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RE: Sinner - 7/22/2008 7:23:41 PM
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LivingParadox
Posts: 370
Joined: 2/28/2007
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Simply take that step. Surrender to Christ.
If you genuinely commit to Jesus, find a local Bible believing church, if you know other Christians engage them in the conversation, move forward leaving the past behind -- that doesn't mean you'll be perfect --it's more about intention and the Holy Spirit will do the rest.
God speed.
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RE: Sinner - 7/22/2008 7:28:17 PM
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LCannon
Posts: 1273
Joined: 2/22/2007
From: Lebanon, OR
Status: online
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It's a easy as ABC
Admit-“[Jesus] proved He had a valid claim [to His Deity] but His own rejected His claim yet as many as receives His message; to them he claimed the right to become redeemed of God and appropriate His Name.“ John 1:11,12
Believe-“[you can be] freed from the arrogance that enslaves you [and] come into His obedience resulting in purification and Eternal Life. For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 3:22,23
Confess-“[His message] is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching that if you confess [obedience to] Jesus as Lord with your mouth and you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes resulting in righteousness and with his mouth he confesses resulting in [obedience].” Romans 10:8-10
...and as hard as you want to resist. Romans 7:22-"I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Can anyone set me free to obey righteousness? 25 Yes! Thanks be to God through Christ Jesus our Lord! So then, on the one hand my mind is serving the law of God but on the other with my flesh, the law of sin. Chapter 8-[for] now there’s no condemnation in Christ Jesus."
_____________________________
"Many of our prayers are for an easy solution. God is more glorifed in Him
when souls exhibit His Grace under pressure." -Elisabeth Elliot-
"But at my stumbling they gathered in glee...[but]How long, O Lord,
wilt thou look on?" -Psalms 35:15-
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RE: Sinner - 7/22/2008 8:05:02 PM
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skirk55
Posts: 14
Joined: 7/22/2008
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I need to understand the bible. A bible study group for people 50 years old that never studied. I have to tell you the truth I know very little and I am embarrassed. Now I have this feeling to find out more and all day I had the radio on and I want to know more. Thank you all for the help and I want to give myself to the Lord. I just had no idea how or understand what is happening.
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 9:48:48 AM
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rcjames
Posts: 4916
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
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quote:
ORIGINAL: skirk55
I have felt something pull me towards radio religious shows for about three months now and I have not been able to give myself over to God. I have tried and prayed but I can not connect. Today I heard that it takes months and even years to accomplish that goal. I do not know how to surrender myself to God. I want to change my life now. Any help please let me know. 
I agree with livingparadox; find a local Church and visit with the Pastor, then you can have interaction with a man of God and get any questions answered. Not a lot wrong with radio preaching, but it is definately a one way situation.
Though it might take "Years" for on to get around to surrnedering, the actual time frame for becoming a Christian probably could not even be measured in nano-seconds.
When Peter was preaching the first sermon after the Church was created on the Day of Pentecost he ansered your question this way;
(Act 2:37) And hearing this, they were stabbed in the heart, and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men, brothers, what shall we do?
(Act 2:38) Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Worked then and will work now.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my new book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com/
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 12:54:14 PM
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Wild-Rose
Posts: 237
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
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I have been a Christian for many years and still have the feeling of being overwhelmed by how much there is to learn from the Bible. Just take it step by step. The gospel of John or Romans is a good place to start as others have suggested. You can alternate these chapters along with the Psalms if you want to. The important thing is to start somewhere.
God bless you.
_____________________________
Wild-Rose
Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 12:57:24 PM
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Wild-Rose
Posts: 237
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
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quote:
visit with the Pastor, then you can have interaction with a man of God and get any questions answered. Not a lot wrong with radio preaching, but it is definitely a one way situation.
I am blessed to have a pastor like this. A person has more confidence reading the Bible knowing that there is someone I can call if I have a question. So I just mention this to re-enforce the advice to find a good church with a good pastor who does not mind questions.
