how can a mature person, godly, a born agian xtian to discuss my personal issue with?
359456
what....?  the spelling & grammar's too confusing to understand what you're asking.  Please try again.
967169
I am concerned.Preaching hellfire and brimstone is not always going to be the best way to start off a conversation.Every single one of us are different.Some people go off at the mere mention of Jesus Christ or all religions for that matter.Then some are willing to here what some people say with an open mind.Some people who witness to others don't always think out what their going to do,and how their going to do it.Some people are given the gift of bringing souls to Christ.Some stumble when they try.\n\nPeople that witness to others cannot and will not ever be able to make someone believe.There holy mandate is to bring the gospel to the masses,and have grace when doing so.Not everybody can find that fine line.\n\nNext time someone witnesses to you,and you feel their wrong.Tell them to stop,and to remember the way Jesus did it.He did it with grace,love,and adhering to his father's law.\n\nPeace be unto you.
681620
I am 41 years old and I am a personal secretary for my pastor at her church and I am also bible school teacher as well.\n\nNote: I answers some of these questions because of the experience (personal) that I have gone through in hopes that whatever I have to offer them far as knowledge and wisdom they will use it at there own discretion. Some of the people that I have answered to have used my advice and have had some success with and some well I don't know but whatever I give I give to help people with there problems and not just give them any old answer to get a mere two points.\n\nI appreciate that you were willing to ask what kind of people are out there that are answering these questions and I hope that I gave you an idea of what kind of person I am for the reason I answers so many people! Thanks..
730204
Do what I do to my 15 y.o., Get her in head lock and repeat " the power of christ compels you, the power of christ compels you" that always works for us. It will at least giv e ya'll a good laugh and the bitchin will stop for a few.
135763
As a Christian and Bible scholar, please believe me when I say that you have this all wrong--I mean you have truly misinterpretated practically everything.  \n\nI think though your points could be easily cleared up though if you were to sit with someone who has studied the Word. \n\nSince there is no way to address all of your questions and issues raised right now in this forum, why don't you go speak to a Jewish Rabbi or Bible Teaching Christian Pastor in your area.  \n\nYou don't want to hold on to misconceptions do you?  \n\nI'm sure you really do want the truth, right?  Good. You seem like someone that enjoys learning.  \n\nWell then if you want to learn the truth, you have an obligation to go and speak with someone educated in the Bible as well as someone that has a personally close relationship with GOD so that you can understand it from a different perspective.  \n\nYou're intelligent, and have obviously given this a lot of thought.  I'm sure you don't want to hold on to perceptions that are wrong right? \n\nSitting with someone one on one and going through each of your issues raise here, I believe that you will come away with a completely different view. You may still feel the same way, but at least you will have more and better information to draw more accurate conclusions.\n\nI can't begin to list the number of errors in your logic, or the number of times in your writings that you leaped to an erroneous assumption in this very short passage you wrote.  But I know that if you seek the truth, you will take the time to go speak to someone in person about your questions.  \n\nYou can even feel free to email me and I will be happy to talk to you more.  \n\nWe can walk through each passage here, and discuss the historical aspects that are recorded as well as what God is talking to us now about each of these passages.\n\nWe can discuss "What is the Mosaic Law", and how does it apply to the lives of God's people today.  We can also discuss spiritual warfare versus physical warfare and how it relates to the questions "Why would God kill innocent children? and order wars?"\n\nI welcome talking to you. I'm a Christian apologist.  We can debate, discuss, search and examine Bible history, teachings, prophesies, and hidden messages all day long, and it will not bother me, nor will I be offended if you don't agree.  \n\nI also welcome hearing about your religious beliefs. Although a devout Christian,  I enjoy studying other religions and beliefs as well.
