Spirit Bear

What's a croc?

"Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you have been doing." 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 11. Do we really encourage one another as we point out the flaws of others, pointing out their failings, doing it in a "Christian" way such as saying, "You need to improve yourself here. Look, it's a problem. What would Jesus do?" All the while our own problems fester, eat away at our Spiritual life, consume us in sin and surround us-- thus blinding us to the truth that what we say should gear toward us, and not only the ones we're trying to improve? How do we "improve" others when we need such improvement? What do we build when we are so broken? Can we use each other to build us all up? I think so. But do we just keep ourselves afloat, clinging to one another, sometimes even shoving the other under the water just to keep ourselves alive? "You hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew chapter 7, verse 5. This was originally meant to be about encouragement. But then I got angry. So this is what happens when I get angry. LOL. Sorry, guys.

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew chapter 5, verse 44.

This first verse most of us struggle with following. We look at where we are, what we are, who were are (socially, morally, whatever-ly.) We like to think highly of ourselves because of many good things about us, or we look too lowly upon ourselves because we know of our failings; we see where others are at and either want to be better than that or at least meet that-- but guess what? They hide as much as you, regardless of how isolated you feel in your hurt. "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves to one another, they are without understanding." 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 12. "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but instead count others as more significant than yourself." Philippians chapter 2, verse 3. As for the second verse, we have an issue of looking lowly upon those who are not "as good" as we "are." In our anger and even hatred, we feel like others owe us or that they are not as good as we. We think negatively about them and inflate our own sense of righteous self. But we're all the same-- all of us are loved by God who knows we're not perfect, but forgives us and wants a relationship with us. He views us all equally, so we should view everyone as the equal men and women God created them to be.

Temptation's gonna always hit you right in your weak spots of strong desire. It's gonna flood over you and push you to do as you want. It'll twist everything around you to make it seem okay to do whatever it is-- Heck, it'll make it all even seem right and good for you and maybe others. But temptation is a liar, a destroyer, a thing to rid yourself of. Although I'm not posting it tonight, read 1 Corinthians 10:13. He will always give you a way out if you choose to escape. "Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew chapter 26, verse 24. "Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. " James chapter 4, verse 7. Will you resist temptation today? Often, we don't even realise that we're being tempted. But if something's morality is questionable, don't do it.

On a chat-site a man began pounding me with question after question, asking me everything from specific verses to who they were being spoken to. It was kind of exhausting, but thankfully my desktop told me Security Failure Options and then went black (Was that itself a warning about him?) I hope it works tomorrow... Today's verses tie into this, for they talk about knowing Scripture. How can we know what we believe, and defend it when tests take us by surprise, if we do not know what it says and where it says it? How can we grow if we know nothing or stop seeking? "This Book of The Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua chapter 1, verse 8. ^ "We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." Hebrews chapter 2, verse 1. ^ Oh, by the way, the one who pounded question after question had on the outside seemed Christian in every way, but in the end I found him to be one looking for evil and not for the truth he tried to make me think he sought. Treat everything and everyone with caution. I survived, but he is one with the false teaching all based on truth he can use to his advantage for misuse. Even the Devil knows Scripture. Can you go up against him and survive?

Me hurt? Hah. Good luck with that. Abridged again, Romans-- which you earlier quoted in one of these topics-- says in chapter 8 verse 18, "You have been set free from sin." So pray and set yourself free. Your chains have fallen to the ground. Jesus destroyed those. The devil cannot control you. God lets you be free. My earliest meds, as a kid, set off what was later figured out as Intermittent Explosive Disorder (now 100% under control.) Some meds do that. My current meds I typically skip since, after my overdose, whenever I try to take them it causes me to shake and be slow of mind-- and they don't believe me because it was irregular enough that they didn't see it or thought it was still too soon after the OD that it could be related to that. So I began collecting them. For a year-- it's only been like a year and a month since I ODed. I put them in jars and bottles, as I collect antique bottles. I began it to OD again, but last month when I went to OD on them (30 didn't work last time, so...) I instead put the thick antique milk bottle of pills partially through a solid-wood door 1-inch thick. Sounds like typical hormones urging the need to mate, along with evil pushing thoughts in to push you away from God. We all do damage to ourselves and at least a few others, for we are all damaged-- but we are not damned, for we are loved and forgiven and free now because of God. No worries, we're all messed up. You have no idea how into bestiality I was. You don't want to know. Don't expect to hear me say that publicly ever again. I restore books as a hobby and part time job. I was working on an 1860s hymnal and "blanked out," as I say. I woke up lying in the entrance-way of my house and came back to find all my work ripped up. That's Intermittent Explosive disorder for you. As for where you should go, go to a quiet place and pour it all out to God. I'm going to stop responding to this piece as well. I had been studying for my college finals for this semester, starting Monday. I need to get back to that, and I need to let this topic sink down into obscurity and hope that-- as usual-- people get scared off from the long posts and thus not read more than the Bible verse I wanted to show. and thus it can sink into obscurity.