_____________________________
Wild-Rose
Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 3:12:15 PM
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e.barrett
Posts: 29
Joined: 6/9/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: skirk55
Today I heard that it takes months and even years to accomplish that goal. I do not know how to surrender myself to God. I want to change my life now. Any help please let me know.
Thanks for sharing all of that skirk55. Each of us has to go about building a relationship with God in our own way. He's created each of us to be unique, so don't be surprised when a "tried and true" method doesn't work for you. It took me years of struggling before I was finally to the point where I could believe in God. But that doesn't mean that it will take you years. For instance, my best friend became a Christian the first time she was exposed to a Christian "event" (a Joyce Meyer retreat).
If you're really open to believing in God you've already taken the first major step. Just keep pursuing that relationship through prayer, reading the Bible, and talking to other Christians.
For me I had a lot of intellectual doubts - so listening to podcasts from people like Ravi Zacharias, Greg Boyd, and Stand to Reason (all available on itunes) really helped.
_____________________________
R3 - a blog devoted to understanding how to live out a life of faith
Visit it at www.r3blog.net
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 3:49:32 PM
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skirk55
Posts: 14
Joined: 7/22/2008
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Thank you all for the help. I did not know who to talk to. I always thought the Born Again Christians were a little strange and people made fun of them. Now I wish I could be a 100% Born Again. I feel it today and I have noticed the person I am is not a person I would like to hang around.
I heard on the radio today list every thing God has blessed you with. All day I keep finding things. I had no idea until today. Now I am feeling bad for all the years that I have never told God thank you for all he has given me. I have been an ungrateful self centerd greedy person. All of this has opened my eyes and I feel different today but I( am mad at myself and disgusted in my life and want to change and except the new life but how do you put away your old habits and move on? I have years of sins.
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 6:25:03 PM
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kmangel
Posts: 520
Joined: 4/12/2005
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Talk to God about what He wants you to do today. I think you're on to at least one thing God wants you to do. It sounds like one thing God wants is for you to know the Bible better. You've expressed that you are embarrassed by how little you know of the Bible. I bet your not knowing the Bible didn't bother you much in the past, but now it does. God is changing your desires. When I was a new believer I had the same thoughts. I didn't know Jesus was God but I knew He was important, so I talked to God about teaching me who Jesus is and why He died on the cross. I was confused about Christianity. I didn't understand the purpose of Jesus, but the desire was in my heart to understand. I expressed my desire (the desire that God put in my heart) to God. I remember saying to God that I wanted to perhaps take a class about the Bible, but I didn't know where to find one. I had recently started attending a church and one of the very first sermon series the pastor preached was a ten-week series on the essentials of the Christian faith. That was a direct answer to my prayer! One thing I noticed a lot in those early days of my brand new faith was how attentive God was to answering many of my prayers. I didn't have to look too far--God provided the answers--when the questions I was asking pertained to learning about Who He is and why He sent us Jesus.
One very helpful thing I did was listen to the radio to Bible teachers. I also used to listen to The Bible Answer Man (Hank Hanegraff) on the radio each day. I learned a lot from all the questions people would call Hank up about. I would listen to Hank's responses. All those many questions were the very same ones I was curious about.
_____________________________
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
--Mark Twain
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 9:41:47 PM
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skirk55
Posts: 14
Joined: 7/22/2008
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I have attended church for years and I was doing it to please my wife but I never paid any attention. It seemed to be the thing we did on Sunday. I never got involved. I felt out of place. I wanted the kids to go. I was a person with out any feeling. I have looked for adult bible study and I can't find one during the summer. I will find one!
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 10:10:51 PM
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deermousie
Posts: 1437
Joined: 9/26/2007
Status: online
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quote:
ORIGINAL: skirk55
Now I am feeling bad for all the years that I have never told God thank you for all he has given me. I have been an ungrateful self centerd greedy person. All of this has opened my eyes and I feel different today but I( am mad at myself and disgusted in my life and want to change and except the new life but how do you put away your old habits and move on? I have years of sins.
