Newsletter: 01-01-2009
Teach the Good-News. Do it urgently!
GETTING TOGETHER: Call for this month’s Meeting Schedule.
We will have a split meeting the last weekend of this month due to the B.B.Q. at Bill J. Everyone is welcome! Bring your own steaks… Hamburgers and hot-dogs are provided – and there will be plenty of sodas and bottled water.
On to the TOPIC for this month… But first… Happy New Year everyone!
FUN NEW-YEAR PARTY! Now, back to the proverbial business at hand…
Positive Notes: Starting this year out right… This really makes us happy. We have heard from several of you about “good things happening to you already”. Three mortgages that were pending for some time, “have closed”. Several of you “got a job upgrade”, or “secured a ‘new job’!” Great…!
Quotation: ” ‘A bad lawyer can let a case drag out for several years, a good lawyer can make it last even longer’ – ‘The world is a dangerous place, NOT because of those who do evil [necessarily], but because of THOSE who look on and do NOTHING’ “. End Quote. (Albert Einstein)
Another definition that Albert Einstein gave was: Where he defined doing a “negative thing” again, as a form of: Quote “Insanity [is] doing the same thing over and over – expecting [a] different result [from doing the same thing again, and again]“. End of Quote. For instance…
If you have done something during the past year(s) that DID NOT work out for you, why would you want to repeat THAT same thing all over again THIS YEAR? Einstein suggested that following those same patterns of behavior(s), could be likened to a form of insanity – which it may or may not be (?). In any case, if you have encountered difficulties with some of your behaviors or action(s) in the past, just possibly mind you, it may be wisdom to re-consider them, and do things differently this year. It could be a New Year resolution… 
As to New Year Resolutions…:
More or less Six-And-One-Half-Billion people around the globe, are making their New Year’s resolutions just about now… Are you…? What is it!
Consideration:
My resolution this year is to reflect on my actions of last year, to see if there is anyone whom I may have hurt or damaged in some way, without meaning to. If there is some-body, and if I can make amends or restitution, I will do so, if in any way possible – setting a few days aside to accomplish that.
Over time, there have been a number of people that have talked with me and told me that they have hurt someone in some way. When I ask them “what did you do about that situation”, or “how did you resolve the matter”, their answer almost put me into some kind of mental shock. They invariably tell me “Oh, I prayed to God and asked Him to forgive me”. At times they have told me “Well, I said I was sorry…”. Sometimes, saying sorry is not enough.
Current teachings of some Christian denominations of “Once saved, always saved“, is in error and does not have Biblical base. It is erroneous and a false foundation for building faith on. Anyone may post to this BLOG stating why they feel different about this. Cite chapter and verse. Conversely, the Bible is clear that “a person can loose God’s approval and favor”, and hence “loose their salvation”. Anyone who adheres to the always saved teaching is invited to post their stance on our “General Questions” page under “Categories” – to the right. We are always willing to learn more about God’s Word. [1 Timothy 6:10]
We feel that the “Once Saved, Always Saved” philosophy causes some to be lacks in their faith. If someone believes that they “are saved and have attained eternal salvation”, the human tendency is to feel that: ” Since I got mine, why don’t you have yours?” This culminates into an ungodly presumptuousness and arrogant behavior – with some thinking they can do anything they want to now, since they already have obtained their eternal salvation. [Galatians 2:21] [Galatians 5:4]
In those regards, visit our post on Topic For Discussion “About Forgiveness” page under “Categories” to your right. The Bible is explicitly clear about how and in what way forgiveness can be obtained – it is really simple. If you do something that is offensive to God, humbly say you are sorry (in prayer) and do not do it again. Nonetheless due to human nature, “you will be forgiven up to seven times seventy times”. This scriptural-ly indicates almost without limit. Do not make a practice of that bad habit though. Do not do the same thing deliberately.
When sinning against fellow human beings, the rules are somewhat different. God says: “When you come to my altar with your prayer offerings, and you remember that [you have offended your brother], leave your gifts to me at the altar. First go to your brother and make amends and restitution to him, then return to my altar and make your offerings, which I will than accept”. No! It definitely is not enough to “Just say you’re sorry”. Hmmm.
Do you ever wonder why it seems your prayers are not heard…? 
