Comments

HEY, GIRLS! We love hearing from you, but feel limited in the ways we can help. For one thing, we’re not trained counselors. If you’re seeking counsel, we encourage you to talk to your pastor or a godly woman in your life as they’ll know more details and can provide you with ongoing accountability and help. Also, the following comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Revive Our Hearts. We reserve the right to remove comments which might be unhelpful, unsuitable, or inappropriate.

Meg
:-)
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 8:15 am
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That was good i think a lot of girls needed to hear that especially me.
Heather
Re:
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 9:14 am
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It's good that you shared your experience at community college because I attend a community college, and today is going to be my first day at the Christian club. Eerie! I'll measure what they teach to God's word and see how it fares. This heads up came literally just in time!
Shelby
Re:
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 9:26 am
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Great post Paula!!!
Chloe
Near Death Experience
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 9:26 am
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I have a friend who one had a near-death experience, she doesn't even know how she lived. Anyways, the point is that she said that when she was unconcious she didn't see anything. She said that if there's a God she should have seen something before she came back to earth. I really don't know how to respond to that, I was thinking that maybe her heart was still beating but she claims that she was dead. Which based on some things that she's shown me that contributed to her almost dying for all I know she could have been dead. But she said that all she heard was her friend screaming. What should I tell her and what am I supposed to get from this? Why did she only hear her friend screaming and not see God or Satan? This is really confusing to me.
kenzi
re
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 10:10 am
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It's funny my youth pastor did something on this toipic on Sunday. Revelation 2:18 to the end of chapter 2. But included that verse from 1 john. I think I need to test the voice I hear in my head because I can never tell if it's God or something else.
Some random chick
I've been confused about something I heard!
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 10:15 am
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I've brought this up before and I know like everyone on here disagrees with me, but I do NOT believe you need an accountability partner to stay away from a sin. I'm not saying it wouldn't be HELPFUL to have one but the Bible says you need JESUS to overcome and stay away from sins. And I know about that verse in, what is it, James?, that says about confessing your sins to one another, but it doesn't say you HAVE to. Other people who are no better than you cannot save you. They can HELP but they can't actually SAVE you; that's the LORD's job. And I never get a reply to my thinking from anyone who works here about this topic so I don't really know whether to think that they think that the Bible's wrong and that you need more than Jesus or what, but I never get a reply from anyone on this topic and I saw a different girl who commented on a post quite some time ago that asked for a reply, and she got told that "demanding" a reply in the future would most likely not work. So I'm not trying to "demand" a reply but I'd like to know if what I'm reading here is really of God's Word, especially since I've asked some people to donate here and I've donated myself...
mich
Re:
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 10:15 am
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I am a little concerned about this too. My family and other people say that my old church was a cult. But I didn't see anything wrong with it.
Thanks for posting about this.
Whit
Fasle teaching..
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 10:34 am
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Hey!
I have some friends who believe when you are saved you do not commit sin.. That you are holy. They believe that you commit faults not sin. That once you commit a sin you are no longer saved..
I know that the Bible says that we are continually being sanctified. That we are sinful by nature but that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. And that we sin but we try everyday not to sin and become more like Him. I don't believe that you can go throughout your life and not sin. I know that we are covered with the blood of Jesus Christ but that we continue to look toward Him.
I guess my question is if you are saved is this idea of not committing sin once you are saved false..?.. And can u loose your salvation by sinning?
I don't believe these things but I wanted to get some feedback.:)
Thank you for your wonderful blog!
I appreciate all the time and effort you all put into this site!
God Bless!
Heather
Chloe
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 1:36 pm
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You mean she was clinically dead? Did the doctor say she was? Either way, I don't think everyone sees the afterlife when they have a near death experience.

