I walk a lonely road...

[holysoldier5000]

yep. It is.

Like watching The Empire Strikes Back without watching Return of the Jedi!

[Sakura15]

Like watching The Empire Strikes Back without watching Return of the Jedi!

yeah, that would be depressing

[holysoldier5000]

Now I have a question about Evangelizing. So we walk a lonely road for Jesus, and it makes us an outcast for Jesus, but can it also make us censorious? I mean, we are supposed to be fishers of men, bring them out of the world and into Jesus. But do any of you have a problem with selective evangelizing? I know I do. There are just some people in this world that I just don’t want to spread the gospel too, and for reasons that are purely selfish and wrong. Take for instance a fellow classmate gets on my nerves because his mind is always in the gutter. I mean he is always thinking some dirty perverted thought. Then he for some reason he likes to show off his perverted mind by blabbing about his perverted thoughts. The man is a sick perverted nutcase, and everyone thinks so…why shouldn’t I? Well he may had his problems, but he also a person who is desperate need of salvation… but I don’t want to try and witness, I want him to just go away…but that isn’t right.

With all my imperfections and flaws Jesus still loved me enough to die for me, I should a least be willing to tell this person about Jesus. …but then I say: “Well Jesus saved me but I am nowhere as bad as this person, he is far worse.â€

[holysoldier5000]

Tonight in the teen bible meeting that I teach, we dealt on an interesting topic. The Bible. I found tonight’s meeting so intriguing that I thought I would bring the study onto the board and ask the same questions to you all...

Questions:
1. Do you believe in the Bible?

If so then:
2. Why do you believe in the Bible?

[Anna Mae]

[quote="holysoldier5000"]Now I have a question about Evangelizing. So we walk a lonely road for Jesus, and it makes us an outcast for Jesus, but can it also make us censorious? I mean, we are supposed to be fishers of men, bring them out of the world and into Jesus. But do any of you have a problem with selective evangelizing? I know I do. There are just some people in this world that I just don’t want to spread the gospel too, and for reasons that are purely selfish and wrong. Take for instance a fellow classmate gets on my nerves because his mind is always in the gutter. I mean he is always thinking some dirty perverted thought. Then he for some reason he likes to show off his perverted mind by blabbing about his perverted thoughts. The man is a sick perverted nutcase, and everyone thinks so…why shouldn’t I? Well he may had his problems, but he also a person who is desperate need of salvation… but I don’t want to try and witness, I want him to just go away…but that isn’t right.

With all my imperfections and flaws Jesus still loved me enough to die for me, I should a least be willing to tell this person about Jesus. …but then I say: “Well Jesus saved me but I am nowhere as bad as this person, he is far worse.â€

[holysoldier5000]

YOU ARE MY REFUGE IN THE DAY OF DISASTER. ~ JEREMIAH 17:17

The path of the Christian is not always bright with sunshine; he has his seasons of darkness and of storm. It is true that God’s Word says, “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peaceâ€

[Sakura15]

[quote]Now I have a question about Evangelizing. So we walk a lonely road for Jesus, and it makes us an outcast for Jesus, but can it also make us censorious? I mean, we are supposed to be fishers of men, bring them out of the world and into Jesus. But do any of you have a problem with selective evangelizing? I know I do. There are just some people in this world that I just don’t want to spread the gospel too, and for reasons that are purely selfish and wrong. Take for instance a fellow classmate gets on my nerves because his mind is always in the gutter. I mean he is always thinking some dirty perverted thought. Then he for some reason he likes to show off his perverted mind by blabbing about his perverted thoughts. The man is a sick perverted nutcase, and everyone thinks so…why shouldn’t I? Well he may had his problems, but he also a person who is desperate need of salvation… but I don’t want to try and witness, I want him to just go away…but that isn’t right.

