The good man that turned bad out of necessity

[RLT63]

Ordered it off Amazon on a whim.

If you’re depressed it’s best to get help. I waited until it was too late. 18 years ago I had a nervous breakdown, lost my career and my marriage. I wish I had gotten help sooner.
I didn’t know I had a problem until we were watching TV and a girl was describing the ups and downs of manic depression. I said “ Everyone goes through that”. My wife said “No they don’t, not like you”
But I didn’t get help until after I went off the deep end and had no choice.

 

[RLT63]

 

[Matthias]

New England French Vanilla Decaf. It's actually quite good.


Goodnight.

Just the mention of the “c” word kept me awake for another hour.

Oh well. I used the time to finish one of the books I was reading.

 

[Matthias]

I feel nothing. I'm apathetic towards most things today.

How would you feel if the US military dropped an atomic bomb on Jesus?

 

[Riven]

How would you feel if the US military dropped an atomic bomb on Jesus?

Assuming they could find him, and the atomic bomb was limited to a desert or something... I'd be curious to see what would happen.

 

[Matthias]

No one wants to have fun. They just want others to pray for them …

I read this on my X / Twitter “For you” feed this morning and thought about you. I think it’s a message for “us” -

“God did not save us primarily to make our lives comfortable. He saved us to make us holy, conform us to Christ, and bring glory to His name.

Scripture says plainly, ‘This is the will of God, your sanctification’ (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Paul says those whom God foreknew He also predestined ‘to become conformed to the image of His Son’ (Romans 8:29). That means God is far more committed to our holiness than to preserving every circumstance that makes us feel happy.

This is where much modern Christianity becomes confused. We begin to judge God’s goodness by whether life is pleasant, prayers are answered the way we hoped, relationships remain easy, and suffering stays away. But Hebrews says God disciplines His children ‘so that we may share His holiness’ (Hebrews 12:10). Sometimes the very thing that disturbs our happiness is what God uses to expose sin, break pride, deepen faith, and make us more like Christ.

But I would make one important distinction: holiness itself is not ultimately the chief end of man. Our highest end is the glory of God. ‘Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’ (1 Corinthians 10:31). Holiness is one of the necessary ways that glory becomes visible in us.

And true happiness is not the enemy of holiness. The problem is seeking happiness apart from God. ‘In Your presence is fullness of joy’ (Psalm 16:11). The holiest person is not the one who has become joyless, but the one whose joy has moved away from sin and rooted increasingly in God Himself.

So do not ask only, ‘Does this make me happy?’

Ask, ‘Does this make me more like Christ, more obedient to His Word, and more useful for the glory of God?’

A Christianity centered on happiness will eventually compromise holiness. A Christianity centered on God’s glory will discover a deeper joy that circumstances cannot give or take away.”

(Jeremiah Knight)

Jeremiah Knight (@iamrjknight) on X

God did not save us primarily to make our lives comfortable. He saved us to make us holy, conform us to Christ, and bring glory to His name. Scripture says plainly, “This is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Paul says those whom God foreknew He also predestined “to becom…

x.com

 

[Matthias]

Assuming they could find him, and the atomic bomb was limited to a desert or something... I'd be curious to see what would happen.

It happened.

 

[Matthias]

We’ve learned from an unbeliever that the “very bad man” is the man - me in particular (as the immediate target of opportunity), but any man (or woman) in general - who would dare tell others that the devil (not to mention, God) exists.

What have we learned from Jesus and the apostles?

Who will you believe?

 

[RLT63]

We’ve learned from an unbeliever that the “very bad man” is the man - me in particular (as the immediate target of opportunity), but any man (or woman) in general - who would dare tell others that the devil (not to mention, God) exists.

What have we learned from Jesus and the apostles?

Who will you believe?

The devil does exist. I know because of what he did to me

 

[Matthias]

“Warning signs for Christians:

• A loss of interest in the Bible
• Finding excuses not to go to church
• Being more concerned with earthly success
• A lack of sorrow over personal sin

If these things are happening, your soul is in jeopardy.”

Trevor Sheatz (@TrevorSheatz) on X

Warning signs for Christians: • A loss of interest in the Bible • Finding excuses to avoid going to church • Being more concerned with earthly success • A lack of sorrow over personal sin If these things are present, your soul is in jeopardy.

x.com

If any of the warning signs are flashing, turning to atheists and agnostics won’t turn them off; they may turn more warning signs on.

 

[Riven]

It happened.

When and where?

 

[Matthias]

When and where?

August 9, 1945. Nagasaki, Japan. 11:02 AM, local time.

 

[Riven]

August 9, 1945. Nagasaki, Japan. 11:02 AM, local time.

The Japanese are overwhelmingly atheist. If they worship anything, it's their ancestors.

 

[Matthias]

The Japanese are overwhelmingly atheist. If they worship anything, it's their ancestors.

See my post #132 and your post #136.

 

[Riven]

See my post #132 and your post #136.

 

[Matthias]

August 9, 1945. Nagasaki, Japan. 11:02 AM, local time.

Matthew 18:20; Matthew 25:40; Luke 10:16.

 

[Matthias]

I will, however, take the opportunity once again to point you to the teaching and practice of Jesus and the apostles, the Apostolic and the Ante Nicene eras of church history. To that I would direct your attention to the peace churches and the persecution they received from the hands of their enemies.

“When did the Church yield her best men for her Lord’s service? It was in the persecuting times, when they had to swim through seas of blood to hold fast the truth of Christ.” - C.H. Spurgeon

 

[Debp]

Assuming they could find him, and the atomic bomb was limited to a desert or something... I'd be curious to see what would happen.

I don't think the atomic bomb would stand a chance against Jesus.

The devil does exist. I know because of what he did to me

Yes the devil has ruined many lives. And Jesus has restored many of those lives. The devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour. The Bible tells us to resist him, stand firm in our faith. Don't be ignorant of the devil's devices.