> Introductions, Announcements, and More of Ray's Teachings
I'm finally Home!
indianabob:
Hi Dan,
Welcome from the old guy, Indiana Bob,
We in the MidWest have always wondered about the pioneers on the
West coast. I got as far as San Francisco for a week, but I'm sure that
there is much more to share than we have heard about.
Please write often and share some of your journey toward God's truth.
Bob
servias:
--- Quote from: Samson on August 31, 2010, 09:54:55 AM ---
--- Quote from: DanTheMan on August 30, 2010, 06:10:56 PM ---Thank you ALL! I now have a place to learn the truth. All the questions I've had about GOD are finally being answered truthfully with real absolute scripture. I am now able to attempt to teach my kids without guilt. Before I would answer questions but not sincerely believe what I was telling them. Thanks to this site and Ray I can now open the bible with confidence and actually ABSORB what I read. I cannot explain how much weight has been lifted from my shoulders now. Our family thanks you from Eastern Washington.
Dan
--- End quote ---
Welcome Dan the Man,
I like your Forum Name, coincidentally, My Wife and I just finished watching Good Morning Vietnam with Robin Williams and it was right before viewing your introduction. There's a Character in the Movie called Dan the Man Levitan, so I thought that was a coincidence viewing your name right after finishing watching that Movie.
As Kat stated above, try to become familiar with Ray's Articles, admittedly there's allot to absorb and digest here. Also, We love to help you with any questions you might have, but just as a reminder, many of the questions asked were answered in past threads, so you might want to navigate yourself to past threads, especially at General Discussions where Ray's teachings and Bible Related Topics are regularly discussed. Also, there's a FAQ(frequently asked questions) board located above the General Discussions Section.
We are glad God caused you to discover this Site and hope you enjoy your fellowship here.
Kind Regards, Samson.
--- End quote ---
Thanks Samson, I have done a quick read over of most the articles and many E-mails. At this point we are slowing it down, reading everything with the bible open which tends to make for longer study sessions. It would be great if someone could put some of these -- like the lake of fire series -- into an actual book using createspace or something similar which you can make it at cost or non-profit. It hurts the eyes looking at the computer screen. Just an idea I thought I'd throw out. Look forward to learning and discovering the truth with you all.
Dan
Deborah-Leigh:
Hi DanTheMan
Welcome to the Forum!
--- Quote ---make it at cost or non-profit
--- End quote ---
yes…like the Bible…the most widely distributed book in the World! Wouldn’t that be terrific. I believe we’d all enjoy seeing the world receive the Truth as is being revealed to us few here!
My husband and I offered Ray the same “non profit” idea some years ago. His reply is that freely he has received and freely he gives.
Though we have to pay to read the Word of God in BT, Ray, personally, and the BT volunteers and members, are not remunerated or paid back for their costs in time or money to participate or volunteer. No one is a financial recipient for anything going on in BT.
The spiritual earnings of The Truth, are priceless, beyond measure and without parallel! God is the Director in charge.
Besides which, I believe we prefer to have a reward if any, in Heaven and with God rather than from men, organizations or companies of men on earth. This is not to slander your good intent. I too would love to see best seller status for the writings we have here in BT! I would love to see huge profit come to BT to improve their reach to the blind world. I too am tempted to try to make a way possible for that to happen.
Yes, we all have to buy air time and have the equipment that costs us to be able to have internet access to BT, yet it is money that goes to suppliers of computers and companies that sell air time ~ non of which goes to the source of God’s Word or God’s emissary Ray Smith.
Not being a financial beneficiary as organizer, marketer or planner of anything God given freely, is in the Spirit of freely receiving and freely giving. Even if it is non-profit, people still have to be paid their costs, time effort expertise etc.
Even if a member were to put their writings together as inspired by the Truth gleaned here, and publish them for sale, even with the proceeds directed to BT ~ not for no profit either ~ as I, understand Ray, I doubt he’d receive even one dime from such an exercise, even if it was the last dime on earth! Not for sale is not for sale. Even I forget sometimes!
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
As tempting as it is to visualize all Rays writings in every Christian book shop and coffee table around the world….Gods word is freely given to those who have received freely without any motive to make merchandise of it. It is tempting though. I too am occasionally tempted through sheer pain and suffering to see others just don’t get the Truth and are more inclined to believe what is in a book that is marked best seller than a Truth of God not given to many but few at this time.
If I had to take my four thousand posts, put them into a book and sell them, I would need to give all earnings to BT or it would be contrary to the spirit of freely giving and having freely received of the Wisdom and Truth of God. Not for sale. Not for sale. Freely to give, and not for sale. We can pay for the material through the air time we need to down load. We can print it out and give it away. We are not allowed to sell it.
To follow the Word of God, even the Disciples had to leave their boats and turn from acquisitions of the fishing trade. Okay, they did not have to buy lap tops and pay for air time, yet they did have to follow at expense of their trade as do we if we desire to be numbered among those who follow and obey the word of God. I think Ray might agree with NOT FOR SALE. Why…because its priceless, beyond trade, not to be treated as merchandise and is the live Word and Spirit of God. That’s the way, we, the few, like it!
Welcome home.
Blessings
Arc
servias:
I agree. Profit is not to be made in GOD's name. It may be well deserved with time, dedication...but I feel it may be sinful, or at least will lead into sin. My humble opinion. Have a good Labor Day Weekend!
acomplishedartis:
Arcturus I agree with your post.
And here I will try to add a couple more points:
-If a book with these kind of powerful spiritual material is out there, it would have more chances to get plagiarized, used with wrong motives, and also with more chances to be not completed understood since the material is too big for one book, and if there is many books, there is many that would not afford them all.
-Specially these kind of theological spiritual material, done with a lot of love and effort and heart, I don't believe it most be sold, not even for nonprofit. If I write a personal letter to a friend I would not charge him, not even the cost of my paper and my pen.You just don't do that. I don't think that the Apostle Paul would ever dare to put his personal letters for sale.
Whatever cost that anyone would be put on it, would be not fare.
-The way in witch Bible truths has been presented make what is being said even more powerful, and I believe that also teach us lessons.
When material with themes like these are sold, we should admit that there is that little thought in our heads suspecting that there is the possibility of the author making and saying things just for gain. Sometimes when people write books and money is in the equation, there is that temptation of pleasing the readers.
-Plus all the middle mans wanting to resale, make offers. How sad would be watching material like these in the dump, or religious people making fun or bad reviews on it. Think about it, these material doesn't depend on any monetary system owned by any country. But if you still want so bad to see it printed, then you are free to turn on your printer and make some copies (but please, don't sell them).
And I could keep going with more...
I will say that Let's be thankful for the Internet and that God had let us live on these age of cybernetics. With all the pros and the negatives things of the internet, the pros are bigger as well as our responsibility with it I guess.
Moises
ps. It seems like these could be a theme for another tread. By the way. It is very nice to met you Dan. I am glad you find these online Community
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