Why Should Jesus Love Me?

Epiphany2 wrote:

<quoted text>
Wow....God is looking out for his "children"...
He is awesome, isn't he?

tht is he was

Here is an article called...

"Why Christian's S**K?" What do you think of it?

Why Christians S**k
Jesus might have harsh words for Christians today. Here's why...and what you can do about it.
By Tom Davis

Each Sunday, millions of Christians in America gather to worship the God who commands us to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” We belt out praises to the God who tells us that “pure and undefiled religion is caring for widows and orphans in their distress.” We kneel in pious prayer before the Almighty God of the universe who describes Himself as loving, gracious, merciful, and generous.

Then, we walk out the back door of the church, step into a world in need, and proceed to withhold the love, grace, and mercy that’s extended to us.

We might as well give God the middle finger. Outside of a tiny minority of Christians, we have become a self-centered group of priggish snobs.

In short, we s**k.

Before you pick up a rock and throw it at me, think about this: I could have used other words that aren’t as nice as “s**k.” Like “white-washed tombs,”“brood of vipers,”“fools,” or the ever ego-inflating,“Get behind me Satan!” Jesus used all of these choice phrases to describe religious leaders and some of his closest of followers.

But calling someone a white-washed tomb just doesn’t cut it anymore. "We s**k" is a much better choice for our cultural context. Poverty s**ks. Divorce s**ks. And, unfortunately, some Christians s**k, too.

Here are the facts:

Eighty-five percent of young people outside the church who have had connection to Christians believe present-day Christianity is hypocritical. Inside the church, forty-seven percent of young people believe the same thing.

And why wouldn't they? We’re pretty stingy with our money:

- 80 percent of the world’s evangelical wealth is in North America.
- Giving by churchgoers was higher during the Great Depression than it is today.
- Christians give an average of $13.31/week to their local church.
- Only 9 percent of “born-again” adults reported tithing in 2004.

And let's take a peek in on our neighbors:

- More than 1 billion people live in absolute poverty.
- 500 million people are at the edge of starvation.
- 200 million children are being exploited as laborers.
- Half of the human beings on the planet live on less than $2/day.
- 1.5 billion people do not have enough money to buy food.

This is information that anyone can collect from the Internet, just as I did. Any reasonable person could make this simple conclusion: Most American Christians do not care about what God says in the Bible.

Need some Biblical evidence? Check this out...

Page 2....

We pick out the scriptures we like, as if we were dining at a five-star buffet. We conveniently ignore the scriptures that talk about caring for the poor, giving away material possessions, and loving money. Scriptures like:

Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.”(James 1:26-27)
Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?(James 2:15-17)
"If you have two coats, give one away," [Jesus] said. "Do the same with your food." (Luke 3:11)

When Christians care about their political views, what sexual preference someone has, or their bank account more than they care about the millions of people who die in the world because they don’t have five dollars to buy the medicine that would cure them, something has gone drastically wrong.

These kinds of Christians s**k.

What can we do to stop s**king? I think the answer is relatively simple. It's found in the Bible:“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says”(James 1:22).

Give away material possessions to those in need, love the unlovely, take care of the widow and orphan. This is not rocket science. It just takes a heart committed to doing the things God said to do.

Want ten simple steps? You got it.

Christians, listen up: People are tired of being criticized, judged, and listening to the lip service we are so great at giving. Instead, why don’t we commit to making the changes we can make?

Christianity needs a renewal of the principles that made it great. It needs to be more like Jesus—compassionate, self-sacrificial, unconditionally loving, and caring for those who are most in need.

That kind of lifestyle allowed twelve men to change the world. It will help you change yours, too.

kay wrote:

<quoted text>you are welcome ham and i am glad to prayer for you and other. and thank ham i say the same you a blessing to me also

Good morning Kay..

I am so glad you prayed for my Jan.. She certainly needed it.. It was very kind of you, I must say.. You also have the distinction of being the only one who talked with me yesterday.. I thank you for that..

You are a fine example of a Christian.. I could write a book about you and your Christianity.. But, I won't.. Suffice it to say, I am very appreciative..

I will keep you posted on my new Bible Study.. It was not what I expected.. But very intriguing questions were posed.. Do you realize there was no "Boo" on the Ark.. There was a couple of cats, but they looked more like the lion and tiger.. What terrible sins has the "BOO's" of the world committed to end up like this.. Same can be said of the poodle.. Are they really a dog.. Hard to see the wolf in them.. So there were no dinosaurs on the Ark either..

