>>I wish you well, Charles. Peace.
>I know you do. That part I truly believe and so I wish you the same.
>The fact that you choose to never respond to any substantial questions speaks
>more eloquently than anything you could say.


If this means anything to you, Charles ... you are exactly the same way I was before my conversion. And to my utter surprise and amazement, I found the rebirth, something entirely new being born again, something I could never have dreamed existed, and something I even railed against being possible in a person. But now I know, and it's changed my way of thinking, and the subsequent entire course of my life, and in ways that no one who knew me before would've believed.

I pray you experience the same because even though it costs you everything in this world ... it's far better than any loss as a result.

Best regards,
Rick C. Hodgin


>>>>>>That passage means men must come to Jesus in the same way little children
>>>>>>believe what you tell them -- they just accept it on faith.
>>>>>
>>>>>Perhaps if you actually had the correct quote for the passage......:
>>>>>I assume you are referring to Mathew 18 - which reads:
>>>>>
>>>>>1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
>>>>>2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.
>>>>>3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
>>>>>4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
>>>>>5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
>>>>>
>>>>>If you must continually post this religious stuff at least get the scriptures right
>>>>>and quit taking obscure passages out of context.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The Greek word there for "lowly" is Strong's 5013, tapinoo, meaning to depress, to abase oneself, to humiliate in/of condition or heart, to humble oneself.
>>>>
>>>>The Greek word there for "change" is Strong's 4762, strefo, meaning to turn around, reverse, be changed / converted, as in regeneration by the spirit.
>>>>
>>>>It is referring to the man not assuming he's right, believing that his learned interpretations of worldly things are correct, but rather he recognizes that what he hears from God is true, and that beyond what outwardly, through worldly eyes, seems possible, plausible, or right.
>>>>
>>>>"...Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven..."
>>>>"...If any man thinks himself wise, let him become a fool that he might become wise..."
>>>
>>>
>>>It is hardly an obscure passage (and I did not quote it, I paraphrased quite accurately ) and was one of the first things I ever learned in Sunday school.
>>>
>>>Actually I was referring to Mark 10:13-15 ( who oddly enough leaves out the part about "convert" - or is it "change" the translation you favor - is there a difference ? )
>>>
>>>13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
>>>14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
>>>15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
>>>
>>>The last line has been used to claim the necessity of infant Baptism and confirmation. Such is the peril of literalism. That of course would mean "born again" doesn't count, since if you didn't receive it as a child - sorry, game over. (No problem if you go with your translation of Matthew instead - but wait - is one more accurate than the other? If so, which? Whatever is an unthinking literalist to do?)P
>>>
>>>But I choose to see it as the description of a state of being vs a requirement for early membership in The Elect.
>>>
>>>But again, my purpose it not to argue literal wording. (and this was indeed not out of context. Though if you compare the two passages (and even more so the translations) it easily demonstrates my point - that scripture can so easily be quoted and guided to prove whatever point you are trying ot make.
>>>
>>>What I find more interesting is you failure ot ever respond to anything more factual. Such as : Do you know ANYTHING about history, philosophy or linguistics other than what you find in the your particular translation of the Bible? Have you ever read another book or received any education whatsoever in anything else?
>>>
>>>Your attempts at evangelism might be more impressive if you were capable of being other than a scriptural Magic 8 Ball. We get that you believe it, but your arguments, explanations or whatever you would call them do not do you credit.