Hi Kids!

Just thought I’d share a thought with all of you

This passage is why I came to this forum!

2nd Timothy 22 So turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with purity of heart.

This is what we all need to remember the next someone tries to get under our skin about our faith and why we do what we do!

2nd Timothy 23 Avoid foolish and ignorant debates, for you know that they breed quarrels. 24 A slave of the Lord should not quarrel, but should be gentle with everyone, able to teach, tolerant, 25 correcting opponents with kindness. It may be that God will grant them repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they may return to their senses out of the devil's snare, where they are entrapped by him, for his will.

You can give the same explanation over and over and some people are not going to get it! They are just here to argue! I have read the same answers to the same questions many times in this forum and it frustrates me to hear the same questions asked over and over and the same people trying to start an argument with anyone they can. I’m not talking about the people who come here to ask and honest question, I refer to those who want nothing more than to muddy the waters. I’m glad that some people here realize that there are people out there on a quest for faith (like me!) who need answers to some questions. I thank everyone who has helped me with my previous posts and I hope to have many more discussions with those who do the Lords work.

May God bless and keep you all!

-- Bid Dave (big.dave@earthlink.net), March 09, 2005

Answers

Big Dave,

I really like the quotes you picked out. I find strength in them. However, do you think that a protestant could just as easily use those lines to support their beliefs? I like the words a lot, I just don't know how to apply them to Catholics, exclusively.

-- AB (lifey888@hotmail.com), March 10, 2005.

I htink the main point was to avoid unenssisary conflict, of whych I agree with wholly.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), March 10, 2005.

I didn’t intend for them to apply exclusively to Catholics. I myself am Catholic and read this forum everyday to find insight and wisdom and to strengthen my convictions. There are many verses in the Bible that could be taken out of context. For example if we read Mark 8:33 out of context we would think that Peter was satan!

First and foremost I just wanted to let everyone know how I came to be in this place in cyber-space.

Secondarily I wanted to let everyone know that we should not fall into the snare of those who want nothing more than to argue and to try and get someone to slip up and say something that they can attack further. Post answers to questions that are from those with a pure heart, those (like me) who are seeking spiritual fulfillment and answers to questions of faith. Post answers to questions like “Why do we do this” or “How do I…”. The forum topics seem to spiral out of control. For example I posted a question about the abstinence from meat on Fridays during Lent and the post quickly became an argument about the validity of infant baptism and about priests not being allowed to marry! Why did this question about meat turn into an argument about baptism and priests? Simply because someone wanted to start an argument. A discussion is civil and an argument is something more vile. I remember reading something about “Blessed are the peacemakers…”, it was said by this really cool guy named Jesus. I am all for defending the faith and answering those tough questions about what we believe, but try not to lower the discussion to the level of an argument.

Another quote that I love and applies here is from Dilbert “Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!”

Like I said in the title of the post, its just a thought.

Peace and Love from God above!

Big Dave

-- Big Dave (big.dave@earthlink.net), March 10, 2005.

Again, I lend ascent to these sentements Big Dave.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), March 10, 2005.

Ok "bid dave". Good job kid.

-- ttt (TTTT@TTT..), March 10, 2005.

Sorry about the “Bid Dave” in the original post, I have a typing impediment sometimes. Peace and Love from God above

-- Big Dave (big.dave@earthlink.net), March 11, 2005.

Considring how I type, no one should notice...

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), March 11, 2005.