Remember WIP..and her statement that Christianity was shrinking and shrinking fast, especially here in America.. Well, she was correct.. That is what is happening.. One of the reason is simply that the present crop of Christians and their churches have abrogated their responsibility in sticking to the first eleven chapters of Genesis.. If we forsake the truth of God's word there, then how can be believe God's words in the rest of the Bible... Something to ponder.. Where, on earth did Cain find a wife? Where did all the water come from to cover the whole earth.. No, it is much easier to forsake answering these questions.. Allow the atheist and agnostics and whatever to have their way at the expense of our young people which are the future of Christianity..

I hope you don't mind if I talk about my Bible Study.. It helps me understand what is going on.. Things I had never bothered with before... And, I may not in the future either..

Oh well..

Good morning dear Kay.. Another near perfect summer day around hereabouts..

Ham

I beleive most of us here in this thread, aren't the judgemental types....but there are alot on Topix that are, and that, right away turns people away from God's Love...
I would love to have Pern's and Thumper's (and HipG'S) ability to write, but that is not my forte...But I am a prayer warrior, and I love our fellowman. Do you know how hard it is to love an unlovable person???...;-)

God is Good.....ALL the Time!!
Blessings to all!!

Ham wrote:

<quoted text>
Good morning Kay..
I am so glad you prayed for my Jan.. She certainly needed it.. It was very kind of you, I must say.. You also have the distinction of being the only one who talked with me yesterday.. I thank you for that..
You are a fine example of a Christian.. I could write a book about you and your Christianity.. But, I won't.. Suffice it to say, I am very appreciative..
I will keep you posted on my new Bible Study.. It was not what I expected.. But very intriguing questions were posed.. Do you realize there was no "Boo" on the Ark.. There was a couple of cats, but they looked more like the lion and tiger.. What terrible sins has the "BOO's" of the world committed to end up like this.. Same can be said of the poodle.. Are they really a dog.. Hard to see the wolf in them.. So there were no dinosaurs on the Ark either..
Remember WIP..and her statement that Christianity was shrinking and shrinking fast, especially here in America.. Well, she was correct.. That is what is happening.. One of the reason is simply that the present crop of Christians and their churches have abrogated their responsibility in sticking to the first eleven chapters of Genesis.. If we forsake the truth of God's word there, then how can be believe God's words in the rest of the Bible... Something to ponder.. Where, on earth did Cain find a wife? Where did all the water come from to cover the whole earth.. No, it is much easier to forsake answering these questions.. Allow the atheist and agnostics and whatever to have their way at the expense of our young people which are the future of Christianity..
I hope you don't mind if I talk about my Bible Study.. It helps me understand what is going on.. Things I had never bothered with before... And, I may not in the future either..
Oh well..
Good morning dear Kay.. Another near perfect summer day around hereabouts..
Ham

Morning Ham....I'm sorry no one answered you yesterday...We were caught up in Pern's and HipG's writing. I get on early in the morning, and maybe afternoon, but usually don't in the evening...so I hope you know I do love to read your thoughts...(even though I may not respond back)

You are loved by All....(and Boo...;-)

Ham wrote:

<quoted text>
Good morning Kay..
I am so glad you prayed for my Jan.. She certainly needed it.. It was very kind of you, I must say.. You also have the distinction of being the only one who talked with me yesterday.. I thank you for that..
You are a fine example of a Christian.. I could write a book about you and your Christianity.. But, I won't.. Suffice it to say, I am very appreciative..
I will keep you posted on my new Bible Study.. It was not what I expected.. But very intriguing questions were posed.. Do you realize there was no "Boo" on the Ark.. There was a couple of cats, but they looked more like the lion and tiger.. What terrible sins has the "BOO's" of the world committed to end up like this.. Same can be said of the poodle.. Are they really a dog.. Hard to see the wolf in them.. So there were no dinosaurs on the Ark either..
Remember WIP..and her statement that Christianity was shrinking and shrinking fast, especially here in America.. Well, she was correct.. That is what is happening.. One of the reason is simply that the present crop of Christians and their churches have abrogated their responsibility in sticking to the first eleven chapters of Genesis.. If we forsake the truth of God's word there, then how can be believe God's words in the rest of the Bible... Something to ponder.. Where, on earth did Cain find a wife? Where did all the water come from to cover the whole earth.. No, it is much easier to forsake answering these questions.. Allow the atheist and agnostics and whatever to have their way at the expense of our young people which are the future of Christianity..
I hope you don't mind if I talk about my Bible Study.. It helps me understand what is going on.. Things I had never bothered with before... And, I may not in the future either..
Oh well..
Good morning dear Kay.. Another near perfect summer day around hereabouts..
Ham

haha you could know by now you can talk to me walk with me and love me bible study is great ok good morning Ham and boo

