Recent content by jodetoad

I agree that there is often something shaky with Christianity in the West. But the burning of a Koran is not central to that. More central is leaping to judgment of others, thinking we can know and judge their motivation and acts... Blaming the pastor is sophistry, though at first glance it...

Don't mind looking up words! Just learned that a hoopoe is a bird, exotic in appearance (worth googling to look at), native to southern Europe and Asia to north Africa. :)

Thanks for the encouragement. Over 2 days now. One foot in front of the other.:waving

Depression is a mental state that becomes self-perpetuating. The chemistry in the brain gets messed up to a point where it doesn't rebound like normal. You may be in a depression that needs treatment. If you are indeed depressed, there are medicines that work very well without being dangerous...

In a way, that's what I'm here for. To read discussions by Christians more knowledgeable than myself, look at them open-mindedly (I hope) and learn. Since it's just a few days, not much change yet. But learned already about using some online tools. At my tiny church, Fellowship Time often...

Don't laugh, but I have been praying for enough courage to try to stop smoking again, after many failures over many years. I was fearing failure too much to even try. Obviously you can't succeed if you don't try. Have been embarrassed to ask others to pray for me, since I have failed so many...

I failed at marriage once, and divorced. It is not something that you forget, I still wonder if I could have done better. I'll pray for you, too.

I'm 59, played piano since age 4. Love to play, especially classical. Thanks for the tips, I'm kind of new at this. Even though I too have been a church musician for years, I wasn't always a serious Christian until just lately, just kind of went with the flow.

Thanks, Kimberlie, makes more sense now. John being in prison, imagine his worry if Jesus was NOT the expected one! John's task would not be completed. Can see why strain might make John doubt. Saved the blueletter link, will try to figure out how that works, none of my Bibles has word...

I will pray for you. Only solution to insomnia I ever found was by accident - I lost a lot of weight, and exercised every day. Slept like a baby mostly. When I skip the exercise, have usual trouble sleeping. But not everybody can exercise, and many find it boring and unpleasant.

NIV: Luke 7:18 John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the...

I don't know the part about having a body. The part I know something about is that even with a body, spiritual pain is distinct. I think we don't need a body to feel spiritual pain. As an addict/alcoholic, clean & sober over 30 years, I will never forget the difference. Like most...

Glad you're here. I'm new too. My only thought is that when I expect things of God, it doesn't always work out so well. Works better for me to try to figure out what God expects from me, and try to do it. Life is change; I have never really got to 'go back', but usually going forward ended...

How wonderful!

Cute smily-bug rocks! The first picture is a cabochon of Green Tree Agate from India. Oregon has wonderful rocks, lots of fabulous jaspers from Oregon, plus some pretty fancy obsidians. This Biggs Jasper is from Oregon: Tumblers are a bit slow, us less patient types slice the rock like bread...