Reading the Bible is important. It lets us learn about God and what we have taken part of and should follow. Taking a verse out of context is bad. I touched on how I've always taken Jeremiah 29:11 out of context most of my life (either on this forum or Furs For Christ.) Essentially, it says that God has plans to make us prosper and have hope for a good future on Earth. But that's not true. It's a promise for the exiled nation of Israel as is seen in the surrounding passage. But almost all of us have taken it out of context to try and apply it to ourselves. But the Bible also warns us of trial and suffering on Earth, that the flesh may even perish. It looked to contradict, but only if we looked at the verses alone and not the surrounding text. As for tomorrow, I'm going to stop posting in this piece. I'm going to post a new Bible verse and let these arguments sink underneath a new Bible verse every day until these are too far down to be easily found. I suggest that this doesn't happen again.

In the culture of the day, yes. And it didn't tell what age he was. He may have been 15, a man in that day, or he may have been 25-- and therefore should be a parent. The second verse quoted made no sense in this discussion. Purging evil is not evil. It is not revenge. The second verse targets revenge, not misbehaving children. Also, Deuteronomy is Old Testament. Most Christians think that with Jesus, everything was changed save for what He kept. You quoted Romans. I don't at all recall using the word "hypocrite." I purposely made sure to not use it. We're all hypocrites, yet it is very displeasing (makes people angry) to be called it. I'm not your enemy. I just believe differently and like to show where my beliefs come from: The Bible. Pointing out an "enemy's" "attack" can be done well and for good, or it leads to further damaged relationships. Now here is my opinion, not backed by the Bible: There is no curse (Bible backing would be that we're free from the curse given by sin because we're in Christ,) but only a product of the damaged minds we have in a damaged world feeding us damaged information to damage us further because Satan thinks he can still do that. I'm not sure what to make of your dialogue. I don't know if its meant to be serious or a sarcastic play on what goes on in your mind. A challenge I have is trying to figure out sarcasm versus seriousness. Your friend saying that you look like a monkey seems a bit odd. Your profile picture looks a lot more like a foxcat. The internal destroyer is our own inability to forgive ourselves.

Oh no, Grand Rapids. People there pull pranks! Like switching which way road-signs face. -______- *Lives about a town away and really hates going there.* But at least they fixed their flood problems. Their drainage and sewer used to run together, so during spring rains and melt-off that would all backup and flood into the city with not only water, but waste. The Grand River would speed that on. An old bumper sticker for that was a pun: "When it rains in G.R., s**t happens." But you get to live in one of our best-off cities and near the best beaches in Michigan. Also, it doesn't get too terribly cold there.

Oh look, we finally got you to your one-thousandth post. The Bible is the sole truth. Regardless of what you want or think, it tops that and anything else from the mind of man. God gave it to you, knowing you won't like all of it, because He knows best and loves you enough to set you up with something that came from Him-- it's for you to connect better with Him and understand what He desires for you. Its remained solid for nearly 2,000 years. It will remain into eternity. I believe in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and The Bible. But the verse is still of the Bible. Unless it has been changed? I could defend Islam with verses from the Bible, and I could defend Christianity with verses from the Qu'ran. No, I'm not gonna start doing that either. It's merely an example. I'm also assuming that 99% of Catholics know a Bible verse or 50. Now, let's end these arguments for good. We can both think tonight on all of our words said today.

My apologies: "You" is meant to be a general term. I usually replace it with "one," as in reference to anyone, so this sort of thing does not happen. If anything in the Bible is heretic to the Catholic Church, there may be an issue with the Church itself as The Bible is the only Truth, for it is God-breathed. The beginning of Revelation shows a flaw in the Churches as well, for any institution governed by man is bound to have something not right in it. "I see the devil talking through you." LOL. Such encouragement. And yes, this is now a provocation because, after reading that paragraph, my patience with you is gone. I am not sure if you're making progress if you're running away whenever I try to tell you, "Here is an issue. Here is what the Bible says. Here is my interpretation and what I see." Instead, do not read my posts. Do not speak to me. You avoid conflicting with me and therefore can do your thing in peace. I stopped responding to your new topics because I don't wanna make you mad. But I do have to defend myself. Read my signature under everything I post, Zvoc. Don't fear. God is always there. What, if anything, you should fear is your own temper. Proverbs chapter 14, verse 17 abridged: "A man of quick temper acts foolishly." It could be that tone is a key factor in understanding people. Tone is lost online, so you have no idea how I'm trying to come off maybe? Or maybe it's just that weird thing where you naturally just don't like a person. I had a teacher whose very presence was just displeasing, and I couldn't figure out why. Also, do not apologise to me, but to yourself. This is hurting you. You're already hurting enough. Don't get a lobotomy. I dunno how its creator got a Nobel prize. And I've been institutionalized. Don't go there either. It makes you much worse.

