HoytSpeed

I'm gonna share with you guys a little testimony of my own. I found out in 2005 that i had a kidney disease, that was basically shutting down my kidneys, what they call endstage renal failure. So for the past 3 years I have been on medication trying to keep them going, just this past month i had taken a turn for the worse and am going to need a kidney transplant. Keep in mind i was saved when i was a teenager ( thats another testimony in its own so i had that relationship with jesus. about a month ago my family and myself went in front of the church to ask for prayer and to see if anyone was willing to get tested to be a potential living donor. So one of the first guys stood up and said I'll do it, I have known this man for many years, he's one of our deacons at the church. He went and got tested, along with others, including my mom and brother. I found out 3 days ago that my deacon was a match, they told me that it was almost as if he was my long lost brother! My own brother was not a match, and my mom was not a match. we had only been looking for a donor for a month, and the man that is the deacon at my church, a long time friend, and a brother in christ.....is going to be my kidney donor. So about a month earlier i was listening to a sermon about "how do you know if you're really saved" (did i really accept jesus into my heart? or was i just going through the motions) I had pondered on this for a while, but that day, when i got the news that a donor had been found, and it was a man that i had known for years, a deacon at my church and a brother in christ....i knew immediately that I was in Jesus' hands, there was already a plan, gods plan for my life. Some people are on the donor list waiting for years for a cadaver donor, a living donor...or even finding that perfect match, and i had only been waiting a month. I pray that everyone would come to know the christ I know.

I may not goto church every sunday, but i do have my time with the lord.

bigcountry

Well, I guess a person has a choice. I don't understand the choice, just thankful for the one I took. I sometimes read through Judges and hear Samson and his story, or read about Lot and how his daughtersslept with him to keep their line. And I look up and beg for God to help me to understand. One can read the Word of God and believe or he can reject. I highly suggest all on this page reads it, and believe it, or reject it.

But the bottom line is, I cannot reject God. I have tried. He talked to me, he saved me. Christianity didn't suit me at all.

I studied nordic paganism, and all kinds of garbage over the years. What was not to love about nordic mythology? You live your life for revenge, you take what you want, you live life hard and fast, and when you die, you go to Valhalla, and hunt a pig every night, roast it, have sex, drink and feast hard, and wake up the next day and do it again. Now that suited me. But I found it to be a fairy tale.

But I cannot and will not reject God. It doesn't suit me, but it feels real. Christianity is a religion of pure faith in things you cannot see.

bigcountry

A person can go to church thier whole life and not have salvation. Going to masses won't save you.

minn, you said something that was wrong. It was pointed out and showed to you it was wrong. Really nothing more to say.

Vito1

That is a harsh comment. Ignorant might be another way to describe it. How can you say why someone doesn't choose to believe? Hardness of hearts or want to be their own god? I have to admit, PT, I am a little surprised at how you've handled this discussion. I would think insulting others is no way to convert them into believers. It always amazes me that some "believers" will look down their nose at "nonbelievers".

bigcountry

I don't see it as looking down on nonbelievers, but I think he is taking scripture. The Bible refers to the hardness of thier hearts keeps them from believing.

Vito1

That is the reason I feel most have a hard time believing. You are asking them to believe in something that has no facts or proof. It is tough to get someone to have blind faith in anything, especially something you can't prove.

bigcountry

No doubt. But God has the right to choose who to reveal what to who. I sure don't deserve his grace or love. But he gave it to me.

Curiosity is a good thing. Maybe its a step he's guiding you in.

Vito1

I didn't mean PT's comments specifically, just my past experiences. I should have put a space before that sentence.

It's hard for a "nonbeliever" to believe in a book written a very long time ago with no proof to back it up. It's hard to understand why someone should live their life based on this book.

I spend 18 years in a catholic church and 10 years in a catholic school before I started asking questions. I had never questioned my relligion or faith until things stopped making sense to me. I asked questions that I wasn't supposed to ask or questions that could not be answered logically. I have read the bible multiple times. I choose not to believe based on experience. I don't understand why others can't except that. I have nothing against those that believe if they are respectful. I don't like when believers feel they are better than nonbelievers or thatnonbelievers need to be"saved".

MC Bowhunter

My church has a service on Wednesday nights. That's the service I go to during hunting season.

Darrall

Michbowhunter

While I agree with some of what you said, it's certainly not fair to sterotype all Christians this way. I mean come on,"these people are ALL involved in affairs..... weigh 300#," that's ridiculous! I think it's really sad that you find it necessaryto attack others in order to justify yourself.

If you don't want to go to church, then don't go, but not all Christians are as you say. I've been aChristian for over 19 years, and while I admit that I'm not perfect,I'm nothaving an affair on my wife either, and at 6 foot 2, I weigh slightly over 200lbs. LOL. I do realize that in all walks of life, there are hypocrites, but using them as a crutch won't get you anywhere.

Personally, I do agree with you that going to church does not give you a relationship with God, and one's relationship with him is personal, butone's relationship with God - or lack there of - should not be measured by another personsweakness.

Luke 16:15Jesussaid to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.