliever, even though it sadly happens all the time. II Corinthians 6:14-18 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

This is an Orange-banded Pine Moth, apparently it's in the Tiger Moth part of the the moth family. Photo taken by Alan: Here is a photo of a Tiger Moth I took a few years ago:

I like the spirit of the people, they are eager to learn the Bible and are not afraid to invite family and friends to church or to talk with them about the gospel. Biblical truths are preached every service, both in the main auditorium to adults and in the Sunday school with very young children. The people have humble hearts and love helping the church and others, they are a joy to be around.

Yes, but not in the area of being sent out of my local church. As I went out on deputation and later furlough, the vast majority of pastors I talked with were very pleased with my decision to go through my local church and not a board. I primarily visited churches located in the midwest and Michigan, so I'm not sure what pastors elsewhere in the country would say about it. As far as my church being able to send me finances as we have it set up, it has not been an issue once we figured out how to transfer the funds. Although I don't know the legal differences -if any- between Alberta and Ontario concerning missionary visas, I know a missionary family in Toronto, Canada you might want to get in touch with, they may be able to speak to you about how to come to Canada as a missionary or any other questions you may have concerning boards (I believe they went out of BIMI). I hope it helps. Cory and April McTague email: (messaged)