Born Again Christians Thread-No Bashing please

[wheezie]

Hello,

I've been a christian (born again or whatever you care to call me!!) since I was 15, at a youth camp. I am now 41 and live in the East End of London on an inner city estate which has been very challenging but rewarding over the past 14 years. I have a husband, three children aged 20,18 and 14 two are going on with God and one is having a massive struggle to find his way in life in general. I work as the administrator for my church (Tower Hamlets Community Church-yaaaaaaaah) in the afternoons and in the mornings I work as a caseworker for a Member of Parliament. We looooove God and serving Him here. So hello everyone from sunny London


Louise

PS we are off to WDW Florida on 13-27 August and want to attend church while we are away but dont want to end up somewhere we won't enjoy. We are used to non denominational, relaxed, a bit scruffy round the edges, guitars, loud drums etc type of service and worship. Is there anywhere that anyone knows might suit us??

 

[Albertan mom]

RE: tithes
When I get hubbys paycheque, it is directly deposited into our bank account. I then take the 10% off that, and immediately transfer it to another account (the tithing account only) I then write cheques from that account. We always give to our church, then sometimes to Compassion Canada, Missions, Focus on the Family, Billy Graham and others. Sometimes I will carry a balance on that account of a couple hundred dollars, but it is never removed from there. Then if something comes up, and it isn't close to payday, I can donate to that (there was a pro-life bike-athon a couple of weeks ago, a kid from the church came and asked for a donation, so I could donate him a large amount-because it was in the account, waiting) I find that the easiest for me, just to take Gods 'share' off first. (or maybe I should say, my 'share' last!)
I know we could argue here about how much to give, and whether it is on gross or net, and where it should be given, but like the original thread starter said, no debates please! I was just telling you how I do it so it doesn't seem like such a burden or hassle, to help the poster who asked for advice.

We went through some hard financial times a few years ago when DH was in college, we had a baby and big costs. God totally took care of us at that time. So when I see others struggling with finances, I give to them too. (there was a single mom of 3, moved to our church. I went and bought gift certificates for clothing stores, gas station, pizza place, swimming pool passes, grocery store and more, and left them with our church secretary, who called her in and gave it to her from an 'anonymous friend'. She said when she opened it she started crying, and said she really needed it, she was very broke.) or by giving to the food bank etc..
I know it is hard, but I think God wants us to be obedient in this area. I find it leaves me no guilt about 'am I giving enough?" or 'did I remember to tithe this month?" because it is just done first and foremost.

 

[ead79]

Hello everyone!

I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 6 years old. There was a revival at my church, and my dad rededicated his life to Christ one of the nights. I went with him into the room where they talked with you and explained things to you. Someone asked me if I wanted to accept Christ too, and I said no because I was really intimidated by all the adults in the room. Later on (not sure if it was that night or later that week) I told my parents that I did want to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I prayed to receive His gift of salvation with my parents that night. I was then baptized with my dad a little while later. I feel that one of the biggest blessings in my life is having grown up in a Christian household with two parents of faith.

I grew up active in the church attending Sunday School, camps, etc. In college I got out of the habit of church attendance, but have now resumed going regularly. I really need that weekly time of worship to get through my week. It is a really special time to me. When in college I was dating my now husband who did not grow up in a Christian home (more of all all roads lead to Rome home, if that makes sense). I shared with him about Christ and at first thought he was a Christian based on his answers. I later discovered that he wasn’t, but he then prayed to accept Christ and was baptized which was one of the best days of my life. I now very much enjoy singing in my church’s choir (even though most of the members are much older than me, LOL!). Music as a way of worship is very special to me. Like Buckalew said, I feel like I should be so much further in my walk with the Lord since I’ve been a Christian for 20 years, but I do think I’m pretty hard on myself.

I think my biggest struggle as a Christian (and I’m embarrassed to admit it), is that I rarely do a daily worship time with the Lord. I am struggling to make that part of my life, and I don’t know why exactly it’s so hard for me. When I do have time with the Lord I really enjoy it, so I’m not quite sure why it’s hard for me to keep up.

As for the finances thing, God really settled that issue for me on a choir tour mission trip I took in high school. We went to the Bahamas and were surprised to see the poverty that the people lived in. We live in a nice suburb of Atlanta, and I just don’t think it’s something that most of us had been exposed to. We went to our sponsor church in the Bahamas for Sunday worship, and there was a little sign on the wall that said figures like last week’s attendance, last week’s tithe, etc. The tithe section said that they had received $83 the previous week. It’s not that the members didn’t give, it’s that they gave all they could. I remember we all took bills from our wallets and put them in the plate that day. When the pastor said it was offering time, you have never seen so much excitement in giving as those church members had! I realized that if they could be joyful givers when they have so little, I could certainly be joyful too. I prayed that God would give me a joy in giving and that I would remember my blessings, and He truly has. I feel deeply blessed to have had that experience.

