It is such a nightmare to read These posts and to gain any insight. On the other hand, I don't mind reading the "garbage" of peoples personal or demominational thoughts, as long as they post some Bible with it. We have the religious freedom to do this with out the fear of being atttacted by our opponite, personally, or thru our PC screen. LOL. I am very glad I don't have to face some of you face to face. I have enough of that in real life. I find that opposition is greater in the Philippines with a different culture; Also because I rub shoulders with more foreigners , some very evil, just living for sex. Some from other countries, absolutely hate America or hate Christians. Some are faithful to their Philippine wife,others cheat all the time, and think nothing of it. Most people here in my village are very kind to me. They like me, because I do good to them and to their children. It is very hard being so rich???? in a very ,very poor comumity. They think I can do anything I want to. My philipine family is always saying ,you are rich, you have no money problems. I am rich, compard to them, but compared to the rich businesss people here, I am poor. I will , probperly never save enought to buy a ticket home, I don't real care to go back to the USA, I have all eternity to live with my good christian friends. It hurts alots, not seeing my family, but I will servive. The corruption is so bad. The Catholic church is a big part of the corrupt living, priests are so immoral. and liberal churches are not much better. The poor don't dare to stand against evil. Today is communion Sun. I like the way I do it. I make a big circle and give the Symbols to all. young and old. saved or lost, that is not my buisness to judge, I telll them, you must judge your self, worthy or not ,to take the elements. If you do it unworthy, then you drink damnation to yourself, I don't judge. you, God does. I can not forgive anyones sin, except those you do to me. If your are sorry ,I forgive you the sin against me, not the sins in general, or to others. And when I sin agaisnt you, and ask your forgiveness , please forgive me. It I with hold the Gospel from you ,I am holding you lost in your sins, But ,If I tell you how to be forgiven ,then I am remitting your sins. But, only God can forgive and justify you. The elements are only symbols. As Jesus said in Jh. 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." For me, that is the bottom line. I attended a Lutheran church ,under two differrent pastors. The second one was more Catholic, "the wine and bread", He said."turns into the real blood and flesh in your stomach, it is a maricle." I refused to partake under him. The first pastor was liked by all the people in the community and was a real Lutheran. He believed in consubstaniation: Jesus was spiritually present, not phsically present at communion.
Why did Jesus speak and act so rough and "stupid" at times? I believe He did so to drive unbelievers away. And to make the Leadership to kill him as was prophecied. If we want people to hate us, we should do the same, but if we want people to love us, we better be nice to them, then, if they kill us, we didn't cause them to do it. we are justified by doing good. really! Jesus said we are justified by our words and condemned by our words. Love to all, Hoffco