Hello all

[BigSodaExposer]

I dunno where to start. *sigh*

Its very complicated. My life started pretty ordinary. I had a love of scifi and comic books. And just riding a bike with other neighborhood kids after school. I always wanted to know the "truth". I'm ashamed to admit this led me into occult type research. Ghost/ aliens...etc.

At 12 years old, I had my first panic attack, one day, walking home from school. Mental problems led me to not do so well in school. And I was kinda the thrill seeker, and trouble maker too. Much sinful activity.

In 2006 I had an aneurism. I was in the hospital for months. Most of that time unconscious. Saw many other worldly visions while in there. The majority of , being dark negative visions. That usually involved me being in a dark subterranean place, alone. A place where time didn't exist. And yet somehow, I knew I would be there forever.

When I finally did come to. I had to relearn everything we take for granted. How to walk, talk, eat. All over again. Basically any conscious muscle you can control. I never got a 100 percent recovery. But I am much better off then I was 8 years ago. And thankful to God its not worse than it is. My speech was slurred, and I speak slower then most. So often I am accused of being on drugs or "retarded" or something. Considering, I'm pretty sure I was born a schizophrenic. I've often been accused of being on something, even when I wasn't.

I told everyone I knew what all I seen. Those I know in real life. And the internet. No one seemed to be even slightly interested. I never went around to any christian forums. (till now) But immediately after 06 I became a true believer in God.

In ways I was already a bit "agnostic". But this proved to me beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God was real. I begin praying. Thanking God for each day there after.

In 2008 there was the big financial crisis. This got me into looking for end of the world information. Chemtrails, planet-x, bla bla bla.

By 2012, something just changed in me. I began to research bible topics. I began watching just tons of youtube videos on God, Jesus, Satan. During the course of that year. I noticed all the alternative news just all start running together, and become meaningless. One could argue this was the spirit of truth guiding me into all truths. Letting me know how futile that other stuff was.

Early 2013 - For some reason I got the idea, to try to just read the whole bible myself. My logic was, why go through a middle man and his opinion? Why watch all the videos on youtube ABOUT the bible? When I could just read it myself...And know once and for all whats really in there. Is it just a book that people seem to go "crazy" over? Or is there more to it? So I did. It wasn't easy. Took me a month and a half. And some days I would read 10 hours a day. (not hard when you have no job). To do this meant there was much pulling away from the world just to do that. And before I went off on this mission. I did my research. The KJV was my conclusion as THE bible to read. Since I read it, I went through the pharissee stage first. I assume many people that become Christians go through that. I dunno.

Before I read the bible, I never heard of the "spirit of truth". And I thought the arc of the covenant was a gold box on indiana jones. I didn't truly know what a "covenant" was. I did know of sin. But I had never heard of "iniquity" before. The Old Testament taught me that.

Things that I didn't even realize were a sin I woke up to. Things like illegally downloading songs and programs off the internet. People think its free but hey, thats stealing! And I had just folders and folders full of burned cds/dvd's. And I always treasured them like such a prize.

But anyway, during the course of all this. Its like I finally got the thing I had wanted all my life. The "truth". And all at once, I realized how all the knowledge I had gained meant nothing. And I would read some weird books too! Books about anti-gravity, free energy, Crystal energy, pyramid power, etc. All this was "doctrines of devils". Yeah I see it now.

I may come off as a bit aggressive and over the top some times, but just please try to remember. Its hard to forget a lifetime of mental problems. Its not intentional.

There is no doubt that God saved me for a purpose. Why not send me to hell? I deserved it. I was anything but a righteous man. He could have. A few times in the hospital, when I would get a faint glimpse of reality, I begged God to let me die. But he wouldn't

I can tell you that as sure as that sun rises in the morning, that I know things about caffeine, demons, and the holy spirit. But coming out of my mouth, its just the opinion of a crazy man.

I have much information to share. But people have to care enough, to want to know. To ask

I'm glad to have found this forum. I enjoy reading the post of others. If I get out of line just let me know.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I've seen you around a little. Welcome
And the pharisee stage? Yeah, I think I know what you mean. I'd say I went through something like that. God showed me later on that Christians can have different opinions on things and still be genuine and not necessarily backslidden for having their own views I might not necessarily agree with or approve of.
It's always fascinating to me to see how we Christians can have vastly different views and opinions on many topics and still be one in Christ. If nothing else we do all share faith in Christ.

