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My mother would get very cribbly if for some reason I'd take off my shoes from outside and put them on the family table. I have no idea why I did that, but on the few times I did she would worryingly say that we will have bad luck come if I kept doing that. Also, when I spilt my milk she'd swiftly take a pinch of salt out of the small salt container and throw it over her left shoulder. She said later it was to ward off bad luck. And in the course of conversations talking about future plans she'd knock on wood. I have no idea what she was accomplishing by doing that. She was a very strong believer in what the Catholic church taught her. But I wonder now at times when the belief began in some things such as magic or luck to have the power to affect her life. There are thousands of people out there with irrational beliefs arising from ignorance or fear. The power of imagination is not to be underestimated.

In at least some cases it is also necessary for trinitarians to believe that something that the New Testament specifically tells us was done by the Holy Spirit was actually done by the Father himself rather than being the work of a separate personality called the Holy Spirit acting as a "third person of the Godhead". The New Testament tells us specifically that it was the Holy Spirit that was responsible for conceiving Jesus within Mary his mother. The fact that the Holy Spirit was the active agent responsible for the pregnancy of Mary presents a significant problem for the trinitarian doctrine. If the Holy Spirit is a separate personality that acts separately from God the Father then who would "God the Father" be the father of, since the New Testament is clear that it was the Holy Spirit that actually fathered Jesus? Why would "the Father" be called "the Father" if there existed a separate "third person of the Godhead" that was actually responsible for fathering Jesus? When trinitarians venture to answer this dilemma at all, they try to brush it off with the assumption that the actions of the Holy Spirit in this one case should be attributed to the Father instead. By doing so trinitarians seem to accept and even insist on using (in just this one case) the proper Old Testament (and New Testament) understanding that the "Holy Spirit" (literally the "holy breath" or "holy wind") is actually an integral part of YHWH or Elohim himself rather than a separate personality acting separately from YHWH or Elohim as a "third person of the Godhead". If trinitarians could take that correct Biblical understanding, which they use in the case of the Holy Spirit fathering Jesus, and extend that correct understanding to all the other instances where the New Testament speaks of the actions of YHWH himself as being done by the "holy breath", then a major obstacle that prevents Jews from accepting Jesus as the true Messiah would be removed.

In my opinion - "soul-sleep" and with it, the understanding that the "second death" is annihilation. Why? Because believing that Yahweh would allow a human being He has created to exist in unending conscious torment, engenders such FEAR, that trust and love are impossible. I could not love someone I believed capable of torturing me for 5 minutes - much less for eternity. No one can pray to God as to a Father, if she believes that He may consign her to unending torment.

Acorn – England Acorns are considered to be lucky, especially in England. The belief in the happiness of the Celtic druids can be traced back. According to stories, the Druids had carried oak leaves and dried acorns during the Norman conquest, because they considered them to be sacred and to have the luck on their side. Today acorns are regarded as a symbol of happiness, prosperity and strength. Bambus – China In China, he is considered to be one of the oldest fortune-tellers: the lucky bamboo. It symbolizes happiness, money and success and is happily given away in China for birthdays, weddings or business openings. In addition, the "Lucky Bamboo" is also used in Feng Shui, because it favors growth, strength, vitality and vital energy. Therefore, one can hope for a particularly good luck by placing the bamboo in the southeast area of the apartment. Elefants – Indien Elephants are seen all over the world as a symbol of happiness, intelligence, wisdom, strength and longevity. Especially in the Hindu-influenced India, they are regarded as lucky. For there, the god Ganesha possesses an elephant head and is responsible for success and happiness. Whether wood or marble, on patterned fabrics, on wall rugs or as amulets and ornaments, the elephants meet us in India everywhere. It should be richly decorated and adorned. As a statue, the elephant is particularly lucky when he carries his trunk high - as elephants welcome. Maneki-neko – Japan Probably hardly anyone has seen this fortune-maker anywhere. Maneki-neko, also known as waving cat, is a popular lucky cat in the form of a cat sitting upright. The raised right paw symbolizes happiness and health, but the left paw is raised, should be attracted to clientele. Because the cat is preferred in entrances of shops in shopping malls, restaurants or lotteries. At exhibitions and market places, the cat is to provide financial and business happiness. In the private household, she is happily placed to bring prosperity and keep away misfortune. Nazar boncuk – Türkei A "Nazar boncuk" (Nazar-pearl) is an eye-shaped, blue amulet, which is widely used in Turkey. The term originally comes from the Arabic expression "Nazar" and means "Blick" (among other things). According to this, the amulet is supposed to ward off the "evil eye" and is therefore also regarded as a fortune-teller. According to popular belief, people with the evil eye can harm other people. Nazar boncuks are to protect everything. Thus, they are often attached to clothes, especially by small children, hanging on the interior mirrors of cars or on entrance doors of houses or serving as decorations on the key pendant. Bats – China, Bali In European cultures, bats are considered rather sinister. But in China it is believed that especially red bats teach the devil the fear. For this reason the red bat is a symbol of long life and happiness. Besides, the Chinese character sounds just like that for happiness. Also in Bali, red bats are considered lucky symbols and sacred. There they are even venerated in special temples. Therefore, jewelry, amulets or trailers with bat motifs are often given away in these countries as lucky charms. Also as ornaments, as carvings on wooden doors or on fabrics embroidered one encounters the bat. Equipped with corresponding amulets, you are well protected, especially disaster and happiness and joy. Skarabäus – Ägypten Many people would feel disgusted at the sight of this lucky bearer: the scarab. A beetle that had a great significance many centuries ago. It is the symbol of life and resurrection, and thus represents a kind of fortune-teller. Its function as a fortune-bearer and also as a symbol of protection dates back to the flood period in ancient Egypt. At that time, the population believed that scarabs were able to recognize the important "Nile high water" at an early stage. The beetles moved away from the water and went into the houses of the Egyptians. Because of the constant drought, they were very happy about it and knew that the long-awaited flood that they needed for their harvest would finally come. Today, as a fortune-teller, jewelry and amulets are worn there in the form, color and style of a scarab. carp scales – Tschechien, Slowakei In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the carp is not only a delicacy for the turn of the year, but also a lucky winner. If you keep a carp scoop in your purse, you will be waving rich money in the new year. Even in the Stone Age, hunters pushed a shed as a fortune-maker behind the loincloth. Also in China, the carp dish is a New Year's feast. Here the fish wealth promises, because the Chinese pronunciation of the words "fish" and "excess" is almost identical. Hand of Fatima – Islamisch Lands In Islamic countries, the so-called hand of Fatima is a popular fortune-teller. On the one hand, the sacred hand with its unique form is regarded as a distance gesture and, like the Turkish Nazar pearl, is supposed to ward off the "evil eye". On the other hand, it is the symbol of strength and happiness as a "blessing hand". The name "Fatima" goes back to Fatima, the youngest daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. This lucky charm can also be found in Islamic culture on many doors where it is used for protection. The Fatima hand nowadays is also encountered in many other forms: as a decoration, a wall decoration, an accessory or even a tattoo, it is a very popular symbol of protection and happiness.