I'm thinking she wasn't really dead. If she were, how could she still hear her friend? That must mean that her body was still active to hear, which means that she wasn't really dead.
anonymous
The scriptires say not to change or subract from God's Word
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 2:22 pm
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How come you guys use anything other than the King James version Bible? It says in Revelation that if you ADD TO or SUBTRACT FROM the words of the Bible, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven (God's words, not mine). The newer "easier to understand" versions of the Bible change the words and sometimes leave stuff out. That goes against the scriptures. (And I know the King James Version isn't actually the ORIGINAL version, but it is the the direct translation from the actual Bible, which is in Araibic, correct? So I know it isn't the actual ORIGINAL, but the KJV is the closest thing to the original that we have in English.)
Claire
Very Sad...
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 3:24 pm
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I’m struggling at the moment with a group that believe a lot of extra biblical things in a few areas of their beliefs, that my mum is into and she is getting the rest of my family into to. I don’t know why but red lights went up for me when we start getting cds and books concerning this stuff, and I looked through my Bible discovering that they were indeed wrong and misquoted Scripture. But here’s my problem, my mum is a wonderful Christian lady but the beliefs where what she want at hear at the time, it’s not that she drawn in really easily but these where giving to her by a friend, anyway I don’t know why red lights didn’t go up for her, maybe they did, I don’t know, but they take extra biblical ideas and say there the only biblical way. How do I help open my mums eyes, especially when a friend is involved, what worse is the idea may, probable will affect me serving the Lord where I believe he is calling me, please I need prayers, and help.
Anonymous
pleaz help
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 5:19 pm
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Wow. I haven't been on this site in a while. I have a problem. im in a new school and im very concerned about what others think of me. and my popularity. i guess i've always been like that. well my parents are on the more conservative side and sometimes that interferes with what i want to do. however i know they're just looking out for my best interest but i get really frustrated. so my problem is that i'm not really allowed to text guys. but guys have my # and i text them. well my parents don't really know about that. in fact in all honesty they just don't. i haven't been truly close to the Lord in a while cuz the past 2 years have been a struggle for my family. i'm afraid if i tell people i can't text guys they'll think im weird. i want to confess to my parents but the other side of me is saying hold on to it but i feel like it's hindering my walk with the lord. on top of it i know i'll probably be in trouble and i don't want to disappoint my parents. they've been stressed lately and i just dont want to add to it. i'm soo lost and confused someone please help
Audrey
anonymous
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 5:36 pm
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First of all..the KJV isnt the original version, the original version is in Greek or Hebrew or something, and nobody reads the Bible in Greek or Hebrew..that would be weird. And secondly, the King James version was written like 400 years ago, and so it leaves out any of the manuscripts that have been found recently like the Dead Sea Scrolls..Also when you said that we arent supposed to add or subtract from God's Word..you are right, we arent supposed to. But when the Bible was translated from Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew..it was changed some too. and then there is the fact that when you are trying to memorize it or quote it to someone that is an unbeliever, they arent going to know what your talking about.
Chloe
Heather
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 8:46 pm
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The doctors didn't say that she was dead but she claims to have been unconcious, I don't think that she was really dead either, maybe near death but not physically dead. She probably did pass out for quite a while though. Anyways, what should I tell her? It's one of her reasons why she doesn't believe in God.
Miss Anonymous
Re:
on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 11:33 pm
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Yup, I needed to hear this :) Thanks. Also, I have a question: can people read orbs or spirits or whatever?? Some of my friends claim to do this. Its just weird. In fact, one of my friends base all the guys she likes just because she can read their orbs. I don't understand this. What does the Bible say about this kind of stuff?
Heather
anonymous
on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 12:22 am
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Actually, I believe the original text is Aramaic. But that's beside the point. I don't think we necessarily have to use KJV. Yes, specific words are left out of NIV and such, but the essence of each phrase is there. And I think that that's what God means by not adding or subtracting from the Bible. I don't think we have to be overly legalistic about it. But of course, read what you're comfortable with. I'm sure Erin and friends have their own reasons for using other than KJV.
to anonymous
Re:
on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 12:35 am
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The Old testament was originally written in Hebrew and the New Testament was originally written in Greek. I don't think that the Bible means that evry extact word should not be added or subtracted, it could just mean that you should not twist or change the consept and the meaning it has. The wording is important, but not as important as the consept so if you don't change the meaning, there is no harm done.. This is just my opinion..
Lydia D.
anonymous
on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 12:12 pm
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The NASB and NIV were translated from the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. The NKJV is pretty much the same as KJV except for the "thees" and "thous"
(I found this info at biblegateway.com)
I agree that there are some translations that do cross the line set in Revalation 22:18,19, but these are three versions that were from the original languages.
anonymous
Audrey
on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 4:23 pm
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1st, I SAID that it's not the technical original, did I not? I said it's not the EXACT original, but it is the closest thing to the exact original that we have.

