i would like and intend to be a christian

[lee]

it was longtime ago that my friend gave me a bible ,English&Chinese
version.i somtimes skimmed it when i was in bed ,but now , i'm going to
have a faith in bible ,in my lord ,i started to carefully read bible
,but there is a problem i'm facing ,where is it supposed most for a
chinese christian to start reading in bible .

cheers

[l***@hotmail.com]

Post by lee
it was longtime ago that my friend gave me a bible ,English&Chinese
version.i somtimes skimmed it when i was in bed ,but now , i'm going to
have a faith in bible ,in my lord ,i started to carefully read bible
,but there is a problem i'm facing ,where is it supposed most for a
chinese christian to start reading in bible .

It doesn't matter what your nationality or cultural back ground.
Where you should start first is to first start reading what Christ
Himself taught. You want to first grow in intimacy with Christ
and one of the best places in the bible to do that, is the Gospel
of John. This book is at once easy to read and understand
while at the same time, a provocative work from which you
will never, in a life time of study, plumb its depth.

Read the 4th book in the New Testament.

[Proshome]

Dear Lee:
I would recommend starting with the first two books, skip two, then read
the fifth and then go straight to the New Testament found is the second part
of the bible, near the end, and continue on to the end. Then, start all
over and read the complete bible from front to back. The reason I make this
suggestion is that for many newcomers to Christianity and the bible,
attempting to read through the third and fourth books might discourage many
beginners. This reading plan will give you a clear enough idea of where
Christianity has it's roots. Then start with the New Testament. Here is
some advice I would like to suggest while you are reading. Make all efforts
to believe what you are reading. This will force you to change your way of
thinking on some matters but the rewards will be well worth the efforts.
The main benefits that you will receive using this discipline is the ability
to spot contradictions often found within scripture. Facing these
contradictions head on will strengthen your understanding regarding God's
word . And may God be with you and bless you for your efforts.
--
simply "Christian"

Post by lee
it was longtime ago that my friend gave me a bible ,English&Chinese
version.i somtimes skimmed it when i was in bed ,but now , i'm going to
have a faith in bible ,in my lord ,i started to carefully read bible
,but there is a problem i'm facing ,where is it supposed most for a
chinese christian to start reading in bible .
cheers

[qquito]

Before you start reading the Bible, please first learn who Bertrand
Russell is, and read his famous "Why I am Not A Christian?" The article
is available at http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/russell0.htm

You need to first learn critical thinking, without which reading the
Bible would be like a blind man riding a blind horse, and you are bound
for trouble.

....... where is it supposed most for a chinese christian to start reading in bible .
cheers

[Matthew Johnson]

Post by qquito
Before you start reading the Bible, please first learn who Bertrand
Russell is,

Bad idea.

Post by qquito
and read his famous "Why I am Not A Christian?" The article

Even worse idea.

Post by qquito
is available at http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/russell0.htm

That essay is NOT "critical thinking". It is highly biased against
Christianity as well as other forms of theism.

Post by qquito
You need to first learn critical thinking,

So says the man who has never shown a sign of it himself!

Post by qquito
without which reading the Bible would be like a blind man riding a
blind horse, and you are bound for trouble.

Quito, you have shown time and time again with your own anti-Christian
propaganda that you are _already_ in serious trouble. You are in an
advanced state of spiritual delusion. This is FAR more serious trouble
than the trouble people get into by reading the Bible without first
learning critical thinking.

So you are in no position to preach sermons to others about "critical
thinking".

[lee]

Post by qquito
Before you start reading the Bible, please first learn who Bertrand
Russell is, and read his famous "Why I am Not A Christian?" The article
is available at http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/russell0.htm
You need to first learn critical thinking, without which reading the
Bible would be like a blind man riding a blind horse, and you are bound
for trouble.

....... where is it supposed most for a chinese christian to start reading in bible .
cheers

thank you everybody here for the efforts
i'll be reading the article before i read bible

[Jeff Caird]

Post by Matthew Johnson

Post by qquito
Before you start reading the Bible, please first learn who Bertrand
Russell is,

Bad idea.

No, no... Go ahead, find out the real story of Bertrand Russell, how he
seduced the teenaged daughter of a friend. That will tell you why was not a
Christian. Try to find his 1966(?) Playboy Interview and find out even more
about the man.

[Jani]

"Jeff Caird" <***@knox.edu> wrote in message news:eYPah.12819$***@trnddc03...

[]

Post by Jeff Caird
No, no... Go ahead, find out the real story of Bertrand Russell, how he
seduced the teenaged daughter of a friend.

Who was that?


That will tell you why was not a

Post by Jeff Caird
Christian.

