Posted on 04/30/2010 8:03:48 AM PDT by Quix
.
|
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, --New Living Translation 7And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. [I Kings 18:25-29.] 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9Pray, therefore, like this: 15But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their [j]reckless and willful sins, [k]leaving them, letting them go, and [l]giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses. --Amplified Pray with Simplicity 5"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? 6"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. 7-13"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: 16-18"When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don't make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint. If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn't require attention-getting devices. He won't overlook what you are doing; he'll reward you well. |
Mark Kirby: O Mother of Good Counsel, I am all thine, Most Holy Mary, There is no part of my life that is not open to thee, I want to be completely transparent with thee, Praying in this way, I can be at rest, |
.
.
.
Most of whom? The large majority of those who self identify as non Catholic Christians in the United States do.
There is no mention of wife or children. Widowers can become priests and bishops - I had had a couple over the years. There are a number of married priests in the Church. The two permanent deacons in the two Catholic churches closest to my house are both happily married.
Not churches that came from the reformation.. we still do not have woman elders or deacons..
PCUSA came from the Reformation. The Anglican Church was originally Calvinist, not Lutheran (witness the WCF). The Congregationalists, the Lutherans, many of the Baptists, and so on have women pastors, ministers, and bishops. All children of the Reformation. As a matter of fact, I would be grateful if you tell me which denominations (and their numbers) in the United States do not engage in any of the priestess, bishopess, open homosexual, married homosexual etc innovations that only started to intrude into Christianity about a hundred years ago.
Then there are the number that left to get married
There is no issue with that. I have known several who have and are devout Catholics and Christians to this day. Their service to God has never stopped.
Catholic church has lots of rules..but very few really follow them.. they are double minded and every one looks the other way and pretends the church has moral superiority
Speak for yourself, not the Church, unless they are matters of which you have evidence or knowledge.
Amen. Yet man’s first inclination is to hide from God.
well there’s about 3 dozen instances throughout the New Testament, maybe more, I’m not going thru each one of them
Yes, o.k.
You don't have to be a great theologian or witty to know God. All you only have to know is who God is and who you are. If you TRULY understand that, then you understand God.
IMHO, it's why it's so important to explain that no matter how well intentioned it is wrong.
Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Mark 10:14
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
1 Corinthians 1: 17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him.
Scrapping for a fight and stretching to take offense almost wherever and whenever possible
is a major hobby or avocation or even vocation (seemingly) amongst various rabid cliques.
Too true, imho.
Though re:
The RC doctrine of the assumption says Mary rose into heaven bodily, in time and space and reality (based on nothing in the Bible but only upon some men’s desires to feminize the church.)
I think it had more to do with capitalizing on folks from deficient families—desiring to be blessed, nurtured, comforted, sheltered, protected by a big Mommy figure in the sky.
The enemy of our souls knew how best to inject the Queen of Heaven personage into Christianity.
Quite plausibe. There is at least one other plausible interpretation . . . Yours is probably the more kosher in terms of a lot of sensibilities and assumptions.
Thanks for the ping.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. - John 3:19-21
Much agree.
I’ve always felt that passage referred to Peter’s understanding by faith that Jesus was the Messiah, the Savior of the world—as Paul outlined so thoroughly in Hebrews.
Certainly JESUS THE ROCK, CHIEF CORNERSTONE is the focus of the Foundation.
Thanks for your kind reply.
And for your well reasoned points.
Certainly I did not take offense about ‘bibliolatry.’
And, IF I had told you
that you had done something
when you had clearly not done what I asserted that you had done
THEN I would as quickly as discovering that fact, communicate as quickly and earnestly as possible, appologizing and doing my best to heal the offense.
That’s what I construe to be Christian and brotherly in matters of offense, whether warranted or not, as much as is practicable and remotely functional, possible.
The purpose and even the title and type of thread came to me in quite a Godly way—which was quickly confirmed in my spirit and which I will keep confidential. I make no apologies for it. I believe that in spite of all the human flaws on all sides, that God has had HIS purposes with it and likely will continue to.
I remember you and yours in prayer, too. I wish you God’s best in all things—particularly in knowing Him.
GOD HAVE MERCY.
SIGH.
THX.
Thanks for your few kind words.
I applaud that you at least have the courage to speak up for what you believe.
THANKFULLY, God has a different opinion of our worth.
PRAISE GOD FOR THAT.
AS to facts . . . I’m not remotely impressed with the Vatican’s
—rubber Bible
—rubber history
—rubber dictionary
—rubber ‘logic’ book
—chronic double standards
—chronic double-speak.
—gross, brazen, flagrant idolatries and blasphemies.
WELL PUT.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.