With all my imperfections and flaws Jesus still loved me enough to die for me, I should a least be willing to tell this person about Jesus. …but then I say: “Well Jesus saved me but I am nowhere as bad as this person, he is far worse.â€

[holysoldier5000]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I've never really, NOT wanted to pray for someone before, until I started talking to this guy online ( His friend asked me to talk to him because he's not a christian and he didnt want him to go to hell ) Well, I talked to the guy, and he is dead set against Christ, he knows he's following satan and he dosnt care, we've had sooo many..discussions you might say about God, and satan, he thinks satan is a god, I was like uh..no dude sorry ( haha not like that but you get the idea). He's also one of the biggest pervs I've ever ran in to, and he's convinced that he's a demon. So, I was just having the hardest time even wanting to talk to this guy...much less pray for him. But, I realized, im just as bad as he is, im not any better. I still sin, sure I may have Jesus in my life, and I know im going to live with him forever. But its not my righteousness thats going to get me there....because I have none, on my own...I have nothing without Christ. And even then, like I said, I still sin, so what makes me better than this guy?? absolutly NOTHING. When I first started to pray for him, it was really really hard, because I didnt want to...I got sick of talking to him about God, because all he ever did was throw stuff back in my face. But, no one is to lost to be saved, if God has redeemed that person..which I dont know if he's predestined this guy to be his child or not, but I can still pray. I havent talked to him in awhile, simply because he hasnt been online. But, im trying to pray for him everyday, because when I start to think about it....it breaks my heart...seeing people...so..lost, and lied to by satan. So yeah, your not alone in that.

Some people like to do what is wrong and be an adversary to Christians. Take for example this guy I know who will remain anonyms but who will go for now by the name of Mr. X. Mr. X is a fellow college student who enjoys agonizing me. He tries to make me mad by pushing my religious buttons. He would always come up with this fact and that fact of how Christianity must be wrong and clearly any intelligent person must agree with him. Well I disagreed with his so called “factsâ€

[holysoldier5000]

Hey everyone,
A lot of what I post is inspired by several sorces. I want to give credit to those whom inspire my post. A lot of my material comes from the “Morning and Evening,â€

[Kewl Girl]

Max Lucado rules!!! John Mcarthur too!! There my fav.!!

[holysoldier5000]

Do you have what it takes to survive the rough walk on the lonely road? Do you know how to survive the troubles of life? Do you have the necessary survival skills that will get you through life’s toughest situations? Do you know the secrets of avoiding life’s snares, pitfalls, and traps?

Check yourself and see if you have what it takes to survive.

The Check List:
1. Do you Pray Regularly? Seeking God’s guidance? Asking for His aid?
2. Do you read your Bible Regularly? Seeking the answers of Life’s toughest questions?
3. Do you have memorized key verses to help you through times of trouble?
4. Do you know how to stand firm in Lord and in the Strength of His might?

For the next several posts I am going to be posting material that comes from Ray C. Stedman. It is on Ephesians 6:10-20. It is a wonderful guide to how to survive the road of life when you are a Christian. I hope it will be a blessing to you all. It is rather large, so I will post it in sections.

God Bless
HS5000

[holysoldier5000]

THE FORCES WE FACE
by Ray C. Stedman
Part 1

This passage introduces to us a subject which is so often treated as unworthy of any intelligent consideration that I feel it necessary to remind us, at the beginning of this series, that the whole Scripture has been given to us in order to enable us to face life in a realistic, practical manner. To put it another way, God is not interested in religion, but he is tremendously interested in life. You cannot read the New Testament without realizing that the Lord Jesus did not care a whit for the Sabbath regulations of his day when they were set against the need of a broken man for healing. In that, he revealed the heart of God, for certainly God is not interested in stained glass windows, organ solos, congregational hymns, or even pastoral prayers half so much as he is in producing love-filled homes, generous hearts, and brave men and women who can live right in the midst of the world and keep their heads and hearts undefiled.

I am deeply convinced that we can only understand life when we see it as the Bible sees it. That is why the Word of God was given. In the world of organized human society, with its commerce, trade, business, recreation and all the familiar makeup of life, we are continually exposed to illusions which are indistinguishably mingled with reality. We are confronted with the distorted perspectives, twisted motives, uncertain hopes, and untested programs. But when we come to the Bible we learn the truth. Here reality is set before us -- the world as it really is. When we get down to the bare essentials of life, and strip off all the confusing illusion, we find it is exactly what the Bible records it to be. Here is where our perspectives are set straight, here is where we get our value systems righted, and our dreams weighed and evaluated as to whether they are real or only make-believe.

