BrotherTony

My nieces are doing fair. The youngest one is still "touch-and-go" at times. She was pretty close to her mother. The older one is doing very well. Her relationship with her mother was very strained as she always told her mother the truth about her condition...alcohol, refusing to take her meds, and not eating correctly. We had made plans to go up to spread Diane's ashes (and her ex-husbands as well...he died on October 27, just one month before Diane) but, her oldest daughter said they're going to scatter them in June. So, that gives us time to prepare. Vivian and I are going to have to travel 8 hours SE to Union, SC to pick up the remaining sister, and then go 10 hours N to Pittsburgh. So, we were thankful for that. We didn't want to get caught up in Pennsylvania in the snow. Thanks for asking, LuAnne. It's been a hard month losing our ex-BIL, a cousin, and then Vivian's sister.

It will be hard to get rid of the Bible. Even in the Communist countries like Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia have Bibles in the churches there. Plus, it's hard to get it out of the memory of people who have been memorizing it and applying to their lives.

You're trying to deflect.

I may well be..."on this forum." But, then again, you really don't know since you've not polled everybody...correct? This makes your assertion a false accusation until otherwise proven. I, for one, am going to continue to call you out when you make blanket, unfounded statements.

That's not a fact. I'm NOT the first Baptist preacher that supports it. There are many Baptist pastors in this country who support it for medical use. It's statements like the one you just made make me call you into question on things. Again, prove your allegation that I'm the first Baptist preacher to support it, or withdraw the statement. These kind of statements from you truly need to stop.

There's nothing wrong with medical marijuana. People who use it by prescription aren't like those who are using it recreationally. And not everyone who uses marijuana smokes it. Many consume it by eating it in their food.

If this is the case, and they're not preaching against certain issues and circumstances that are unbiblical in nature, they shouldn't be in the pulpit. That's between them and their pastors. There are many small, large, and medium churches all over this country that haven't bowed the knee to Baal. I hate to say it, but, I believe you intentionally look at things through a dark lens. We should be able to discern, but, we also should be positive about what the Bible says. Yes, it does say that in the last days the love of many will wax cold...and I believe that is happening right now. I believe there is a falling away from the things of the Lord in all age groups. I also believe that the Lord will keep his word when he said that the gates of Hell wouldn't prevail against the church. Evil has been in existence since the beginning (Garden of Eden), and it will continue until there is a new heaven and a new earth. Yet we are to be putting on the whole armor of God and standing against the wiles of the devil. I am...are you?

Again, your opinion with no substantiating statistics. My blanket is clean, as is my heart. I certainly hope an pray the same for you and yours, and everyone here. The Lord has a lot of servants on these forums. I hope he's able to use all of them and that they're living in His will.

Saying the next generation of Baptists are going to be weak is an unprovable, BLANKET statement. Do you have any statistics that prove this assertion?? You are definitely allowed to have that belief, but, as you stated that some would see it, it does seem to be another negative post. Though religion and politics DO at times get intertwined, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Strong, Bible believing Christians help influence politics and policy in a good way. I know of many young Christians, not just Baptists, but Methodists, Lutherans, AoG, Bible, and others who are saved, and living strong, vibrant, Godly Christian lives and are discipling others to do the same. It's truly sad that you seem to have such a negative view of what God is doing.

"Great teachings" or not, if they don't line up with the Scriptures, they're wrong. Many think Buddha, Mohammed, and others have great teaching. I've listened to Dr. Kim in several different places, and I can't say that I agree with a lot of his beliefs. Ruckman, too, was off-base in many things. His slandering of other pastors is nothing more than glory seeking, IMHO. I don't like, nor do I support those kinds of preachers. There are better ways to handle disagreements over doctrine.

