[__ Prayer __] "no such thing as second chances!"

[Christ_empowered]

I've heard people say this about me and my life, and now its dawned on me: its true, isn't it? In the world, at least? Unless you're rich, successful, powerful, etc., you're not supposed to have second chances. Forgivness just doesn't come in the world. And yet...

...we serve The God of yet another chance. That includes me.

For the first time in a loooong time, I have hope. And a future, I think. I'm taking college classes and doing well in them. I'm getting along well with my people. I'm just not...Mr.Popular. At all.

So, praise God! Even I have a chance at a life. Also, pray that God will give me what it takes to push through all this stuff that comes my way, so I can earn a degree and hopefully get out of here.

Thanks.

 

[AirDancer]

People who have hardened their hearts are unable to forgive any one. These people need our prayers, but they are not the standards by which we view the world. Yes, the world is rough and it's sin-filled. Still, there is a great deal of love and good amongst many in the world.

Don't worry about not being 'Mr Popular' ....it's a lot better to be 'Average Joe'. That way, you know that people are your friends because of you as opposed to your popularity.

Our Lord loves you, and won't give up on you. It matters not to Him if you're popular or no. What matters to Him is that you are His, that you listen when He speaks, and try your best.

Prayers continue, my friend.

 

[Eugene]

I've heard people say this about me and my life, and now its dawned on me: its true, isn't it? In the world, at least? Unless you're rich, successful, powerful, etc., you're not supposed to have second chances. Forgivness just doesn't come in the world. And yet...

...we serve The God of yet another chance. That includes me.

For the first time in a loooong time, I have hope. And a future, I think. I'm taking college classes and doing well in them. I'm getting along well with my people. I'm just not...Mr.Popular. At all.

So, praise God! Even I have a chance at a life. Also, pray that God will give me what it takes to push through all this stuff that comes my way, so I can earn a degree and hopefully get out of here.

Thanks.

The problem we face in life with others many times is recompense or comeuppance from our own mistakes. The world never forgets such as with “David Berkowitz, the man behind the pseudonym (Son of Sam), shot and murdered six people, and wounded seven others, with a .44 revolver during his reign of terror several decades ago in New York City.”

Incredibly, Berkowitz became a born-again Christian in 1987 after having a self-proclaimed spiritual awakening one night in his cell at Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, NY, where he will likely remain for the rest of his life.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/serial-...s-once-an-evil-person-in-prison-conversation/

He was sentenced and received several life sentences, but with God he is innocent, his sins forgiven and forgotten, and he will spend eternity with Jesus. Would I necessarily feel comfortable having him live with me; I might have a go to Jesus moment, and surely wait on instruction from the Holy Spirit?

 

[Kathi]

I've heard people say this about me and my life, and now its dawned on me: its true, isn't it? In the world, at least? Unless you're rich, successful, powerful, etc., you're not supposed to have second chances. Forgivness just doesn't come in the world. And yet...

...we serve The God of yet another chance. That includes me.

For the first time in a loooong time, I have hope. And a future, I think. I'm taking college classes and doing well in them. I'm getting along well with my people. I'm just not...Mr.Popular. At all.

So, praise God! Even I have a chance at a life. Also, pray that God will give me what it takes to push through all this stuff that comes my way, so I can earn a degree and hopefully get out of here.

Thanks.

Jesus Christ is all about second chances

 

[Willie T]

Jesus Christ is all about second chances

Yes, but not too many of us are. It would be shocking how few Christians actually do forgive, if we didn't already see it all around us. And sometimes even in our own hearts.

 

[Kathi]

Yes, but not too many of us are. It would be shocking how few Christians actually do forgive, if we didn't already see it all around us. And sometimes even in our own hearts.

An unbeliever has up to the time that they take their last breath to ask for forgiveness and to ask Jesus in their life.

 

[Malachi]

When people say "No such thing as second chances", they are referring to the afterlife, since that is exactly what the Bible says (Lk 16:26; Heb 9:27). On the other hand God gives multiple chances to those who are still alive on earth, not desiring that any should perish.

Eastern religions, on the other hand, teach multiple chances in the afterlife through reincarnation, which was been adopted by those in the New Age movement.

 

[Willie T]

Then, let us speak of, Paul. The perfect example of God forgiving, but people not willing, at all, for quite some time.

 

[Christ_empowered]

yeah, and...its like...lots of factors go into how "forgiving" the world can be. I'm low status. I used to be poor. My parents are behind me and they're newly, relatively affluent. So, I have a safe place in which to recover and a good attorney. Basically, they facilitate God's work in my life (best I can come up with...).