Welcome to the club, Skirk!  What you are describing, we all can say, if we are honest about who we are. What you are saying is the starting point of every new life in God: I am a sinner. Only sinners will come to Jesus, and Jesus died for sin so He only did it for sinners.
To fine tune that idea a little, we are sinners who know we are sinners and turn to God and cry out for help. We come to God with nothing to give Him. Nothing. He gives and we can only take for free, not trade or bargain or pay.
The great news is that He knows that, and that's why He became a man and died in our place - He knows how helpless and sinful we are. We couldn't help ourselves so He did it all for us. All.
He told us He did that, and told us about it in the Bible. We read the Bible and see that He shed His blood to wash us clean. We think "Wow! I'm clean! He said so!" and do a happy dance. What relief!
Those are the words of a person who has found salvation.
Now He calls us to obey Him, and we do it gladly (when we are thinking straight about who we are and who He is) and not so gladly when we are trying to run the world on our own again (how quickly we forget Who is in charge and how we messed up).
What does He want us to do? Tell people we're saved (they might want to know how, too), get baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, pray (talk to God. "God, I don't know what to say..." or "God, I don't want to talk to You but here I am..." or "Wow, thanks, God! You are so awesome!"), read your Bible every day (three chapters a day will get you through it in a year), and start living His way according to what you read in Scripture: don't take vengence (that's God's job), love the brethren, be honest, be kind, etc. You'll find it all there, and it's the recipe of a very good life.
Be prepared to look back in 6 months and see that you've become a very different person. Your wife will notice it first, and rejoice. Thank her for praying for you (I hope she was) and you start praying for her: that God will bless her, help her, give her wisdom as she takes care of you and the kids. Your marriage is about to really improve!
Get involved in the Bible study you find and let an older man help you if you can find one who is willing. Oh, and expect to have someone come to your door and offer a Bible study - it's probably a cultist, and I don't know how they find the new Christians, but it's a trap (I came out of a cult background myself; it was hard to find the truth because they lie and don't use a real Bible. Get yourself a NIV, NASB, or NKJV - the Bible bookstore will tell you what these initials mean. There are other fairly good ones, but these are the most used).
Welcome to God's Forever Family, Skirk. It's a big family, we don't always see eye to eye, but there is love and growth there, and God blesses and changes us for good. When we get to heaven, we'll laugh at our follies but rejoice that God saved us and we'll be forever with the One who made the stars and set them in their orbits.
I am praying for you! God bless you and your family.
_____________________________
Want to know where a certain word or phrase in the Bible is found? www.biblegateway.com Yay!
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 10:15:03 PM
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kmangel
Posts: 520
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: skirk55
I have attended church for years and I was doing it to please my wife but I never paid any attention.
How do you feel about going to your church now? Are you okay with the church you and your wife attend?
I was the first Christian in my family. My husband and I were not in the habit of going to church when I became a Christian. We had gone for a couple years when our boys were very small, but when we moved to another state we stopped going. When I had my "revelation" that we should go to church, my husband seemed to go willingly enough. He never said he only went to church to please me but he had other comments to make. He quickly noticed my new faith. He told me once that "Nobody likes a fanatic". I think a new Christian can really make an impression in a family. My younger son would get irritated that I sang to Christian music while working around the house and listening to my Walkman. My older son complained that "You only want to talk about God." So, if this is where you are headed, expect your family to notice!
_____________________________
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
--Mark Twain
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RE: Sinner - 7/23/2008 10:17:07 PM
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AboundinginHisGrace
Posts: 199
Joined: 4/28/2008
Status: online
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Here is something we use at our church to share the Gospel with people. It is a very simple way of putting it.
FAITH
F is for FORGIVENESS
We cannot have eternal life and heaven without
God's forgiveness.
•“In Him [meaning Jesus] we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins.” — Ephesians 1:7a, NKJV.