Epiphany2 wrote:

I beleive most of us here in this thread, aren't the judgemental types....but there are alot on Topix that are, and that, right away turns people away from God's Love...
I would love to have Pern's and Thumper's (and HipG'S) ability to write, but that is not my forte...But I am a prayer warrior, and I love our fellowman. Do you know how hard it is to love an unlovable person???...;-)
God is Good.....ALL the Time!!
Blessings to all!!

smiling at you

ham i put this in yesterday

kay wrote:
we when to a friend house to cut his yard , my hubby do that , i help in some way, it was hot in the 97 deg when we got there about 45 min a clouds cover the sun and wind begain to blow like it going to storm , the fun part it did not storm , it bring the temp down to 90 deg.
i believing it all happen when people prayer to cool down the weather, here anoher good with the lord I love bananas and did not have an i want some or other fruits just as we was about to leave our friend house a guys drive up and ask us all do we want some bananas he have a big bananas box almost full the friends got what he want and we got our a lot of it fun when you believing the lord glad we did not got foods shopper tonight lord have us work another way.

kay say now i am drying the bananas

Epiphany2 wrote:

I beleive most of us here in this thread, aren't the judgemental types....but there are alot on Topix that are, and that, right away turns people away from God's Love...
I would love to have Pern's and Thumper's (and HipG'S) ability to write, but that is not my forte...But I am a prayer warrior, and I love our fellowman. Do you know how hard it is to love an unlovable person???...;-)
God is Good.....ALL the Time!!
Blessings to all!!

Dear Epiphany2, indeed we have problems with Religion, which is why some of us find it hard to choose the right one. Faith in God, Lord Jesus and the Angels sits easily within ourself, if we just let it rest there, lovingly and ceasingly amazing. We can enjoy the benefits of love that is being given to us, and we can enjoy the benefits of Prayer, and receive the Blessings of our Heavenly Father, just by letting Him (He that is I AM) know that we know who He is, and we are proud to be His children... However, as many of us know, there is much energy and love to be found in the Churches, regardless of what the hypocrites of each particular Christian Religion have tossed on to the shoulders of their congregation. Let there be Peace!

kay wrote:

ham i put this in yesterday
kay wrote:
we when to a friend house to cut his yard , my hubby do that , i help in some way, it was hot in the 97 deg when we got there about 45 min a clouds cover the sun and wind begain to blow like it going to storm , the fun part it did not storm , it bring the temp down to 90 deg.
i believing it all happen when people prayer to cool down the weather, here anoher good with the lord I love bananas and did not have an i want some or other fruits just as we was about to leave our friend house a guys drive up and ask us all do we want some bananas he have a big bananas box almost full the friends got what he want and we got our a lot of it fun when you believing the lord glad we did not got foods shopper tonight lord have us work another way.
kay say now i am drying the bananas

Hi there sweet one, enjoy drying your bananas, that sounds like a lovely way to pass the day. We have a nice cold winter happening down here, although the last couple of days since I have been home have had blue skies and sunshine.... Just cold at night and in the house. Blessings to you as always, Serah

Serah wrote:

<quoted text>
Dear Epiphany2, indeed we have problems with Religion, which is why some of us find it hard to choose the right one. Faith in God, Lord Jesus and the Angels sits easily within ourself, if we just let it rest there, lovingly and ceasingly amazing. We can enjoy the benefits of love that is being given to us, and we can enjoy the benefits of Prayer, and receive the Blessings of our Heavenly Father, just by letting Him (He that is I AM) know that we know who He is, and we are proud to be His children... However, as many of us know, there is much energy and love to be found in the Churches, regardless of what the hypocrites of each particular Christian Religion have tossed on to the shoulders of their congregation. Let there be Peace!

Dear Serah! Allow me to second your motion! With Christ as our inspiration we are open to infinite possibilities! We soar to greater hieghts of peace,love,understanding and openness.