Anytime anything good happens for me, people around here get even more openly cruel. "He's gettin' uppity," etc. etc. (yes, its The South). When I lived in a little apt. my people bought for me, people terrorized me. First they terrorized me pre-conversion for being stupid, then post-conversion because...well...who knows. "Know your place!!!!"

People hate "poor white trash" around here, anyway. I hate the term, but its been used against me a lot (that and far, far worse). I'm apparently The Ultimate Uppity Poor White Trash, lol. Who knew?

Its so stupid. And pointless. Just a bunch of self-righteous hypocrites screamin' and foaming at the mouth, I swear to you. And yet.....

...I have to wear an MP3 player when I'm outside. My neighborhood people--at first it was the men, now its mostly men, but plenty of women, too--taunt me and such. Its nonsense. I'd rather listen to mah music.

 

[Willie T]

CE, I honestly DO hope you soon begin to realize you are your own worst enemy.

It isn't the world around you, it is you. Anything you say, I can immediately discredit by showing you examples of poor people, socially awkward people, people of mediocre intelligence. unattractive people, ex-criminals, even ex-mental patients that made HUGE successes of their lives.

Of a truth, very little is going to change in your life until you, yourself, do something to make it happen. At 50 years of age, if you don't take responsibility for yourself, and step out in a serious attempt at living the new life God has given you, you could still be right here on this forum (or somewhere like it), fishing for "strokes."

Is that REALLY how you want to live the rest of your life?

 

[th1b.taylor]

The self righteous slander should be used extremely carefully. I admit, I have used and more than once found myself guilty of misapplication. And, because I hold the Bible as absolute truth I am, frequently, accused of this sin by lost men of all flavors. I have yet, after 24 years, to find a single man o God, layman nor Pastor, to use the charge against me but it has been leveled by people on the Church roll, some of them dunked in the water.

1. 
   I try always to remember, though the charge might be and usually is, fact when I feel obligated to use it, it is still impugning another's reputation. Now, the subject of forgiving murderers has come up so let me expound a bit.
   
   Karla Fay Tucker slaughtered an old man and his wife with a Pick Ax, here, in Texas. Being active in the Glory Bound Express Prison Ministry, I was and I am certain Karla Fay converted but i was never found protesting outside the Walls Unit in Huntsville. Karla was forgiven by our LORD, there was and there is no question in my mind but just as the Son Of Sam murderer should be, she was exterminated/sent Home where she, now, lives eternal.
   
   Se had no issue with the sentence being carried out and neither did I. I was raised by one of my Birth Parents that was a professional criminal and I was, thus, raised, a lying criminal that only the influence of my dad, my stepfather, redirected.
   
   If we, the Church, will obey God and cease allowing the Lost, inside the Church to foist the lie, centered on Matt. 7:1 and read the verse in the context of the entire chapter and the chapter in the context of the entire book and the book in the context of the entire Bible. We are commanded to judge righteously and if we do not. are obedient servants?
   ​

 

[Willie T]

The self righteous slander should be used extremely carefully. I admit, I have used and more than once found myself guilty of misapplication. And, because I hold the Bible as absolute truth I am, frequently, accused of this sin by lost men of all flavors. I have yet, after 24 years, to find a single man o God, layman nor Pastor, to use the charge against me but it has been leveled by people on the Church roll, some of them dunked in the water.

1. 
   I try always to remember, though the charge might be and usually is, fact when I feel obligated to use it, it is still impugning another's reputation. Now, the subject of forgiving murderers has come up so let me expound a bit.
   
   Karla Fay Tucker slaughtered an old man and his wife with a Pick Ax, here, in Texas. Being active in the Glory Bound Express Prison Ministry, I was and I am certain Karla Fay converted but i was never found protesting outside the Walls Unit in Huntsville. Karla was forgiven by our LORD, there was and there is no question in my mind but just as the Son Of Sam murderer should be, she was exterminated/sent Home where she, now, lives eternal.
   
   Se had no issue with the sentence being carried out and neither did I. I was raised by one of my Birth Parents that was a professional criminal and I was, thus, raised, a lying criminal that only the influence of my dad, my stepfather, redirected.
   
   If we, the Church, will obey God and cease allowing the Lost, inside the Church to foist the lie, centered on Matt. 7:1 and read the verse in the context of the entire chapter and the chapter in the context of the entire book and the book in the context of the entire Bible. We are commanded to judge righteously and if we do not. are obedient servants?​

Confusing. Are you saying that Believers of those old days were not obedient because they did not pursue retaliatory action against Paul for murder? Because he said he was redeemed by God, the Believers overlooked the evil done, and gave him a "free pass" for the actions he had perpetrated.

