christians in jail

[duain1967]

my wife and i just recieved and e-mail from her brother. this story is on www.worldnetdaily.com . anyway they arested 4 christians for protesting at a gay convenition in philly. they could get up to 47 years in prison. they have all of this on tape that you can downlowd. people we need to get on our knees and pray for this country. christian being persecutated sound like were in the final millineum to me. not the best speller in the world sorryfor the miss spelled words for any english teachers out their.

[best]

Duain
Thank you for sharing.
Thing with me on such things... Yes if what the defense lawyers say is true, that is a wrong action. From things in life I have seen with my own eyes, even things I have done myself... Unless I was there to see and hear things with my own eyes and ears, I hold a reserve to accepting what is written as the whole truth.
Words from the beginning of a poem I wrote...
YESTERYEAR I SAID
I AM A CHRISTIAN
but my actions had people say
WHO CARES

The gospel can be shared with love in one's heart but the gospel can also try to be shared with hatred in the heart as well.
What the protestors could have done... not protested but tried sharing the word with love as the group...Love won out.. does.
There are wrongs and persecutions done against Christians every day. Yes it is something we should be concerned with. At the same time though… we as Christians as a whole should be sure we keep our own side of the street clean. The armor of God… with truth and righteousness, we won’t need worry because when we do as we should as Christians, there can be nothing held against us.
I am ministering to myself with this post. I hope I have learned something and improved who I am. At the same time I will try to stay abreast of that story so to keep what could be a real concern where it needs be… On my prayer list.

[Live]

The first thing that comes to my mind...is that they will know we are Christians by our love.

[Live]

Okay, I am going to risk getting asked to leave this board.
But the Bible lists gluttony as a sin,,,do we organize protests aimed at obese people?
Or those whose gluttony is material goods?

[best]

and the list goes on...
That is what I was saying to myself as I posted above... I need to take a look at self and see where I may have issues and faults.

Is it better to say... Your going to hell or would it be better to say... The Meek shall inherate the earth.
One would cause a defensive posture, the other would be a sharing that would get people thinking.

Did someone yell at me... Your going to kill yourself if you keep that drinking up like you do... no but a softness and wisdom, they gave me gentle straight facts as I was willing to accept them.
Share the truth but as you said...share it in love.

[duain1967]

ok frist ive never seen a gluttony convention, but if their was i beleive it should be done as well. these christians never got to chance to even preach the word. they were very christian like never got angry never yelled or displayed any worldly behavior. we as christian are told to preach the word boldly and with authority of our lord and savior. they wouldnt allow that to happen and were aressed for their belief, and the fact that they were out number did not help matters. what im trying to get across here is that the world is changing for the worse and that is a scary thing,yet at the same time it is very exciting as well. i pray for GOD kingdom to come and end our suffering, and really for most of us americans we really dont even know suffering as some thrid world country do.be strong pray long and meditate on the lord even longer give GOD the glory. duain

[Cap3]

If "enough" people protested against, this law that brings these Christans to court for their actions,then the law changes.People make the laws.People can and do change them.it takes...action..on the publics part.And percistance.im not going to say that what they did was right,or wrong.No.I wasnt there.Im only reading anothers interpations on what they thought they saw and heard,,lol..It happened.Who knows God,s plan.Maybe these folks if put in jail will spread the word of God,to the imates...No matter what,or how others try,the word of the Lord,will not be stoped.Amen.!!!!
God Bless.

[Live]

duain, how about the mall between Thanksgiving and Christmas?
okay, I don't think my sense of humor is going to be appreciated here.

How about we pray for all those suffering?

[clancy!]

The police dont usually arrest folk for peaceful protest. If these guys just left the gay folk alone and got on with sharing the gospel instead I think the world might be a more peaceful place.

[Live]

We will be known by our fruits

faith, hope and charity and the greatest of these is charity

I Corinintios 13:13
Y ahora permanecen la fe, las esperanza y el amor, estos tres; pero el mayor es el amor

I didn't bring an English version with me.

