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Originally Posted by ordinaryguy

But I have, and I do.
I understand them quite differently than you do, that much is clear.

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You study the Scriptures? I'm surprised. I'm glad as well. If that is true, the Scriptures will lead you to Christ.

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Originally Posted by De Maria

I'm fine. Thanks for the concern. FYI, I am usually here one week on and one week off. I'll be leaving for another week soon.



Get you wrong? Do you mean that I misunderstood what you said? Why not clarify it then, just for the record?



Peace to you as well Allheart,

Sincerely,

De Maria

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DeMaria,

I just can't go into things at the moment. I am so emotionally tired. Not so much from particapting in the different threads, but each day I leave my home, life just chips at my heart over and over and I am so very tired.

I am looking forward, so very much, to the weekend, being with my husband who loves me and being around people who love me.

I am sorry that this isn't much of a response back, but I am unfortunately the unhealthy over sensitive type ( again, nothing here on the sight, but life and all that gets aimed at me in the course of the day)

My heart is just broken, and it is heavy and cries, keep me in your prayers, and I will you and all others too.

I will heal, I just need to be around those that do love me and keep my heart safe.

May God bless and keep you,
Allheart.

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Originally Posted by Allheart

DeMaria,
... I will heal, I just need to be around those that do love me and keep my heart safe.

May God bless and keep you,
Allheart.

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May God bless you as well.

Sincerely,

De Maria

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Originally Posted by De Maria

You study the Scriptures? I'm surprised.

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That doesn't surprise me.

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Originally Posted by De Maria

If that is true, the Scriptures will lead you to Christ.

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We've been on a first-name basis for years.

And I challenge that anyone who is not a Christian can't honestly even address and answer the question, since the question is "what makes somewhere a mature Christian, the question is not is there or is there not mature christians, the question is not is there really christianity, so anyone that does not merely list ways to be a mature christian is not addressing the question as stated but are in reality perhaps highjacking the thread for their own purpose perhaps.

So yes Credendovidis is correct, all posts should address the actual question as posted

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Originally Posted by ordinaryguy

Her point was:
My point was that if coming through a car wreck unscathed is a reason to believe in God, surely having no wreck at all would be an even better reason.
Surely you aren't saying that the lack of accidents in my life is evidence that I'm walking with the devil? No, I'm not. But do you believe? It's hard to tell, it seems you do not. If you have had no close calls, that's great. For those of us who have and survived in a miraculous way....no other explaination...that doesn't make us believe in God more, it only moves us to tell others of His greatness and what He has done for us.

It just seems to me foolish and misguided to suppose that the health and safety of our physical body is any indication of God's existence or love for us. Sooner or later we all die as a result of accident or illness.

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That is kind of the point too, we all die eventually, the question is where will we be for eternity. If one does not believe in God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I know, they will not enjoy their life after death. Death is not the end, it's only the beginning.

Faith is knowing that what I belive is true. What you believe is up to you. If you don't believe in God, why do you fight against Him so much and those that do believe?

Personally if I don't believe something, I do not feel the need to debate it. I don't understand so many people who say God does not exist, and yet they feel obsessed with debating His existance. Can you explain that?:cool:

For example, I don't believe two headed monsters exist...so if someone else does, I simply smile and ignore it.
:)

(I don't know how this happened, I was answering a different question and it showed up here.)

Can anybody give advice on what makes you a mature Christian?


A mature Christian walks in love. God is love, love is God. To love God and to love our neighbors as well as our enemies is a command. It is also the best way to grow as a Christian.

Reading the Word, spending time with God, praise and worship are great, but if after we have done all that, then go to the grocery store and are rude to the clerk, or don't put out cart back, or... you get the point, then all the other was lip service. Our service to God is to show His love to others by being an example. Love on purpose. Do what is right even when no one is looking. Faith without works is dead... the works as Christians are to love others as ourselves. That is a tall order and only comes with practice and more practice.

Self control is one of the fruit of the spirit given to us when we got saved, along with love, joy, peace, faith, meekness, gentleness... but those don't activate themselves, we have to submit to them. Fruit has to be tended to in order for it to grow and mature. God has given us all we need to grow into the image of Christ. It's a matter of making good choices.

Emotions are just that, they come and go, but disciplining ourselves to 'walk in love' will cause us to be more like Jesus and that is what a mature Christian is... like Jesus, who went about doing good and healing all where oppressed of the devil. Not just sick folk, oppression comes in many forms.
Even something as simple as smiling at someone who is having a bad day.

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Originally Posted by tsila1777

Can anybody give advice on what makes you a mature Christian?


A mature Christian walks in love. God is love, love is God. To love God and to love our neighbors as well as our enemies is a command. It is also the best way to grow as a Christian.

Reading the Word, spending time with God, praise and worship are great, but if after we have done all that, then go to the grocery store and are rude to the clerk, or don't put out cart back, or...you get the point, then all the other was lip service. Our service to God is to show His love to others by being an example. Love on purpose. Do what is right even when no one is looking. Faith without works is dead...the works as Christians are to love others as ourselves. That is a tall order and only comes with practice and more practice.

Self control is one of the fruit of the spirit given to us when we got saved, along with love, joy, peace, faith, meekness, gentleness......but those dont activate themselves, we have to submit to them. Fruit has to be tended to in order for it to grow and mature. God has given us all we need to grow into the image of Christ. It's a matter of making good choices.

Emotions are just that, they come and go, but disciplining ourselves to 'walk in love' will cause us to be more like Jesus and that is what a mature Christian is...like Jesus, who went about doing good and healing all where oppressed of the devil. Not just sick folk, oppression comes in many forms.
Even something as simple as smiling at someone who is having a bad day.