We received a call from my wife's younger sister, Pat, that their older sister, Diane, had been found dead in her apartment. She apparently passed away yesterday or late the day before. My niece had been trying to get ahold of her for several hours and hadn't gotten any answer. So, she asked he husband to go and check on her. He found her dead. My sister-in-law was an alcoholic, had type II diabetes, had suffered a stroke, had a pacemaker, and wasn't in good health. She would have been 65 on December 7th. My nieces are torn up as their father, my ex-brother-in-law, passed away on October 27th from a four year battle with cancer. This is the third family member in a month that has passed away. My wife is taking this very hard. We don't believe there will be a funeral, as Diane wished to be cremated. There probably won't be a memorial service. If there is, we will have to make a trip to Pittsburgh, PA. Please, be in prayer for us. Diane wasn't saved as far as we know. Her daughters aren't either. We've witnessed to them several times. Also be praying for my nieces to see their need for the Lord during this time. Thanks in advance. BT

Well...we were going to have a chuck roast for Thanksgiving. it got a late start in the slow-cooker, so, we ended up having a ham sandwich and chips! It's not what you have to eat, but who you eat it with! We were thankful that we had things on hand to have for supper. So, tomorrow night it will be the roast! Praise the Lord for His goodness! Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends here in the USA!

I would hope that nobody here is a smoker. But, that's not always the case. I haven't smoked for nearly 23 years. I had my last cigarette on March 22, 2000. I only smoked on occasion at that time, but, for several years before that I smoked at least 2 packs a day. Salem Lights, Kool Filter Kings, and Benson & Hedges. When I first started smoking at the age of 12, cigarettes only cost 29 cents a pack. That was 48 years ago. When I quit, they were nearly $2 a pack. My father was a heavy smoker. He smoked nearly 4 packs a day for over 35 years, and one to two packs a day from the time he was 8. He died from cancer at the age of 59, dying just two weeks before his 60th birthday in June of 2000.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I respond to your posts because you've made them. Yet, I try not to be insulting to you. I point out what is clear and true. Yet, you prevaricate and try to insinuate things that aren't true. There's a huge difference. I don't "follow" anyone. That is close to calling me a "stalker." Might want to watch the unfounded accusations. I reply because they show up in my notifications. You've always got the option to reply to my posts, and I don't mind that at all. I do, however, mind the accusations and taunts you throw out.

Another false accusation. This has got to end, Morales. Any further false allegations towards me will be sent to the moderators/administrators.

I've never stated "yes" to abortions, and I certainly don't let the majority decide for me. Why you would say I did is a mystery to me. Implying I did is a prevarication on your part. My state has banned most abortions, and I support that because it's a step in the direction of NO abortions. The ideal situation would be no abortions at all, but, that's not likely to happen. I don't support gay marriages, nor do I support silencing the faith. You truly take the cake when you make statements and accusations like this. It's a sin to accuse another of such things....that's what's sad, Morales.

How do you get that this is the "easy way out" for Conservative leaders? Letting the states decide is the correct measure to take. It moves the decision back to where it originally was, and makes it easier to regulate, and possibly even remove from our society. Seems like you always see things as a glass half empty....That's what's sad. ?

Much of what Steven Furtick preaches is problematic. I had several friends ask me to listen to a cluster of sermons they sent me to, and I listened. On the surface, much of what he says SOUNDS plausible and Scriptural, but when you listen more closely and compare scripture with scripture, it's not at all doctrinally sound. His rock and roll lifestyle and promotion of his sons lifestyle of the same is problematic. He seems to want to be as close to the world as he can be but still look "Christian."

Mine, too!

It's been years since I've heard this song! I love it! ? That is it, PastorMatt! We used to have an evangelist that would sing this, as well as a professor at Fellowship Baptist College! )

It would be helpful if you posted your replies to each individual question just that way. I'm not going to attempt to follow your jumbled thought pattern here. I made an attempt at this and I've left what i wrote. Feel free to reply in insult if you wish. You'll receive no further reply from me.

@Rando, it would be impossible to "define that doctrine." And why is it a "must?" We are human beings with a limited understanding of the trinity. Our finite minds will never, while in the living, human body, be able to adequately understand and explain the trinity. We're not infinite beings, nor are we all knowing. God alone is this. The challenge of Biblical Christianity is to strive to become more like Christ, and to be spreading the gospel. It is not mandatory, nor is it necessary to fully understand the doctrine of the trinity to live the Christian life. It IS, however, a very interesting subject and worthy of investigation.

Thank you. I'll send you my contact information in a DM.

Aren't they all Christians, or referring to Christians. I wouldn't think that anyone should have a problem with the terminology "Christian."

Ah, I see. I didn't recognize that. I apologize. I don't watch TGL's reactions as they're often quite confusing.