Serah wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi there sweet one, enjoy drying your bananas, that sounds like a lovely way to pass the day. We have a nice cold winter happening down here, although the last couple of days since I have been home have had blue skies and sunshine.... Just cold at night and in the house. Blessings to you as always, Serah

hi serah i like to welcome you home again. did you find any gold by long shot just joking. yes drying bananas is for the day and Friday i got a lot of them. also i have a red pepper so i dry it to.

serah enjoy your weather ok

kay wrote:

<quoted text>haha you could know by now you can talk to me walk with me and love me bible study is great ok good morning Ham and boo

Hi Jay..

Thanks.. It would be great to walk with you and talk with you..

We never realize how much we love or need a person until they are gone..

Living alone, I have become very needful for Jan..just like Lynn did for so many years..

I had to wash a sink full of dirty dishes.. Today, I will have to empty the dishwasher.. UGH!!
But, this really hit home yesterday when I had to dress up for my Bible Study and luncheon.. I had thrown all my dirty shirts down the laundry shoot before Jan called.. What to do? Should I go down to the basement and salvage my cleanest dirty shirt.. I thought about it, but gave up and searched the deeper confines of my closet.. Guess what? I found a shirt ..a clean shirt.. Not only a clean shirt but one that still had the price tags on it.. I had never worn it.. What a stroke of fortune that was.. I looked closer at the tag and WOW.. This was a shirt that Lynn had bought me in the year 2003..

So, I wore it with pride.. Everyone commented on how nice I looked.. So my dilemma was solved.. Our loving God does provide, doesn't he..

Just thought I would share this with you.. Not very important, I know.. I can only hope that Jan will be able to handle her added stress and return to me..

Thanks again for your prayers..

Ham

Ham wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi Jay..
Thanks.. It would be great to walk with you and talk with you..
We never realize how much we love or need a person until they are gone..
Living alone, I have become very needful for Jan..just like Lynn did for so many years..
I had to wash a sink full of dirty dishes.. Today, I will have to empty the dishwasher.. UGH!!
But, this really hit home yesterday when I had to dress up for my Bible Study and luncheon.. I had thrown all my dirty shirts down the laundry shoot before Jan called.. What to do? Should I go down to the basement and salvage my cleanest dirty shirt.. I thought about it, but gave up and searched the deeper confines of my closet.. Guess what? I found a shirt ..a clean shirt.. Not only a clean shirt but one that still had the price tags on it.. I had never worn it.. What a stroke of fortune that was.. I looked closer at the tag and WOW.. This was a shirt that Lynn had bought me in the year 2003..
So, I wore it with pride.. Everyone commented on how nice I looked.. So my dilemma was solved.. Our loving God does provide, doesn't he..
Just thought I would share this with you.. Not very important, I know.. I can only hope that Jan will be able to handle her added stress and return to me..
Thanks again for your prayers..
Ham

and lynn looking at you with a smile glad you wear it and your are welcome anytime

Epiphany2 wrote:

<quoted text>
Morning Ham....I'm sorry no one answered you yesterday...We were caught up in Pern's and HipG's writing. I get on early in the morning, and maybe afternoon, but usually don't in the evening...so I hope you know I do love to read your thoughts...(even though I may not respond back)
You are loved by All....(and Boo...;-)

"When I have a problem the first place I look in my own back yard."

Well, I have never forgotten her words.. I can see how true they are..

In many ways we Christians are guilty of not searching out our won back yard.. I suspect we would all be surprised as to what we find..

Thanks again for your kind words and your early post..

Ham

kay wrote:

ham i put this in yesterday
kay wrote:
we when to a friend house to cut his yard , my hubby do that , i help in some way, it was hot in the 97 deg when we got there about 45 min a clouds cover the sun and wind begain to blow like it going to storm , the fun part it did not storm , it bring the temp down to 90 deg.
i believing it all happen when people prayer to cool down the weather, here anoher good with the lord I love bananas and did not have an i want some or other fruits just as we was about to leave our friend house a guys drive up and ask us all do we want some bananas he have a big bananas box almost full the friends got what he want and we got our a lot of it fun when you believing the lord glad we did not got foods shopper tonight lord have us work another way.
kay say now i am drying the bananas

Hi Kay..

Thanks for sharing... Indeed God does work in wonderful ways.. So many blessings.. Like you, I may also tend to praise God a little too much, according to some.. But, really, how can we praise him too much.. There is no such thing as luck or coincidence and God is in complete control.. It seems only natural to praise him.. As you have done..

