StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

re: that's not biblical. Folks are sinners, haters of God, lovers of self, they are to be told the truth of their condition and unless God changes their heart, they will stay in rebellion forever. Sinners don't want God...period.

People are sinners, that is true. It is NOT true that all are "haters of God, lovers of self". If " Sinners don't want God...period." you would be wasting your time talking to them.

A person who is a 'sinner' and wants help, will look for people who have what they want, and ask. In John 13:34-35 Jesus told us how to live so that they will know that we have is what they are looking for. This is how the early church grew so fast and in about 300 years covered the whole Roman empire.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Nope. It IS true that all folks are sinners and haters of God (if the bible is true and it is) but that doesn't equate with "wasting my time" at all. God must turn these haters of God into lovers of God (that's what the bible says about it.) If we didn't believe that then yes...it would be futile but I do believe that God changes men's dark hearts from stone to flesh (which is what the bible says he does)



The early church grew fast because folks didn't water down the message as you are doing. They boldly told the truth and almost to a man they were murdered for doing so. Read Foxx's book of Martyrs...it's enlightening.

I'm done with this..I'm glad you brought it up though so that folks can see the the difference between a man-centered/watered down fake-gospel message and the real actual gospel message.

have a good day.

StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

]The early church grew fast because folks didn't water down the message as you are doing. They boldly told the truth and almost to a man they were murdered for doing so. Read Foxx's book of Martyrs...it's enlightening.

I'm done with this..I'm glad you brought it up though so that folks can see the the difference between a man-centered/watered down fake-gospel message and the real actual gospel message. have a good day.[/quote]

It seems to me that your gospel is the 'fake one'. The early church grew because they kept both the first and second law of Moses and the additional one given by Jesus. God loves us and wants us to love others. That is why He sent Jesus. (John 3:15-16). Go check for yourself - there are historical records to be found on the internet.

Have a good day too:

canonclicker

CSand, how do I use Photography combined with the Christian life? I have always wondered what it would be like to be a writer. I was a poor student and when I was around 68 I was in a position where I HAD to write Christian stories to guide people. I go back to the early stories and can't understand how the readers thought they were so good. God must have used them to get the readers to think they were interesting or something they needed. Now that time has gone by I can see how God has developed a writing style of my own and I get many letters asking me to not stop writing 'Thoughts to Ponder'. I am 82 and would like to do something else, but I can't let my readers or my Savior down.

I use my life with all my failures and tell how God has helped. It is sometimes embarrassing, and most people won't tell their negatives in life, but if I can use the negatives to build positives and it is worth it. Now for the photography? I use my nature photos to also use as an added interest factor. I've used black bear, bighorn, mule deer, bobcat, mountain lion, plus all the little creatures that come into the oasis that God has given to us. I'm in the California desert and it's not like the beautiful mountains like the Tetons. Our area has the Big Morongo Nature Preserve, the Whitewater Nature Preserve plus many others that use a trail camera to show the animals in a natural state when people are not around. I also find that more of us should use our skills as photography and writing in our own way so many others will know our Creator as He wants us to know Him. I have many non-Christians who read the letters in at least a dozen countries.

Many years ago I read somewhere that God wants us to use our talents, and if we use them wisely He will magnify them and trust us with more talents. I see this as true for now I have so many skills that I can do so many things I never thought possible. I have spend the last 3 months perfecting my skills of Extreme Macro photography. 'Sippyjug 104' is my teacher for he occasionally shows his tiny bug photos. My readers will just be amazed at what happens in the lives of the tiny world. He is so generous and shows all the equipment necessary.

If this means anything to you try Christian writing including your photography. Your will find great rewards.

I would show my first of a white fuzzy moth or butterfly but haven't learned how to add them to this reply.

This is my first time to visit this site and find it refreshing, especially as I received an email yesterday from a man who could be a Portland abuser. I told my wife that if Jesus was here He would try to get him to learn to be filled with peace. Blessings on each one of you!

StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

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Hi canonclicker,

This was a pleasure to read. I am two years ahead of you - and what we can do or want to do changes. One of the main things to keep one's brain healthy is to learn something new every year. You have many skills, start using them.

re" I am 82 and would like to do something else, but I can't let my readers or my Savior down." You won't be - If something loses it's interest - put it on the shelf, as it were, even for just a time and do something that does interest you - something new. Then if or when you go back it will be fresh and interesting. With your 'Thoughts to Ponder' - Share your feelings - encourage others to get involved in something new.

re:"how do I use Photography combined with the Christian life?". God has given you the ability to use the camera, and the knowledge needed to take photographs - using the gifts that God has given you IS part of your Christian Life. Read Romans 8:28 - and trust God. Let God take care of how they will be used to bless others. This is a reverse case: I visited a friend who was a bee keeper. I was scared of bees: He took me for a walk to his beehives: told me that honey bees do not normally attack - that if one landed on me - it had no intention of stinging, it was just checking me out. To take a photo of a bee on flower -get there first and wait for the bee. I tried it and he was right. Photo included here.

To add a photo - there is a window with "Choose File" and a window to your computer will open for you to choose, Then go to the other window 'Add Attachment" and click on it - and it will load to the BBS. finish your message than click on the window 'Send".

CSand Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

Love and appreciate your kind words. Will bookmark as it is special to me. Spent several hours yesterday at a pond at our Piedmont Hsp. having the best time amongst the Canada duck poop and poison ivy, shooting until the heat just took all of my energy. Was careful of my steps. So much to shoot! Later will try to send you a picture or two. Thank you for reaching out. Be safe and God bless you.

canonclicker

CSand, I appreciate your photos and I'll also use your words in my life. I've been a slightly hard person in the past. My first name is Daniel or Dan and was named after the one who had victory over lions. I have really accomplished a lot to duplicate 'Daniel in the Lions Den', if I had the opportunity to choose my name it would have been Peter for I've 'chopped a few ears off' some people in my past and now I ask the Lord to help me become like Peter. He was a crusty person and became enough like Christ to write part of the Holy Bible. This would be something for me. I believe we should all take a Biblical figure and ask to be more like them, then we would become more like Jesus.

I've been trying to learn the art of photo stacking or focus stacking. Sippyjug 104 has stirred me into shooting very small things. It is something what we can learn from those tiny little creatures when we see them up magnified and up close I'll try to show some of them.

canonclicker

StanRP, I've done that when adding photos, but not when I'm adding a comment and photo as a REPLY. Like adding to this page. When I add a photo to this reply I don't see any space to ADD a photo.

Your bee on the purple above is added as a reply. This is something I don't understand, yet.

canonclicker

Where did you get your thought that nature is God's 2nd lesson book, 651Roy? I learned that years ago and see it as inspiration to see nature as something special. It kept me looking into nature as a child and even now 80 years later.

I am new here and want to express my thought on everyone of your thoughts!!! They are beautifully expressed and important for us to follow. I read and reread often. Each gives me the wisdom to press on knowing there are others who believe the same. Hebrews 10:25