 

[live4christp1]

Hello,

I've been a christian (born again or whatever you care to call me!!) since I was 15, at a youth camp. I am now 41 and live in the East End of London on an inner city estate which has been very challenging but rewarding over the past 14 years. I have a husband, three children aged 20,18 and 14 two are going on with God and one is having a massive struggle to find his way in life in general. I work as the administrator for my church (Tower Hamlets Community Church-yaaaaaaaah) in the afternoons and in the mornings I work as a caseworker for a Member of Parliament. We looooove God and serving Him here. So hello everyone from sunny London


Louise

PS we are off to WDW Florida on 13-27 August and want to attend church while we are away but dont want to end up somewhere we won't enjoy. We are used to non denominational, relaxed, a bit scruffy round the edges, guitars, loud drums etc type of service and worship. Is there anywhere that anyone knows might suit us??

Hi Wheezie! Just wanted to say hello to you and tell you what a beautiful city you have. DH & I had the priveledge to visit in 2002, we were with a group from our church, visiting several missions families called from our church who are serving in the UK, we visited Belfast Ireland with friends there, Glasgow Scotlant with friends there, Stoke-On-Trent with friends there. We spent a day wandering around London and loved it!

 

[bytheblood]

Miss Jasmine,
I'm really interested in the prophetic books of the Old Testament and of Revelations, too! It's interesting how it's all slowly coming to be.

In my last course (I attend Bible College), I studied on the book of Revelation. I read a really good book called The Revelation of Jesus Christ by John Walvoord. It is good because it written factually, but objectionally. You might want to check it out.

 

[bytheblood]

I go to a Calvary Chapel.
God Bless you all.

I love Calvary Chapel. Who is your pastor? I live in TX and my pastor was Matt Dodd, but he moved to Oregon. Our new pastor is good, but I miss Pastor Matt.

I love Chuck Smith, Don McClure, John Coursen, Bob Davis, Greg Laurie, Hal Harless, Mike Fabarez..all of them. Do you ever listen to To Every Man an Answer? I LOVE that show. CSN is one of the only stations I listen to in the morning.

 

[DemonLlama]

I am a Christian, raised in a Christian home, truly began to have a relationship with Christ in college, when I was baptised and began worshipping with a progressive church of Christ, one that believes all followers of Christ, regardless of denomination, are united in Him.

Best book I've ever read: C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianty.

Can't recommend it highly enough!

 

[bytheblood]

FTR, I also believe we are living in the end times...just not sure how far into it we are right now!

I am right there with you. I believe that I will see/experience the Church Raptured in my lifetime. Come Lord Jesus!

 

[live4christp1]

Hello everyone!

I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 6 years old. There was a revival at my church, and my dad rededicated his life to Christ one of the nights. I went with him into the room where they talked with you and explained things to you. Someone asked me if I wanted to accept Christ too, and I said no because I was really intimidated by all the adults in the room. Later on (not sure if it was that night or later that week) I told my parents that I did want to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I prayed to receive His gift of salvation with my parents that night. I was then baptized with my dad a little while later. I feel that one of the biggest blessings in my life is having grown up in a Christian household with two parents of faith.

I grew up active in the church attending Sunday School, camps, etc. In college I got out of the habit of church attendance, but have now resumed going regularly. I really need that weekly time of worship to get through my week. It is a really special time to me. When in college I was dating my now husband who did not grow up in a Christian home (more of all all roads lead to Rome home, if that makes sense). I shared with him about Christ and at first thought he was a Christian based on his answers. I later discovered that he wasn’t, but he then prayed to accept Christ and was baptized which was one of the best days of my life. I now very much enjoy singing in my church’s choir (even though most of the members are much older than me, LOL!). Music as a way of worship is very special to me. Like Buckalew said, I feel like I should be so much further in my walk with the Lord since I’ve been a Christian for 20 years, but I do think I’m pretty hard on myself.

I think my biggest struggle as a Christian (and I’m embarrassed to admit it), is that I rarely do a daily worship time with the Lord. I am struggling to make that part of my life, and I don’t know why exactly it’s so hard for me. When I do have time with the Lord I really enjoy it, so I’m not quite sure why it’s hard for me to keep up.

As for the finances thing, God really settled that issue for me on a choir tour mission trip I took in high school. We went to the Bahamas and were surprised to see the poverty that the people lived in. We live in a nice suburb of Atlanta, and I just don’t think it’s something that most of us had been exposed to. We went to our sponsor church in the Bahamas for Sunday worship, and there was a little sign on the wall that said figures like last week’s attendance, last week’s tithe, etc. The tithe section said that they had received $83 the previous week. It’s not that the members didn’t give, it’s that they gave all they could. I remember we all took bills from our wallets and put them in the plate that day. When the pastor said it was offering time, you have never seen so much excitement in giving as those church members had! I realized that if they could be joyful givers when they have so little, I could certainly be joyful too. I prayed that God would give me a joy in giving and that I would remember my blessings, and He truly has. I feel deeply blessed to have had that experience.

