Time for more venting lol

[Ticker OCS]

I've been hearing this a lot lately "2012! 2012! 2012!" "Oh I better get to church, now I gotta get there now or suffer eternal torture with the devil" My response (being stubborn and blunt as I am" "WHAT!?!?"..."Have you not seen the church until now or before today?" ..."Have you not ever thanked God for just the simplest thing?"
  I've come to the realization that these people want to pursue "the church" to save themselves from torment in the pits of hell. Not because they want to serve the Lord. So therefore I'm having great difficulty dealing with this topic when it comes up. It's always a good thing to see a lost soul want to go to church, but at the same time I feel like they are only doing it as I said "because they're scared" kind of a pre-fabrication for their souls. So I tell them, go to church and give your heart to God. If you walk away from the altar feeling like you did before you went to the altar, then it isn't in your heart, go back again. So they say "But how do I do that" so I commence to tell them about how to get saved, it seems by the time I'm done, the fear is gone ...for a while.
  So what should we do? If we can't fully commit our heart to the Lord,then what is filling the empty space? It's not of God I can tell you that. I know I wont sleep on when it comes time to pray. You all know of when Jesus went to pray, and then came back and found them all asleep and said to Peter "What, could ye not watch with me  one hour" I don't think the numbers 2012 have any meaning, they don't to me anyhow. I try to convince these people that being saved and baptized in the Lord's name isn't something that is scheduled, tommorow doesn't always come,and procrastinating against the Lord isn't wise. " And they say "but I have so many friends who will think I'm a loon if I become a christian" Matthew 10:32-3332"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."

 33"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
 We had some earhquakes here in Indiana a week or so ago, they came from Illinois but we felt them. So all day long I heard "Oh no, "Earthquakes in divers places"   Okay what about the rest of that scripture? "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."
 This is all happening RIGHT NOW! and no it's not a coincedence, it is exactly as it is foretold in the Bible. I think when Jesus does come back, we're all gonna know it, we won't have time to go "oh...the ground shook....what was that Bible story...can't remember" Give me a break. Since when is Christianity a leisurly activity? We need to be prayed up and ready to go, we need to know in our hearts that we have sufficiently served the Lord to the best of our ability. I for one can't wait for Wedensday and Sunday. I get jittery and anxious I'm ready to go to church lol. Going to church is going to a place that puts me even closer to the Lord. And even though I've done it for over half of my lifes years, I still find it that there are things left undone.
  All we can do is talk to these poor souls, offer them the shoulder they need and the hand to lead them to church. Get them there, and the Lord will take over at that point. I know this stuff all sounds off the wall. But there are some things that just churn inside me and eat at me until they come out somewhere. If I can light a fire under some people I'm gonna do it. Jeremiah 23:9 "Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake: I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of His holiness." Jeremiah 20:9" Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name. But His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones,and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" I feel like Jeremiah sometimes, I can't withold the words of God, so I will tell them to anyone....hopefully they'll listen.  

[The Deacon OCS]

Interesting Ticker.

According to their calendar, the Maya (Mayan culture of Central America) believed that their world would end on Dec 21, 2012. So these people that are yelling 2012, actually are following the end times prophecy of a deranged and evil culture that no longer exists. Study the Mayan culture and you will see the many gods they prayed to and the human sacrifices they performed. The Mayan calendar ends on 12/21/12. The Mayans prophesied that from 1999 we have 13 years to realize the changes in our conscious attitude to stray from the path of self-destruction and instead move onto a path that opens our consciousness to integrate us with all that exists.

The Mayan religion was an obvious cult. Many people who now believe in their preachings call it a "New Age" religion. This 2012 is just another date like when everyone thought the world would end in the year 2,000.

The Bible does not say there will be an "end of the world. The Bible does say that there will be an "end of an age". The Bible says that no man ,not even Christ, will know the time. However, we will know the "season" of the time for this to come to pass. So when you hear men or civilizations give a date for the end of the world, you can rest assured that they are all wrong.

If people are running to the "church" because of 2012, they are going for the wrong reason. Look how many people ran to the church after Sept. 11, 2001. Most forgot about God after only a month or so.  However, I am happy they are going to church and perhaps some will stay to hear the truth. However, what kind of church they are going to may be another issue entirely.

[Ticker OCS]

Exactly Deacon, they want to wait around until they are fearing for their lives and THEN go to church, as you said, they're welcome there...hopefully they'll stay.

[Mouko OCS]

I understand your frustration, believe me.  This same old story has been around forever...people wanting a "fire-insurance policy," they want to "add" Christ to their life, and to many of them, Christianity is a way of life...all three thoughts leading straight to hell.

We don't "add" Christ to our lives, He IS our life.  Life in Him is not a way of life, it is THE way to life.  And like you guys were saying, if all He is to us is a fire-insurance policy, well those burn just as quick. 

Some, who actually take the time to read my posts...heh heh...may remember "God of Convenience."  Maybe it would be appropriate for this.  If Jesus Christ is anything less than our total life, if He does not permeate EVERY aspect of our lives, we have to question whether we are His at all.

[Nighthawk]

AMEN Mouko and guys i dont know when it will happen i just try to stay focused on my personal relationship with him and i know he will handle the rest  and thats why we must stay stead fast and persisten in reaching the lost and bring them in for i dont know the day but I personaly cant hardly wait for my savior to come for us 

[The Deacon OCS]

And, rather than attempt to put a date on it, we are to pray for true peace in Israel and for Christ's return. Peace in Israel and Christ's return are intertwined with each other.

[PureKnight OCS]

This is calling to fervent prayer. Nothing is greater movement than prayer. I strongly believe the prayer change the course of the heart of men. Prayer is the activation of Holy Spirit. With Jesus' intercession, we can accomplish greater thing. I think it is a key for us to display our love and confident for Jesus is to show them, not tell them. I reach many souls in that way, and with a prayer, of course. I think I should post new post about prayer. Give me a time as I have few beautiful acticle and topic on it. It would be fun.