Hi I'm new to this forum

[Ckdavis71]

Hi I'm new to this forum but not to Bible_Truths.com. I must admit that since I stumbled across this site, my life hasn't been the same. I joined this forum because I have never been more confused in my entire life. I'm 41 years old and everything I thought I knew about Christianity no longer makes sense. I was hoping that I could get clarification on some things by joining this site.

[Dave in Tenn]

Good to meet you. 

[Gina]

Hi I'm always here on this forum.    

Welcome to the forum.  I look forward to your questions. Let me guess, you're the type that really liked school.  Okay, glad we got that out of the way.  ha.

But before you ask your first question, I'd first like to ask you two, if you don't mind?   

Question No. 1:  How much faith does it take to believe in a hell of literal fire and brimstone.

Question No. 2:  How much faith does it take to believe that God can't or won't save all

Should you do decide to accept this mission, please provide at least one scriptural reference as backup for each answer (if you can, it's not mandatory).  If you do provide scriptural backup, it'll earn you a Wild Card:   I'll let you... ehhm...    You may use the same scripture for both responses.

Thank you.

Gina

[cherokee]

Hey Ckdavis71,

Welcome to the forum.

Blessings,
Suzie

[gregorydc]

Welcome ckdavis71 learn much here. Don't let Gina intimidate you she's just having some fun. Lol.
Greg

[Gina]

Me?  Intimidate people? Pssshhhh.  ck - if it helps, I'm teensy weensy, like just 5 feet and 93 lbs, and 47 going on 48.  Assuming you've got full use of your arms, you could probably bench press me not that you'd want to.  But my point is, I'm no one to be intimidated by. 

(Those were good questions, Greg, even I have to agree-- And I'm not that smart, so I have to give God all the credit.  I did a google search for the first question and it's never been asked before by anyone on the web, at least.  It's quite an honor for someone like me.)

Now please - answer the questions, ck.   (j/k) 

I'm glad you have finally joined us.  What the heck took ya so long?!

[Ckdavis71]

Oh Gosh Gina you had me sweating bullets over here. Hi Greg, Suzie and Dave.

OK... I have all kinds of questions about free will. OK... after reading Ray's paper on it, I can accept the fact that we do not have the ability to make a choice without something prompting it and that the something prompting it is God's will. I guess I don't understand how that relates to sinning. I understand also that sin begins in the heart but I don't understand how I can sin and still be saved in the end. What is the consequences of not praying, or lying or cheating or even killing if in the end we all end up saved. I stopped going to church after I got back into Ray's writings but I feel more lost than I did before. No the church doesn't teach anything remotely close to this but somehow I felt better going. I just don't know how I can go and also know that they don't teach the truth.

OMG! I am so clueless right now.

Do I pray?
What do I pray for?
What do I have to do to know God's will for my life? Is that even possible?

So as you guys can see I'm a mess and I just don't know what to make of all this information in my head.

Oh and Gina... I loved school.

[Rene]

So as you guys can see I'm a mess and I just don't know what to make of all this information in my head.

Hi Ck and welcome to the forum.

You may feel like a mess now, but if the Lord is "dragging" you to Him, the information that is in your head will start penetrating to your heart.  My best advice to you is to continue studying the material on this website and feel free to ask questions as go along.  There is a wealth of material here, but it takes God's spirit to open up your understanding.  Be patient.

René

[Dave in Tenn]

Had to smile at your last post.  Ah yes, I remember it well.  Still remember and go through it pretty much every day.  It is a good thing when the fall of our old house is big.     

If I can make a practical suggestion.  Poke around in the emails if the articles start to be too daunting.  Things are more bite-sized there.  It was a huge help to me in the beginning.  Feel free to ask if something has you baffled.

Pray all you want, and for anything you want.

We know God's will for sure after He has done it (even then, we may not know the complete reason 'why' or all the ramifications of it).  We learn God's will step by step in obedience.  And we trust God's will for what we can't yet see, most especially salvation.   

Don't worry too much.  Scripture says "Don't worry about anything", but I know that can be a stretch.     He started this work in you...He will complete it.  My tagline is from Hebrews.  It sums up what happens after enlightenment in those 'early days'.  Hang in there.   

[Gina]

Girl if you call that a mess I wanna know what you're taking.   (Proof that 41's not what it was 40 years ago. You've come a long way baby!  )

Ck, one of the worst mistakes I made after I came to B-T was to become offended by Ray's "tone."  I didn't understand it.  At first I was like gung HO for it!  Then I had a change of heart.    You know what I"m saying?

Well, anyway, I just wanted to say that I felt the same way about praying as you do now. 

Do I pray?  Sure!  I pray to God.  Because God then reminded me I'll pray if I want to do what's right - I'm gonna need lots of His help, if not all of it.  He said to me, You get scared enough, you get broke enough, lonely enough, EMBARRASSED enough, and in enough physical pain, you will come looking for Me, don't lie!

