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Rebecca

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Everything posted by Rebecca

  1. Memorial day is a US holiday, other countries have different days to remember their military veterans. Whether or not any church celebrates this holiday or merely makes mention of it to thank their veterans, or doesn't mention anything at all has no bearing on whether or not they are liberal. The Baptist church I attend does not celebrate or mention this holiday since we are not in America.
  2. For some, clapping is the same as saying "amen". Clapping is not always about praising a performance or a person, but basically being in agreement with what was sung or said. When done in moderation, I don't see a problem with it. I have to admit, there have been some sermons I was going to watch online and the amount of amen's, clapping, shouting, hooping, and hollering from the audience during the sermon was just too much and I turned it off. When that happens, it does feel like a performance and not a sermon. I'm also not a fan of pew jumpers/aisle runners/pulpit mounting, but that's a different topic.
  3. I don't know which Baptist preachers you've been listening to, but all those topics are extremely common to hear sermons on. I've taught Bible study lessons on all those topics at one time or another.
  4. "Why is it that people think we just believe just what we are taught? Because for a lot of people, it's true, and they know it. "You just believe that because your dad/church/college told you that", is usually their "gotcha" line that works well with throwing people off track and mostly results in both sides hurling insults once one side can't defend their position biblically but refuses to budge because it's all they know. Of course it wouldn't work with someone who knows the Bible really well. This happens a lot when a pastor has a pet opinion that he preaches as gospel truth with such authority that the congregation just accepts it as biblical, when it may or may not be a biblical doctrine at all, just because they don't know how to study the Bible and so simply accept their pastors interpretation of the meaning of the pet topic. I know many people who were like this. In Bible College, many students had their faith shaken because of this reason. Their home pastor preached an opinion as doctrine and the student was challenged by students or professors and we had a study session in the classroom. Sadly, in many churches (and probably some Bible colleges!), people aren't taught how to study the Bible or to think critically, and it can do serious spiritual damage down the line.
  5. I've been a visitor in quite a few churches so I have seen a variety of visitor packets. Here's what has been included: Information about the church (from extremely detailed with the entire history to just the basic service hours/days), a pen with church name on it, coupons to local businesses, bookmark with a poem or Bible verse, small notepad, and encouraging note from the pastor.
  6. There's also situations like this, where this man in Florida applied to 60 entry level jobs and got only one interview. https://www.wptv.com/news/national/florida-man-goes-viral-after-applying-to-60-entry-level-jobs-getting-1-interview As he said in the article: “It’s not that nobody wants to work. It’s that nobody wants to work for slave wages anymore," ___ If people are getting paid more on unemployment than they would at a job, why would they want to work? If people are out there applying for jobs left and right with no interviews, then what are their options?
  7. I bought a test kit because I wanted to be involved in 5k run, and I needed a negative test to participate and didn't want to go to a clinic. The test kit I have was made in the Republic of Korea. I haven't used it yet because the run was postponed. But I have it if I need it.
  8. Oh, you cannot tell us about your new puppy and not post a picture, that's so not fair! ? Congratulations on your new puppy, I'm sure he will have you busy with his antics! haha! This is my dog, Tasha, she's a Rough Collie and is 12 years old. She met chickens for the first time a few days ago.
  9. I'm sorry, but I've had some very tasty well-done steaks before. If a chef is unable to cook a well-done steak properly then that is on them and their lack of training or willingness to learn. If a chef thinks well-done = shoe leather, then they weren't trained correctly. This whole chef's excuse thing is why I order chicken at steak restaurants.
  10. I've seen his name pop up on social media, and from the few things I've seen, he has no biblical qualifications to be pastor. I believe he is doing this book burning just for attention and controversy it generates, based on his past actions it's hard to believe he's doing it out of genuine care and concern for the spiritual well-being of his congregation. He plans on burning anything witchcraft related: Ouija boards, Harry Potter books, Lord of the Rings, Twilight, etc.