He certainly wasn't very much inclined towards fidelity, but I don't think
that was the cause of him not being Christian.

Post by Jeff Caird
Try to find his 1966(?) Playboy Interview and find out even more
about the man.

Or better still, read his books....

Jani

[qquito]

Isn't it more important for you to find out first that in the Bible God
arranged the situation for His chosen "righteous" man, Lot, and his
daughters so that they could have incest with each other and even
produce generations of people from their incestuous sex ?

We thought that God's deeds were all great, but alas, this story was
expurgated in an illustrated version of the Bible for the young.

Post by Jeff Caird
....
No, no... Go ahead, find out the real story of Bertrand Russell, how he
seduced the teenaged daughter of a friend. That will tell you why was not a
Christian. Try to find his 1966(?) Playboy Interview and find out even more
about the man.

[B.G. Kent]

Post by lee
,but there is a problem i'm facing ,where is it supposed most for a
chinese christian to start reading in bible .
cheers

Dear Lee, if you are kind to others..you are a Christian already in your
heart and soul...if you treat all people alike with the same compassion
and love..you are already a Christian in your heart and soul. Christianity
does not come from a book or a preacher....it comes from God. If you wish
to read the Bible to add to your good works....I would suggest you read it
all....both the Old Testament and the New to get a good well rounded
vision of Christian views and values but to also find the good in all
scripture....the Bhagavad Gita, the Nagammadi, the many pages of the Tao
and writings of Buddha. The writings of the Sufi....the many Mystics like
Meister Ekhardt etc. all of these will bring you to a realization that
Christ in in all scriptures and ways...the Good...the microcosm in all of
us from the macrocosm of God. If you can find these all in Cantonese or
Mandarin ...then you will be lucky!

These are just my opinions....I do not speak in absolutes generally.
May you have great joy on your path.


Blessings
Bren

[suneejan]

Post by B.G. Kent
Dear Lee, if you are kind to others..you are a Christian already in your
heart and soul...if you treat all people alike with the same compassion
and love..you are already a Christian in your heart and soul. Christianity
does not come from a book or a preacher....it comes from God. If you wish

...

Bren
Just bedause one is good and kind to others, that does not make a
person a Christian.
The bible states that God does not like soothsayers, mystics, etc.
What God desires is for a person to accept is son Jesus and ask
forgiveness or their wrongs. Asking Christ in one's life will change
that persons life. 2 Cor 5:17
To be assured of eternal life, look at 1 John 5:11-13

[B.G. Kent]

Post by suneejan

Post by B.G. Kent
Dear Lee, if you are kind to others..you are a Christian already in your
heart and soul...if you treat all people alike with the same compassion
and love..you are already a Christian in your heart and soul. Christianity
does not come from a book or a preacher....it comes from God. If you wish

...
Bren
Just bedause one is good and kind to others, that does not make a
person a Christian.

B - I disagree with you Suneejan. I don't think Jesus wanted to be
worshipped but that he wanted people to listen to the message...and that
message was to love one another, be kind to one another and treat each
other as you want to be treated. The Bible may say one thing..and God may
say another..they are not necessarily the same thing in my opinion.

Blessings
Bren ( who believes that God loves all)

[Jani]

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by suneejan

Post by B.G. Kent
Dear Lee, if you are kind to others..you are a Christian already
in your heart and soul...if you treat all people alike with the
same compassion and love..you are already a Christian in your
heart and soul. Christianity does not come from a book or a
preacher....it comes from God. If you wish

...
Bren
Just bedause one is good and kind to others, that does not make a
person a Christian.

B - I disagree with you Suneejan.

Why? Suneejan is quite right. Being good and kind to others does not make a
person a Christian. There are atheists, agnostics, neopagans, Hindus,
Buddhists, Jews, Wiccans, Sikhs, Muslims and so on who who are good and kind
to others, and are not Christian.

Newagery seems to be remarkably intolerant of diversity.

Jani

[B.G. Kent]

Post by Jani

Post by B.G. Kent
B - I disagree with you Suneejan.

Why? Suneejan is quite right. Being good and kind to others does not make a
person a Christian. There are atheists, agnostics, neopagans, Hindus,
Buddhists, Jews, Wiccans, Sikhs, Muslims and so on who who are good and kind
to others, and are not Christian.
Newagery seems to be remarkably intolerant of diversity.
Jani

B - That's your view and you are allowed to have it .
Newagery? I wouldn't know.


Bren

[Jani]

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by Jani

Post by B.G. Kent
B - I disagree with you Suneejan.

