???

Probably because, "The focus and goal would be zoned in on that instead of preaching the full Gospel of Jesus Christ."

"There other places than a church for it".

Forgiveness comments

Interesting post, Jon, as always. Jon mentioned in his post;

"This would seem to agree with what Becky's saying, that forgiveness is available but only post-repentance. "

Correct me if i'm wrong, Becky, but I don't think that is what you were saying. I think you and I agreed that forgiveness is always available, repentance or not.. It is only 'obtained' post-repentance. And maybe that's what Jon meant but it was un-clear.

Jon mentioned something about forgiveing 7 times if your brother sins against you and repents. I think to make it clearer we must remember what Jesus said also about forgiving. Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." I believe what Jesus meant by that is "No Peter, not seven times, but unlimited times!! " As my pastor said in church once after reading that verse, "if you stopped to add that up, you missed the point". And the same for God, he will forgive us unlimited times when confess and forsake, as Jon mentioned.

Jon's last question on that post read; "If this man (forgive the gender assumption) doesn't come to me and repent, do I still need to forgive him? If so, for whose benefit, his or mine?"

Now I can't really speak for Jon, but if this were the case for me.. My reponse would be, that I am not directly responsible for that mans salvation,, BUT I do want to say the Lord's prayer each morning with a clear conscious and peace about what I am saying,, "Forgive me my sins as I have forgiven anyone who has sinned against me". I'd say it would be for my benefit. If our salvation depended on being forgiven by everyone we harmed or sinned against.... we'd be screwed. The only forgiveness that is eternally necessary, I believe, is God's.

"*-But that's Just One Man's Opinion-*"

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BackTalk

My brother and sister are in a band, they call themselves "Toolbox". Why? you ask! I don't really know. Maybe for lack of a better name. Well they do 8 or so songs and alot of them are about what bothers them, or not conforming to the world's standards and not following the world and it's ways. They don't really make references to Jesus, literally, but it is a positive message kind of a band. WEll anyway.. to get to my point... I started to think about it today and suggested to him the name "BackTalk" for a new band name. Like for instance the world tells you how to dress, what to say, what to think, what to do, where to go, what to buy etc. etc. and alot of it would not necessarily be the best thing for young kids to follow. And the name BackTalk which could also be the name of a song... would be the kids are backtalking the popular culture, backtalking the media and what they push.. Just backtalking society as a whole since it pushes on them what is new, hot and hip instead of considering God's will for them and their peers. It's pretty amazing how one person can influence many.. even in just friends situations, with no platform to speak from. If one does wrong.. alot follow.. if one does right and creates the same peer pressure.. I would almost have to do some good, right? So anyway he liked the name and he is thinking about it..

Shut up and listen! (for once)

You ever talk to those people who just talk and talk and talk...... and talk? I have! I makes me wonder if they even know what they are saying or even know they are still talking! They repeat themselves several times for the sake of not shutting up (it seems). Or there are those people who when in a group will get into this match of saying the greater thing. Like they will pick the best line of a show or repeat something a speaker on stage said. It comes down to no matter what it is.. they just talk non-stop!! Haven't you ever just stopped and listened to someone else? Try it, it may surprise you, you may learn something! We can learn a heck of alot more when we are listening than when we are talking. Oh wait there is a verse in the Bible, "Be quick to listen and slow to speak". Maybe there is something to it.

Do you hurt?

And I thought I hurt! You ever think of committing suicide? And then tell about it? Over and over? If you attempt and fail without an injury maybe you need a sure fire way! I thought that in the past that I hurt and when ppl would talk to me I felt sorry for myself.. But when I started to hear kids stories of when they tried to kill themselves and ended up almost bleeding to death or gunshot wounds ...... I realized that maybe I didn't hurt as much as I would have liked ppl to believe. There are kids who hurt so much that they will cut themselves to make the real pain go away for a moment! The pain of the cutting will ease the pain of their reality! To make that more real for you take a knife and try to cut your arm, on the top between your wrist and elbow. It would take a heck of alot of pain to cause self injury! We are like animals and our instincts are to self preserve. I don't know what else to say, but compared to these kids that i've had the privilege of hearing their stories,,,, I haven't hurt yet in my life!

Vaca. at the Mts.

-I was at the mountains this weekend-It rained until Saturday-then it looked like this-
Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

Me

-This is me at the mountains-
Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

My shot of the week

-And finally my shot of the week-
Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

I've been gone

And alot has changed! My brother got married and I've found myself with alot less free time. But the Lord is faithful even when I think He's not!! All I could think is that it would be a rocky road trying to get back to our normal life with me in my brother's shoes. Because God is good and His grace abounds things are going smoothly. But it's only one week down infinity to go! I guess with my new found responsibilities it forces me to re-evaluate my life and, as my mom used to say, to "get my priorities in order". And then with all that, there is still always the devil puttin in his two cents. And as much as we'd like to say that 'that's in the past'. It is very much so in hte present and future. Because I believe that as long as I am on the earth there will be temptations and things from the devil to meet.
all in all i'm doin ok!
Thanks for asking!

Comments complaint

So, we've conquered the unwanted ads in our comments section with word verification. The excuse now?

Sunflower Dew

Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

Water Drip

Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

Heaven and Hell

I've heard some different things about who goes and who does not, concerning Heaven.
First question: does the Bible really tell us that it is our place to decide who is saved or going to heaven and who is not and is damned to hell?
Second: I heard recently in speaking about Noah's day and the ark, that there were only 8 ppl saved back then when the flood came and "It seems that there will only be 8 this time too". Meaning when Jesus comes back. 8 people saved out of 6 billion? Does that seem right to you? That's worse odds than the PowerBall Lottery!! Anyway, just a couple things that really boggled my mind and I thought I'd put them out there.

Egret??

Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

Lightning

Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

Cheetah

Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

Parrot

Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

Yella bellied white faced monkeys?

Copyright 2005 Jeff Myers

One Nation Under God

Copyright Jeff Myers 2005

..................

interesting comments and terminology... Only a couple comments back.

The pledge won't get people to Heaven, nor will the Ten Commandments. But neither will church, or obeying God's commands.. SO to hell with them too?? I'm only kidding.

I think I completely understand where you are coming from, Jon. But I for one would like our nation to protect freedom of religion and the freedom to worship freely. And I'm not sure if you would agree, but I'm sure we can all see that the current trend is leading toward no freedom of religion and no freedom to worship. I mean we'd have to have our heads in a dark place to not know this is happening. The Bible speaks of a one world religion,,,, doesn't it? I would choose this country over China anyday, who' with me?
I think i understand what you said (even with your big words and phrases) but we just don't agree on all of it.

PEACE