In other words, to bring it home, if Karla Fay Tucker or anyone else had done these things (and you, yourself were sure of it), but had afterward, "been converted", yet did not feel led to turn themselves in to the law, would you go along with God's forgiveness, or would you feel compelled to report them to the authorities?

 

[th1b.taylor]

Confusing. Are you saying that Believers of those old days were not obedient because they did not pursue retaliatory action against Paul for murder? Because he said he was redeemed by God, the Believers overlooked the evil done, and gave him a "free pass" for the actions he had perpetrated.

In other words, to bring it home, if Karla Fay Tucker or anyone else had done these things (and you, yourself were sure of it), but had afterward, "been converted", yet did not feel led to turn themselves in to the law, would you go along with God's forgiveness, or would you feel compelled to report them to the authorities?

Willie,
condemnation of Paul is your thought, not mine. And yes I try to be obedient to the Word of God and if a saved man or woman has murdered they must be turned in to the police to avoid being involved in their former sins.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I think I'm getting better. I think living w/ the folks in the hometown, in a neighborhood where I'm despised, really got me down :-(

Today, something wonderful happened: my probation officer (I have a misdemeanor) is talking about letting me off of probation...1 year into a 5 year probation! Hopefully, all will go well and the judge will sign off on it. My parents have resources, so I could move out into a little apt. (nothing fancy, just...nothing too bad in terms of neighborhood, either) and start over...this time for real. I know it'll cost my parents $$$, but they'll have full run of their house again and I'll get to move out in freedom.

 

[Kathi]

When people say "No such thing as second chances", they are referring to the afterlife, since that is exactly what the Bible says (Lk 16:26; Heb 9:27). On the other hand God gives multiple chances to those who are still alive on earth, not desiring that any should perish.

Eastern religions, on the other hand, teach multiple chances in the afterlife through reincarnation, which was been adopted by those in the New Age movement.

Those who remain on this Earth during the tribulation will have another chance for salvation.But those who actually die and have not asked Jesus Christ into their life are lost.No second chances there.

 

[Malachi]

Those who remain on this Earth during the tribulation will have another chance for salvation...

There is one condition that must be met. The chance is only for those who have not already resisted the Gospel or rejected Christ (2 Thess 2:10-12). Those who "received not the love of the truth" and "believed not the truth" will be damned.

 

[Malachi]

Yes, but not too many of us are. It would be shocking how few Christians actually do forgive, if we didn't already see it all around us. And sometimes even in our own hearts.

You are absolutely right. Christians -- of all people -- can hold grudges for a long, long time, not realizing that every day they hold a grudge they sin against God. It takes the grace of God to forgive fully and then to forget fully.

 

[th1b.taylor]

There is one condition that must be met. The chance is only for those who have not already resisted the Gospel or rejected Christ (2 Thess 2:10-12). Those who "received not the love of the truth" and "believed not the truth" will be damned.

Malachi,
What happened? You appeared here and you were so spot on in your application of scripture but today you are all over the place. I just went back and read the context and these scriptures do not say what you are using them to teach here. Please, what is wrong?

 

[th1b.taylor]

Those who remain on this Earth during the tribulation will have another chance for salvation.But those who actually die and have not asked Jesus Christ into their life are lost.No second chances there.

Kathi,
You are correct as I read the scriptures. As this stupid disease eats my brain I am losing a lot of my mental functions but i have never seen where they will not have that final chance before the arrival of Christ and the Bride to rule for a thousand years. I have heard the hate mongers preach that only the 144,000 Jewish connverts will be saved but that is not what the scriptures teach.

Hang in there and let none shake you from the truth.

 

[Kathi]

Kathi,
You are correct as I read the scriptures. As this stupid disease eats my brain I am losing a lot of my mental functions but i have never seen where they will not have that final chance before the arrival of Christ and the Bride to rule for a thousand years. I have heard the hate mongers preach that only the 144,000 Jewish connverts will be saved but that is not what the scriptures teach.

Hang in there and let none shake you from the truth.

Kathi,
You are correct as I read the scriptures. As this stupid disease eats my brain I am losing a lot of my mental functions but i have never seen where they will not have that final chance before the arrival of Christ and the Bride to rule for a thousand years. I have heard the hate mongers preach that only the 144,000 Jewish connverts will be saved but that is not what the scriptures teach.

Hang in there and let none shake you from the truth.

I am sorry for your suffering.