Elisabeth, Thanks so much for sharing your story. I am sitting here at my desk trying to keep from crying as your story about the Bahamas touched me so much.


My problem mainly is trusting God to meet our needs. We don't really live above our means....we both drive older cars, one of which was bought used. We don't use credit cards, don't shop a lot. Our one thing that we probably do too often is eat out and we could cut back a good bit by cooking more meals at home, have been trying to do that here lately.....lots of fresh veggies in season. The only other thing that is not really a necessity is DS private school but I feel very strongly about this, my kids educations are very important to me and I don't feel like the public school in our area measures up (plus its in a different time zone than the one I work in which causes other issues and concerns). The school is 5 minutes from me and it is a Christian school were I know he is being challenged academically and growing spiritually.

Thanks for everyones responses. Keep any advice coming. Guess I really just need to get on a budget and start taking that first part off. Keep telling myself I'll do it when we get tuition caught up...........

 

[bytheblood]

I think there is some reference to homosexuality (maybe written by Paul) in the NT. I put no stock in the Book of Mormon so that has no relevance to me and my beliefs.

Not posting to debate, just to reply to your statement.

Biblical References:
Romans 1:26-27: "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence [sic] of their error which was meet."

1Corithians 6:9-10: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

1 Timothy 1:9-10 "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For *****mongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine."

Matthew 19:4-5:
"...at the beginning, the Creator 'made them male and female' and said 'For this reason man will leave his father and mother, and be united with his wife; and the two will become one flesh.'" (NIV)

 

[VW31]

Hi everyone! I just saw this thread, very cool! I'm glad a thread like this has started.
I saw the "heathen" thread, and was troubled by it. All I did was read the title and first post. I think it is really sad. We really need to be busy doing the work of the Lord and spreading the Gospel. No one should delight and take pleasure in being a "heathen" (like it's a joke!). Especially not when Jesus purchased the price for their salvation so they won't have to be "heathens"...(sigh)

 

[VW31]

by the way I'm in New York City and have been saved/born-again for 5 yrs

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

HI everyone... I will try to catch up on the rest of the thread, but I wanted to check in and say "hey".

 

[live4christp1]

Hi VW31 and Zippa, good to see you here!

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Tasha and Scott, I am also Southern Baptist, but I do not agree that just going to church gets you into heaven. Just like I don't believe that not going to church sends you to hell. Jesus is the way to heaven, not church attendance.

I was glad to read this! I didn't think all SB believed this but didn't know. Hopefully MIL's church is one of very few that does. Your views reflect ours so your church is a SB church that I might actually enjoy attending. Hopefully we will find something around here soon as well. I would like dd to grow up in church so that she might find some Christian friends to grow up with.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

RE: tithes
When I get hubbys paycheque, it is directly deposited into our bank account. I then take the 10% off that, and immediately transfer it to another account (the tithing account only) I then write cheques from that account.

Hmmm...that's an interesting idea! I never thought of that. I think we will have to start doing that. It would make it easier, I think.

I am right there with you. I believe that I will see/experience the Church Raptured in my lifetime. Come Lord Jesus!

I believe this too and can't wait!

 

[hyerpraise]

Hello All,
This is a great thread. Life can definitely get draining reading some of the anti-Christian threads on this board. I grew up not really in church but my parents had the Catholic background. I visited the Catholic Church very sparingly over my early years with my mom. I met my wife when I was 23 and when I visited here, I would attend their church. She was going to a non-denominational evangelical church which sort of startled me to say the least. The more I went with her, the more I enjoyed going. I thought I was saved but did not accept Christ until I was about 25. It was just me, her and Jesus and my wife prayed the sinner’s prayer with me. We now go to a Church of God in East Tennessee and really just love fellowshipping with the Lord. I constantly struggle with not giving God my all and not giving Him my time. God has been so faithful to us and has always covered us with His Grace and Mercy. He is great all of the time. Jesus is Awesome.

Does anyone listen to Christian Music? I love Fernando Ortega, Selah, 4-Him, Newsong, Third Day.

M&C

 

[ead79]

Tasha+Scott, we also attend a Southern Baptist church, and I can assure you that not all churches believe what your MIL’s church does. As a matter of fact, I think the Southern Baptist Convention would take great issue with her church if they found out about that incorrect teaching. Good luck with your church search (hey, that rhymes!).

 

[2BOYMOM]

Does anyone listen to Christian Music? I love Fernando Ortega, Selah, 4-Him, Newsong, Third Day.

I love Third Day too! Also love Todd Agnew.



Kim

 

[live4christp1]

Hey Hyerpraise and 2Boymom! You both need to drop by the Christian music thread and sing with us. Some of us post lyrics every day or just check in to see what others have posted. I like all the groups you named plus Newsboys, Phillips, Craig, & Dean, Audio A, well just about all of them basically. Love going to Christian concerts.

BTW Hyerpraise.....hello fellow Tennessean......we are right outside Chattanooga Tennessee.