Christ First Forum

Chuck,

If I have said anything in previous posts that has had a negative overtone...I sincerely apologize...it's just that my experiences are completely contrary to this line of thinking, and I'm quite passionate on this topic.

No offence taken! You will find that most if not all on this forum are very adamant and passionate about there faith in the Lord and very mature in Christ. Not much takes us by surprise. Some will argue till the cows come home but that will not happen here. I too have experienced things that can not be explained and miracles that are just that, in my life. In saying that I also am cautious in not allowing experiences alone to determine what I believe. Blessed is a man who has not seen yet believed.

There has to be a balance in our thinking. And of course we should never put God in a box. For anything is possible with God. Too many times the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are emphasised rather then the Giver of the gifts. When that happens then people need to take notice.

This forum has so many topics and great and marvelous truth on the Holy Spirit. It would benefit all here to do word searches and read some of the post and get to know one another and see the heart of the people of this Christ Centered forum.

Chuck, You will find that we all differ in some ways. But, I assure you that we here at CFF, puts Christ First and Loves the Lord with all of our heart, soul and mind. The essential doctrine of the Christian faith runs deep and strong here. You will also find many friends.
I have been challenged many times on this board to study and show myself approved. I also have not gained trust of my peers and brothers and sisters over night. They are not just some internet aquantances anymore but my family. I hope in some way that that will eventually be the case with you my brother.

Again, Know you are welcomed!

Hi Jeani,

Just by reading the posts here, I sense that there is such a different Spirit present than on that other board where we post. I hardly even go there anymore it's so negative.

I look forward to reading and engaging in much more of the discussions here...but you know how I am...I pop in and out when I can, but my life is very busy. I will post my testimony soon so that you all can really know who I am and where I'm coming from. I am usually kind of guarded in my postings because I go to other sites, some of them are run by militant atheists in the area where I live, and sometimes those people are down right scary and I don't want them to find out who I am.

One more thought on spiritual gifts...I have to say that sometimes people really give God a bad rap, and here's why I say this...I think the spiritual aspect of our faith is so often misunderstood that emotionalism is many times confused with or passed off as spirituality. I'm 46 now and I was saved 33 years ago in a Pentecostal church where some of the people there were very animated in their worship and the gifts of the Spirit were laid out and on display for all to see...the problem is there wasn't very much "fruit" of the Spirit outside of the church building in the lives of the members of the congregation, so I left that type of denomination for one that didn't act so crazy. Let me say this...I didn't think the things they were doing were wrong...I just figured, what good is it if it doesn't really change you very much. It would be many years later before I began to understand the content and context of 1st Corinthians concerning spiritual gifts and I feel like now, I truly do understand a lot of things a whole lot better than I did when I was a teenager. I understand now that saved people need God's grace and patience just as much as they did before they were born again...and they need grace from me also. Oftentimes, there is within us such a deep need and desire to be loved and wanted that some people simply act out so that someone will pay attention to them...they just haven't learned to understand God's love for them yet. Also, the practical aspect of our sanctification is a life long process we all go through, and in the past I have been guilty of holding on to the unrealistic expectation that a brand new, or nearly new Christian ought to have it all together...after all they were born again...right? The fact is...I was saved in a Corinthian-like church and the result of that experience is, that over the course of time, I have learned to spot pseudo-spiritualism a mile away and I'm learning to be graceful with misguided believers through the process.

I will be praying for Jaret...

Chuck