 

[Eugene]

My logic was, why go through a middle man and his opinion?
I have much information to share. But people have to care enough, to want to know. To ask

So I just have to ask; why did you skip the middleman to become one? Sorry, I couldn't contain myself.

 

[BigSodaExposer]

I've seen you around a little. Welcome
And the pharisee stage? Yeah, I think I know what you mean. I'd say I went through something like that. God showed me later on that Christians can have different opinions on things and still be genuine and not necessarily backslidden for having their own views I might not necessarily agree with or approve of.
It's always fascinating to me to see how we Christians can have vastly different views and opinions on many topics and still be one in Christ. If nothing else we do all share faith in Christ.

Thank you

I guess by pharisee stage, I mean like a condemnation of others around me for flaws/sins. Not realizing I was judging other people. Later on I clued in to the opinion stage. Realizing that we all just have opinions. Look forward to hearing more from you!

 

[BigSodaExposer]

So I just have to ask; why did you skip the middleman to become one? Sorry, I couldn't contain myself.

Because I really really wanted to know the bible myself. I was curious to know what the book really said. And what the book didn't say. Compared to what opinions people give it. It took me awhile to realize that righteousness comes through Christ. At first I wanted to be like a pharisee. Cross all the T's and dot all the I's. Be perfect. Do everything perfect.

But this is coming from someone who has had minimal church. And never read the bible.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Thank you

I guess by pharisee stage, I mean like a condemnation of others around me for flaws/sins. Not realizing I was judging other people. Later on I clued in to the opinion stage. Realizing that we all just have opinions. Look forward to hearing more from you!

Yeah, that's similar to my experience. The judgmental thoughts never made it to my mouth that I remember (my mom always taught me by example to keep certain thoughts to myself), but I thought them all right.

 

[Eugene]

BigSodaExposer, I would then have to ask what you read in scripture that needs to be made known that hasn't been said by others? With that in mind, I like your thought of "There is the WORD and there is OPINION." Does this mean you quote only scripture without exhortation or expounding? Thanks.

 

[BigSodaExposer]

BigSodaExposer, I would then have to ask what you read in scripture that needs to be made known that hasn't been said by others? With that in mind, I like your thought of "There is the WORD and there is OPINION." Does this mean you quote only scripture without exhortation or expounding? Thanks.

The verse about the demon the disciples couldn't cast out, that required Jesus. Afterwards they privately asked him why they could not cast out the demon. Jesus responded with Mark 9:29 "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." - KJV

It is my opinion, that is Jesus telling you the importance of diet in casting out demons. Should that matter? I would think so... (Else, why would God put that in there right?) About the scripture quoting. I can do it either way. I can quote only a scripture and let the reader decide what I meant. Or I can add my 2 cents with it too. It does make me wonder though.....Is this how people did it in the 80s? When its on an internet forum its a quick google search and bam. Copy and paste. Are we working the machine? Or is the machine working us? Know what I mean?

 

[Eugene]

The verse about the demon the disciples couldn't cast out, that required Jesus. Afterwards they privately asked him why they could not cast out the demon. Jesus responded with Mark 9:29 "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." - KJV

It is my opinion, that is Jesus telling you the importance of diet in casting out demons. Should that matter? I would think so... (Else, why would God put that in there right?) About the scripture quoting. I can do it either way. I can quote only a scripture and let the reader decide what I meant. Or I can add my 2 cents with it too. It does make me wonder though.....Is this how people did it in the 80s? When its on an internet forum its a quick google search and bam. Copy and paste. Are we working the machine? Or is the machine working us? Know what I mean?

BigSodaExposer, therein lies the problem to me, and that is adding presumption to that one word "Fasting." Two cents is good as long as it's credible, and to make that one word worthy of building a doctrine, every aspect must be explored.

There are many that practice fasting that use Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:28, but even my King James Bible states that "Some reliable mss omit v21." Notice the different translations below.

Authorized Version -
Mt 17:21 - Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Mark 9:29 - And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

1901 American Standard version.
Mt 17:21 - This verse not in this bible.
Mark 9:29 - And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer.

New International Version
(Mt. 17:21) - Not shown in this version
(Mark 9:29) - He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

In 2 Corinthians 11:27 Paul says that he was "in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." Notice here that he separates hunger, and fastings as not being the same.

Then we read what a real fast is in Isaiah 58:5-7 below. Many fast doing without food to sort of add their works to what they're asking for. If I fast, God is obligated to answer me. God evidently cannot do it alone.

Isaiah 58:5 "Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Jehovah?

Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

In Jesus' name.

 

[Angel]

Your testimony is very interesting!
Welcome!