2nd, I'm not Greek or Hebrew that I'm aware of but I find it offensive on behalf of people who are that you would say it's "weird" to read the Bible in one of their languages.

Also, there are some KJV Bibles that have synonyms for some of the harder to understand words down underneath the verse. So it's keeping the words exactly the way they are, but just letting you know underneath "okay here's what this means." My Bible is like that.

Oh, and IDK where you are getting this from, but IN MY BIBLE it SAYS "translation from Dead Sea Scrolls" or something or other, don't quote me on that cuz I'm not positive what it says word for word, but obviously if it says that, it is not leaving the stuff found on the Dead Sea Scrolls out.

And actually, if I were to quote something from the KJV Bible to an unbeliever, if I explained to them that 'thou' and 'ye' mean 'you' then they're pretty much set on understanding what it means. And I could always quote them a verse, then say "In other words, ..." so I'm saying "this is what it says EXACTLY, and here's what it means." So for you to say "and then there is the fact that when you are trying to memorize it or quote it to someone that is an unbeliever, they arent going to know what your talking about" it actually ISNT a fact.

All things said above are said with respect and love. <3
Heather
Chloe
on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 10:45 pm
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I would just tell her that she didn't see the afterlife because she wasn't really dead. You don't see God until you die, and she was merely unconcious, so of course she didn't see the afterlife! She was still in this life! She never left.

And maybe if she doesn't believe you and says that she really *was* dead, so why didn't she see God, then tell her that she should wonder for herself why she didn't see Him. Think about it. If you die and you don't see light or God or something nice, wouldn't you be afraid you were in..."trouble"?

I suppose this doesn't help, at all, and I'm sorry. She probably won't hear what you say, but if I were in your situation that's exactly what I would say.
Heather
Miss Anonymous
on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 10:55 pm
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Reading spirits and tarot and 'orbs' is all superstitious nonsense. The Bible tells us to stay away from witchcraft and superstition, so what your friends are doing is wrong. And your friend doesn't really read guys' orbs, and she knows she can't do it. She knows it's not real. She just fancies herself a witch.
Let her do whatever, but I would make sure I stayed away from it.
Heather
anonymous
on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 11:11 pm
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I would leave Audrey to defend herself, but I'm sure her feelings were hurt because you sound angry.

1st- What I think Audrey meant when she said that it's not the exact version is that a lot was lost from translation to translation. So even though it is the 'closest thing to the original' it *isn't*, and we shouldn't treat it as such.

2nd- "I'm not Greek or Hebrew that I'm aware of but I find it offensive on behalf of people who are that you would say it's "weird" to read the Bible in one of their languages."

^Okay, but *we* are not Greek or Hebrew, so it *would* be weird for us to read it in Greek or Hebrew, right? Audrey was referring to English speakers when she said that.

3rd- "Also, there are some KJV Bibles that have synonyms for some of the harder to understand words down underneath the verse. So it's keeping the words exactly the way they are, but just letting you know underneath "okay here's what this means." My Bible is like that."

^That's cool, but isn't that exactly what NKJV does? It replaces difficult words with words that make sense to us. It's like exchanging...idk..."feline" to "cat." Not much different, so we didn't give or take anything from the Bible, we just simplified it to make it easier to understand.