Reminds me, I only have one banana left.. I buy two or three at a time, especially the green ones. Otherwise they turn bad before I can eat them..

BOO doesn't eat them so I am the only one.. Lots of things are different when one lives alone.. even with a loving cat.. BOO got an extra supply of love this morning...Now he is sleeping comfortably.. His tummy is full and he is enjoying the sun.. Isn't it great to be a Christian..

Ham

Epiphany2 wrote:

Here is an article called...
"Why Christian's S**K?" What do you think of it?
Why Christians S**k
Jesus might have harsh words for Christians today. Here's why...and what you can do about it.
By Tom Davis
Each Sunday, millions of Christians in America gather to worship the God who commands us to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” We belt out praises to the God who tells us that “pure and undefiled religion is caring for widows and orphans in their distress.” We kneel in pious prayer before the Almighty God of the universe who describes Himself as loving, gracious, merciful, and generous.
Then, we walk out the back door of the church, step into a world in need, and proceed to withhold the love, grace, and mercy that’s extended to us.
We might as well give God the middle finger. Outside of a tiny minority of Christians, we have become a self-centered group of priggish snobs.
In short, we s**k.
Before you pick up a rock and throw it at me, think about this: I could have used other words that aren’t as nice as “s**k.” Like “white-washed tombs,”“brood of vipers,”“fools,” or the ever ego-inflating,“Get behind me Satan!” Jesus used all of these choice phrases to describe religious leaders and some of his closest of followers.
But calling someone a white-washed tomb just doesn’t cut it anymore. "We s**k" is a much better choice for our cultural context. Poverty s**ks. Divorce s**ks. And, unfortunately, some Christians s**k, too.
Here are the facts:
Eighty-five percent of young people outside the church who have had connection to Christians believe present-day Christianity is hypocritical. Inside the church, forty-seven percent of young people believe the same thing.
And why wouldn't they? We’re pretty stingy with our money:
- 80 percent of the world’s evangelical wealth is in North America.
- Giving by churchgoers was higher during the Great Depression than it is today.
- Christians give an average of $13.31/week to their local church.
- Only 9 percent of “born-again” adults reported tithing in 2004.
And let's take a peek in on our neighbors:
- More than 1 billion people live in absolute poverty.
- 500 million people are at the edge of starvation.
- 200 million children are being exploited as laborers.
- Half of the human beings on the planet live on less than $2/day.
- 1.5 billion people do not have enough money to buy food.
This is information that anyone can collect from the Internet, just as I did. Any reasonable person could make this simple conclusion: Most American Christians do not care about what God says in the Bible.
Need some Biblical evidence? Check this out...

in a very small voice...

"I agree with it" (gulp)
I don't think American Christians mean to be stingy. I think what has happened is they have gotten themselves so far into debt that they live paycheck to paycheck to pay for the cars and toys they put on credit, their kids college education, alimony, and a couple of "necessary" plastic surgeries. They are like most Americans with their borrowing habits. They have scraped the equity in their homes every time the values increased to fund vacations in far away places and in reality, if they cashed out all they own today they would still be in debt $10,000.
So they are busy paying their minimum payments to push away the debt collectors one more month.
We are in a desperate straight if we don't learn to pay cash and stay away from credit cards.

and who's to blame?
Not SAAAAAAAAA-ton! It is our own gullible fault for letting commercialism create desire for things we don't need. It is lust plain and simple. I am as guilty as anyone.

Pernrider wrote:

<quoted text>
in a very small voice...
"I agree with it" (gulp)
I don't think American Christians mean to be stingy. I think what has happened is they have gotten themselves so far into debt that they live paycheck to paycheck to pay for the cars and toys they put on credit, their kids college education, alimony, and a couple of "necessary" plastic surgeries. They are like most Americans with their borrowing habits. They have scraped the equity in their homes every time the values increased to fund vacations in far away places and in reality, if they cashed out all they own today they would still be in debt $10,000.
So they are busy paying their minimum payments to push away the debt collectors one more month.
We are in a desperate straight if we don't learn to pay cash and stay away from credit cards.
and who's to blame?
Not SAAAAAAAAA-ton! It is our own gullible fault for letting commercialism create desire for things we don't need. It is lust plain and simple. I am as guilty as anyone.

Hi Mary..

You are correct..

We must look in our own back yard first.. There we may well find the problem.. and it is us.. We are all guilty..

Ham