I will pretend for a minute that I an a Calvinist

Those men are nothing compared to the impact of average people living for Jesus in their everyday world.

“The people who are today in favor of abortion are themselves already born.” – Andrew Phipps

 

And, I find few who are very anthropoligically centered doing much by way of actual evangelism. They seem more concerned with correcting those who call on God to change the hearts of lost individuals than they do in praying themselves for God to do just that.

Those who can be "convinced" into a relationship with God can also be un-convinced" and yet most who wish to hold to some level of confidence in the act of convincing also wish to neglect the other half of that coin -- the unconvincing.

I say, rather, that we pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into fields that are white unto harvest, and that we pray that the Lord gives the increase, then that we STEP INTO THE FIELDS and begin harvesting what the Lord has grown.

 

I know that Brother Guy, however that little wise guy will take every advantage to belittle & throw a cheap shot....sooooo, just have a long memory :smilewinkgrin:

However I want to caution you to get enough rest.... you will do no good to anyone if your health breaks down & you could even become a burden to kith & kin if your layed up. :sleeping_2:

 

You are absolutely right!!! Recently I saw a church sold. Most of the church leadership was concerned about money and "doctrinal correctness." Eventually I found out that those who were most concerned about "doctrinal correctness" had not reached one person in their entire life. Isn't it amazing how those who have all the answers point out the flaws in others who are doers of the word and do not have all the answers.

 

The one's who come are not more deserving and the one's who don't come are leaning on their own understanding and not trusting in the Lord and God hid the truth from them. The wise and the learned.

One being better than another or more deserving has nothing to do with it, it is the one's who come will be saved. It is His word that makes the difference not one being better than another.

It is those who do not lean on their own understanding and trust in the Lord that God directs their path.

 

A hyperbole is a hyperbole. We are not sheep and goats from our natural birth we are people. It has to do with attitude or what sheep and goats was used for back then. If you want to use the hyperbole as people then I am a dog who begged at Jesus table and Jesus included me with His sheep when I heard the Gospel of my salvation having believed.

I heard a story back then that goats lead sheep, not His sheep, to destruction. No one can lead His sheep to destruction. So you can also use it as goats as false teachers leading sheep to destruction it is a hyperbole to teach a lesson.

A Judas goat is a trained goat used at a slaughterhouse and in general animal herding. The Judas goat is trained to associate with sheep or cattle, leading them to a specific destination. In stockyards, a Judas goat will lead sheep to slaughter, while its own life is spared.

 

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

Honestly, most people up here view Church as passé. I went to a church & spoke to the pastor (I'm sorry, two pastors) & they didn't want me in their churches because they felt my zeal would disrupt their congregation. One Guy even asked me in an interview like process what present day pastors I admire & when I said I liked Al Mohler, this guy responded with, "Well I am the ANTI Al Mohler" Can you imagine that response...... LOL!

I also have a pastor who's church is right up the road from where I live. He was at an outside town fair & so I stopped by and spoke to him. He started to bemoan the very real problem of people in the community loosing jobs. So I explained my own experience with myself being let go after 20 years. I indicated that if he wanted to get some people together, I would be happy to give them some pointers & maybe we could create a group to help the community. He was exuberant about it & promised to call me.......well I'm still waiting (4 Months). And I can go on....churches that are more like carnivals, churches that are apostate, churches that are like the dead church that GLFRED described. At this point, Im considering driving over an hour away to go to one that is more aligned to my faith beliefs but I know they tend to be legalistic & rigid & you'd have to fit into their mold (kinda Stepford Wife like).... I resist because 1. I would not like those stiffs (2) they are too damn far for me (I could never form relationships/ they are not part of my neighborhood community). I now go into Roman Catholic Bible Studies & ask questions that the run of the mill RC hasn't a clue about, because they are virtually ignorant to scripture....except for the ones the RCC trys to bend to prove Mary assented bodily into Heaven; shakes head vigorously. The Pentecostal Wingnut church is drawing the growing Latin community & maybe if I go there I can drum up interest among those people.

So its not for lack of trying on my part......I also continue to pursue creating a church plant when I get enough people together to start that....but thats slow going. All in all, I wish I could click my heels 3 times & close my eyes & be transported to someplace that has good churches for I live in a spiritual waste land.

 

I have to disagree. Many have tried with me and I am still convinced of my Lord and Savior. It was God's own Spirit that convinced me. Those who have been unconvinced did not really believe in the first place. For me it was a miracle that I was saved. To this day I have been unable to figure out why God would have wasted His time on me. There have been too many miracles in my life for me to deny My Savior. One cannot deny solid evidence. God has answered prayer for me in such amazing ways that there is no denying Him. And that not just once but many times. Devine intervention is the only explanation.
MB

 

This is a 1st....I actually agree with you MB

 

I will pretend for one minute I am a Calvinist.


Okay, here goes. ***holding breath*** minute, hurry up!!



Ahhh, now that that minute is over, I can go back to being a non-cal.


J/K my DoG Brethern. I pray that none take offense to this. :love2: :love2: :love2: :love2:

 

Naaaaaa....most DoG Brethren were once non-Calvinists.....that is, up until we knew better....(no offense) :laugh:

 

I guess you had no other choice then, huh? :laugh: :love2:


A little more levity to lighten the mood.....

 

Ha Ha....guess you dont know me then.:tongue3:

 

Apparently there are a lot of Calvinists that don't know they're Calvinists. I was talking to my best friend the other night and I usually tell her about stuff being discussed on the BB. I was telling her about the Cal/non Cal debates and she asked me what's that? So I explained the TULIP and she responded with "I love that!". Who knew? :laugh:

 

Me too. Well said MB

 

I'm so offended!!!!! GRRRR.....

ok. I'm over it now.. :laugh:

 

The thing is that you can only be truly convinced if the convincing is done by the Holy Spirit. If He isn't involved, then you can be easily unconvinced. Don't we see this with the parable of the soils?

 

Oh yes ....agreed on both HS & that parable. Thats very good Amy :thumbs:

 

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs: