Any BYC Christians? Post here!-Please heed Admin Warning in First Post

[ducks4you]

We suggested that our family wanted to be baptised in a body of water, so the Pastor organized a big group baptism in a local lake (in our local forest preserve) in 1995.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Quote:
The word "love" is perhaps the most misconstrued word in the English language. And quite frankly, even within The Church, the word has been tossed around and thrown out without much thought. During my year-long separation and now pending divorce, I had many people in the church I used to attend tell me "I love you" and yet all the while pointing an accusing finger at me saying, "Well, Cindy must have some reason for not wanting to live with you." Basically implying it was my fault that my wife chose to go live a life of sin.

At the same time the same people were telling my wife "I love you" while silently giving their tacit approval for her to continue in sin by not telling her the truth of God's Word. And some even went so far as to encourage her to remain in her sin and/or "get on with your life" all the while knowing that God's Word says the wages of sin is death. My wife is dying in her sin and causing only God knows what kind of negative consequences while they say they love her and do nothing for her.

Some pages back in this thread someone mentioned that they have many friends that are homosexual that they "hang out with". Now, whether it be homosexuality or some other behavior that is readily apparent and indicative of a lost soul, I wonder how many Christians tell those people "I love you" but never truly love them enough to tell them that they are destined for Hell if they don't confess, repent, ask God for forgiveness and accept Christ as Lord of their life? I mean, if you know that someone professes to be an Unbeliever and you never bother to bring them the Gospel and show them their need for a new Lord and Master that can change their life and save them from their sin, how much do you REALLY "love" them?

I've heard "Love is a Decision" and "Love is a Commitment" and other catchy phrases but I've come up with a definition of love that is my own. I believe love is doing for another what is best for them - regardless of whether they want it or ask for it. The Bible says if a parent loves a child he will spank them. There is a way that seems right unto a man and that way leads to death.

The World says "Oh, I love my kids too much to ever spank them." I wish I had a dollar for everytime I've heard some Christian say "You just gotta love 'em." And when I say, "What does that mean? I mean what does that REALLY mean?" - they never have an answer. The World say love your spouse until you're no longer happy. The Bible says love your spouse until death do you part.

The World says God loves you so live however you want and be happy. The Bible says those who love God will obey Him. Jesus said, "If you love me you will obey Me."

We are to love our neighbor as ourself and we are to love our Enemy. But what does that mean? I believe love is doing for another what is best for them - regardless of whether they want it or ask for it. Isn't that what Jesus did for all of us? I know that's what He did for me. I was a depraved lost Sinner who revelled in my sin and enjoyed it for the momentary pleasure it gave me while all the time it was killing me. I did not want God's love. I was an Enemy of God. I did not want to hear the Gospel. I sure did not want to be told I was a Sinner and needed a Savior. I was a spiritually dead person and did not ask to be given new life. But God in His love reached down and opened my eyes so that I might see. Because God loved me He showed me that I was a Sinner in need of a Savior.

Before any of us ever asked for a Savior or wanted God's love, He sent His Son to die for us that Jesus would pay for our sin and take the wrath of God for our sin upon Himself so that we might be forgiven and adopted into the Family of God. Now that is LOVE!

I have no problem telling others I love them. But when I do I am reminded that I need to ask myself if I am really doing what's best for them.

God Bless,

 

[kargo]

Thanks for the responses, everybody. I have another question.

A couple of days ago, my friend M told me that she gets 5 hours of sleep, tops. Goes to bed at 2 or later, and can't sleep past 7 if she tries. She says she has insomnia, and she has been trying to break it. In fact, she said, she did for a while, but right now she's got so much on her mind that she can't sleep much.

My mom's been telling me that I sleep too much. She's right. I've been getting about 14 hours of sleep a day lately. I'm aware that's insane.

When M told me how little sleep she gets, I felt pretty guilty. Why should I get almost double the amount of sleep I need when M gets around half of the required amount? After she told me this, our conversation went as follows:
Me
Woah. I thought my sleep schedule was insane. Maybe I should lend you some sleeping dust. That's absolutely crazy! I bet you do[(have a lot on your mind)]
M:
hahah i sure wish that would work!
9:34pmMe
I think we'd both be super happy if it did.

Here's where the Christians thread comes in. I've been asking God since then to allow me to sleep less, and to give the hours that I'm not getting that I have been to her.
I've noticed this happen with my sleep schedule:
Day 1:
Slept 10 hours.
Day 2:
Slept 7 hours.
Day 3/last night:
Slept 5 hours.