A is for AVAILABLE
Forgiveness is available. It is:
Available for All:
•For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life. — John 3:16, NKJV.
But Not Automatic:
•Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the
kingdom of heaven — Matthew 7:21a, NKJV.
I is for IMPOSSIBLE
It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven
God is love:
•For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life. — John 3:16, NKJV.
God is just:
•For the wages of sin is death... — Romans 6:23a, NKJV.
Man is sinful:
•For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God — Romans
3:23, NKJV.
Question: But how can a sinful person enter heaven,
where God allows no sin?
T is for TURN
Turn means repent.
Turn from something: sin and self.
•But unless you repent you will all likewise perish — Luke 13:3b,
NKJV.
Turn to Someone: trust Christ only.
The Bible tells us that:
•“Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; and that He
was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the
Scriptures” — 1 Corinthians 15:3b-4, NKJV.
and that:
•If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, —
Romans 10:9, NKJV.
H is for HEAVEN
Heaven is eternal life.
Heaven is here:
•I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it
more abundantly — John 10:10b, NKJV.
Heaven is hereafter:
•And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also —
John 14:3, NKJV.
How?
How can a person have God’s forgiveness, heaven
and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord?
By trusting in Christ and asking Him for forgiveness.
Take the step of faith described by another
meaning of FAITH: Forsaking All, I Trust Him
_____________________________
"What a mercy it is that it is not your hold of Christ that saves you, but his hold of you." - Spurgeon
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RE: Sinner - 7/24/2008 8:32:37 PM
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skirk55
Posts: 14
Joined: 7/22/2008
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Thank you all for the help. I can not get over the change in my life with just in the last few days. With just a little time spent looking into how to except Jesus and live my life for him it has opened up my eyes and I feel the change has started. This has been the best gift anyone could ever receive. Today I had a prayer fulfilled and it just about took the feet out from under me. It also scared me that the message came over the radio station I keep on WFIL. The show explained how to get out of a problem. I know that a radio station is picked up by people all over but it came over the radio after I had prayed the day before and I feel it was an answer to my prayer. Thank you all for the time spent helping me.
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RE: Sinner - 7/25/2008 12:11:51 AM
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BibleL7
Posts: 491
Joined: 2/1/2008
Status: offline
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If the church you were attending is bible believing then see if they have any bible studies for adults or men's bible studies. Or you can check your local phone book. I don't know if your news paper has a listing of church activities but check for it. Our local paper has one page dedicated to churches where the list times of bible studies and services. It may take some research in your area but I know many churches have men's studies one night a week. The other thing is to get a bible and start reading it. many will start with book of John or Romans or the will start with Matthew in NT you can start there or read it cover to cover. Don't be concerned about your age many start late in life. I was nearly 40 when I first came to know the Lord. Just take it day by day and remember when you start thinking of your past life as sinner not saved all of those sins are forgiven by what Jesus did on the cross. It is amazing and unbelievable at times but true. He paid it all and the Holy Spirit will guide you in changing your life just keep asking Him for help. I pray for His help often and I have been with the Lord for 11 years it is a constant relationship. Much like marriage. Only this relationship will not end when you pass on from this life, it will continue only better.
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RE: Sinner - 7/25/2008 11:21:27 AM
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kmangel
Posts: 520
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
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I can relate. I remember the early days of my new faith. God was busy showing me so many things. What I came to realize is that when I was asking Him, praying to Him, for my own spiritual growth and knowledge, He was prompt in responding. Then I started to branch out to other people in my life. Not so quick there. Our hearts have to be ready to receive what He wants to give us. My heart was ready and willing and God was very active in my own personal life. I wanted the same for other people--for them to love God like I was learning to love God. God has His ways and means to reach out to each of us. Eleven years after giving my heart to Jesus, I'm seeing Him move in my loved ones' lives. I wanted them to embrace God when I did eleven years ago! I had so many people tell me to be patient. That God moves in His timing, not ours. I know from first hand experience this is true. I don't despair. I've learned to be patient. God is working even when we can't see Him working. I am learning more and more this is true. Just this year I started to see tangible evidence of God at work in one of my sons. What a blessing to my heart!