We may not like what we read here from time to time -- it is very likely that we will not -- but so much the worse for us. We shall only succeed in deceiving ourselves if we reject it. It is up to us to listen to the words of Jesus and his apostles, for they are the authority which corrects us, not we the authority that corrects them. Let us stop this really silly business of trying to sit in judgment upon the insights of the Lord Jesus Christ. We Christians must continually reduce every argument we hear today to this simple consideration: "Am I to accept this person's word, or the word of Christ? If this agrees with what he says, fine, it is truth. But if it does not then I must decide whether the challenging authority is greater or less than Jesus Christ." As Christians we are continually confronted with choices as to whether we will accept the puny, flimsy, uncertain authority of a mere man, or the certain, solid and clear word of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this passage the Apostle Paul is setting forth his analysis of life, especially as it relates to a Christian. This passage is so important that I propose we spend several Sundays together considering it. But today I would like to look at it only from a general, introductory viewpoint, and see what the apostle brings out about the nature of life in general, and then take a closer look at the specific character which he says a Christian life assumes. Let us read Verses 10-13:

Finally, he strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13 RSV)

It is very clear in that passage that Paul's view of the basic characteristic of life can be put in one word: Struggle. Life, he says, is a conflict, a combat, a continual wrestling. This is, of course, confirmed constantly by our experience. We should all like to think of life as romantic idealism, for most of us would like to think of ourselves as living in an idealistic world where everything goes right and we can spend our days in relaxation and enjoyment, with just enough work to keep us interested. This view is frequently embodies in some of the songs we sing:

"We'll build a sweet little nest,
Somewhere in the West,
And let the rest of the world go by."
Or, as it has been modernized,
"We'll build a nice little still,
Somewhere on the hill,
And let the rest of the world go dry."

Now it is not wrong for us to dream these dreams. These romantic ideals are a kind of racial memory, the vestigial remains of what was once God's intent for human life and, in God's good order and time, will be once again possible to humans. But the Apostle Paul is not dealing with that kind of life. He is coming to grips with life as it really is now, and he says life is a struggle, a conflict, a combat against opposing forces. If we attempt to draw aside, to get away from the struggle, we continually find ourselves being jarred back into reality. Some unpleasant fact intrudes itself into our beautiful world and refuses to go away.

We all know how this is. We must get back to work, our vacation is ended, or the death of a loved one intrudes itself upon us with all its ghastly emptiness and loneliness, or we remember some pressing decision we must make, some threat to our prosperity or health, some disappointment in another person. We are constantly drawn back out of our dreams of ease and enjoyment to face the rough, hard realities of life.

The apostle also says that this is a fluctuating struggle. We must learn to stand, he says, "in the evil day," by which he implies that all days are not evil. There will come times which are worse than others. There are seasons in the passing of life when pressures are more intense, when problems are more insoluble, when everything seems to come upon us at once. These are what we recognize as evil days. Sometimes it is an actual day, sometimes it is a week, sometimes months. But thank God that all of life is not that way. We are not always under pressure, we are not always being confronted with overpowering circumstances which call for agonizing decisions.

The reason we are not is due to the grace of God. All of life would be an evil day, and much worse, were it not for the grace of God which continually operates to restrain the powers that are against us and to allow times of refreshment, recreation, enjoyment and blessing. The truly tragic thing about human life is that we can take these times of refreshment, blessing and glory and enjoy them without a single thought for the goodness of God which underlies them and makes them possible for us, without a word of gratefulness or thanksgiving to God that these should be. This is the note on which Paul opens the epistle to the Romans. But, here, Paul says that these days, though they are not always the same in pressure, nevertheless constitute the general makeup of life. Life is an unending struggle, varying in intensity from time to time, but extending from the cradle to the grave. But he further goes on now to analyze and define for us the nature of this struggle.

[holysoldier5000]

THE FORCES WE FACE
by Ray C. Stedman
Part 2

We come now to that which is most important. For he says that the conflict is not against flesh and blood, i.e., it is not a human problem, it is not a struggle of man against man. It may be a struggle within man, but it is not between men. He assures us that it is not against flesh and blood. He puts it negatively first. I wonder what we would answer if we were asked, "What is the thing that gives you the most difficulty in life; of what does the struggle of life consist?" Many would feel that it is against flesh and blood. It is other human beings who bothr us: There are, of course, the Communists. They are always causing difficulty. They can never let anything rest in this world. They are forever stirring up some kind of trouble somewhere. And then there are the Republicans or, if we are on the other side, the Democrats. They never let anything rest either. They are always making difficulties. In their bullheaded stubbornness and obstinacy they are continually refusing to see the light. There are those who oppose us in some of the newer political struggles of our day.