"And actually, if I were to quote something from the KJV Bible to an unbeliever, if I explained to them that 'thou' and 'ye' mean 'you' then they're pretty much set on understanding what it means. And I could always quote them a verse, then say "In other words, ..." so I'm saying "this is what it says EXACTLY, and here's what it means." So for you to say "and then there is the fact that when you are trying to memorize it or quote it to someone that is an unbeliever, they arent going to know what your talking about" it actually ISNT a fact."

^What if an unbeliever picked up a Bible for the first time, and after about 20 minutes of reading 'thous' and 'arts' and 'whatever-elses' they tired of trying to decipher the meaning and tossed it to the side? In this case, it would need to be easier to read so that the unbeliever sticks with it. Don't you think?

"All things said above are said with respect and love." -- No offense, but you didn't speak with much respect or much love, at all.

**Audrey, I'm sorry if you wanted to defend yourself, first.

And now I think we should drop it because this topic isn't entitled "Authenticity of NKJV" - we're supposed to be discussing cults and ways to detect them.
Sarah
Anonymous
on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 11:38 pm
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We appreciate your passion for the accuracy of God’s Word. There are many manuscripts available to translators in our era that were not available when KJV was translated, so the ESV and NASB are actually superior translations on the whole. The original language of the Bible (the Old Testament- Hebrew and the New Testament – Greek) was the language the common people spoke. Nancy appreciates the KJV, but when asked why she switched to the ESV for teaching she said she couldn't justify any longer trying to get people to use a translation that was written in a language that moderns do not speak and most simply cannot understand.
Sarah
Chloe
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 12:23 am
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Chloe…near death experiences are just that…NEAR death experiences. We don’t have any testimonies from Scripture from the people Jesus brought back to life, so it is likely they remembered little or nothing of the death experience. We need to be extremely careful in how we validate our experiences. The most important test of any experience is comparing it with the Bible.

Near death experiences are very subjective. They may have common elements; they may not. John 1:18 says: No man hath seen God at any time. And God said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" Exodus 33:20

But there is a certainty; God has promised and He will keep His Word…Psalm 23:4…He will walk with you through the valley of the shadow of death, and He is preparing a place for you when you die (John 14:2-3). As Paul said, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8).
Sarah
Claire
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 12:44 am
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The best thing you can do for yourself and the best thing you can do for your mom is to stay in the Scriptures and commit yourself to the Truth of the Word and the God of the Word. Do not be argumentative or defensive, but where there is opportunity, share Scripture. Do not apologize for the Truth or work to “convince” your mom…let Scripture do its own work. Remember, God tells us Scripture is as powerful as a two edged sword (Heb. 4:12). Ask the Holy Spirit to ground your heart and the truth-- forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Trust the Lord for His purposes and place of service to be accomplished-- The LORD will accomplish what concerns me. Psalm 138:8

Praying for you…
Sarah
Miss Anonymous
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 12:51 am
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Miss Anonymous…the Bible is very clear…these kinds of things are an “abomination to the Lord.”

Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD.
Chloe
Sarah and Heather
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 9:44 am
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Thank you both so much for responding to my post. I think that I'll start with Heather first.
Heather, I think that I will tell her that. Not that she would care that she didn't see God if she still claims to really have been dead, she's an atheist. And this does help, I'm just not sure that she will hear me through. I hope that she will though, thank you for your advice.
Sarah, thank you for the scripture. And yeah, I'm really not sure how little or how much she does remember. Combining (spelling?) what you said and what Heather said she had to of still been alive because if she didn't see anything except hear a few things then that's probably the first big sign that she wasn't dead. The second big sign is that if she didn't see any form of God or Satan then she probably wasn't dead. Now I just have to figure out what to tell her in a way that will help her hear me through more.
Paula Hendricks
Re. Pleaze Help
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 10:39 am
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Dear Anonymous,

Oh, I feel for you. You pretty much summed up my teenage years—hating the fact that my parents made me look like a “freak,” going behind my parents’ backs, and feeling miserable and guilty as a result.

