Where To Go From Here

[Tundrawolf]

Pray. Pray. Pray.

[animewarrior]

Which is silly. Noone even knows me... =[

I may not know you however your spirit shines through your writing. As a fellow Christian and even if you are unsure if you are even a Christian I love you as a fellow human being. I try to see everyone's reaseons for doing the things they do. Heck, I love murderers in that sense. I care what happens to you. I think you'd be suprised about how many people across the globe care about you even in this moment.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT ISN'T PREACHY.

I struggled with this FOREVER (still am actually)
The main point is not to go "GOD LOVES YOU BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS SO!!" that is the worst thing ever. so annoying. The main thing is to be yourself. I tend to shy away from mentioning God in conversations becuase of this actually. You need to let these friends of yours to find God for themselves. Show them in the way you act and when you feel the ice breaking, bring up "what they think God is".

Check their reactions and figure out why they feel the way they feel.. for those feeling God is a harsh ruler with no care for humanity try:
The Jesus I Never Knew - Phillip Yancy
Athiests -
The Case for Christ - Lee Strobel

Hope that helps a bit.
-animewarrior

[ShiroiHikari]

Some people here need to take a Theology class or something...

What are you talking about?

[xblack_x_rosesx]

Ok, so... things are already working out.

I mean, I was all concerned about going to the city to see Josh **
And I talked to my parents about it and they said I could go visit him
But I was so scared to actually do the driving

But his parents are bringing him back into town.
So yeah...
=D
Things are working out... starting to for him I guess...
praying is already working... gosh.

[Lochaber Axe]

Ok, so... things are already working out.

I mean, I was all concerned about going to the city to see Josh **
And I talked to my parents about it and they said I could go visit him
But I was so scared to actually do the driving

But his parents are bringing him back into town.
So yeah...
=D
Things are working out... starting to for him I guess...
praying is already working... gosh.

Good, continue praying with all your heart, mind, and soul. Even if it is just as simple as "Lord, protect him", let it echo through yourself for as long as you can handle it. When you pray, simply talk to God... no formulas, no twisting or turning to try to get God to do something... just how you would really approach a Father, a Lord, and a King.

The Church today is a corrupt, dying thing... it is thus because it is temporary. However, Christ himself is perfect and everlasting. Whatever the worldly Church does, it doesn't change the Person and Essence of Christ. He is your foundation... and oh what a glorious foundation it is! I have myself withdrawn from this foundation at my unhappiness and despair, but God is always waiting, not with condemnation, but as the Prodigal Son's father. God is always waiting with royal sandals and clothes, a ring of authority, and a party set aside for those who return to him.

On witnessing... don't worry. First and foremost, continue the two commandments: love God with all your heart and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Start here, and embrace them whole-heartedly. This is the fruit which bears your salvation and the salvation of those you love or maybe don't even know very well.

Homosexuality is a sin... but we are still to love the homosexual.
Murder is a sin... but we are still to love the murderer.
Rape is a sin... but we are still to love the rapists.

In Christ is there the only place and person where man can find salvation. This is not because He is some kind of bunker where we'll hide out as God burns the world with a malicious and bloodthirsty look in His eyes, but because Christ has found the only way to allow us into the presence of God. Salvation is to reattain what Adam and Eve threw away. Humanity's forever peace and happiness is found only in God... for that is what we were made for. It is our entire existence. It should have been our existence on Earth, but... well... you know.

"Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

All means all. If God will feed you, give you drink, and clothe you... what greater things will He not give you? But remember, as I've said, that our existence is tied to God's presence, so since God does not have his tangible presence on Earth... you may face starvation, thirst, and nakedness on this world. But if you follow that scripture, it can never consume you... you WILL rise above it.

Forgive me if this doesn't help you as much as I probably wish it would. These words are flowing out of me like water.

To love...

Step totally into those two words, and see your life make sense.

[Puguni]

I find it best to show by example. You know that saying about walking the walk. No one's going to really listen if you just talk without action beyond words, because they've heard it before.

I think it's also bad judgment to condemn others for their actions. I read this quote somewhere about how not even God is going to judge you until you die. So, yeah. Criticism doesn't get you far.

[Paul]

Hello xblack_x_rosesx, here's my take. Why are you so confused? It seems to me you're hanging around bad influence. You have friends who try to commit suicide. People who tell you one thing and say another. God's word tells us not to hang around ungodly people. Here let me show a scripture...

"Revelations 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

And then there's Luke13:22-30 which says- 22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
He said to them, 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.'
"But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

26"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'

27"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'

28"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

Those are your friends who say they are Christians and yet have unmarried sex and try suicide. I didn't say it, God's word did because their ways are not God's. When you hang around them, you are influenced by them.

Got one more scripture for you. Rom. Ch.1. It's too much to put on the thread so read it. But the second half main point is about homosexuality. Most saved born again redeamed former homosexuals stand on these scriptures as bringing them back to grace. It points out that the reason why homosexuals live the way they do, is becuse they rejected God. God said it, not me, it's in the word.

Oh, How to be a bible thumper. Fred Rogers was an expert. He was also known as Mr. Rogers from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. You just love people. Show them you live for God by your actions, and not your words. Talk is cheap, people want to see you live it. In close examination of the Bible, the most powerful influencial people through out pages were doer's of the word. We were all called to take the light, but given different ways of carrying it. I'm terrible at witnessing. But when I draw anime/manga and present it in that format, lives change.

God must have given you an incredible gift of art. I'm talking about Japanimation, Manga, the graphic arts. Perhaps you're not happy, because you don't have a vision. Or a reason live for God. Use Manga and Anime to do it. The attraction of Anime got you here to this site, so did it attract me. Don't you think maybe God is trying to get you to use it for his purpose? Can you image your friends saved, peoples lives changed, because you allowed God to use Manga and Anime through you.

That's Vision!

Go for it, and see God use it to change your life.

[oro!]

Black roses,

I'm not in the same situation as you find yourself, but I've also had a friend who tried to commit suicide, friends who've turned themselves from the truth, friends who are into the bad things in life. The bad thing was that I let them become too close to me- I let them in a way control me. I thought that I was in control, that I was a strong enough Christian to take their sin...but even though I did not do what they did, they still influenced my thoughts and over the past year, I've had a real struggle for this thing called truth. I've had real doubts, real pain over choices I had no way to prevent...
Black roses, the Christian life isn't easy. And the one who called us to follow him never promised that it would be- in fact, he said it would be very hard to follow him. But Jesus also said that it's something that's doable-if you follow the Spirit, if you let him lead you.
Right now, you're making some mistakes. I'm not saying that to judge you; I'm saying it so that you don't have to have pain later on. Heck, I'm the same age as you.I've been through some of what you have; I can see where you're coming from.
But having a non-Christian boyfriend is not smart; in fact, it's completely against what God wants for our lives. Think about it this way: One day, you may actually marry this guy. Most likely he still won't be a Christian. This happened to my aunt. After more than 20 years of marriage, the man she married(as far as I know) still believes what she believes is hogwash. He obviously can't lead in spiritual areas, so it's up to my aunt. That's not how it's supposed to happen. Date a guy that you can follow. I almost dated a couple of guys, but though they were hotties they totally were lost when it came to the most important thing in life: God
Umm, there's more I could say, but reading the Bible and going to meet with other Christians are some good things to get you started...I mean, the Christian life was never meant to be a solitary one, nor one that's self-led.