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Tsila77 - Welcome to the site.

I agree, love, embrace all that you wrote and believe. It touched my heart, made me smile and gave me great peace.

Thank you.

Love is the greatest gift. To love others is Gods purpose in our lives and is the greatest gift we have been given by God, and he does not want us to keep it for ourselves but to be an endless supply to others.

The love of being a parent, child, spouse, friend. It is endless what can be done in the world. Excellent thoughts on what it means to be a mature Christian, and thinking about it more, I think that is the best aspect. I also agree with Tsila77.

Take care everyone, and hope all is well with you all. All my American friends hope you have had an awesome celebration and enjoy your long weekend.

Joe

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Originally Posted by Jesushelper76

Love is the greatest gift. To love others is Gods purpose in our lives and is the greatest gift we have been given by God, and he does not want us to keep it for ourselves but to be an endless supply to others.

The love of being a parent, child, spouse, friend. It is endless what can be done in the world. Excellant thoughts on what it means to be a mature Christian, and thinking about it more, I think that is the best aspect. I also agree with Tsila77.

Take care everyone, and hope all is well with you all. All my American friends hope you have had an awesome celebration and enjoy your long weekend.

Joe

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Joe, you have a beautiful heart, you are a beautiful man, and I am truly blessed to know you.

May God continue to watch over you and your precious loved ones.

Allheart

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Originally Posted by tsila1777

But do you believe? It's hard to tell, it seems you do not.

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It should be hard to tell, since I haven't really said, at least not in this thread. The truth is, I believe some things and not others, so you're partially correct in inferring that I don't.

One of the things I don't believe is that God is responsible and to be praised for all the miraculous good fortune that comes our way, but that it's Satan, or our own sin, or the sin of the world, or the sin of Adam, or some other non-God force that's responsible for any sickness, accident, or tragedy that befalls us. If absolutely everything doesn't come from God, then nothing does, is how I see it.

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Originally Posted by tsila1777

That is kind of the point too, we all die eventually, the question is where will we be for eternity.

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Well, see, for me, that is EMPHATICALLY NOT the question. For me, the important question is, "How will the beliefs and attitudes that I choose affect my most important relationships and the way I live this earthly life before the death of my physical body?" I figure if I can get that right, I can be content, in spite of not knowing what comes next. That's what I call faith.

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Originally Posted by tsila1777

If one does not believe in God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I know, they will not enjoy their life after death. Death is not the end, it's only the beginning.

Faith is knowing that what I believe is true.

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With all due respect, what you "know" about the afterlife is based on exactly the same evidence that is available to the rest of us, so what you believe is true for you, and those who agree with you--nobody else.

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What you believe is up to you.

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Yes, we're all alike in that way.

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If you don't believe in God, why do you fight against Him so much and those that do believe?

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I haven't said that I don't believe in God, but it is probably true that I don't believe in exactly the same God you do. Still, I don't see what we're doing here as fighting, do you?

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I don't understand so many people who say God does not exist, and yet they feel obsessed with debating His existence. Can you explain that?

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Since I'm not one of them, no.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

And I challege that anyone who is not a Christian can't honestly even address and answer the question ...

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In that case I suggest this question to be transferred to the Christianity board.

:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Credendovidis

Although I am not a Christian, my reply to that question is a valid one for everyone and for every worldview.

A true and mature "Christian" is a "Christian" who shows by his/her actions and posture that he/she identifies and involves the "Christian religion" in all parts of his/her life.

This in contrast with that majority of believers who "do what has to be done", prefer to pick the cherries out of the bowl of life, and cut corners where ever possible.

:)

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Have you actually met these "majority of believers who "do what has to be done", prefer to pick the cherries out of the bowl of life, and cut corners where ever possible" that you speak of so boldly? And so indecipherable?

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Originally Posted by tsila1777

Have you actually met these "majority of believers who "do what has to be done", prefer to pick the cherries out of the bowl of life, and cut corners where ever possible" that you speak of so boldly?

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Many of them. There seems even to be an entire colony of them here on this board !

:D

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Originally Posted by Credendovidis

Many of them. There seems even to be an entire colony of them here on this board !

:D

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Yes correct wording seems to be :D

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Originally Posted by N0help4u

Yes correct wording seems to be :D

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What an extremely retarded reaction ! That is why I precisely choose these words... I know how to express myself correctly, unlike so many theists who do not know the different between what they BELIEVE and what is REAL !

:rolleyes:

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And I was agreeing with you... so what is the problem??

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Originally Posted by N0help4u

and I was agreeing with you....so what is the problem????

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Don't lie. You were not.

:rolleyes:

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Many of them. There seems even to be an entire colony of them here on this board

Yes correct wording seems to be

I agreed that to you there seems to be

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Originally Posted by Credendovidis

Let's keep to the subject ....

Why does "God" not restore amputated limbs?
Specially when "God" is claimed to do so many wonders daily ...

Could all these wonders not be just "luck"?
Could it be that "God" just does not exist or that "God" does not care about you, me , or anyone else?
I know that may sound terrible to you, but still it is a fair question to ask !

For sure it are perfect reasons why limbs are never restored ....

:( ·

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It could be lack of faith, God does nothing except by faith. He is a faith God, without faith it is impossible to please God. So instead of being angry with Him, perhaps you should humble yourself like a little child and ask, believing you receive when you pray, and He will restore. If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, He would do it.

One way to prove me wrong is to try it, if you really want to prove me wrong... let me know what happens.