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as I was raised Episcopalian, I sure do have some trouble with their new doctrine towards gays in the pulpit. More devilish than bigamists in the pulpit.

...that's just too funny... can I ask which "new" doctrine towards gays in the pulpit could possibly trouble an Episcopalian?

So then are "we" the Catholics correct that my wife and kids are probably going to "that other warm place" since they're not Catholics?

What do I think? ... mmmmmm, don't have a clue. I'm just trying to stumble and fumble my way towards giving everything back to the Lord that he has given me..... which is, everything. Knowing that I could never come close.

Babe, I didn't say I was an Episcopalian. Episcopalians don't know the Word like I do. I said I was raised Episcopalian and it troubles me that they have a new doctrine of putting gays in the pulpit. Where have you been?

The only assurance any of us Christians have of being saved, no matter what Christian (not Mormon) denomination we are in, is as Jesus said -- we must be born again -- meaning we must realize that all of our futile efforts at being "good" is dirt in God's sight, that only He can be holy and we must take on His holiness in order to approach Him. Thus the need for the shed blood of Jesus that taketh away the sins of the world and our sins.

The most interesting scripture in the real Bible is the one that says "But Lord Lord, we cast out demons in your name, we prophesied in your name! But Jesus will say to them -- get away from me you wicked men -- I never knew you, you sons of lawlessness!"

That's the scariest verse for evangelicals, charismatics, born agains, Catholics, Presbyterians etc., in the Bible. Why? Because Jesus promised his followers that we would do all the works that He did while upon the earth -- heal the sick, raise the dead, prophesy, speak in tongues, baptize for the remission of sin etc.. But even these WORKS don't mean squat with Jesus unless we know Him and listen to Him.

How do we know God? Well, John says that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the Word WAS GOD. ... and then he wrote... and Word BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US.

So, the Word is a living thing. It, in some metaphysical sense, is the Lord. It will never pass away. We can hang our hats on it. So, if we seek eternal life, we must know the Word and do it, and have that friend to friend relationship with Jesus.

This discussion is entirely alien to most Mormons I know because by the very act of being Mormon, they discount the Word of God in the old and new testaments. Thus, they cut themselves off from true faith and salvation.

So Dick, don't sell yourself short. We are to be approved by God, He expects us to be intelligent believers, not just drones sitting in the pews. He expects us, actually, to be warriors for the cause of Christ. A lot of Freepers already do this. We are to take the sword of His spirit the word of God and do battle -- in Love -- and not against each other -- but against every ARGUMENT that comes up against the true word of God.

Unless we know the word, we cannot do as Paul said, we cannot bring down strongholds of arguments (a spiritual stronghold is an argument) that resists the knowledge of God.

The word is an important thing. It's like Napoleon said when he was locked up on that island with a Bible and he threw it aside one night in fright --

"That book is ALIVE!"

Yep. It sure is.