You know what’s funny? Now that I’m out of school, I actually find myself thanking God for my parents’ boundaries and “crazy rules.” Even though they seemed so extreme at the time, I see now how God used my parents to protect me from myself. I can also see now that the guys who made me feel so loved and special at the time didn’t really love me. All they wanted was to use me, sleep with me, and move on. How grateful I am that my parents made that virtually impossible!

It makes me think of a verse in the Bible that says: “There is a way that seems right to a man (or a girl), but the end thereof is the way of death.” And also, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal LIFE through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sin looks beautiful and fun and harmless at first (think about Eve in the Garden of Eden—the apple looked sooo beautiful!) but it brought death and devastating consequences—not just for her, but for Adam and for you and for me and for every human being for the rest of time.

Texting boys isn’t worth disobeying your parents. Texting boys isn’t worth a rift in your relationship with God.

I’m praying that God will give you “godly sorrow leading to repentance,” and that you will trust and obey that all of God’s laws are for your good, and will lead to “abundant life”!

With love and compassion,

paula
Sarah
Whit
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 12:00 pm
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Indeed Jesus said: All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away. John 6:37

He says it again: My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30

The New Testament teaches that we are saved by grace through faith and that nothing can take us out of His hand.

Consider this verse: In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a guarantee of our inheritance, until we acquire possession of it. Eph. 1:13-14

Kay Arthur teaches that this word “sealed” is like the seal under the lid of a peanut butter jar. There is a seal over the peanut butter that keeps it until it is opened. When we believe and accept Christ, we are “sealed” by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption—until we see Christ.

What a great picture!
Aaveri
Re: Sarah, Heather, Audrey, and Anonymous
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 12:34 pm
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I am very sorry if this sounds at all rude or mean, but I am relaying what this preacher said( which I have checked at it does match up with the Bible). He has learned Greek and Hebrew and has done a very thorough search. He did the search on almost every main used Bible out there and the KJV has the most accuracy. All the others had at least one major mistake in it. I am gonna leave out what he said that could really be offensive. And responding to your points:


1-Heather I kinda agree but not really refer to above.


2- It is weird when referring to us reading it but weird is a bad choice of word it just sounds harsh. So when first reading that it does sound kinda bad and could be offensive.


3- The Gosples (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are written more simply for unbelievers and the rest is a love letter from God to the believers. He will open our eyes.


4- Just because you speak with respect and love doesn't mean it won't be harsh (which it did come across as).


5- It is a cult with some of the versions because anything thing not matching to God's word is a cult.


6- It is up to the person and just because I believe we should use the KJV because I can understand it easier doesn't mean every one should its there choice.


Again I am very sorry if anything sounds harsh.


With Love
Aaveri
Some random chick
Re: a few people
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 1:14 pm
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@Heather and @anonymous, all I'm gonna say is I believe in just using KJV but I don't want to argue with anyone so other than saying that, this random chick is gonna stay out of your dispute, okay? xD lol!

@Miss Anonymous, wow it's funny you say that because I have a friend who thinks she can do that too! Only I can tell she's pretending, trust me lol. Anyway, my friend who thinks she can do that is Christian/Catholic and so I'm sure she doesnt realize this, but "reading orbs" and that kinda stuff is considered to be like sorcery or witchcraft, right? (someone correct me if i'm wrong) and so it would not be okay by God. As for whether or not people can actually "see" these "orbs" -- or whether or not "orbs" are even real -- I don't really know, maybe some poeple CAN, but it's just like with witches: some people actually CAN do "magic" or like, things that involve the dead, but they're not actually WITCHES; they're just doing this stuff through the power of Satan and it is wrong. And as I said about my friend, I pretty much know for a fact she is making up being able to "see orbs" lol. So maybe your friends are making it up, too. Ya never know! Hope I helped you at least a lil! (:
anonymous
Aaveri and Sarah
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 2:05 pm
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aaveri, i understand what you're saying. and even if i came across as 'harsh' i was just saying what i believe to be the truth. and i wasn't trying to be mean to or attack Audrey, just so every1 knows! again, even if i sounded harsh, i was just trying to get my point across. anyway, thank you for your respectful reply :]