Why? Suneejan is quite right. Being good and kind to others does not make
a
person a Christian. There are atheists, agnostics, neopagans, Hindus,
Buddhists, Jews, Wiccans, Sikhs, Muslims and so on who who are good and
kind
to others, and are not Christian.
Newagery seems to be remarkably intolerant of diversity.
Jani

B - That's your view and you are allowed to have it .

Which part of my post are you referring to? The part that says being good
and kind to others doesn't make a
person a Christian, or the part that says there are people of many other
faiths, or no faith, who are good and kind without being Christian? Those
are factual statements, not just "my view".

Post by B.G. Kent
Newagery? I wouldn't know.

Strange, that, since your worldview promotes it so insistently.

Jani

[suneejan]

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by suneejan

Post by B.G. Kent
Dear Lee, if you are kind to others..you are a Christian already in your
heart and soul...if you treat all people alike with the same compassion
and love..you are already a Christian in your heart and soul. Christianity
does not come from a book or a preacher....it comes from God. If you wish

...
Bren
Just bedause one is good and kind to others, that does not make a
person a Christian.

B - I disagree with you Suneejan. I don't think Jesus wanted to be
worshipped but that he wanted people to listen to the message...and that
message was to love one another, be kind to one another and treat each
other as you want to be treated. The Bible may say one thing..and God may
say another..they are not necessarily the same thing in my opinion.
Blessings
Bren ( who believes that God loves all)

The word of God is in the Bible. There is no contradictions between
God's word and the Bible. For God's words are written in the Bible.
Jesus calls those who listen and do the word his brotheers ..Luke8:21
and blessed Luke 11:28
We are saved buy grace and not of good deeds...Ephesians 2:8-9
This is not just my opinion but truth from the Holy Bible which is the
word of God.
If one just goes by their experiences and opinions, they might be lead
down the wrong path for eternal life. Just look at most of the people
at the time of Columbus. They thought by their experience and what
they saw that the world was flat. Having trust and faith in Good and
Jesus in one's heart is the key to life and to understanding God's word
clearly.
True God loves everyone buit gives everyone a choice between Him or
the evil one. If one chooses God, tell him so thru prayer with
sincerety that Jesus died for one's sins, Jesus is the son of God and
ask Jesus to come into your life and for forgiveness. Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23 John 3:16 1John 1:9

[B.G. Kent]

Post by suneejan
The word of God is in the Bible. There is no contradictions between
God's word and the Bible. For God's words are written in the Bible.

B - That is your and some people's belief Suneejan..but that does not make
it an objective truth...it is your opinion.

Post by suneejan
they saw that the world was flat. Having trust and faith in Good and
Jesus in one's heart is the key to life and to understanding God's word
clearly.

B - And yet those of the church called Galileo a heretic and threw him in
jail because of his beliefs about the earth that were later shown by
science to be what many would call an objective truth.

May we all use our "God-given" brains and the Christ within to find the
real truth and to be courageous enough to stand and deliver.

I.M.O
Blessings dear one,

Bren

[B.G. Kent]

Post by lee
,but there is a problem i'm facing ,where is it supposed most for a
chinese christian to start reading in bible .
cheers

Dear Lee, if you are kind to others..you are a Christian already in your
heart and soul...if you treat all people alike with the same compassion
and love..you are already a Christian in your heart and soul. Christianity
does not come from a book or a preacher....it comes from God. If you wish
to read the Bible to add to your good works....I would suggest you read it
all....both the Old Testament and the New to get a good well rounded
vision of Christian views and values but to also find the good in all
scripture....the Bhagavad Gita, the Nagammadi, the many pages of the Tao
and writings of Buddha. The writings of the Sufi....the many Mystics like
Meister Ekhardt etc. all of these will bring you to a realization that
Christ in in all scriptures and ways...the Good...the microcosm in all of
us from the macrocosm of God. If you can find these all in Cantonese or
Mandarin ...then you will be lucky!

These are just my opinions....I do not speak in absolutes generally.
May you have great joy on your path.


Blessings
Bren

[Proshome]

Dear Bren:
Please scroll down to view my comments.
<snip>

Post by B.G. Kent
Dear Lee, if you are kind to others..you are a Christian already in your
heart and soul. <snip>
These are just my opinions....I do not speak in absolutes generally.
May you have great joy on your path.
Blessings
Bren