106348
Religion is a touchy thing.  As a minister, I cannot honestly say that I encourage the forcing of ones beliefs on another.  There just isn't precedent for it.  However, if the underlying issue is that what he says bothers you, that is something you can, and should, discuss with him.  If you should choose to, make it a point to not be confrontational.  If it comes across as an attack, he will defend himself, regardless of the reasoning behind it.  If, however, it's worded more carefully, gently, if you will, he should be more receptive.  The key thing is to pay careful attention to what he says.  You'd be amazed what sort of clues people drop in every little thing they say, in regards to how they're feeling, or what they mean by something.  Granted, I have no specifics in this case from with which to work, but in general, the above guidelines should be sufficient.
1128106
It's real simple.  Know your faith as best you can. Know what you believe deep inside, and then simply speak from there.  Speak simple, because that's about as much as they can understand, and I've always done it in English better than any other language, so . . . give it to 'em that way.  They might not like your answers, and be okay with that.  They're not always there to understand you.  They're most often there to argue with you and insult you.  Know that, give it to 'em straight, and realize, it's up to them what they do with it.  "You can lead a horse (nag or stallion) to water, but you CAN'T MAKE THEM DRINK."  You'll have done the best you can in the eyes of God, and that's ALL that matters.  God Bless you.
1111546
First of all, let me tell you this....A sincere, faithful Christian who practices what God/Jesus really teaches in the Bible, would not belittle you or judge you.  The Bible tells us to first remove the "sin" from ourselves before we go pointing fingers and judging others.  ALL of us are sinners, NONE of us have the right to belittle, humiliate, harrass or put down anyone else.  The way to spread God's love and word is not through hard pressure but, rather, gentle discussion, an offering of sharing and prayer.  Although I don't feel it would be right to report them, I would nicely ask them to stop and to go back and read their Bibles about how it tells us to be Christ's disciples.  God bless you and I pray you will find your faith in your own journey in your time and in your way!  And, by the way, even Jesus has a sense of humor...he has to!  Just because we are Christians doesn't mean we have to be prudes or "serious" all the time.  I can laugh it up with the best of them and Jesus is #1 in my life!
600410
Hrmm.... guess it's time to pack up my stuff and head out for Hell.  Ah well.  The funny thing about this (and I don't mean comedy funny, but things that make you go hmmm funny) is taht if instead of having a different sexual orientation we had a different colored skin, we could take him to court over it.  Like saying God hates Blacks/Indians/Chinese/middle eastern/White or whatever.  People who feel the need to spew hate in the name of whichever deity they choose to put their faith in are working of the base fact that they feel they need to back themselves up with something big and unquestionable because they know that without it, their arguement lacks not only merit, but the strentgh to stand up to a good blow (pun intended)  For those of you who like to preach like that, check out the following from an old e-mail:\n\n"Subject: The Bible and its teachings\n\nThank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other specific Biblical laws and how to follow them.\n\na) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?\n\nb) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?\n\nc) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness (Lev.15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. If I come into contact with a woman who is menstruating and she doesn't tell me until afterwards, must I kill her immediately or can I just beat her?\n\nd) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?\n\ne) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? Also, is Sabbath on Saturday as Seventh Day Adventists (Christians, like us...or are they?) or is it on Sunday as Baptists and some other faiths agree? I am beset by not knowing who to kill and when to kill them...please clarify this for me.\n\nf) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality (Lev. 18:22). I don't agree. I'm also confused about how homosexuality can be an abomination when Jonathan and David were married in the Bible (1 Samuel 18:1, 3 - 4). Here, I'll quote it - "And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle." and also Ruth's relationship with Naomi is suspect, (Ruth 1:16-17) "And Ruth said to Naomi, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part three and me." Can you settle this?\n\ng) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?\n\nh) Most of my male friends get their
925204
You do have a good point, and it is something to take notice of. I haven't thought about it that way, but as a Christian, I will take this constructively and maybe there can be things that I can change that I wasn't doing before in treating people. As for my shortcomings in life, I blame that all on myself.
