Tobacco

[starfield]

Using tobacco is slow suicide. Stay away from it.

What of drinking? Can you say the same for alcohol?

 

[Yet]

I say why drive as close to the cliff as possible without falling off? Dumb wouldn't you say?


Heres where it is at. Make sure you're 100 percent surrendered into Christ. Now! Go smoke as much as you want to, drink as much as you want to, indulge in Hellywood trash as much as you want to, lie and cheat as much as you want, rob the poor and widows as much as you want to, promote yourself as much as you want to. If you succeed in excelling on all of these or just a little bit on all of these you need to go back to the start of my comment. You have NOT surrendered your whole life to the Master. The depth of your surrender is the problem. But I won't stand in your way. Drive as close to that edge as you want. However, if you go off the cliff remember, you are taking a lot of people with you. Think family!

 

[peacefulbeliever]

I don't think the ten commandments are the only and final definition of sin. Sin can be summed up in the commandment to love the Lord and others as yourself. The commandments were just instructions on how to carry out the basic law, you will find love and the Lord wanting us to live a fruitful and abundant life is at the basis of all of them.

I think the commandment to respect our bodies as the temple of God, and all the other ways scripture tells us of ways to carry out the basic commandment are just as valid as the ten.

My body is nothing but flesh - and in my flesh is no good thing. How in the world does smoking keep a person from living a fruitful and abundant life?

Let's look at a few of these verses concerning "the temple of God" in context and the definition:

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which ye are.

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. . . . Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Definition: metaphorically - the spiritual temple consisting of the saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ

So - it's the body that is the temple of God - in 1 Cor. 3 - the context is: our works - what we have done to build upon our foundation In 1 Cor. 6 - the context is "fornication" and I believe it would more likely lend itself to "spiritual fornication" (spiritual adultery; going after and serving other gods) - as in "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."

Because as I am sure you know - in me, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing . . . .

 

[resurrection33]

happily i read it

have you also read this?

Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
(Ezekiel 33:14-15)

and this?

it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment
(Hebrews 9:27)

how then, if the wicked repent, and do not die, have they already passed through judgment, if judgement comes after death?

sorry to thread-hijack, but i also read this:

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
(Ezekiel 33:6)

and i perceive that what you quoted from the prophet does not support the idea that we are "in hell" already when we sin. no, we stand in danger of hell while we walk in sin, but the hour of judgement will be at hand when the King returns.

I think you'll find that things go rather smoothly when you resist temptation and not so smoothly when you don't. I think this will be true throughout all eternity. I think Ezekiel 33:17-20 is telling us that.

 

[Theodore]

That is simply your opinion, certainly NOT based upon the Scriptures!

The vast majority of people who commit suicide do so because life has become to much for them and they are overwhelmed by their circumstances and they see suicide as the only way out!

To suggest that a person suffering from Clinical Depression (or any other mental illness), who commits suicide that God will automatically send them to Hades, to me frankly is highly offensive and really shows your complete ignorance of God's loving and merciful character (Who's first Name is "Merciful," Exodus 34v5,6), who desires ALL to be saved! Indeed, the character of the person you seem to be referring to (who sends those who commit suicide straight to Hell) is more like that of Satan, who is a murderer and who comes to kill and destroy, NOT the God of Love Who gave His Only Beloved Son to die upon the cross! Psalm 136, John 3v16, 10v10, Rom 5v8, 1Tim 2v4, 2Peter 3v9, 1John 4v8,16

[h=3]The Church and Its Leaders[/h]3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. [SUP]2 [/SUP]I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.[SUP]3 [/SUP]You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? [SUP]4 [/SUP]For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
[SUP]5 [/SUP]What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants,through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. [SUP]6 [/SUP]I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. [SUP]8 [/SUP]The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. [SUP]9 [/SUP]For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [SUP]15 [/SUP]If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? [SUP]17 [/SUP]If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseby the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[SUP][a][/SUP]; [SUP]20 [/SUP]and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]21 [/SUP]So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,[SUP]22 [/SUP]whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[SUP][c][/SUP] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, [SUP]23 [/SUP]and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
[h=4]Footnotes:[/h]

1. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
2. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
3. 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter

 

[Theodore]

How do we know that? Please provide supporting verse(s). Thanks.