And let us not forget the Internal Revelationenue Service. Certainly they are devils, if there ever were any. And the county tax department! And do not leave out your wife -- and her family! Or your husband and his family. Then there are our neighbors, even our ancestors. It is our heredity which is at fault. It is because we are Scottish, or Irish, or Italian -- our family has always been this way, we have always had a hot temper. So the problem goes.

As we look at life in our superficial way we are tempted to say that our problem is other people, that we struggle against flesh and blood. But the apostle says that you cannot explain life adequately on that level. You must look further, you must look deeper than that. The problem is not against flesh and blood. Rather, there is set against the whole human race certain principalities and powers, world rulers of darkness, wicked spirits in high places. There is your problem, Paul says. Those are the enemies we are up against. And it is not just Christians who are opposed by these, but every man, everywhere. The whole race is opposed by the principalities and powers, the world rulers of this present darkness. There is Paul's positive explanation of the struggle of life.

I hasten to say that this declaration will only be fully believed and understood by Christians. The world either distorts this to the point of ridiculousness, or it rejects it as unacceptable to the intelligent mind. This evening it is Halloween, and Halloween represents the distortion of this great doctrine which the apostle has propounded. Superstition has always taken this great revelation and has distorted it, twisted it, reduced it to a ridiculous pantheon of goblins, witches, spooks, and ghouls. Naturally that sort of thing is rejected by anyone of intelligence because they know these things do not exist.

Though Halloween represents that distorted idea, I am not speaking about the way it is today. It has become nothing more than a child's party, a time of enjoyment for children. All children like to be scared and there is nothing wrong in that. I am not taking issue with Halloween as we know it, but I am saying that in the days when people took it seriously (and in places they still do) it represented a distorted view of the doctrine the apostle has revealed. Because it has suffered this distortion it is usually rejected by those who try to think seriously about life. The difficulty is that not only is the distortion rejected but the very truth behind it.

I am very well aware of the disdain, even contempt, with which this concept of the devil and his cohorts, this kingdom of darkness, these principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places, is received in many circles. There are those who say, "Are you going to insult our intelligence by talking about a personal devil? Surely you are not going back to those medieval concepts and drag out a devil, and tell us he is the root of all our problems?"
Recently I spent an evening in Berlin discussing with four or five intelligent churchmen this whole problem. They were men who knew the Bible intimately. Though we never once opened a Bible we spent the whole evening together discussing various passages from the Bible. I never referred to a single passage, but what they were aware of it and could quote it almost verbatim. Yet they rejected the idea of a devil. They said there was no personal devil. They could not believe this. At the end of the evening they admitted that, in their rejection of the devil, they also had no answer to the conundrums which life was continually presenting them. We had to leave it there.

I am reminded of the story Billy Graham tells when he hears this idea that there is no devil. It is a story of a boxer who was engaged in a boxing match and was being badly beaten. Battered and bruised, he leaned over the ropes and said to his trainer, "Please throw in the towel! This guy is killing me!" The trainer said, "Oh no, he's not. He's not even hitting you. He hasn't laid a glove on you!" And the boxer said, "Well then, I wish you'd watch that referee -- somebody is sure hitting me!"

The questions we must ask when we are challenged with this idea that there is no devil are, "How do you explain what is going on in the world? How do you explain what is happening? How do you explain the entrenched evil in human affairs?"

Isn't it clear that we cannot understand life unless we begin here? We cannot understand history if we reject this proposition that the apostle brings out -- that behind the problems of the world, behind the evil which manifests itself in mankind, there is a hierarchy of evil spirits -- the devil and his angels. There is an organized kingdom of principalities and powers at various levels of authority who sit as world rulers of the present darkness, wicked spirits in high places.The world says to the Christian: "Why talk about this kind of thing? "Why do you not talk about something relevant? "Why don't you Christians get busy and do something that will be meaningful today?" They talk about being relevant! What could be more relevant than this teaching which puts its finger on the basic problem? What good is it to keep rushing around curing fevers, but never stopping to analyze the disease?