(Yeah, I knew you were smart.)

Oh, and the consequences for sin is DEATH!

I hope that helps.

[indianabob]

Good evening CKdavis71,

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
Just sit back and enjoy the journey.

Hope to hear from you on many topics and share in your concerns.
It is a blessing for me to meet each new person who joins our fellowship.
As Dave suggested get into the short email questions and answers.
There is a lot of very helpful and stimulating information to be found there.

Here is a big brotherly hug from  Indianabob

[Gina]

p.s.  What I didn't know was that I'd come looking for Him if I got happy enough.  Hm?

[Ckdavis71]

Thank you all for the comments. I'm so glad I joined the forum cause I realize I'm not crazy. I do feel a burden has been lifted living with the constant fear that with each bad decision or choice, I could burn in hell forever. That never sat well with me but hey my Grandfather was a preacher and that's what I learned almost from the womb.

I will keep you all posted on my journey and again thank you so much for your words of encouragement and affirmation.

[Gina]

Our family-- they are such powerful figured in our lives.  I kinda know where you're coming from.  Your Granddad was a very powerful figure in your life and I'm sure worthy of your respect.  I'm sure you and lots of people loved him very much.  God loves your Granddad too.  Yay!  That's what's so cool.

Good to have you here and thank you as well for your kind words.

God bless and have a great day, CK!  (Lemme guess again, your first name is Cecilia? Cyndi?  Chloe? Christina? Catherine?  Clementine?   )

[Ckdavis71]

Oh Gina you are good. My name is Celia...

[Kat]

Hi Celia,

I'm glad you have joined us 
Sorry I'm a little late to welcome you. But your need to have all the answers is understandable, I would think most of us were just like you when you get into the thick of studying this truth. It does take time for all this to soak in, so to speak. Study, meditation and pray, it's a process. But it's certainly beneficial to have like minded friends to help you along the way 

Here are links to the different boards that are here at the forum with additional info that you can look into when you so desire.

Check out the forum rules, it will help you understand how this forum is moderated.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3.0.html
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4558.0.html
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3614.0.html

General discussion board, this is to ask questions and discuss what is presented at the Bible-truths.com site.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,3.0.html

Child board for General discussion board - FAQ
(most frequently asked questions)
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,23.0.html

Forum Indexes & Info.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,14.0.html

Ray's Videos
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,8227.0.html

Ray's Audios 
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2641.0.html

Ray's 2008 Audios
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,8256.0.html

Transcripts of Audios
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,12.0.html

Off Topic board, this is to discuss things that do not directly relate to BT, you will find a good bit of humor here.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,4.0.html

child board on Off Topic board
Inspirationals, Writings, Poems, Etc.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,15.0.html

Testimonies / Prayer Requests / Fellowship board, this is mostly for personal posts.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,5.0.html

Child boards (only available to members) on Testimonies board
Who Am I? (members pics and other stuff)
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,16.0.html

Members Recipes, for sharing recipes and food tips
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,22.0.html

mercy, peace and love
Kat

[space.ace.jase]

Hi Celia,

Welcome to the forums!

I think most of us can relate to feeling a lot of confusion when God opens your eyes (and speaking personally STILL DO) but I find it's always a back and forward thing with learning God's truths but don't fret too much over it- it's all part of the journey.

God bless,
Jase

[Patric]

Hi I'm new to this forum but not to Bible_Truths.com. I must admit that since I stumbled across this site, my life hasn't been the same. I joined this forum because I have never been more confused in my entire life. I'm 41 years old and everything I thought I knew about Christianity no longer makes sense. I was hoping that I could get clarification on some things by joining this site.

Amen sister.....I too felt the same way and was tying in the word Hell and Truth and Bible when I was brought here against my own will! LOL JK but ya.....I am often dragged to the truth by our Father....glad you are here.....

[dogcombat]

Hi CK,

You're finding out what a lot of us can relate to.  To paraphrase Rene's comment to you,  You being brought to the end of yourself and your understanding of God.  This, as you will discover in the days ahead, is very GOOD!  God is setting you free from such misconceptions about Him so that you'll embrace His Love & Grace.  I've always believed that before God HELPS you up, He must first HUMBLE you down.  To use another writer's analogy "coming to the end of ourselves is never the FUN part, only the FIRST part."  May His grace and spirit shed the scales that have blinded us so that we may SEE, unblock our ears that we may HEAR, and open our minds that we may UNDERSTAND. 

God be with you
Ches

[Dennis Vogel]

I must admit that since I stumbled across this site, my life hasn't been the same.

After a while you will see that you did not "stumble" on to bible-truths.com. 

Welcome!