You obvious think that you are a Christian, and maybe you are. However,
according to what you just stated in this post, it is obvious to me that you
do not understand the mission and purpose that Jesus is performing with his
Church. So, here it is in a nutshell. The firstborn son of YHWH God, is
being active in creating a Kingdom that the Father had planned for this son
since before Creation. This Kingdom will eventually be populated with
subjects who have chosen to believe that JC is truly the son of the living
God. Those who want to be part of that eternal Kingdom right here on Earth,
when all things are made new must cleanse their self from sins inherited
from Adam. Everyone that was ever born on this planet will have an
opportunity to be a part of this eternal kingdom but there are conditions
that have to be met. The main condition is for the individual to be active
in purifying one's own soul which can only be done by way of believing in or
on Jesus Christ and what he had to say. Those individuals who refuse to
hear the word of God and continue to rebel against the Heavenly Fathers
future plans for us will not be included, in this plan, unless they confess
their sins, repent, and be baptized. Imho, reincarnation of the soul is the
process whereby everyone will have the same opportunities that everyone else
has had to hear the word of God, and make the conversion. Time is short
with only one more one thousand year period left to convert ones soul.

[B.G. Kent]

Post by Proshome
Please scroll down to view my comments.

B - Okay Prosh

Post by Proshome
You obvious think that you are a Christian, and maybe you are. However,
according to what you just stated in this post, it is obvious to me that you
do not understand the mission and purpose that Jesus is performing with his
Church.

B - and it occurs to me that because you believe a certain something...you
think I must too.

Time is short

Post by Proshome
with only one more one thousand year period left to convert ones soul.

B - Well then I had better get busy right? only a thousand more years left
for me according to you.

Blessings
Bren

[suneejan]

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by Proshome
You obvious think that you are a Christian, and maybe you are. However,
according to what you just stated in this post, it is obvious to me that you
do not understand the mission and purpose that Jesus is performing with his
Church.

B - and it occurs to me that because you believe a certain something...you
think I must too.
Time is short

Post by Proshome
with only one more one thousand year period left to convert ones soul.

B - Well then I had better get busy right? only a thousand more years left
for me according to you.

Yes, time is short and no one knows how much time a person has. A
person can die at any moment. That is why it is important for a person
to have Jesus in their heart and to follow God with all of their heart
, soul and mind.Mark 12:29-31 Ask Jesus in one's life thru prayer with
sincerity,tell God that you believe that Jesus is his son, ask for
forgiveness.
This is what you need to do any every person needs to do before death.
God did send his son to die for our sins. When a person has Christ in
their heart they have a fullerunderstanding of the bible and eternal
life...1John 5:11-13

[Proshome]

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by Proshome
Please scroll down to view my comments.

B - Okay Prosh

Post by Proshome
You obvious think that you are a Christian, and maybe you are. However,
according to what you just stated in this post, it is obvious to me that
you
do not understand the mission and purpose that Jesus is performing with
his
Church.

B - and it occurs to me that because you believe a certain something...you
think I must too.

If one claims to be a Christian, there are certain basics that must be
understood and adhered to. It is my experience that many so-called
Christians are not really true Christians at all, for they do not live
according to first century Christianity concepts. The church of today is not
the same church that Jesus Christ founded. It is much, much to superficial.
They now have a name for it. It's called churchanity.

Post by B.G. Kent
Time is short

Post by Proshome
with only one more one thousand year period left to convert ones soul.

B - Well then I had better get busy right? only a thousand more years left
for me according to you.

If you have not made the conversion up to this point, then you better get
yourself ready now. One thousand years is time enough for a soul to be
recycled a dozen times of more considering the average life span for people
in our times. The point is, it is not as important as to where one is in
this life today, but more importantly in which direction they are heading.
And Christianity is not getting better, IMHO. I personally want to get it
right this time around. To be recycled back into this sin filter called
Earth frightens me enough to force change in my personal life. I would not
like to be born in a non Christian country for example.

Post by B.G. Kent
Blessings
Bren

[B.G. Kent]

Post by Proshome
If one claims to be a Christian, there are certain basics that must be
understood and adhered to.

B - Says who?

Post by Proshome
Earth frightens me enough to force change in my personal life. I would not
like to be born in a non Christian country for example.

B - To me personally...if they are not against Jesus then they are for him
and if they are kind and loving..no matter what they call themselves...I
would call them Christian as well (not out loud..but in my heart).

Blessings
Bren


*************************************************
Let love guide you in all you do.

*************************************************

[gilgames]

Post by Proshome
If one claims to be a Christian, there are certain basics that must be

Post by Proshome
understood and adhered to.

B - Says who?
E.g. the First Council of Nicea AD 325

Post by Proshome
http://www.piar.hu/councils/ecum01.htm

[B.G. Kent]

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by Proshome
If one claims to be a Christian, there are certain basics that must be

Post by Proshome
understood and adhered to.

B - Says who?
E.g. the First Council of Nicea AD 325

B - oh and not Christ?

hmmm...