I don't know if ya'll noticed, but I worked my way down to exactly the same amount M told me she gets tops.

My other friend, A, thinks I'm going to make myself sick with the rapid change in my sleep schedule. Thing is, I'm not exactly doing anything different. The only thing I'm doing different is, one of those nights, I myself was worried about something and stayed up later, and saying that prayer asking God to help her get a decent amount of sleep and keep me from getting a ridiculous amount. She says M's probably used to that amount of sleep, and she's probably always been an early riser. Thing is, I know M told me she's been trying to break this, so obviously she's not happy with the way it's been working out later. The way I see it, I'm ditching some extra sleep that I didn't need, and hopefully she's gaining sleep that she needs. I know so far I've made a 9 hour change in sleep (which is crazy) but I didn't plan to get only 5 hours last night. What do you guys think? Am I hurting myself and not benefiting M at all? I mean, if I was really doing something bad to myself, would God be granting my request? The thing is, I don't know if M's sleep level has changed at all. I haven't had a chance to ask her, and I don't want her to wonder if something's up if I keep pestering her about it. I don't want her to know I'm asking this of God, because I'm afraid 1. She'll think that's really weird. or 2. She'll scold me and get upset because she doesn't want my sleep schedule all messed up. M's a great girl, and I do know that if she's not weirded out by this, she'll most likely appreciate that I'm trying to do something for her. I really love M. She's a wonderful friend, very loyal, and she's helped me through some pretty rough times. I just want a chance to help her. When she told me she's been getting so little sleep, it bothered me. I wanted to find a way to help her make up for it, so the obvious answer came to mind. "Pray, and ask God to help." That's all I'm doing. Do you guys agree with my other friend? Am I hurting myself? Do you think I may be helping M? Do you think that this is all weird, or that I'm just trying to help a friend? Should I maybe risk talking to M about all this?

 

[boxermom]

Don't deprive your body, if that's what you need.

 

[Yessur Ebob]

Kargo,

I don't think that depriving yourself of sleep will help your friend any. Perhaps you need the extra sleep and that is why you sleep so much. I don't know of too many people who sleep even if they're not tired. Rather than trying to pass your sleep of to your friend, why not just pray that God will let her sleep as much as she needs to.

 

[Beekissed]

Here's a question for all you BYC Christians:

Do you believe there will be a pre-tribulation Rapture, or catching up, off all Christians?

 

[Tailfeathers]

Absolutely. Between Thessalonians and Revelation it 's pretty clear. Also, there are some really interesting parallels between the Jewish Marriage and Wedding Ceremony with a Pre-Trib Rapture.

God Bless,

 

[Beekissed]

I had been taught a Pre-Trib Rapture all my life and every major evangelist of the day had preached the same....I never even knew there were folks who believed any other way about it until the last couple of years. Then I found out the preacher of my church doesn't believe in the Rapture at all. I also found out there are many, many folks who don't believe in the Rapture.

One lady told me that Christians just couldn't "get off that easy" and that it was just a story someone made up to comfort Christians and lull them into believing that they will escape hard times.

She almost sounded like non-believers when they say that the salvation through Christ's sacrifice was "too easy" and lets Christians think they can get by with anything because they are saved from sin.

TOO EASY? Jesus dying on the cross was too easy?

To say the least, I was somewhat confused....

 

[Laurajean]

Just wanted to pop in and say: Although I am not Christian whatsoever, I DO value and respect your beliefs! Not all of us non-religious folk are judgmental and I believe that our unique beliefs and qualities are what makes the world such an interesting place! I love that we are in a world (for the most part) that accepts diversity and celebrates our differences. Peace!

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Unfortunatley God does not embrass "diversity". Not when it comes to Salvation. Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me".

As proof I offer my life. I have studied with the JW's twice, been to the Episcapal church , the Catholic church and the Methodist. Not until I became Born again as Jesus said did I have the power to stop, drugs, fornication and adultery that was my life. Certainly there were many other sins I was committing also but these are the biggest.

Also "there is no other name by which man can be saved, except Jesus Christ".

Except you become "born again" as Jesus said you won't understand, you have to believe for yourself and except Him as your saviour.

We are "desciples" students. No one can learn all there is about God and Salvation in one posting on here. You have to get in the classroom and read your bible be born again.

Prayerfully yours

Rancher