Focus on your relationship with God. He has some exciting things to share with you. Enjoy the journey!
_____________________________
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
--Mark Twain
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RE: Sinner - 7/25/2008 2:39:58 PM
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terryjohn
Posts: 397
Joined: 3/23/2007
Status: online
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It is not so much about learning more about the bible as it is about seeing Jesus. Now this seeing will help us become like Him. In fact this being born again is about seeing the world and ourselves from a whole new perspective (Christ's). This in itself is liberating for in an instant all that oppresses us can simply fall away for we are renewed by the transformation of our minds for the truth does set us free. Now why it should take so long with many is that they are simply not willing to fully accept it.
Now we may spend our time searching scripture for answers but Christ is the answer. It is not that we have to learn to be like Christ but actually be Christ which actually means taking on His mind and love. Now this might be hard if it were not for the fact that His ways are so much better than ours. I don't want to learn about this Jesus, I want to know Him and the surpassing glory of it.
Some in their need to be other than they can be, try to do great things in Christs name only to be told by Christ Himself, to be gone, for they never knew Him. They have set about trying to make them selves acceptable rather than set about being Christ. The attitude will then be I don't have to do anything but I want to do everything.
Christ once asked Peter, "Do you love me?" and I guess He still asks all of us this. Some would ask, why should I love you? and some may even say yes, but my response is, Do I love you?
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RE: Sinner - 7/25/2008 7:40:17 PM
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skirk55
Posts: 14
Joined: 7/22/2008
Status: offline
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I called my church and left a voice mail and I did not receive an answer about bible study. Tonight I an going to surf the net for a local bible study group. I waited all day for an answer but there was none! It makes me feel when I read how everyone came to Christ and how to change. Today a person driving to work this morning was passing cars blowing his horn and tailgating when he got on my bumper I just let him go and I let God take care of his problem. What a deference I was not mad or up set. This seems small but for me it was a big change! I noticed every day there is a change in how I look at things and react to situations. You all will be in my prayers tonight. God bless you all and thank you for helping me with taking my first steps walking with Jesus.
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RE: Sinner - 7/25/2008 8:01:57 PM
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kmangel
Posts: 520
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
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Have you heard of the Alpha Course? This might be something you would like to consider. Go to their websight and see if they have a course going on in your area. Alpha is a ten week series of videos and discussions about the Christian faith.
www.alphana.org
I'm glad you are beginning your faith journey!
_____________________________
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
--Mark Twain
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RE: Sinner - 7/25/2008 8:22:09 PM
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skirk55
Posts: 14
Joined: 7/22/2008
Status: offline
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Wow that was good I found one 2.3 miles from my house. I will call in the morning. Alpha was a big help. Thanks
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RE: Sinner - 7/25/2008 8:25:05 PM
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makarizo
Posts: 2787
Joined: 4/13/2005
Status: offline
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when a friend or student gives their life to Jesus, as a friend, I encourage them to get involved with something that they can share their faith in.
there are tons of activities, bible studies, community services, I have the list of foster homes in the area. or even something small.
"show me your faith by what you say, and I will show you mine by what I do"
James 2:18
_____________________________
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RE: Sinner - 7/28/2008 9:25:08 PM
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skirk55
Posts: 14
Joined: 7/22/2008
Status: offline
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Sunday I emailed all of the Churches in my area and called and left voice mail and put a post on Creigh's list for Adult Bible Study Group and I got one reply on the phone today from a local Baptist Church and I am going to meet the pastor for breakfast Thursday. This has been hard to track down but I did and I will keep the ball rolling. I guess the demand for Bible Study is low in my area? I wish I could find people like on this form in my area to meet up and just study one night a week.
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In view of the years of eternity that we live in, 50 isn't late. 
