Are there any Christian nerds in here.

[shagy2303]

Something to read..

Proverbs 24:5 (AMP):

5 A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power.

Thought for the Day

So many people today talk about being tired or burned out. One of the major reasons for this is that man tries to live without Gods strength. We may be endued with natural strength and ability, but there is always a limit to it. Wisdom gives additional strength over mere physical power; it enables us to escape evil and to prosper in our soul. The Bible teaches that we are to be strong in the Lord and not rely on human strength or wisdom which easily fail us. When we have the wisdom to obey God, we can walk in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). Sometimes we need mental or emotional strength; other times we need physical strength. All of these are available to us through the Holy Spirit. Men in the natural grow old and lose their strength; however, the Bible records old men who served Him who were not weak but strong. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone (Deuteronomy 34:7 NIV). At 85 years old, Caleb was still a strong warrior, that was ready to battle for his inheritance (Joshua 14:10-13).

My husband and I are in our golden years, but we are not planning to retire. Rather, we are asking God to re-fire us; trusting that by His grace we will not go to be with Him until we complete the work He has for us on earth. Strength and long life are promised to Gods people, but we must live for God and not for self. If we yield to sin, we can lose our strength as Samson did. The Bible records his deeds in Judges 13-16. When Samson served God, he triumphed in every battle; but when he yielded to lust and had an affair with Delilah, a Philistine woman, Gods supernatural empowering left him. He was captured by his enemies, who blinded him and threw him in prison. In his agony, he cried out to God and was given one last burst of strength by which he brought down his enemies (Judges 16:28-30).

A commitment to God brings strength for any task. Even in old age, when our strength is waning, the Lord will give us His strength to witness to the generation in which we live. Psalm 71 records that King David asked the Lord for, and received, that strength. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength failethNow also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come (Psalm 71:9,18).

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your promise of strength. Lord, I know that it is through Your wisdom and knowledge that we gain strength. Lord, I am grateful that I can call on You when I feel weak and when I feel that I am unable to go on. Lord, I want to use my strength to do Your will. I want to love You with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength. I know then, that I will be able to love my neighbor as myself. You said that there is no greater commandment than this. May I always be faithful in loving You first, and then in loving others. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

[RescuedRuckus]

Christian Nerd here,

Have definitely had an interesting spiritual journey in my 25 years so far on earth. I definitely agree that it takes God's help to get through every day and with His help we can get a lot farther than would be possible on our own. It's been kind of an up and down back and forth relationship recently, but I'm getting to a better place with my faith. Getting back to where I was about two years ago, one of the strongest times in my journey (spiritually and physically). Glad to see another Christian willing to be open about it around here

[shagy2303]

Well if it wasnt for me finding my faith . i proly wouldnt be on this website and workign towords making my self better

[Elastigirl]

Thanks for some good thoughts on how God gives us wisdom and strength. The more I grow in my walk with the Lord the more I realize I can not do it on own and that I need Him to strengthen me.

[shagy2303]

it is nice to know there are others. i guess that is what makes this place special all walks of life here

[Scorpion1674]

Thanks for the wise words, although I know they really come from above. But it's always a great thing to see a witness and encouraging to see someone step out and speak. I still have yet to find that courage. Nonetheless I still find strength in the Lord. How much more could I find if I were only more obedient? He gives me what I need to get by and certainly more than I deserve. I find it especially encouraging to see faith on a site such as this. I've been chastised because I'm "far too intelligent to be so dogmatic" and criticized for not going with the flow (which usually results in me being reverse guilted into wrong actions). Keep on witnessing.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Another Christian Nerd here.

[Jason Bourne]

Great verse! I always knew that God wanted me to take good care of my body, the Holy Spirit's temple, but it helps to know that there are other verses and other people out there that have similar goals to mine. It's very encouraging, and I thank you for creating this thread!

[jaxjaxjax]

Another one here. Thanks for the message. Its amazing what can happen when we step out in faith. If Indiana could do it, then so can I.

[Kishi]

+1. Although I have been known to be rather contentious with my theology, at the end of the day there is a beauty in that story that destroys me inside, and I fall in love with Jesus all over again.

[Sea Level]

Me too.

...there is a beauty in that story that destroys me inside, and I fall in love with Jesus all over again.

Yes. This. His love can never fail.

[PrincessHeather]

This is a great thread... I've been a believer for a long time, but only in the past year or so have I become more comfortable in outward expressions of faith. I feel my faith on such a personal level, but I know that I need to be proud of who I am and what Jesus does in my life. And this weekend, I'm actually taking a big step in that direction, I'm getting baptized

[shagy2303]

that is amazing that you are getting baptized.

[the_griff]

Well if it wasnt for me finding my faith . i proly wouldnt be on this website and workign towords making my self better

Amen! I didn't care at all about fitness or nutrition until I got saved! I always wanted to be healthy and fit but wanted to keep eating and doing whatever I wanted... so revealing about our walk with God. He gives us the grace to live righteously before Him, but we need to by faith step out into that faith. Speaking of which...

Another one here. Thanks for the message. Its amazing what can happen when we step out in faith. If Indiana could do it, then so can I.