sarah, thank you for your respectful reply, i don't agree that that other version of the Bible you mentioned is the "superior" one, but i appreciate the way in which you presented your response. :]
Claire
Thanks Sarah
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 3:29 pm
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All i've been doing is praying, and praying , and praying. Thank you for your prayers as well. love in Christ.
Anonymous/pleaz help
re:paula
on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 4:35 pm
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Paula, thank you sooo much for replying. I totally agree with everything you said. Please pray for me during this time. thanks so much!
Jaime
Re:
on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 4:17 pm
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I've been wondering about cults and false teachings for awhile, so I'm looking forward to the post :)

I know you guys want to drop the translation conversation, but I just wanted to add something. God helped people to write the first Bible, and God helped people to translate the Bible into MANYYYYY different languages. God can help people translate the Bible into MODERN English...and He has. King James is a translation just as NIV is. Neither is wrong...BOTH are the Word of God. My pastor just spoke about translations the other day and he said the original scrolls and the modern day translation are almost exactly the same...after thousands of years! I think that's pretty incredible personally. God is the creator of all, he can take care of translations :)
Megan
re. Anonymous
on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 6:01 pm
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You know, the NIV was also translated from the original greek and hebrew texts.

To be honest, I don't think it's realistic to expect people, especially non believers to want to read a KJV bible. This summer, I helped run a summer camp for 7-12 y/o's and a couple of the girls in my tent (aged 10 and 12) whacked out some ancient looking KJV's at the beginning of the week. They were both non believers (at the time, praise the lord!) and these were the first bibles they found! They started to read from these and I couldn't understand a word they were saying, so I can't imagine that they were gaining from the bible study at all.

What I am trying to get across is that Jesus came for all people, educated, uneducated, young, old. It's just not reasonable to expect people to gain from the KJV.

As for the original greek and hebrew texts, my mum is trained in theology and in fluent in ancient greek. I asked her about this and she said that it's great to get back to the original texts but that she can't imagine trying to do a daily bible study in ancient greek or hebrew.

If you find the KJV easy to read and accessible, then good on you! I would encourage you to read the version you're most comfortable with, but don't get at people who want to read an easier text.

I hope I haven't come across as harsh.
With much love in Christ!!
Lydia
Satan
on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 2:17 am
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...Is VERY strong. Girls, PLEASE don't ever underestimate his power. God is so, so much more powerful than the devil, but spiritual warfare is a very real thing that is probably going on in your life or someone's life around you. If you really want to be encouraged to pray more, read This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti.

@ anonymous

Oh, honey, I feel you!! I know, I know, there's a huge side of you that is screaming NO!! every time you get close to telling your parents. You think when they're happy "well, I don't want to mess up their day" and when they're sad "I don't want to make their day worse/they'll be harder on me". You make excuses, every one you can think up, and use them to convince yourself that you don't need to confess/don't need to stop what you're doing. You agonize over it at night, and push it away, hoping it will just leave you alone. You logic it away. You want so badly to just not tell them, to not stop what you're doing. But, please, please, please do not do this to yourself. You have no idea how freeing it is to be able to not have guilt on your shoulders. Here's what I believe God is calling you to do (I felt very compelled to answer this, in part because I can relate to this; I believe that it was the Holy Spirit tapping me on the shoulder to write this)
1. Stop texting guys.
2. Tell your parents soon.
3. Turn more to Him for your desires to be loved, cherished, and accepted.