Zvoc, you know I do not believe in any institution of man. Catholic is a denomination, something created by men for men. Men can be wrong. The Bible cannot. I go to a Covenant Church for that reason, and even then they occasionally say something that I can counter with the Bible. Also, Zvoc, you bring up a great point with "forbearance," "peace," and "joy." Look at our other discussion, one you got very angry with and even called me a liar in your misunderstanding. So you're kind of breaking down what you said. If only you'd stop telling me Catholic beliefs and tell me those from the Bible. You're getting better with that, though, for you gave me a Bible verse this time. So thank you. "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth," He is speaking to God here in John 17:17.

Not that you took it out of context, but that it could be taken out of context. Zvoc, you love to argue. Tame it and educate yourself in every aspect, and you can use it for great things in the kingdom of God-- if you don't try to force your belief on someone. Else you only damage yourself, the other, and God's kingdom. "....you are so anti-me." Zvoc, I'm not anti you. You just refuse to listen to anything I say without trying to counter-argue it, regardless of what Biblical support I give or if I calmly state your own point. Nor am I saying you don't care. You just take it as such. "And you LIAR! I DO CARE! How unthankful you are! I'm here all day on Christian Furs trying to help and you say that I don't care. Great! Among all stress that I have, I hope to preach and talk a bit and pray and this is what I get as a result!? I've written so much in the past how to believe, how to be faithful, etc.. " Your words.^ As for what you say, I see that you mainly speak. You just talk. And if I say something, it's either torn apart because you enjoy arguing, or it's totally ignored. Do I have problems with you? Yes. I don't like to speak to you. It becomes nothing but arguing. Do I treat you nicely and not call you names. I want to call you a fool, for you act as such. Proverbs 18:2, "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." That's you. The blunt bear speaks, and I suggest you listen. Further, you come off as 100% cocky in the quote from you I have written a few lines above. You're on HERE all day, not in your own community? Nor, in my last post, did I at all target you when talking about Christians and their lack of encouragement. I'm not gonna try encouraging you to keep behaving like this either-- it's sickening. I was merely carrying on conversation like normal and saying that the typical Christian does not build others up much. Do you see yourself building me up by what you say? I think you contradict yourself, brother. I'm very insulted by you. And you wonder why most people look negatively on Christians, for Christians are so judgmental and quick to anger-- oh, look, it reminds of of this from James 1, verse 19: "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." Now, dear Zvoc, I was not born patient but have shown patience and do not be mean to you. You blow up at me, call me a liar, and refuse to listen to me even when I support what I say with Biblical facts. You have wronged me, and my patience wears thin with you. I don't like dealing with you. You are not being Christ-like. I am asking for you to review your heart. We would be best to continue this in PM. Else if this continues, I will bring it to the attention of an Admin and know he/she will see that everything I say has merit and honor to God because it is not an attack on you, but what you keep doing to argue against me-- and that is exactly how I feel: as if you want to argue against everything I say. And finally, I'm trying to get you to see the truth so you can grow and understand yourself. I'm not trying to take away your faith.

I used to repent for everything to the extent that, when I was younger, I thought every sin made me unchristian. I know breakdowns all too well. A couple days ago I walked into the kitchen and fell to one knee to begin one. I go through them very often, even driving down the highway will see me begin to bawl. You can repent and not want to change. Let's say I get addicted to a violent game (I don't game.) I can repent if it's leading me to sin, but I still want to play it. The final repentance is when we are finally made right when we're dead and thus reborn. What if they have a right, as they have a legal right to. And God gives the law that legal right, for He granted law and order under a government: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." Romans chapter 13, verses 1 and 2. Essentially, you have no right with authority if it is within the law. And if you're gonna argue about corrupt laws, go to those who made and enforce the laws, not me. It's foolish, and yes I intentionally use that word, to just speak for the sake of arguing. Dude, I cannot believe you just said that naughty word here. I laughed-- I never thought it'd pop up here among "proper-acting folk." But, to go with what you're saying, Proverbs 21:23 says, "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." Itch makes scratch, and scratch makes itch. And I cannot believe this delved into masturbation. BTW, Zvoc, I think you just want to argue and counter everything I say. "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works..." Titus, chapter 2, verse 7.