This is what is going on in our day. There is a serious disease at work in the human race and it is constantly breaking out in little fevers. But if we content ourselves, as physicians, with running around from place to place giving aspirin for the fever, and never once inquiring what the disease is, and what the cure and remedy is, we have wasted our time. Talk about relevancy! This is what is relevant -- to listen to this analysis of what is wrong with the world, what its disease is, and what the cure is. That is what this passage so vividly and so accurately sets before us.

[holysoldier5000]

THE FORCES WE FACE
by Ray C. Stedman
Part 3

The fact is that the disease is growing so desperate that even worldlings, non-Christians, are recognizing the inadequacy of their diagnosis. Listen to Carl Jung, the great Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist. He says,

We stand perplexed and stupefied before the phenomena of Marxism and Bolshevism because we know nothing about man or, at any rate, have only a lopsided and distorted picture of him. If we had self-knowledge, that would not be the case. We stand face to face with the terrible question of evil and do not even know what is before us, let alone what to pit against it. And even if we did know, we still could not understand how it could happen here.

What a tremendously honest revelation of the ignorance of men in the face of life as it really is! Listen to this bewildered cry from one of the leading statesmen of his day, U Thant, former Secretary General of the United Nations:

What element is lacking so that with all our skill and all our knowledge we still find ourselves in the dark valley of discord and enmity? What is it that inhibits us from going forward together to enjoy the fruits of human endeavor and to reap the harvest of human experience? Why is it that, for all our professed ideals, our hopes, and our skills, peace on earth is still a distant objective seen only dimly through the storms and turmoils of our present difficulties?

Here are the world's greatest leaders facing the dilemma of modern life, and all they can say is, "What is wrong? What is the unknown element behind this? We cannot understand this, we do not know what is going on, we cannot grasp these things. What is it that is missing?" Talk about a relevant Scripture! This Scripture is the most relevant thing I know of today. For two thousand years it has been written down here. The Apostle Paul has given the answer to that baffled, bewildered cry for light from a modern statesman's heart. The world, Paul says, is in the grip of what he calls "world rulers of present darkness." What an amazing phrase that is! We shall look at it a little closer in subsequent messages. These world rulers of present darkness are headed by the devil, whom Scripture says is a fallen angel of malevolent power and cunning cleverness against whom Christians are called to wrestle daily. Now, that is not the claim of an isolated passage of the Bible. That is the teaching of the Bible from beginning to end, from Genesis to Revelation, and especially in Genesis and Revelation.

The Lord Jesus himself put his finger on the whole problem when he said to certain men of his day, "You are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies," (John 8:44). In that most amazing analysis, the Lord stripped the devil of his disguises and revealed his true character -- a liar and a murderer. What the devil does is because of who he is, just as what we do is precisely due to what we are. Because he is a liar and a murderer, the devil's work is to deceive and to destroy. There you have the explanation for all that has been going on in human history throughout the whole course of the record of man.

The devil has the ear of mankind. Scripture calls him, "the god of this world," (2 Corinthians 4:4). The world listens to him, to everything he says. But the devil does not tell the world the truth but a lie, a very clever, a very beautiful, a very attractive lie which makes the world drool with desire. But the end of his lie is destruction, murder, death! -- death in all its forms, not only ultimately the cessation of life, but also death in its incipient forms of restlessness, boredom, frustration, meaninglessness, and emptiness. Whom the devil cannot deceive he tries to destroy, and whom he cannot destroy he attempts to deceive. There is the working of the devil.

We are going to see much more about this and it is important that we do so, for this is the struggle of life. This is the explanation for it, and the only adequate explanation for what is going on in our day which has ever been offered. The intelligent thing is to understand it and, understanding, to come to grips with it, and thus to be able to walk in victory -- as Paul says, to be able to stand in the evil day.

"Well," you say, "This is all very depressing. I would rather not think about it." So would I, but I have discovered that you cannot get away from it that way. There is only one way to handle this struggle and that is to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might," (Ephesians 6:10 KJV). That is the way of escape. There is no other. This is a call to intelligent combat. It is a call to us to be men, to fight the good fight, to stand fast in the faith, to be strong in the Lord right in the midst of battle, in the midst of the world. You can hear the trumpet call in this, can't you? We are to take this seriously and to learn what life is all about. We must learn to recognize how these dark systems work, and how they appear in life and where they are going.
More than that, we must learn the processes of overcoming them -- not by flesh and blood, not by joining committees or mustering some kind of physical struggle against these forces. Paul says the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, not fleshly, they are not of the body. Our weapons are mighty, through God, unto the pulling down of strongholds and bringing into captivity every thought -- there is the arena: it is the realm of thought; it is the realm of ideas -- bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. That is victory!