Bren
*************************************************
Let love guide you in all you do.

*************************************************

[r***@yahoo.co.uk]

Post by gilgames

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by Proshome
If one claims to be a Christian, there are certain basics that must be
understood and adhered to.

B - Says who?

E.g. the First Council of Nicea AD 325

And indeed this Jesus chap sort of rather suggested that it mattered
what you believe.

But only a fool would suppose that an ideological movement cares
nothing about ideology.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

[B.G. Kent]

Post by r***@yahoo.co.uk
And indeed this Jesus chap sort of rather suggested that it mattered
what you believe.

B - I would believe that he did yes.

Post by r***@yahoo.co.uk
But only a fool would suppose that an ideological movement cares
nothing about ideology.

B - obviously...but are they basing it on Jesus or on their own egos mixed
in with Judaism and the words of Jesus? Since the council gathered various
parts...what did they leave out? was it the word of God? was it worthy or
not? did they collate with Gods intention and guidance or their own?

Post by r***@yahoo.co.uk
All the best,
Roger Pearse

Bren


*************************************************
Let love guide you in all you do.

*************************************************

[r***@yahoo.co.uk]

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by r***@yahoo.co.uk
But only a fool would suppose that an ideological movement cares
nothing about ideology.

B - obviously...but are they basing it on Jesus or on their own egos mixed
in with Judaism and the words of Jesus?

Always possible to ask, but do people ever try to find out, I wonder?

Post by B.G. Kent
Since the council gathered various parts...what did they leave out? was it
the word of God? was it worthy or
not? did they collate with Gods intention and guidance or their own?

No such events occurred at the Council of Nicaea. It's a modern myth.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

[B.G. Kent]

Post by r***@yahoo.co.uk

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by r***@yahoo.co.uk
But only a fool would suppose that an ideological movement cares
nothing about ideology.

B - obviously...but are they basing it on Jesus or on their own egos mixed
in with Judaism and the words of Jesus?

Always possible to ask, but do people ever try to find out, I wonder?

Post by B.G. Kent
Since the council gathered various parts...what did they leave out? was it
the word of God? was it worthy or
not? did they collate with Gods intention and guidance or their own?

No such events occurred at the Council of Nicaea. It's a modern myth.
All the best,
Roger Pearse

B - So you were there at the time? interesting opinion.

Blessings Bren

---

[Given how long ago it was, there are surprisingly good accounts of the
meeting. Despite persistent modern legends, Nicea didn't set the canon.
Hence speculation on what they may have left out is irrelevant, because
Nicea isn't the source of what is in and what is out.
--clh]

[r***@yahoo.co.uk]

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by r***@yahoo.co.uk

Post by B.G. Kent

Post by r***@yahoo.co.uk
But only a fool would suppose that an ideological movement cares
nothing about ideology.

B - obviously...but are they basing it on Jesus or on their own egos mixed
in with Judaism and the words of Jesus?

Always possible to ask, but do people ever try to find out, I wonder?

Post by B.G. Kent
Since the council gathered various parts...what did they leave out? was it
the word of God? was it worthy or
not? did they collate with Gods intention and guidance or their own?

No such events occurred at the Council of Nicaea. It's a modern myth.

B - So you were there at the time? interesting opinion.

Interesting non sequitur.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

[Paul]

Post by B.G. Kent
B - obviously...but are they basing it on Jesus or on their own egos
mixed
in with Judaism and the words of Jesus?

Hmm. Let's see, millions of folks getting a consistent message from
Scripture over hundreds of years (even if they sometimes disagree over
precise details). Or, one person getting a very heterodox mishmash of
multi-religious mumbo-jumbo allegedly straight from "God".....

Which should we believe is "based on Jesus" and which on "their own
egos"....?

I'm not a mind-reader, nor do I play one on TV :-), but this one seems
pretty clear to me -- case of pot calling kettle black.

Meanwhile, a blessed Christmas to all who follow Him, and may those who
don't yet follow Him accept the greatest gift ever given -- the Child born
to die for us -- today. Pacem nobis.

In Christ,
Paul

[B.G. Kent]

Post by Paul
I'm not a mind-reader, nor do I play one on TV :-), but this one seems
pretty clear to me -- case of pot calling kettle black.

B - Well to each his/her own Paul..and believe you me....I'm not the only
person who feels this way...and I never said it WAS from God....I said in
my opinion...it is from God.

Post by Paul
Meanwhile, a blessed Christmas to all who follow Him, and may those who
don't yet follow Him accept the greatest gift ever given -- the Child born
to die for us -- today. Pacem nobis.
In Christ,
Paul

B - have a good Christmas Paul.

Blessings of love,
Bren