  11. This lady whose face I covered is an Indonesian Muslim, she is here in Taiwan as a caregiver. A while back the church gifted her an Indonesian Bible so she can follow along and understand the passages being preached in the service. She was very happy to have received the Bible in her own language. The lady helping her find the passage being discussed is a member of the church who is also Indonesian and has been instrumental in the church. The pastor has been encouraging the church members to memorize Bible verses, and being able to memorize scripture in your own language is a blessing. It is amazing that this tiny church in Taiwan has had people from all over the world walk through the doors at some point in time. Even within our small congregation, at least four languages/dialects are spoken, yet we can all worship God together. Please pray for this lady to know Christ as her savior!
  12. Brr. Chilly. We're having a mild winter this year, hopefully it stays that way, can't stand the cold.
  13. I've never heard of this group so I did a quick google search. It seems to be another health and wealth scam. Is your husband a Christian?
  14. I don't agree with everything Mark said, but I do agree with him that this forum has a lot of strife (I wouldn't call it rage). It's why I've posted less and less over the time I've been on here, and when I do post I try not to get caught up in the arguments. Calling someone else's culture weird just because it's different from your own is unnecessary. As a missionary steeped in Asian culture, maybe I'm just another outsider looking in on these forums, but one thing I've learned is that different is not weird.
  15. I would say, if the drums are used in such a way as to compliment the song service, then there's no problem. If the drums detract from the service, such as overwhelm any other instruments and the singing, then they're a distraction. I've been to a few churches that had an entire orchestra, including drums, that really enhanced and added to the enjoyment of the song service. So really, it depends on the usage.
  16. I have been to many backwoods, rural, old fashioned country churches, but have never attended a snake handling one. If I had, I would have walked out of the service. Not because I fear the snakes, but because of the stupidity of it. I have gladly stood near wildlife handlers who were holding (non-venomous) snakes and give educational talks about them, and had no fear. Not anywhere close to the stupidity of most snake handling churches who practically invite the venomous snakes to bite them. Even expert snake handlers who use extreme caution handling snakes have been bitten, so it's just a matter of time before the non-expert, careless snake handlers in a church accidentally drops a snake and it strikes at the nearest person, or allows it to bite an innocent bystander because they put the snake in compromising situations where it feels the need to defend itself.
  17. You need to be careful with blanket statements, as there are parties that should be steered clear of. If there is immorality, drunkeness, wild behaviors, etc.. then it is not a good party. Now, I do agree that if it is a good party, friendships made, family coming together to celebrate something good and wholesome, having an enjoyable time together, etc., then that's all fine.
  18. I've heard sermons about Demas over the years, often the sermon condemns Demas as being unsaved and leaving the church to follow his worldly heart. However, I have also heard sermons that put forth the argument that Demas was saved, but the missionary life (extremely dangerous, especially at the point where Paul mentions Demas forsaking him) was too much for him and the thought of losing his life (loving the present world = he was afraid to die) was what made him decide to leave Paul and move to Thessalonica. Also, the verse says Demas forsook Paul, not God. These sermons about Demas being a Christian raise the question that possibly when he moved to Thessalonica he continued in the church there, just not in ministry of any kind. I've heard both theories of Demas preached with equal authority and passion for God's word, but the truth is, we don't know. Only God knows the truth of Demas' heart and why he chose to forsake Paul and the ministry and move to Thessalonica. There are missionaries and pastors who leave the field and pastorate all the time for various reasons. Doesn't mean they left God as well.
  19. I just checked one of my past posts from September 30th and there is an edit button. I clicked it just to see and it seems I could edit the post if I wanted to. Although, I am using my laptop, perhaps the layout and options are different if you're on a phone or using an app?
  20. Whichever. Anything capable of holding the Bible or notes is fine. Table, music stand, etc.
  21. "Brandon" is a derogatory term for Biden. If you hear or see the phrase "Let's go, Brandon", what people are really saying is "**** Joe Biden". The phrase went "viral" after NASCAR winner Brandon Brown won the race and thought people were chanting his name. They weren't.
  22. 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. ?
  23. I'm in a quarantine hotel in Taiwan, it's been almost two weeks, I have another day and then freedom! But I just wanted to share the different lunchbox meals the hotel provided. I didn't take a picture of every meal , but this will give you an idea of what typical Taiwanese food looks like. My favorite, pork dumplings and corn soup. How they delivered my food.
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