Today's Bible Reading talks about our sinful parts of life and was inspired by discussion today with another member here. Now, it is not talking about actually cutting off your hand, but that would be easier than cutting off some parts of your life-- the parts you think you can hide, the parts that are sin and control you. Parts that interfere with your spiritual life and lead you not to God and His desires for you, but away and toward your own desires. "If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into Hell." Matthew chapter 5, verse 30. The verse above lead me to think about priorities. If something in your life comes before God, either put God first or get rid of that which comes before the One who created you and all good things. You cannot serve two masters, and God Himself admits that He is a jealous God. Matthew chapter 6, verse 33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...."

What if you never truly repent? My problem is saying sorry-- why should I say sorry when I'm not sorry, and I can justify my own actions/words/non-action? Or, as is usual, what if you continue to do the sin? Why should it be alright if you are sorry, but you keep doing it anyway? Like if I kicked puppies. I may be very sorry, but my temper got the best of me then and now (no, I don't kick puppies. This is an example.) Is it alright because I repent? Repentance isn't complete without taking action to overcome your sinful side. I believe that if you say something cruel, and they respond negatively, they're justified in their response because you set them off. Like if I called you a jerk, and you called me an a**hole, I think you had right to call me that because you're not being a jerk but I said you were; now if you responded like a good Christian, and calmly said, "Why am I a jerk? What did I do?" then you help diffuse the situation and please God. Now if you decked (punched) me for it.... That's questionable. LOL.

The Bible is not contradictory. Taking verses out of context, as it appears you touched on, is. This is a paradox. Jesus was as well. All have fallen short of God's perfection. We've discussed this before. Romans chapter 3, verse 23. If anything in your life has priority over God, get rid of it. It's better to lose one part than to lose the whole. Matthew chapter 5, verse 30. "Just be faithful" is one of the worst things one could say, for it shows neither that you care nor does it give them support/encouragement/answers. I kind of cringe when I look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 11: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you have been doing." I'm pretty sure that the typical "Christian" really falls short of that. If only Paul could see us now. Shame we don't focus on much other than ourselves. No wonder our religion is fading. And when we go beyond ourselves, we blow everything to Hell. At least we're judged by faith alone as to whether we can go to Heaven or not. Take care.

Well, Christians are supposed to believe the only source of truth they can get their paws on: the Bible. Everything else cannot be taken as truth very easily. And interpretations themselves can completely change a meaning-- So does taking a verse or passage out of context from a greater whole. Last night, when looking for a good Bible verse to put as the "Daily Bible Reading," I almost went with Jeremiah 29:11, but I realised that that was in the context of the whole of exiled Israel, and not for me and you. So I avoided that one and lost a favorited verse. It happens. :/

It's a gorgeous car with an interesting name. I'm afraid that, although I try, nothing I say will last in people's minds. And because my writings aren't like what they were, they don't start off popular-- most people typically stick away from reading more "religious rant." I do rant, but I make it into something more than just a flood of emotion. Usually I do something like the prayer piece. Other times it's a memoir with an underlying Christian theme. Plenty has gone up on here.

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words they will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew chapter 12, verses 36-37. A good warning to you: What you say will echo into eternity. --- So remember: "The words of the reckless pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs chapter 12, verse 18. Which are you? It's common to be both.

I see a standard prayer in there. One we say every Sunday at Church and before meals. One easy to recite and say with no emotion. I see it as more of a creed than anything else. And, yes, I wrote in about praising God. It' very important. Confessing sins to one another is difficult, especially when people will look down on you. Or ban you from the forum for what you were because they think you still are.

Good ideas. My car would die if I tried doing that to it. LOL. My mom's writings sit in a box downstairs. Her ex husband took most when he found out about them and destroyed them. My own I've not touched in over a year. I used to be a writer of historical fiction, werewolf, and a combination of both. One piece got published. Then depression hit. So now I can only manage memoirs and very short Christian-themed pieces. But I myself have been volunteering at various places for about 12 years. The place I'm currently at I've been at for 10 years.

Daily Bible Reading, huh? Maybe you meant decadely? We'll fix that. One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much. If you have not been faithful in unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you property of your own? Luke 16: 10-12.