No, just another fool speaking!! Has nothing to do with left or right!!!!! By the way, she's left of what? Because to be left of one thing, you'd have to be right of something else!! No she's just another fool opening her mouth!!

No!! What you have is a idiot!! Because you have the same thing on the other side!! People that are in love with labels, as far as I'm concerned, are worse!

How many brownie points does it take to get a Stan Jensen wobble-head?

According to Rev. 4, there are 25 thrones in heaven. " At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. (Rev. 4:2-4) Do I get a prize for answering correctly?

I took Joe's use of YHVH to be saying that the "God" he worships, is the One described in the OT, who led Israel from Egypt, and spoke His covenant from the Mount.

Ron spoke of the conception of Jesus in Mary's womb. What about the resurrection of Christ. Who is credited with that? Who raised Jesus from death? Answer: God the Father Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead,” Ephesians 1:17-20 “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,” Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who (or which) dwells in you." Matthew 10:20 "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." Romans 8:9 "Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." Is the spirit OF the Father, another divine being who does His work for Him, because the Father is not omnipresent? I don't believe so. The Father has Spirit, and Christ has Spirit. It is like saying they both have a mouth, or eyes, or arms. They both have "breath". My mouth is not another person, and neither is the sound of my voice, traveling through the air. And neither is God's Spirit which goes out from Him, into all the universe. Matthew 6:6 Jesus said, "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6:18 "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

the University of Delaware has basically fired Katherine Dettwyler for her comments, which is as it should be. I could write a lot more about the disgusting persona of Dettwyler, but I won't. It's so very sad that Otto Warmbier died, and I think North Korea should be held accountable (though we all know nothing but rhetoric will happen). That said, I think it was incredibly stupid of Mr. Warmbier to visit North Korea — a place that treats its own citizens with disdain, and doesn't think twice about murdering people who darest have a thought of their own..

And why do you think that those baptized left? From my experience it had nothing to do with the meeting per say!! Because after the meetings is when the one to one is the most important! I remember when living and going to evangelistic meetings back in the 60's in NYC. The pastor, these were meetings for the Jewish people in NY, would get a good number of Jews and others baptized and within months the Jewish ones would be gone, but the others would still be there!! It seemed that our members would mingle with the non Jews, but not with the Jewish ones. Just as any evangelistic meeting ends, that's when the one to one takes over! So if no one keeps up with that individual fellowship, than the evangelistic series definitely loses its meaning and seems outdated. To me its that fellowship, be it one on one or in that big meeting, that's missing!!

Way-ta-go! That's the truth. It's also my vision of proper outreach with lasting effects when a true conversion takes place. You used a very apt description of the analogy between Government script and meal-ticket buying before Sabbath hours. I liked that. For the sake of being polite I try not to downgrade established customs of this denomination. So far be it for me to downgrade the habits of camp meetings as they are right now. However, I firmly believe that this new generation of young adults should come together to their own pow-wow for writing up a new revamped agenda of how camp meeting ought to be organized and executed.

Thank you. John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

LIFEHISCOST dgrimm60