Joshua

BT, the mods here aren't happy about simple yes no answers, they want you to elaborate more or they consider it spam. Just some helpful advice, you might want to read the rules again just to be careful.

Cool I'd enter more then that one poem but unfortunately all my poems are too long I'd have trouble conveying a good message without too much space. I did write one poem for the state contest in 8th grade and won 1st place for it. Didn't enter a contest since until the poetry.com one just this year. I probably won't mess around with the contests though just because I can't enter all my favorite poems. The one that took first is the Freedom poem I mentioned earlier btw.

Well, doing a search I found it's illegal in England... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3630826.stm Apparently it is or was illegal in NC: http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ I guess it isn't illegal to smoke which seems ridiculous to me... they could save so much money on all the programs to help people quit smoking and trying to use roundabout ways to go after cigarette sellers if they'd just go after kids for smoking underage...

While I accept the Bible as an authority and know it doesn't equate "partner" with "spouse" the simple fact of the matter is that "partners" do not have the bond to each other which marriage brings, which is why I'm surprised that they should expect any kind of devotion or commitment from the other person to them. Personally I think it's precisely the sex factor that makes jealousy and the possession factor so heightened. The Bible says that through marriage a man and woman become one flesh, I think nonmarital sex creates something of the same effect but without the bond to each other. Thus the other person feels that a part of them is being used but without the bond the other person is not obliged to act as such. Emotional "cheating" can still happen but I highly doubt most people will be as jealous, if jealous at all, if they're assured the other person is not sexually involved with anyone else. You're other argument, that it's ok because the other person will probably do it is not an argument at all in my mind. It's like attacking another country because they "might" attack you. Doing evil is never right irregardless of what good may come out of it, the Bible makes that plain in Romans 3:8. With your final paragraph, what if one wants to split up and the other doesn't? The Bible says divorcing is always wrong unless the other person was sexually unfaithful (fornication). You see, marriage means the two became one, and the Bible says that what God therefore has joined together, let noone break apart. Sexual activity for any reason other then divorce because of the other person's unfaithfulness is impinging on something that belongs to the other person-you. That's what God intended marriage to be, a sacred bond where both people belong to each other, and what should make it so intimate. Disagree with me if you like, but I strongly believe that doing so is defiling something that belongs to the other person, no matter what some man-based court may say.

Hmm... you're sure it's not against the law for them to smoke? Seems pretty ridiculous to me that they'd make the law about them not to be able to buy them but they can use them if someone else buys them... I'm pretty sure it is illegal, but rarely enforced... And BT, you need to put something with both a quote and a /quote tag, just the /quote isn't enough. You can also just highlight something and click the quote button.

So many people think Mary's body is so blessed that it gives her some special honor and relationship to God. So how blessed is her body due to the simple fact that God used it as a doorway to enter this world? Christ actually replies to a woman who comes up to Him speaking about how blessed Mary's body is for bearing Him: However, as you can see, while He DOES agree that it is blessed, He says that RATHER are those blessed that hear the word of God and keep it. So yes, Mary's body is blessed, but not as blessed as any Christian can be that should "hear the word of God and keep it."

well if they arn't doing enough about it do u think they should remain in our schools. or do you think they should put more cops in our schools. 174443[/snapback] I think there's enough cops, I just think they should be more active in going after underage smokers and worry less about acting as student counselors or lunchroom watchdogs. Notice from cmatcmextra: Fixed quote tags

When I went to high school they had a bunch of kids who'd stand near where the busses would go by while smoking, to try and look cool apparently (dummies). This in spite of the fact that cops were at my school. I've driven by several times since finishing high school to take my brothers there and still see a bunch of boneheads standing in the exact same spots smoking. It makes me wonder if some of them were ones who never graduated... But I remember high school well enough to know that there were kids who spoke of more serious stuff like pot and marijuana with familiarity. Personally I don't think the cops are doing enough about the issue.

I don't think they have cops in all the schools, only the problem ones, I think it's more a selective thing. Also, I think they use schools to give the cops some experience before sending them out on the streets, so they're more likely to know what they're doing by then. There aren't all that many murderers and rapists out there I don't think, but drugs are a big problem. And the plain fact of the matter is that some of the biggest druggies can be found in schools. I wouldn't be surprised if the cop invasions of schools is an attempt to shut down drug rings.

I bet the most exciting part is the STD's Fun is highly overrated

Who knows, maybe it was one of those weird sports rituals Guy got hurt in a big game in his youth, licked the wound and did well so decided to try it for someone else? Makes you wonder if maybe the idea of vampires came from such a fetish if that's what it is...

I know nothing about a show named it, but it doesn't sound like anything I'd want to watch. (I tend to use tv's exclusively for watching baseball games anyway )And here I thought it had to do with a social help organization in the US or else some government monitoring system for some communist country...

Whether believing God created it as a miracle in 6 days, or believing in the Big Bang, you're believing in a non-scientific beginning to it. Think about it, the Big Bang claims it all started as a singularity, which is when all the laws of science break down, meaning.... their beginning is not scientific either

Maybe it's because sex is viewed as the main part of a marriage relationship rather then the non-sex relationship that so many marriages don't work out now?