You know, Jax, it's funny of all the things you quote it is this! I was atheist/agnostic my whole life (New Yorker, woot woot!) and didn't believe you were able to figure out which God was the right one. The day I got saved, someone used that metaphor to illustrate what it is to step out in faith. I asked them how they knew there was a God and they said "Have you ever seen Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail?" and I was like "DUH!!" It really does look like a bottomless pit, like there is nothing... but when we step out, Christ is solid rock beneath our feet, and we cannot deny Him... Same thing with our daily walk with Him, He saves us everyday.

Shagy: Thank you for starting this thread! I am definitely subscribing...

[jaxjaxjax]

You know, Jax, it's funny of all the things you quote it is this! I was atheist/agnostic my whole life (New Yorker, woot woot!) and didn't believe you were able to figure out which God was the right one. The day I got saved, someone used that metaphor to illustrate what it is to step out in faith. I asked them how they knew there was a God and they said "Have you ever seen Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail?" and I was like "DUH!!" It really does look like a bottomless pit, like there is nothing... but when we step out, Christ is solid rock beneath our feet, and we cannot deny Him... Same thing with our daily walk with Him, He saves us everyday.

Yes It cleared things up for me too. Just gotta take that first big step and then you can see it. BUT you have to take that step. I guess its not as weird as I though that Indiana Jones brought me to Jesus.

[Elastigirl]

Amen! I didn't care at all about fitness or nutrition until I got saved! I always wanted to be healthy and fit but wanted to keep eating and doing whatever I wanted... so revealing about our walk with God. He gives us the grace to live righteously before Him, but we need to by faith step out into that faith. Speaking of which...

You know, Jax, it's funny of all the things you quote it is this! I was atheist/agnostic my whole life (New Yorker, woot woot!) and didn't believe you were able to figure out which God was the right one. The day I got saved, someone used that metaphor to illustrate what it is to step out in faith. I asked them how they knew there was a God and they said "Have you ever seen Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail?" and I was like "DUH!!" It really does look like a bottomless pit, like there is nothing... but when we step out, Christ is solid rock beneath our feet, and we cannot deny Him... Same thing with our daily walk with Him, He saves us everyday.

Shagy: Thank you for starting this thread! I am definitely subscribing...

Great analogy!

[Elastigirl]

This is a great thread... I've been a believer for a long time, but only in the past year or so have I become more comfortable in outward expressions of faith. I feel my faith on such a personal level, but I know that I need to be proud of who I am and what Jesus does in my life. And this weekend, I'm actually taking a big step in that direction, I'm getting baptized

Very awesome and exciting!

[Loren Wade]

There are so, so, so many. I keep in touch personally with many of the regular ones.

[Lefeux]

Christian nerd here. Bigger nerd than Christian. Working on that. One of my challenges this go round is to be more Pious by attending weekly services.

Congrats on the impending baptism PH! I am relatively sure I was baptized as a wee lad, but I don't really remember it. I almost got baptized when I was in Hawaii but never went through with it (was married to a woman who had just converted to Catholicism. Created a few issues. She liked me coming to her church but wasn't keen on going to mine.)

Once I get back stateside, I intend on finding a church to put down some roots with. I eventually hope to get baptized as well.

[Amphion]

Christian here, although I fail at it miserably quite often. I am glad to see that there are many here. The peace it brings me make me wonder how you could ever make it through life without it. I couldnt imagine facing my problems alone.

[PrincessHeather]

Congrats on the impending baptism PH! I am relatively sure I was baptized as a wee lad, but I don't really remember it. I almost got baptized when I was in Hawaii but never went through with it (was married to a woman who had just converted to Catholicism. Created a few issues. She liked me coming to her church but wasn't keen on going to mine.)

Interestingly enough, I actually grew up Catholic and was baptized as a baby. I did my first Holy Communion ceremony around age 8, and did catechism thorugh age 15, when it came time for Confirmation classes. I had a bit of a spiritual epiphany and decided I wasn't Catholic anymore, and told my mom I wasn't getting confirmed. It has been a bit of a winding journey since then, but I'm now ready to make that outward sign of committment of my own accord and so I am being baptized again.

[JeffyB]

Born, baptized, confirmed, and still LCMS Lutheran...

PH - so what is your take on Ephesians 4:5, regarding one baptism? Reason for asking is that I know that some denominations will accept infant baptism, while others don't...

On a separate note, how do you like RC? (I was stationed there from '97-'02)

[shagy2303]

Christian here, although I fail at it miserably quite often. I am glad to see that there are many here. The peace it brings me make me wonder how you could ever make it through life without it. I couldnt imagine facing my problems alone.

we all fail at it it has been 2000 years since someone hasn't and i think he cheated ...son of god and all

[shagy2303]

what bands do you guys listen to?

[Loren Wade]

what bands do you guys listen to?

To name a few...

As Cities Burn, August Burns Red, Becoming the Archetype, Beloved, Blindside, The Chariot, Close Your Eyes, Children 18:3, Emery, Extol, For Today, The Glorious Unseen, Hands, Haste the Day, Head, Hundredth, Life In Your Way, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, My Epic, MyChildren MyBride, Norma Jean, Oh, Sleeper, Project 86, Ryan Stubbs, Showbread, Sleeping Giant (favorite), Thrice, and Wolves at the Gate.