Do you think that is not challenging? That is the greatest challenge any ear can ever hear! Do you think that is not demanding? That demands more courage and manhood than any other cause which has ever been known in the world! Do you think that is not exciting? That is the most exciting call which has ever gone out to men anywhere! "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might!"

Prayer:
Our gracious Father, thank you for a truth that shatters us, startles us, wakens us, prods us, disturbs us. Thank you Lord, for a word of reality which speaks to us in the midst of our complacency and lethargy and stirs us up to see life as it really is. How easily we would drift on in futile weakness, never raising a finger against the deterioration of life and the destruction of body and soul, were it not for this word of challenge which calls us back, wakes us up, and makes us to see. Lord, teach us how to bow in humility before this word and say to the Holy Spirit, "O Great Teacher of God, open these Scriptures, teach them to us, make them real." In Christ's name, Amen.

[holysoldier5000]

WHOEVER SAYS HE ABIDES IN HIM OUGHT TO WALK IN THE SAME WAY IN WHICH HE WALKED.

1 JOHN 2:6

Why should Christians imitate Christ? They should do it for their own sakes. If they desire to be spiritually healthy—if they want to escape the sickness of sin and enjoy the vigor of growing grace, Jesus must be their model. For their own happiness’ sake, if they would drink deeply of His love, if they would enjoy holy and happy communion with Jesus, if they would be lifted up above the cares and troubles of this world, let them walk even as He walked. There is nothing that is able to assist you in walking directly toward heaven like wearing the image of Jesus on your heart to rule all its emotions. It is when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are enabled to walk with Jesus in His very footsteps that you are most happy and most known to be the sons of God. Peter at a distance is both unsafe and uneasy. Next, for religion’s sake strive to be like Jesus. Poor religion, you have been fiercely attacked by cruel foes, but you have not been wounded half as much by your enemies as you have by your friends. Who made those wounds in the fair hand of godliness? The professing Christian who used the dagger of hypocrisy. The man who with disguises enters the fold, being nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing, worries the flock more than the lion outside. There is no weapon half so deadly as a Judas-kiss. Inconsistent professing Christians injure the Gospel more than the sneering critic or the heretic. But especially for Christ’s own sake, imitate His example. Christian, do you love your Savior? Is His name precious to you? Is His cause dear to you? Would you see the kingdoms of the world become His? Is it your desire that He should be glorified? Are you longing that souls should be won to Him? If so, imitate Jesus; be “a letter of Christ . . . known and read by all.â€

[true_noir_chloe]

You sure type a lot. o_o

Have you considered your own web site? You've certainly made yourself at home here at CAA.

I've read C.H. Spurgeon and love his work. However, I don't know who you are. So, all I can say is that I think you should realize you are at CAA and this is not your home church. I think you love to write and this has been a great outpouring for your talent and practice. It's great you think the kids of CAA are great to test your writing skills on. I'm sure many have been inspired and touched by your commentary.

I am not even sure I would disagree with much of what you have written from a Biblical standpoint, my only concern is that you seem to have a voice of a leader on this thread and this is like one sermon after another. In the way you call all the kids of CAA (two of these being my kids) to come to this thread and join the "lonely road" group, I find this disturbing.

You are not the Bible teacher of CAA. There is one preacher here, Rev. Doc and there is a Biblically adept administrator, Ashley. Other than that, I believe the kids need to go to their respective pastors, teachers, parents to learn the truth. Otherwise, we allow all types of wolves into this flock.

I haven't read through every single thing you have written and frankly it is a bit overwhelming. I will eventually, but for now, I'd just like to warn others who read this thread, that HolySoldier5000 can not replace the teacher's God have placed in your life. He can not give you a quickie cure to your heart or sadness. He is not a teacher of the Word who has been given authority on this site by Ashley, or a real pastor like Rev. Doc.

When God is behind someone they will be granted the power in way of a Bible study or like Rev. Doc, in the way of a Devotions thread; however, these writings are not condoned by Ashley (therefore approved by God), and HS5K has not been asked to join at the head of the table.