305465
First address him, aknowledge that you wish to speak to him.  Then pour out your heart to him.  Ask in faith, always believing.  He does answer prayers, you just have to have the faith.  Read and reread James 1:5-7.
154572
PLEASE, right now you are going overboard. It's not nice to be insulted, and I simpathize. But best thing to do now is ignore those writing bad comments. If you stopped fighting back(I know it's hard) it would show these people that you have self-control, and that you're a mature Christian that leans on God and doesn't get taken in with these questions. Please, please stop this foolish fighting, if GypseyQueen reads this, please just agree to disagree stop antagonizing each other!
170854
I hope I can help you in some small way. First, I believe that Faith is a journey each day of your life. Try to read your Bible some each day particularly the New Testament. Live your life under the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you". Pray without ceasing....you can talk to GOD anytime you want. HE is always there with you. Will you always get what you want? Of course not....for HE knows what you need. Each day notice the world around you and try to do good things for others. Thank God each day for giving you this day. Have you noticed what a perfect artist GOD is, by the way? Look at the sky, the sunset, the leaves on the trees, the snow, the animals on this earth. What beauty HE has brought to this world. Meditate and be alone with yourself and simply ask GOD for help in guiding you.  I know with all of the horrible stuff going on in this world, sometimes it is hard to have Faith in God. HE, however, did not create this mess. HE gave us free choice and, obviously, we have made many mistakes. Ask GOD to forgive all of us and to show us the way. Each day that you do this, your faith will grow but remember, as I said earlier....Faith in God is a journey til the day you die. Ask HIM to be with you now and always even if you feel like your faith is shakey sometimes. As you grow older, your faith will strengthen. GOD is GOOD and LOVING. May GOD BLESS YOU in your JOURNEY!!!!
1095945
The cost of religious disagreement within a household, particularly when it involves kids, is terrible.\n\nChristianity has gone through a reformation (several), and few Christians still take the Bible literally as if it is eternally true in every age of man.\n\nI'm not saying that is necessarily a good thing.  It just is.\n\nIf you do, you cannot marry this guy.  Period.\n\nYou can be his friend, help him see why you choose what you choose.  Don't try to convert him as much as lead him to his own truth, which if it is true, and yours is true, will be the same.  Then you might marry him.\n\nIf you do not take the Bible literally, then you must recognize that the political and religious climate of almost all countries at the time had no freedoms in these areas, and a mixed marraige of ANY kind was doomed to heartache, and often, bloodshed.\n\nIf you live in the U.S.A., you'll be in very good company, will have two views to lovingly share with your children, will respect the free speech and free expression of your two views, and support the right to choose of your adult children, regardless of their direction even as you disagree with the choice itself.\n\nGood luck to you and the gentleman.\n\nAbove all, don't marry anyone without ethics.  You can't teach ethics except in childhood or through extensive trials and tribulations.\n\nOh, I'm not religious.  Bless you Christians for all the good you've done.  Keep up the good work.  Keep speaking up.
4805
Pray for her. I don't know if you are a Christian, but if you are, you should know that talking to God about it relieves much stress and His Will WILL be done! Whatever happens is for the best. You are in my prayers. ~tracie
841461
Hi Luke, no doubt you are going to get a lot of stupid answers to this question that wont be helpful at all.\n\nI think that it is really important that you bring up the topic of christianity and God just naturally as part of your conversation.  If you are a christian, then the topic will come up because it is a big part of your life.  For example "what did you do on the weekend?" "oh went to the movies on Saturday, went to church Sunday morning - which was really great, and then just chilled Sunday arvo"..."you go to church?" "yeh - do you" "no" "why not?" etc.  \n\nAll you have to do is share from your own experience and understanding.  Sharing how real God is to you will inspire respect.\n\nGod bless mate, \n\nBen.
990552
Well put. I often get trapped into snide comments.\n\nI need to defend the faith, but in a loving way. Thank you.