I'm sure you know how realistic RPG's and related games can get these days. With the level of realism, it might as well be them seeing real people committing the crimes...

Awesome story! A cop's job is to prevent crime. It's a sad sign of our times that so much crime happens in schools. Students use drugs and get in fights all the time these days. I'm not saying the person starting this topic is one of those but I'd imagine a lot of those resentful of a police presence in the schools don't like it because it could mean their illegal activities are more likely to land them in trouble.

Umm... as far as baptism, this site probably answers it better than I could: Source Concerning faith vs. works, people think they need works because of James 2:20 where it says faith without works is dead. When someone thinks that I ask them if they know the verse before, James 2:19: Put simply, the faith James speaks of as being dead is simple intellectual orthodoxy which James 2:19 speaks of, or belief that there's one God. Even the devils have that faith, as do Jews, Muslims, and Catholics, and it falls short. This is not the faith Paul speaks of in Romans 10:8-10 where He says that it is by believing that God raised Christ from the dead and confessing Him Lord and God (thus accepting Him into our hearts to be the leader of our life) and that He alone can save us by which we find eternal life. The definitive Bible definition of faith and works: And as for your signature: Concerning the Law which we are no longer under:

Btw, the reason I didn't answer Salem's post here was because I already answered him the same stuff on another topic: http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Take away baseball and there will be another revolution

That's why you ask for guidance as well With something like that though, why should I worry? *shrugs* For me to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Christ could've just taken me off this world as soon as I got saved, the reason I'm still here is to do His will and help others find Him and the blessings of eternity as well. In 2 Timothy 3:12 it says that if you live godly in Christ Jesus you'll suffer persecution, and those persecuted as such can often wish they could die to go to the better place. The reason to stay at all isn't for love of life but love of Christ that we do His will and stay here out of love for Him. And thus when death comes it can be met with relief, not fear, knowing that our race is finally over. Just some thoughts

Cool, I tried putting one into Poetry.com for the first time a few months ago, it's the Pitcher one that's on here. It got the Editor's Choice Award and put into a special cd or something but didn't win anything else. Anyway, I like the poem, it's always good to take the attitude that turning to God in our troubles should be our first resort, not our last God saves those whose trust is in Him, and it's the area where those trusting in their own works or Mary as a "mediatrix" or Mohammed as a prophet while Christ not God will fall short. Trusting in Him means knowing that He works problems and successes alike to the greater good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Obviously this is often not what we have in mind as good and it may mean trials we go through for the good (salvation) of another. For example, we may suffer trials so that we may be able to relate to someone we love that they too may know Christ. Problems can guide us to a path of blessing we wouldn't have found otherwise. And also, problems can work patience and faith in us, making us more like Christ. And so, God tells us not to worry, but trust that it's all in His hands. I'm finding more and more when I'm anxious about something to just commit the matter into His hands and trust Him to take care of it, and then just do my best, not worrying about the result. Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. And as it says in 1 John 4:19, we love God because He first loved us. Christ is our example to love others (enemies too) and do good to them, to endure through trials while trusting in God, and to not worry about what life holds. In 1 John 2:6 it says whoever says they abide in Christ should act as He did. What better justification for our actions to Christ in the final day then that we acted as He did?

I haven't been happy with all Bush's decisions (particularly certain wars) but some of them like this one certainly seem like good ones to me. I guess maybe since this is his 2nd term now he feels more free to make drastic changes. *shrugs* I just hope he doesn't charge into any more wars

Yeah, I recognize that some people prefer NIV and don't have a problem with it. I use PowerBible CD for my verse copying and pasting though and it doesn't come with NIV. I know I'm accustomed to it but other people may not be. I try to provide a paraphrase or explanation of what I'm posting the verses for to be more clear, or to highlight the main verses in a different color. And I didn't take it as mean, we can disagree but as long as we can do so without bringing it to the level of charachter assassination and personal attacks it should be alright. I have observed that how people react to differing views can give you a good idea of whether they're more worried about being proven right or finding truth. If the former, then they'll lash out to make themselves look better, mudslinging. Rather then let you voice your opinion, they'll rather try to silence it. As I've said before, by the revealing of knowledge is truth revealed, truth doesn't need to silence the voices of others. But if you're seeking truth you can accept other views because you don't need to be right. Well, before this gets into a discussion on the intent of a person's heart, maybe I should just stop myself and say it's been a pleasure talking to you The main thing isn't that the other person agrees but that they're seeking truth.

Wouldn't this all be a lot less complicated if people just didn't have sex before marriage? I notice the use of the word "partner", since when did this become a synonym for "spouse"?

Alright. At least you're very candid about it That's always good to see even if people are on opposing viewpoints. I guess the Biblical discussion here has about run its course and I have been trying to make new threads to discuss specific issues. I guess I'll just have to try harder Back to Aevum's discussion I guess, nice talking Jz