zeropoint, please know you haven't offended or angered me in anyway. Jesus teaches that these times in life come and I am to offer love. Please don't confuse me with "Christians" that talk a talk and play a game. I don't go to church to dress up, in fact I wear shorts, tshirt, and sandals to church. I go to church to worship with others and to find ways to minister to people. This means providing my time and services to others regardless of who are what they are. I give money to God as an act of faith and to support the work done all around the globe. Over 80% of the budget of the church I attend goes to missions such as building orphanages and supporting them, creating business opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS in Africa, feeding, clothing, and educating the homeless to get them back on their feet and find jobs, assisting felons in getting back into the free world after parole/release, assisting former addicts with job training and attaining employment, rebuilding houses for victims of Ike and other disasters, providing school supplies for over 10k under privileged children, and so on. If anyone is interested you can check out where I go at
www.fotw.org and more on my pastor at
www.kerryshook.com
The single most important part of being a Christian past a relationship with God is serving others. This does not mean preaching and evangelizing, but giving of yourself to others. This doesn not mean protesting abortion clinics, rock concerts, and so on, I have no use for those people. This means reaching out to all people, not just who we pick and choose.
In reality zeropoint I know that I have no power to change your heart or mind on any of this. I serve God and pray for you and wish you the best of life. I could pick out points and argue with you all day long, but really what good would it do either of us? Please understand I do not hold myself above anyone and do not have anything that makes me special. I know many "Christians" look down on others and "sinners" as a sub class and not worthy. That is not what Jesus taught and not how God directs my life. I have no great secrets or anything else that aids me through life. Everything I have is available to anyone. ie: this is not some exclusive club