Greetings from Mississippi

Welcome Dell!

We don't have a spellchecker - I think all to most all modern browsers have their own, so it was overkill for us to have one. If yours doesn't, I might suggest using Word or equivalent software and then copying/pasting posts.

Our church is SBC-affiliated. I've actually been quoted once in the local state SBC newspaper, so you could say I am SBC as well - though I do have a Methodist tinge. The SBC is really a unique denomination in some regards - there is more freedom at the congregational level - and that is a "Baptist" thing if you go back and look at the history. Personally, it seems more in line with the Biblical model, but it has its downside as well I suppose.

Looking forward to hearing more from you. Again, welcome and we're glad to have you!

I always do it with long posts - learned my lesson after the internet connection went out on me a couple times, or I ended up triggering the go back function by hitting backspace at the wrong time. Send me a PM if you need more help, depending on your browser it may need an upgrade or I can recommend a couple free ones that I promise you'll like better.

Funny you should mention Arminian - well I guess not really on a Christian forum - but I have been studying the topic. I grew up Methodist for a number of years sandwhiched in between two SBC churches. I read John Wesley some and fell in love with his preaching - I think the modern UMC has somewhat gone away from his fervent desire to get the Word out there, but I am currently slowly going through a larger collection of his sermons by Outler who was probably the foremost Wesleyan scholar. The UMC had a heavy influence on me growing up - I always liked the do mentality of the UMC to get out and help people and present the gospel.

Anyway, I'm working through my soteriological viewpoint. I've always considered myself Arminian, but in my study I've found that there are really at least two views of Arminianism out there. You can almost peg Wesley as a 3 or 4 point Calvinist. My view places me somewhere in the middle of Arminianism and Calvinism/Reformed theology. I admire the Reformed focus and study of Scripture, and we do not need to forget that God is God, he is indeed sovereign. However, I think both schools are just focusing on different sides of the coin, the real difference is whether or not we can fall away.