[h=3]The Church and Its Leaders[/h]3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. [SUP]2 [/SUP]I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.[SUP]3 [/SUP]You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? [SUP]4 [/SUP]For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
[SUP]5 [/SUP]What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants,through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. [SUP]6 [/SUP]I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. [SUP]8 [/SUP]The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. [SUP]9 [/SUP]For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [SUP]15 [/SUP]If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? [SUP]17 [/SUP]If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseby the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[SUP][a][/SUP]; [SUP]20 [/SUP]and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]21 [/SUP]So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,[SUP]22 [/SUP]whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[SUP][c][/SUP] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, [SUP]23 [/SUP]and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

 

[Theodore]

We are in hell while we sin, and not in hell while we don't:

[17] "Yet your people say, `The way of the Lord is not just'; when it is their own way that is not just.
[18] When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall die for it.
[19] And when the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does what is lawful and right, he shall live by it.
[20] Yet you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways." Ezekiel 33:17-20 RSV

[h=3]The Church and Its Leaders[/h]3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. [SUP]2 [/SUP]I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.[SUP]3 [/SUP]You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? [SUP]4 [/SUP]For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
[SUP]5 [/SUP]What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants,through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. [SUP]6 [/SUP]I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. [SUP]8 [/SUP]The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. [SUP]9 [/SUP]For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [SUP]15 [/SUP]If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? [SUP]17 [/SUP]If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseby the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[SUP][a][/SUP]; [SUP]20 [/SUP]and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]21 [/SUP]So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,[SUP]22 [/SUP]whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[SUP][c][/SUP] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, [SUP]23 [/SUP]and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

 

[Theodore]

I don't think there is any question about if it is a sin. Scripture talks about a pleasing odor to the Lord. I don't think that means that the Lord smells us!! but that we don't send stinks to the Lord. It stinks!

The Lord says we are the temple. The ark was a symbol of that temple, we can look to how God wanted the ark kept to know how we are to act. Tobacco stinks, it is dirty, it harms. That is not the way to treat a temple.

I smoked for 20 years. For years of that my last conversations with God before I slept was about my quitting, and each night I vowed to quit. Yet each morning, after pacing the floor, I looked for a cigarette. One morning I walked 4 blocks in 20 below zero weather to buy one because I couldn't find one at home, tears running all the way. For me the addiction was that powerful.

A group of powerful prayer warriors went to work on me. I landed in the hospital with nicotine poisoning, and yes, there is such a thing. Even gall came up. I was cured.

[h=3]The Church and Its Leaders[/h]3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. [SUP]2 [/SUP]I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.[SUP]3 [/SUP]You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? [SUP]4 [/SUP]For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
[SUP]5 [/SUP]What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants,through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. [SUP]6 [/SUP]I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. [SUP]8 [/SUP]The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. [SUP]9 [/SUP]For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [SUP]15 [/SUP]If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? [SUP]17 [/SUP]If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseby the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[SUP][a][/SUP]; [SUP]20 [/SUP]and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]21 [/SUP]So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,[SUP]22 [/SUP]whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[SUP][c][/SUP] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, [SUP]23 [/SUP]and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

 

[Theodore]

I don't believe that it is a sin. Is it the "best" thing to be doing? No. But a sin? . . .

Thou shalt have no other gods before me, thou shalt not make any graven image, thou shalt not bow down unto them or serve them, thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, Keep the sabbath (a day of rest), Honor thy father and thy mother, thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not kill, - now to break any of these is a sin. . . God is pretty specific about what is a sin.

Smoking is not good for us as far as our health goes and it is best to quit. Drinking is not a sin but the abuse of drugs or alcohol is. . . . all things are lawful but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but we are not be brought under the power of any. . . . (1 Corinthians 6:12) so all things are lawful but there are some things that aren't profitable for us.

