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Post by Pastor Michelle on Aug 7, 2012 16:30:53 GMT -5
Hi! I'm Pastor Michelle Whitlock and I look forward to sharing in the conversation with you. I hope to see new things within familiar passages and experience the book of Matthew as large whole. i also hope to connect with some of you in a new way!
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Post by nitrorichfire on Aug 28, 2012 6:35:43 GMT -5
Thank you Pastor Michelle for setting up this learning page!
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Post by Pastor Michelle on Aug 28, 2012 12:40:56 GMT -5
You're welcome. Sorry I'm behind on posting replies. I'm working on it today. Please invite others to join the conversation! By the way - who is nitrorichfire, anyway?  |
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Post by nitrorichfire on Aug 29, 2012 6:51:21 GMT -5
NitroRichFire, I am just another sinner, I am not a member of your church yet. My wife and I grew up in the Methodist Church, her in Florida, me in Maryland. As we became teenagers, we grew away from the church and neither of us had read the entire Bible, but we still believed in GOD, just didn't go to church any more. Things changed a couple of years ago, (very long story, too long to post here), I have since then, read the Bible and it drew me back to finding and following GOD. Now I am patiently tiring to get my lovely wife to read the Bible, she is starting to read it. If I told you my name you would not know me. My sister attends this church > www.potomac-umc.org/ My wife and I have attended my sister's church a couple of times, but not on good occasions, family funerals. I listened very carefully to the service by the Pastor to see if she was following the Bible and she did, other wise I was going to ask her to show me in the Bible where it said what she just preached, if her sermon did not follow GOD's word. I have been around many different churches in my over 50 years here on earth. Catholic, Episcopal, Mormon, SDA, Spiritualism to name most of them. Now that I have read the Bible, I am always scratching my head listening to what is said. It doesn't seem to follow what is written in the Bible. Example: We attended a funeral, and the preacher said "Well Jim's now with JESUS in Heaven, so he's doing fine." I'm thinking to myself, where in the Bible does it said that when someone dies, they go right to Heaven? I haven't found it, that's why I am re-reading the Bible again. Maybe my simple mind missed that part. Oh my, this is turning into a book and I am sure you are bored to tears by now. Well some Sunday you will meet us, but until then may your health and your successes in life continue to serve you well! GOD Bless You Pastor Michelle! |
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Post by Pastor Michelle on Aug 29, 2012 18:13:12 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself! It helps me to know a bit about who I'm talking with. We are new to this online thing. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Feel free to email me at mwhitlock@susumc.org with any questions. I hope I do get to meet you some day. |
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Post by kingdomseeker on Sept 3, 2012 10:38:34 GMT -5
Christ Peace Pastor Michelle,
First I want to thank you for hosting the Sunday night cafe. It is very encouraging and uplifting to be a part of the cafe as the discussions we take part in lend themselves not only to growing and maturing in the faith but just as importantly how that faith interacts with the culture at large. My journey of faith led me through a journey with cancer and heart problems. Through these difficulties God has taught me to dig deeper, think deeper, love deeper and live deeper than I ever would have been able to without the journey. This deeper desire for God has led me into the study of religion, philosophy and apologetics as I realized the necessity of confronting this ever darkening world with the True salt and light of Christ. All one has to do is watch the news or read a newspaper to see right off how far our culture has fallen into darkness. I am encouraged that opportunities such as the cafe and this site offer ways for the faithful to uplift, share and encourage one another as we all face the cosmic battle that rages around us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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Post by kingdomseeker on Sept 3, 2012 10:53:00 GMT -5
Hi NitroRichFire,
It is great to make your acquaintance! The passages below came to mind right away in regards to the immediacy of heaven upon death. There are probably more but this should suffice.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
I hope this helps!
God Bless
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Post by pmerrill on Sept 3, 2012 15:44:42 GMT -5
Hello NitroRichFire, by the way, how did you come with that name?..I just wanted to welcome you to our discussions and after reading what you have posted, it is aparrent the Holy Spirit dwells in you. Also, please try to attend our Cafe, very informal and it is fun to see where the Holy Spirit guides us in our discussions. In Christ Love, Paul
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Post by kingdomseeker on Sept 5, 2012 13:10:01 GMT -5
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