[duain1967]

Clancy, if you click on the link i put on the first message about this, they have a link that will show you footage of what happened. The Christian group was not rude, forceful, angry, hateful, or violent. They were just singing Christian songs and trying to spread the gospel. There was no reason for them to be arrested. If this country has free speech, it applies to everyone. John, Peter and the others were not concerened with ruffling a few feathers, they were concerned with gettting the truth out to the people, all the people. We should be as they were. If we take the attitude that we should all just get along and not preach to those who may not like it, just think of all the people that will be lost. Time, will run out.

[Live]

I do believe in free speech.... and I do believe in free will, that is why I will not try to tell you of my Buddhist beliefs....that coincide with my religious plurality which includes a very great deal of Christianity.

[Live]

I am going to bring up a post to the top in General Recovery, it is the sayings of the Desert Fathers compiled by Thomas Merton. The Christian monks in the 4th century.
They are wise and beautiful.

[Live]

Sorry, it must have got lost in the great crash, it was an old thread.

[duain1967]

the only belief i will ever believe is JESUS CHRIST my lord and savior. their is no other sorry

[clancy!]

Hey live,

I lean towards buddhism in my thinking as well. Its a lovely way of life, and I really appreciate the way the buddhists respect all other faiths as well. Thats true grace.

hugs!

[duain1967]

If one believes the Bible is true... which says that there is only one way to the Father in Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ... then how graceful is it to just go around respecting other faiths which will not end in Heaven. Wouldn't it be "true grace" to spread the one true way so that everyone would know and be saved?

[clancy!]

Would be really nice if this site was opened up to folk of all faiths....we could learn so much from each other.

[clancy!]

Well not all of us believe the bible to be the be all and end all....I believe it is an important religious text, but it is one of many important religious texts. There is much to be learned from all the different faiths of the world .respecting others beliefs is just good grace.

[Live]

I respect your belief, Duain. I would never try to think of changing it.

I hope to find some common ground here.

Tomorrow I will find a portion of those Christian monks parables, the book is in the states with so much of my other stuff. And share those. They are 100% Christian and entirely lovely and wise.

My favorite place to go in my home for 25 years in Indiana was the monasteries.
And my Christmas was about attending the masses, not trees and packages.
And I loved it when their seminary library had public book sales, I would stand in line ahead of time. And leave with boxes full of books.
I really do love Christianity.

[clancy!]

I respect christianity and folks right to their beliefs but I dont really understand it. I have to admit to finding certain tennets of the faith very hard to swallow - mainly the belief that everyone who is not a christian, including those who live lives of the utmost compassion and worth, will eventually be subject to eternal damnation. That seems so intolerant to me.Id like to understand more though.Im facinated to learn of different faiths.

[Live]

By reading from the seminary and attending the monasteries, I think I got some of the best of the best.
They studied other religions, as well, and were very open minded.
They focused on compassion and virtue.
Trying to lift the world, rather than condemn it.
I love the beauty and symbolisms of the carefully executed rituals.
Hearing the monks sink acupello,
Bach recitals on a pipe organ.
The nuns with woodwinds, dancing dressed as angels, and singing like angels.
The homilies (sermons to protestants) always focused on understanding, compassion and uplifting and service.

Some of the prayers are chants, similar to mantras. The first time I took my protestant boyfriend, he made some remark about the repetition and I asked him, what is that the first time you have been on your knees for twenty minutes at a time.
He looked at me and I could tell, yes it was. I had a point and he took it well.

I also like to attend the little bitty protestant country churches. To me, some of it is like folk music I was raised on.

[duain1967]

I can't change your minds about what you believe... but never say that no one told you. In all of this " lets all get along and respect other faiths" we have lost focus on what this discussion is supposed to be about. There are 5 Christians on trial just for preaching God's word. NO matter what faith you are or are not... it is just wrong.

[Live]

Then I will join you in praying for them.

[duain1967]

my prayer is this GOD OUR FATHER HAS SENT THESE FIVE CHRISTIAN TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND I KNOW AND PRAY WHETHER FOUND GUILTY OR INOCENT THAT THESE FIVE WARRIORS FOR GOD WILL CONT, TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND KEEP RUNNING THE RACE FOR THAT IS WHAT WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO DO.GOD PLEASE SHINE DOWN ON THESE CHRISTAIN AND GIVING THEM STRENGTH AND HONOR. THIS IS MY PRAYER IN JESUS CHRIST NAME AMEN.