[h=3]The Church and Its Leaders[/h]3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. [SUP]2 [/SUP]I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.[SUP]3 [/SUP]You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? [SUP]4 [/SUP]For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
[SUP]5 [/SUP]What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants,through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. [SUP]6 [/SUP]I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. [SUP]8 [/SUP]The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. [SUP]9 [/SUP]For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [SUP]15 [/SUP]If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? [SUP]17 [/SUP]If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseby the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[SUP][a][/SUP]; [SUP]20 [/SUP]and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]21 [/SUP]So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,[SUP]22 [/SUP]whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[SUP][c][/SUP] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, [SUP]23 [/SUP]and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

 

[Theodore]

What of drinking? Can you say the same for alcohol?

[h=3]The Church and Its Leaders[/h]3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. [SUP]2 [/SUP]I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.[SUP]3 [/SUP]You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? [SUP]4 [/SUP]For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
[SUP]5 [/SUP]What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants,through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. [SUP]6 [/SUP]I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. [SUP]8 [/SUP]The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. [SUP]9 [/SUP]For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [SUP]15 [/SUP]If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? [SUP]17 [/SUP]If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseby the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[SUP][a][/SUP]; [SUP]20 [/SUP]and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]21 [/SUP]So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,[SUP]22 [/SUP]whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[SUP][c][/SUP] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, [SUP]23 [/SUP]and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

 

[Angela53510]

What smokers don't realize is how much second hand smoke affects others.

I have never smoked, but have had asthma for over 20 years now. My worst trigger is second hand smoke, and it has put me in hospital many times. I'm talking about someone walking down the street smoking, and I breath in their second hand smoke.

I now have a mask, that filters gases and I have to wear it outside buildings when people are smoking. People wonder why I am wearing this mask, and I would love to be able to tell them "Your smoke is making me sick," but better to move on and get away from the smoke.

This is not just about me. 10% of all people have asthma, and tobacco is one of the strongest triggers. So every 10th person a smoker walks by, they could be endangering the person's life.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [SUP]20 [/SUP]for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Cor. 6:19-20

Those verses really sum up whether smoking is a sin to me. If you are coating your lungs in black tar and shortening your life span and hurting others with second hand smoke, it seems to me like you are caught in the addiction of tobacco, which is sin.

 

[Theodore]

The Church and Its Leaders

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. [SUP]2 [/SUP]I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.[SUP]3 [/SUP]You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? [SUP]4 [/SUP]For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
[SUP]5 [/SUP]What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants,through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. [SUP]6 [/SUP]I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. [SUP]8 [/SUP]The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. [SUP]9 [/SUP]For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [SUP]15 [/SUP]If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? [SUP]17 [/SUP]If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseby the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[SUP][a][/SUP]; [SUP]20 [/SUP]and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]21 [/SUP]So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,[SUP]22 [/SUP]whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[SUP][c][/SUP] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, [SUP]23 [/SUP]and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Yes, this was written in the Bible.... Corithians

 

[RedTent]

I have now 4 days since I no longer smoke, but I am struggling, it is not easy at all! And it`s not my first attempt to stop smoking. My longest period without cigarettes was 8 months. I just hope this time is for real!

My prayers will be with you. -I must have quit about 4,000 times before I managed. My daughter took three days off work and let herself suffer, but she did it for good that first time she tried.

I went to a class to learn some of this:

1. There has never been a more wonderful tranquilizer found, but it only works a very short time. Then it turns to a substance that makes us nervous, and the only antidote for that poison is more nicotine.

2. It is very like demons, it seems as if it gives pleasure and rewards, but that soon turns against us. It is a false friend.

3. After you quit, but it seems you just can have one more for old times sake, it doesn't work that way. That one makes your entire system need more to quell the bad effects of that one.

4. It is best to take three days to build up to quitting. Cigarettes seem like a very good friend, even though they are not. Give yourself three days to say goodbye to what you falsely thought was a friend.

5. It takes three days of lots of water and good nourishing food to rid your body of the worst of the poison. Expect to spend those three days in misery.

6. During the first days of withdrawal, your entire personality will change. Warn the people around you, and tell them it is temporary so they can best help you, and tolerate you.

The drug is so poisonous and lethal that a small amount on a dart will immediately kill a large steer.