So, be wary when you read his writing and only take it with a grain of salt, since no one with authority on CAA has approved it.

Thank you, that is my two cents.

Valerie ^___^

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Hmm... I kind of see where you're coming from but I don't think holysoldier is a wolf in the flock. He's a youth leader at his local church and I think he's showing he does have a great heart for the Lord and he just wants to share what he has found with others. Maybe the leader approach isn't the best for CAA, especially if it hasn't been condoned by Ashley but like you suggested I think a website would be a great terms of ministry!
Its really sad that when someone is trying to help other Christians in their walk with Jesus that they are labelled as wolves. Yes, its good to be cautious but I really think HolySoldier wants to help people get closer to God by noting his observations and relevant Bible passages.
Its not that hard to determine the wolves in the flock as all you have to do is study the Bible and see if what is said lines up with God's Word.
Anyway, I'm done.
All the best Ben and a website may be a good idea for this (then have a link in your signature on the forum).

[Ashley]

Hmm... I kind of see where you're coming from but I don't think holysoldier is a wolf in the flock.

Whoa whoa whoa. Let's not start a flaming, name-calling war here. Chloe was not calling HS a wolf--she was merely pointing out the need for leadership among the flock, that's all. If I was totally lax and let ANYONE post whatever they wanted about theology (which there have been some real nutjobs, lemme tell ya), then we would have wolves running everywhere. Her point wasn't to call anyone names, but bring attention to the fact that there are people out there who will try to infiltrate and lead away---not that HS is one of these people.

However, I will share with you all what I have said before to Ben and Chloe, and others:

In the end, when CAA is long gone and our lives are over, I believe I will have to stand before God, alone, and answer for what happened good or bad on this site. That is why I take theological discussions of any sort VERY seriously--I believe I have been given a priveliege and a duty to watch over you guys, and it's one I do not take lightly. Ask any of the staffers if you don't believe me.

It's not that I don't want to see threads like this; I do. It's that I want to know about them and approve of them first. It's just like the anime reviews database--we staff approve them so we KNOW what is being said and we KNOW what is getting our names stuck on it. It's not that what was posted is theologically off-base or anything, but instead the principle of not seeking permission before posting something of this nature that is the problem. I do not expect--or want--people to PM me before starting an Inuyasha or Naruto thread. I DO want people to check with me before starting anything clubby, theological, group-minded, or whatever.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Ashley, I wasn't name calling at all. I must have misinterpreted what was said. Chloe and Ashley, I'm sorry! Please forgive me and I won't stick my nose where it may not be wanted. In regards to you 'sheparding' (for lack of a better word) the people of CAA and using it as a ministry for the Christian faith I say "that's great!" and I understand great responsibility comes with that also. Yes, we will have to face God and answer for all the bad and good things we have done in our life, but we must also remember that we aren't saved by our works but by the grace of Jesus Christ. I'm not saying we shouldn't take this seriously and shouldn't help others physically and spiritually (we should) but if we put too much of an emphasis on works it seems to cheapen Jesus sacrifice for mankind. And that's not good.
Hmmm...

[holysoldier5000]

Before this gets out of hand let me just say that this thread was more or less of an accident. When I started this thread I didn't know I needed permision, now I do know that I need permision. I understand I kind of hav taken the rule of leader, and I didn't mean too. It just kind of came to be. I would never advocate that parents and pastors should not be contacted first, on the other hand I advocate the opposite. I think that should be the first place anyone should go for guidance. And I could very well be a wolf in sheeps clothing. That is why the rules are there, to protect people from dangerious evil doers. That is why it is so important to make sure that anyone who does as I have done gets permision first from a moderator and makes sure it is approved. The moderators are only there to help and make sure that these evil doers don't start gobbling up the unexpected. The do a good job and should be headed. I never ment to cross the line, but know I know that I have and I am sorry about that. Kinda this whole thread was an accident. I never ment for it to become what it is. I only ment for it to be some short disscusion that would last a week. When I started posting my "sermons" I was just trying to help, I did not mean any harm. But all in all my lesson is learned. Kids should talk with their pastors and parents formost when seeking guidance, and posters should make sure that they fallow the CAA rules.

God Bless
HS5000