I realize how hard it is to confess something to your parents. And right now, in your head, it seems likely you might be saying something along the lines of "but you don't know how bad this is!" Take it from a girl who has been through what you've been through and is enormously grateful: tell them. Stop the habit, confess it, and look more to God.
Just a helpful tip: Sometimes, writing a letter/e-mail can be a good way to confess something. That way, you can makes sure that you don't chicken out, and also so that you can put everything in the right way. Maybe you should take a media fast? I did one of those, and it was very hard and also rewarding :)

Anyway, I will keep you in my prayers.
Isi
Re: Miss Anonymous
on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 4:28 pm
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I know this has already been addressed a little...
I think that people actually can do that stuff. Evil and satan are real. But as believers, we're protected from that, and God rules over everything-even evil spirits. But it's not right either. (Some spots in Dueteronomy go into farther deatail.) And I think a lot of people pretend they can too, because right now culture thinks that dark magic stuff is "cool."
But yeah, God says "No" to interacting with evil spirits. Don't get into it, and pray for your friend to get out!
Hope this helps you at leasta little but. :)
Paula Hendricks
to Anonymous/pleaz help
on Monday, December 20, 2010 at 3:30 pm
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I'm definitely praying for you, and am grateful that God knows you by name, even when I don't. :)

Would you send me an update once you talk to your parents? I'm praying that you will "trust and obey, as there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey."

Love,

paula
Audrey
to Heather, Aaveri, and Anonymous
on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 12:28 pm
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Heather- thanks for defending me..and i really dont have anything to add to what you said, you said everything that i would have.

Aaveri- your right "weird" was a bad choice and i knew that it would probably be taken in a bad way but i really couldnt think of another word.

Anonymous- i really wasnt trying to be offensive or anything in what i said..but its what i believe too...so i respect your choice to use KJV even if i dont agree with it

With much love in Christ,
Audrey
Jadey
@Whit
on Monday, December 27, 2010 at 5:35 pm
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1 John 5:18-19 "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."

I have always taught that this means we no longer continually sin. We are no longer in the control of Satan. We do still sin -- if you find anyone around who doesn't, please tell me! -- but as Christians we can do good as well. On this earth we will continue to be sanctified until we die and go to Heaven. We will never be perfect, at least here on this Earth.

Hope this helps! :)
Erin Davis
Some Random Chick
on Friday, December 31, 2010 at 9:43 pm
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Hey, there. I wanted to respond to your earlier comment about accountability. It has taken me a while because I wanted to really think through how to respond.

I think it is great that this is a site where you look for answers about God's Word. I want you to know that we are a small staff and while we read every single comment and consider how to respond, we can't respond to every single one and we can't always respond as quickly as we'd like to. You are welcome to send questions our way, but in the future know that we may choose not to respond or it may take us a while...

Back to your questions...

First of all you are right about several things:
1. Jesus is the only way to overcome sin.
2. He alone saves us
3. It is possible to stay away from sin without an accountability partner.

When we mention accountability we are in no way saying that telling a person about your sin cleanses you from sin or keeps you from sinning in the future. But there is real power in bringing our sin out into the light by telling someone about it and giving them permission to ask us about that sin in the future.

The verse in James that you mentioned is actually James 5:16 which says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

This verse does tell us to confess our sins to each other and to pray for each other. It reads more like a commandment than a suggestion to me. Either way the benefits of confessing to other Christians so that they can pray for me seem so obvious that I am willing to do it whether it is a "have to" or not.

There is a lot of evidence in Scripture that God created the body of believers (the church) to help us live out our faith. That includes dealing with our sin. Can you live your faith and never tell a soul about your sin? Yes. But it isn't the easiest way to live like Christ calls you.

I hope this clears things up for you. If you have more questions, feel free to send them my way.

Erin
Some random chick
Re: Erin
on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 11:36 am
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Wow thank you a lot for your reply! It did clear things up. I appreciate you taking the time to reply to me, I'm very glad you did because I feel better about that topic now. And don't worry, I'm sure I'll come up with another question at some point! ;]
Thanks again! :]
Some random chick
Erin
on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 10:49 am
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Hello Erin. So you know how I said I was sure I'd come up with another question at some point? Well I've thought of one already LOL! It's kind of a few different questions. Okay: Is there a specific denomination that is the correct one? Why are their different denominations? And how can more than one denomination be correct? I've always wondered this.